While at the Tampa Pipesmokers gathering at Edward's on Saturday, I decided that I needed to purchase something to patronize the store that so cordially hosted us.
I decided to pick up a couple of ounces of Luxury Twist Flake, but not without some trepidation.
See, I am very familiar with this blend, and not in a good way. I first came upon this unique flake a few years ago. Again, at Edward's.
I was intrigued by the swirling, vortex-like strands of leaf and the interesting light aroma of honey and caramel. I had just gotten into Straight Virginias and Va/Pers and had several that I really liked, so I was excited to find another blend that I could possibly by in bulk to stock up the cellar. I was familiar with Bullseye Flake and really enjoyed it, so I was optimistic about the Luxury Twist.
But the first time I lit up the Luxury Twist, I was not impressed. It was acrid, ashy and just all around foul to my palate.
I used different pipes. I changed my cadence. I used different packing techniques. Nothing helped. I smoked through about an ounce of the flakes until I could take it no more and pitched the remaining flakes into the trash. Oh well. No harm, no foul. There are plenty of blends on the market and I had already had several that I really liked.
Then last year, I purchased some Luxury Navy Flake to put aside and age. The reviews were more than positive, and I wanted a good, straightforward Va/Per to cellar deep. The reviews said that while the blend was good (if not a touch one-dimensional) when fresh, it turned into something truly exquisite with some age. I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far.
So of course while I was searching for reviews for LNF, it was impossible to ignore the multitude of positive reviews of LTF.
So when I came upon the blend again this Saturday, the swirling flakes started calling to me like a swirling hypnosis animation from a Saturday Morning cartoon. @Zapasta kindly weighed out 2oz for me and bagged it up for me.
I took it home and laid it on my smoking cabinet like a cursed artifact from an ancient temple. A little afraid of it, but still drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
I avoided it all day Sunday, still afraid that at best, it would be less-than-stellar. At worst, the ashy, bitter stuff that I remembered from years ago.
I decided to light it up this morning as my first smoke. And, all I can say is, "Wow! How things have changed."
I'm glad I revisited this blend. It is quite enjoyable and I could see myself smoking this on regular basis. Wonder what age does to this?
I decided to pick up a couple of ounces of Luxury Twist Flake, but not without some trepidation.
See, I am very familiar with this blend, and not in a good way. I first came upon this unique flake a few years ago. Again, at Edward's.
I was intrigued by the swirling, vortex-like strands of leaf and the interesting light aroma of honey and caramel. I had just gotten into Straight Virginias and Va/Pers and had several that I really liked, so I was excited to find another blend that I could possibly by in bulk to stock up the cellar. I was familiar with Bullseye Flake and really enjoyed it, so I was optimistic about the Luxury Twist.
But the first time I lit up the Luxury Twist, I was not impressed. It was acrid, ashy and just all around foul to my palate.
I used different pipes. I changed my cadence. I used different packing techniques. Nothing helped. I smoked through about an ounce of the flakes until I could take it no more and pitched the remaining flakes into the trash. Oh well. No harm, no foul. There are plenty of blends on the market and I had already had several that I really liked.
Then last year, I purchased some Luxury Navy Flake to put aside and age. The reviews were more than positive, and I wanted a good, straightforward Va/Per to cellar deep. The reviews said that while the blend was good (if not a touch one-dimensional) when fresh, it turned into something truly exquisite with some age. I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far.
So of course while I was searching for reviews for LNF, it was impossible to ignore the multitude of positive reviews of LTF.
So when I came upon the blend again this Saturday, the swirling flakes started calling to me like a swirling hypnosis animation from a Saturday Morning cartoon. @Zapasta kindly weighed out 2oz for me and bagged it up for me.
I took it home and laid it on my smoking cabinet like a cursed artifact from an ancient temple. A little afraid of it, but still drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
I avoided it all day Sunday, still afraid that at best, it would be less-than-stellar. At worst, the ashy, bitter stuff that I remembered from years ago.
I decided to light it up this morning as my first smoke. And, all I can say is, "Wow! How things have changed."
I'm glad I revisited this blend. It is quite enjoyable and I could see myself smoking this on regular basis. Wonder what age does to this?
