Motzek Dark Side Alpha

(4.00)
50% fragrant, ethereal, sweet and leathery latakia, rounded off with a dash of perique and black cavendish meets a mixture of long matured, sunny-mild Virginias and Orientals that are full of character. A coarse, loose cut makes for a cool burn. A full-bodied experience, especially in wide bowls.
Notes: Rough torn, aged Oriental leaf is used; [it's] also used for TAK's Highland Balls. Released 02/18.

Details

Brand Motzek
Series TAK
Blended By Tom Darasz
Manufactured By Motzek / TAK
Blend Type Scottish
Contents Black Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia
Flavoring
Cut Coarse Cut
Packaging 100 grams pouch
Country Germany
Production Currently available

Profile

Strength
Medium to Strong
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable to Strong
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Very Full
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

4.00 / 4
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Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 02, 2018 Medium to Strong None Detected Very Full Tolerable to Strong
**Dark Side Alpha...** sounds like a heavy-metal band! And indeed this blend is some heavy duty punk-rocker of a pipe tobacco blend!

This blend is a pleasure from opening the bag, to the last puffs of the bowl, really...! In the bag, there is coarse cut tobacco... and I mean REALLY coarse cut! Almost the quarter size of a whole leaf.. with the stalks still on it. Not only the Orientals are like this (as in Highland Balls), but also the Latakias! The other components are from fine ribbons to "normal" coarse cut.

I love this kind of cut, it's a joy to fiddle with these roughly torn apart leafs of tobacco.. removing the stem, plucking, tearing and rubbing the tobacco out as finely/coarse as you want it to be and as it fits the chosen pipe the best. It makes me anticipate the smoke even more preparing the tobacco like this.

From the unburnt aroma I instantly pick up a roasty/toasted aroma, that reminds me of TAK's Latakia Revival. Underneath the rich presence of the smoky and woodsy, tart Latakia, there's a spicy and ethereal Oriental note and just very little sweetness. Smoky, meaty&peaty, spicy and tart with fine Oriental nuances - intriguing and bold!

Though 50% of this blend is occupied by the Latakia it's not a monochromatic Lat-Bomb! It's a Lat-Bomb! But with some finer nuances to admire. Underneath the rich base of very smoky and woodsy, decently buttery and silky, slightly sweet Latakia the Orientals play some passionate notes of this heavy metal band... richly ethereal, slightly nutty and woodsy with a rich, dry spice to it. After the first quarter, which is mostly hearty, spicy and tart a mild caramelly, fermented sweetness joins in which I assume comes from the well aged Virginias and not only contrasts but balances the sheer power of this fretboard soldier.

I don't get too much from the Perique and B. Cavendish, but I assume the Perique contributes to the rich spice and the Cavendish may play a role to the caramelly sweetness and the pleasant roasted and toasted feeling of the smoke. It's not overly complex, but very rich, very bold, wearing a cheeky grin, shredding the guitar like a madman...;-)

It's Dark... it's a Alpha smoke... it enters the room, yelling "here I am.. like me or not MOFO!". A genuine speciality, which quickly won my heart! Highly recommended for lovers of bold and rich Latakia mixtures with a genuine character! Heavy-Metal for the pipe!
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