HU Tobacco Kelvin's Silent Secret

The various Virginias provide a fair amount of tangy ripe dark fruit, tart citrus, a bit of earth and a rather light grassiness. They form the base of the blend. The nutty, woody, earthy, smoky, spicy dark fired Kentucky is a supporting player. The unsweetened black cavendish offers a smoothing sugariness in a condimental role. There seems to be a little fruit in the toppings along with cognac, some honey, and a light essence of musk, which underscores the overall flavor. The toppings may tone down the tobaccos to a moderate extent, but both synergistically merge to create a cohesive, consistent taste. You’ll always notice the tobaccos. The strength and taste levels are medium. The nic-hit is in the center of mild to medium. Won’t bite or get harsh. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable pace with some complexity and depth. leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, lightly lingering semi-sweet, slightly savory after taste. Can be an all day smoke.

-JimInks

This tobacco came at just the right humidity, not too moist and consists of a loose cut blend of Virginia, dark-fired Kentucky, Black Cavendish and a touch of Perique. The flavouring, very discreetly applied, is made up of honey, cognac and a touch of musk. That last ingredient had me initially worried a bit but it does underline the great tobacco taste and probably would go unnoticed if I hadn't read it. This is one blend where all the ingredients mesh into a single creamy, medium bodied and only slightly sweet smoking experience that will surely satisfy those looking for an all-day smokeable blend.

Mixed cut of ribbons of colors ranging from blonde to brown to almost black tobaccos with pieces of broken flakes and a few actual pieces of flakes.

The sample I received was on the dry side, ready for smoking.

With the first whiff I was greeted with a nice interplay of tobacco and tropical fruit flavors. At least this is what I got, now could this ‘tropical fruit’ be the combination of honey, cognac and musk as the tobacco description mentions? I have no reason to doubt. It is sweet, the tobacco taste is everpresent and it is quite tasty. What’s more it does not taste chemical at all.

The topping here is mild but it bares resemblance to a true aromatic tobacco I tasted recently, namely Davidoff’s Brazil. The latter is much sweeter, heavily cased but burns dry, does not bite and you can even taste the tobacco, in other words it is at least a decent true aromatic. What’s the main difference to me between a tobacco like HU’s Kelvin’s Silent Secret and a true aromatic? HU’s tobacco tastes like real tobacco (not just Cavendish) with a nice scent, whereas ‘true’ aromatics taste chemical even if there is some tobacco taste in them. I believe that’s the main reason smokers of ‘straight’ tobaccos lampoon aromatics, but after all de gustibus….

To cut a long story short, Kelvin’s Secret is a nice medium + strength scented tobacco where after the first few puffs you almost forget there’s any scenting - sweetness also recedes - and what you get is the taste of real tobacco. It is of medium to medium+ strength nicotine wise with an earthy, slightly smoky flavor. I would recommend it more to smokers of straight tobaccos rather to those of aromatics.