I recommend this a little higher than Rolando's Own (also a H&H). If you think you might like to try a VaPer, I would start with this one. I suspect I will always have some of this on hand.

I let it dried for a long period but it still felt too wet under my finger.

It smoked hot and was not pleasant.

Edit: after smoking more of this fantastic blend, I am raising my review to four stars from three. However, I've also recently smoked some new Anniversary Kake and, while excellent, it was nowhere near the experience of smoking this couple year aged stuff. So guys: set some of this aside to age for at least a year. You will not regret it.

It's a Va/Per and a true cake; the bag contained a bunch of dark, almost black, 1X3X1 inch moist "bricks" that smelled sweet, like plums and molasses. I got busy jarring the stuff. The room smelled great! The bricks crumbled rather easily into a nice combination of small ribbons and flakes and were easy to jar up. I, of course, kept a small baggie to smoke, leaving a bit out to dry for a while.

It's been four hours now and I just packed some of the H&H AK in a Brebbia Pura Squat Tomato, about a Group 3 or small 4. The charring light was it -- didn't need a true light and only needed one relight half way. The initial flavors are of a sweet bread and plum/fig with a bit of tartness from the virginias. The Perique quickly makes itself known but, surprisingly, this is not the Perique I am used to. This Perique amps up the plum sweetness and while the spice is there, the pepper is almost nonexistent. I thought this blend, as I prepared it for jarring, would be goopy -- far from it. It burns dry and completely to a fine ash.

Anni Kake, while not very complex, does deliver some interesting and unusual flavors. It's hard not to love this stuff. I am very interested to see what a couple years of aging will do.

Anni Kake is yet another unique, true masterpiece from Russ Ouelette. Recommended for everyone, not just Va/Per lovers. Even die hard aromatic smokers should try it.

There's two things to remember. AK will ghost your pipe quickly, but not like a Lakeland does. Just make sure you ream it well before smoking something else and expect the first couple of bowls to have the essence of AK. But don't worry, it'll go away after a few smokes. This tobacco in very moist in the tin. It needs to dry for a while before smoking it, but don't let it completely dry out or you'll lose some of the flavor. You'll enjoy it much better if you do dry it some, and it'll burn better, too. This could be an all day smoke if you so choose. And there's no telling how much better it may get with some aging, but it doesn't need it to be good. Even still, I'm aging a few tins and anticipate great results.

My advice is to pack it tightly and draw very gently. You will be rewarded with a slightly sweet smoke. The first light is heavenly. I get a faint graham cracker taste. Absolutely fantastic. Higly recommend. I have been smoking it in a large bowled Ser Jacopo picta magritte and loving every bowl. Allow it to dry a bit or you may have difficulty keeping it lit. Pack it a little tighter than you think you should. I can't recommend it enough. Russ has given us a very tasty blend here!

I have added it to my rotation, it is not an all day blend for me, but I usually find myself smoking a bowl in the evenings when I have time to take it slow. When you factor in the price, it's a great deal, and well worth keeping a tin of around.

Pouch aroma still good, baccy a bit dry but still serviceable. Packed into my medium bowl Mario Grandi, a quick light, and WOW. All the sharp edges I remember with this blend have been removed, the Bloody Mary mix has been replaced with cocoa powder. Mellow, mellow, mellow. For a non-latakia blend, this is very rich and satisfying. Reminds me a bit of Sam Gawith's Commonwealth Blend.

Stays lit, no bite, copious clouds of thick smoke. Not much Nick to be found, which is fine by me.

The only other VaPer I really like is Bayou Morning, by Cornell and Diehl. That blend is very sharp, and bitey unless sipped slowly. This aged AK is neither sharp nor bitey, and I've been pulling on it pretty hard.

My rating for Anniversary Kake: Upon arrival, 2 1/2 stars. Aged since October 2010: 10 stars out of 4. Really outstanding.

I cannot see myself smoking this all day, but it is a great evening smoke that paired very well with a VSOP Cognac.

After a year of aging, I upgrade to 4 stars. And I can see myself smoking this all day long!

I do pick up the chocolate figgy notes, but for me I get that in the taste. The flavor really comes out on a slow drawl, and a wide open exhale. I don't really associate this with a topping. It is just a natural tobacco taste.

Best in a medium sized bowl of your choice. I would buy more, but currently have a lot of new blends to work through.

I am saving 4 stars for tobaccos that blow me away, but I do recommend trying this blend, and I will likely buy more if it is available.