| Truly, this recommendation should read "I smoke this on occasion because the supply of it is so limited". To my knowledge,all of the PCCA blends were very limited runs, and don't get around on the markets, much. My tin was a gift from a friend.
This is a small, coarse cut with some broken flakes intermingled. The tobacco is dark brown and black, and REEKS of latakia! A mouthwatering foretaste of what is to come.
Like a lot of McClelland-tinned blends, this one is pretty moist, so setting out a bit to dry to my preference, I chose a classic bulldog to give this blend a go. It fills easily and evenly using the three-tier method.
The first light smells like a barbecue gone wild. The burst of flavor is exceptional, with the latakia and orientals leaping immediately to the fore. It smells, predictably, like old shoes and boiling socks, but the rich, warm flavor is huge, and delectable for lovers of latakia. I shy away from Balkans, usually, as I don't favor latakia as much as some, but this is truly a well-done mix.
The relight goes easily, and I am off to the races. I have smoked this in Fall and Winter in Germany, Spring in Kuwait, and Summer in Iraq. Throughout this variety of climates, I find the flavor to be dead-stable, and utterly predictable. It rewards with huge latakia goodness, and if that is your cup of tea, I must unequivocally recommend it.
Finishes a mixed dark-gray and light-grey ash, but is a bit bitter at the bottom.
8/8/04
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