The tobacco taste is overall strong, but "flat", somewhat reminiscent to 'JackKnife', but far off playing in this league. Sweetish, earthy and somewhat "peaty" is the first presentation, but moving in yet unknown direction, overall with quite "premature" taste: strong but blunt at the same time... just "smokily"...

I've bought 2 tins, one for immediate smoke, the other one for the "cellar". 2.5 points for the time being...

This blend reminded me that I was one of the people that wanted less rum in Sextant. So GLP gives it to me and I'm still not satisfied! But the problem with Sextant for me wasn't the amount of rum, it was the clashing of rum with latakia. Since there is no latakia here, I found myself screaming for more rum flavor. This blend is totally taken over with the taste of the Kentucky. The virginias are far from sweet, and kind of musty and dry tasting. I could not make it through the entire tin but I'm saving it to see how this does with some age on it (my tin was less than 2 months old), as the tobacco seems green. I'm the last person to fall into the hype of "GLP blends need to age before they can be enjoyed", but this one is trying hard to push me into that. The VA's need to step up, the kentucky needs to calm down, and the rum needs to have more of a presence. In other words, at this point, this blend fails for me on every level, other than its overall quality (for which I'm really not qualified to judge). Let's see what more percolating time will accomplish. I like the concept of a more "punchy" Exhausted Rooster, but this one punched too cruelly. Then again, I still haven't grasped Cumberland, so it's probably just me. Try it if the idea appeals to you as it does me, but be prepared to age it for a year or so before you enjoy it.

A "drop" of Rum is right, not noticeable neither on the nose nor palate. It might be there to shore-up the young Virginias.

This stuff needs age for a long time, very green and somewhat harsh. We've combusted the opened tin and the sealed ones can sit for a few years. Currently not recommended, hopefully that'll change in years to come . . . we shall see.

A nice set of flakes either to break or rub. I rub. Fairly dry at the start. Slight nose of rum in the tin. Slight.

Burns slow, but stays lit. Very cool. No need to leave intact as a complete flake. Not wet or soggy. Quality for sure.

Now the mysterious flavor. The Viginia sweetness does not dominate the blend but is aided by the "drop" or so of rum. So there is a hint of sweetness all the way. The Kentucky dark fired leaf is not evidently a big percentage but its influence on taste is also experienced all along the way with the dash of rum. I feel with a littly more time more of the Virginias will stand out. But it's enjoyable as is.

The comparison with a cigar is true, as the dark fired Kentucky used is heady and also used in cigars (Serad, P&T Mag, Fall 2012). It does not dominate the blend, as it is indeed a blend with three or four ingredients (2 Virginias, Kentucky, and rum). It has sweet and sour or even bitter-sweet counterpoints.

It's a relaxing blend, as I puffed in heavy N.O. Superdome (preparing for the Superbowl) traffic, and don't become angry. Nice element. But no, I personally don't feel it compares highly on the nicotene element with some darker or burley flakes.

It's fuller but very much less sweet than Hyde Park, and deeper and darker but not as bold a flavor as Sextant. It is not bitter like some burley flakes.

This is not a true dark flake but the Kentucky gives it a darker element to it. I wouldn't call it funky if you will, but it is different. Maybe folks who like Royal Yacht or even Nightcap will take to this variation.

I recommend this to folks who like stouter Virginias.

Tin: Typical C&D 2 ounce pull-top lid, and I only mention the tin to be thorough, but the artwork is quite nice too; in an understated way.

Aroma: The first release of air from the tin is a wonderful blast of funky. If you enjoy finely aged meats and cheeses, you will understand how this "funky" is a good thing. Very mature Virginia leaf is the leading player. There are hints of the dark-fired leaf and an occasional hint of rum. Mainly, though, the aroma of very nice Va. leaf.

Tobacco: This is a flake and one in the wonderful C&D tradition of loosely pressed, easy to rub up flakes. They are only a couple of inches long, not the massive straps of Sam Gawith and the like. The leaf is mainly a medium brown with flecks of golden leaf speckled with what presumably is the touch of dark-fired leaf. The moisture level is just right straight away. No need to dry and one would do well to keep in mind that C&D typically uses only water to hydrate their tobacco, so, either smoke this one quickly or put it away in a bell jar.

Method and Pipe: I fully rubbed up two flakes, again with little effort, and loaded the leaf into a medium sized Charatan Pot. I don't really follow any one type of packing method and have settled on a vaguely defined method of my own that tends to work well. I imagine that any method would work well with this one. I do utilize the delayed gratification method with Va. blends and flakes.

Charring Light: I use matches as the combution rate seems to be much lower thus producing a more pleasing smoke. The first wave is pure Virginia leaf; second match.. more of the same. After I let it sit for a wee bit, I put another match to it and settled in.

The Smoke: Very nice, this one. Again, as with the tin aroma, well matured Va. is the key player early on but things do progress very nicely soon after you get the pipe to a smolder. You simply must take it slowly with this one; not because of any bite either. If you smoke slowly, you will reward yourself with a very rare treat: A very complex smoke from a very simple recipe. The Va. is both sweet and full on the palate, perhaps it is the rum. Who knows? The dark-fired is there, but not really. Only hints, it seems. As you progress through the middle portion, the strength picks up and, from seemingly out of nowhere, the touch of dark-fired leaf that early on was way in the background, now comes to the front with strong cigar-like undertones. The room note is amazing at this point. It smells as though someone else is in the room enjoying a fine cigar while you puff away on your mature Virgina flake. This interplay continues on through the end of the smoke, too. Wow, what a wonderful blend. Two simple ingredients (well three if you count the rum) but it has the complexity of one of Mr. Pease's famous English mixtures.

Final thoughts...

I did have to use a pipe cleaner once during the smoke but that was probably my fault as I got a bit eager towards the end. The smoke was very cool and flavourful. Nice salt and pepper grey ash at the bottom. I give this one 3.5 stars out of four. The other half star would easily come with age and I can only imagine what a year of two will do to this one. I hope that it is packaged in 8 or 16 ounce tins soon.

Update: The extra half-star was just earned to counteract the nonsense of the second reviewer.