I should start by saying that I'm a big fan of heavy Latakia and Balkan blends. Usually, the stouter, the better. C&D Pirate Kake and GL Pease Odyssey are among my favorites, for example.

It gets pretty warm in Texas for a goodly part of the year, though, and sometimes the palate wants something lighter. Burley is my choice, as it is the choice of many warm-weather smokers. In looking for the perfect Burley blend, one is naturally drawn to the American/English blends that C&D have become so known for.

I have smoked 8 or 9 tins of Easy Times now, and it still has the ability to be somewhat surprising to me. Yes, Burley is a major player here, but the Red Virginia sweetness plays well with the leathery Latakia, both weaving in and out of the nutty bitterness that the Burley provides. The flavor is reminicent of GL Pease Cumberland with a Latakia kick.

Easy Times can be rather picky about the pipe it likes, so trying it in a number of pipes can be a rewarding experience.

Packing is also important with this blend. It has the tendency to burn too hot if not packed correctly, so I suggest the Franck method of packing to get all that this one has to offer.

The high amount of Red Virginia in this blend also makes it a prime candidate for aging. I have found that even six month makes a big difference.

The only thing keeping this from being a superb all-day smoke is the price. In this class I would recommend another C&D/Runowski effort, Morley's Best.

Highly recommended for the Burley lover. Recommended for the English smoker for a change of pace.

It is packed (very!) tightly into a small tin and the moisture level is on the dry side - perfect for smoking - when it is opened. The taste is of high-quality burley, rounded out and mellowed by the added latakia and Virginia. It tastes slightly musty, rather than sweet, with a slightly bitter burley edge that gets stronger later in the bowl. It is very satisfying, with a taste that does not get tiresome for me and with a moderate-to-strong nicotine load.

The only reason I gave this three stars instead of four is that it is substantially more expensive than the C&D bulk blends that are comparable to this one. I definitely will try this one again; my tin disappeared quickly.

Highest rec's on this one.

Upon opening the tin, the aroma is quite inviting and the Latakia is most noticable. The cut is a medium ribbon, and the colors range from light to medium brown w/ about 25% darker leaf showing. Moisture content was good, although I feel that a little drying will result in a smoother smoke.

Upon lighting up, the initial flavor is good; Latakia and burley mostly w/ the the Virginia providing a pleasant background, but with very little of the residual sweetness that I was expecting. Mid bowl, the burley turns nutty and balances out the smoky component nicely. By the end of the bowl, the flavor has developed towards a smoky creaminess w/ little or no trace of Virginia left at the finish.

I have no trouble lighting or keeping this blend lit, and it smokes well right down to the last bit in the bottom of the bowl. The room aroma is not the most pleasant to the uninitiated; my wife won't come outside when I smoke this one and says that it smells like burning leaves. Oh well, more for me...

As with many burley blends, this tobacco definately needs to be smoked slowly. Puffing too quickly, especially in the last 2/3 of the bowl, will result in a harsh bitterness. Gently sipping at this one provides the pleasant goodness described above. Overall, my impression is a different type of smoke; full bodied but not intense. I find this to be a nice change of pace on occasion.