Opening the tin reminded me of first opening a bottle of vintage Canadian maple syrup I got as a gift; the aroma that greeted me was very much alike -- and much unlike the maybe most famous maple-flavoured blend in the world.

The leaf is somewhat dry compared to what I am used to, but that is OK, it fills and lights easily with a single char and then keeps burning gently down to the very end. The cut is rather thin and short, so this 'baccy works well even in small bowls; I have been smoking it in corn cobs a lot, and it works great with those.

Not having the strength I am used to from the other C&D offerings I have had the pleasure to try thus far, this still is is top notch leaf; the flavour lasts throughout the bowl, the room note is beautiful, and once again the only detracting factor is the high price of this beauty in Europe.

Recommended for the aromatics afficionados and those seeking something different; highly recommended to all those who still think Rum&Maple is tobacco so they can actually taste some. And I find that for once, C&D have captured the feeling of the tobacco experience in its name.

Right away I noticed the sweet syrup flavor and to my surprise it was not overpowering. This blend burned in the manner one would expect from quality tobacco. Throughout the bowl the maple flavor would rise ever so slightly and then disappear again. This was a pleasant change from most aromatics which tend to be constant and become a bore.

Autumn Evening took to the flame nicely. It almost didnt need a charring light and relight, but I provided one out of habit. I did notice a slight uneven burn which I attribute that to the windy conditions on my back patio as this has happened on many occasions with various blends. The only time I needed to relight was due to my own mistake. About half way through the bowl, I decided to remove some of the ash to get a better draw. Well, I removed the cherry as well. Yes, rookie mistake, but these things happen. No more lighting problems after this. I would recommend using a match on this blend. I used a butane pipe lighter and could actually taste the fuel, which is not a normal thing for me.

This is by no means a complex blend and seems like a good early morning or desert smoke. Overall, I enjoyed the experience and would not turn it away if offered.

If you like aromatics, give this a try!

UPDATE: 09/11/2009 I find this to also be a wonderful Mixer. For example, I use the following formula on a regular basis: 3 parts Two Friends Heritage, 2 parts Riverboat Gambler and 1 part Autumn Evening. It is a superb smoke and I call it Pot O' Gold.

I read a few reviews where some said that it got bitter, that the maple casing overwhelmed the VA taste and all, but I just don't understand those remarks. Personally, I disagree with them.

I did what I never thought I would, and that is to buy 1-1/2 pounds of Autumn Evening to cellar. Here's why: while the room note will be enjoyed by likely most everyone, I like it! It smells like being in a Cracker Barrel during winter with a fire burning. And, for my two cents, the base of Red Cav shows a pedigree of wonderful VA's, and the maple flavoring in no way diminishes this. You can taste the maple, but only as a complement to the beautiful VA's.

So, for what to me is a delightful change of pace, I really recommend this. I can't give it four stars (although to me, it is for an aromatic) but it is a mid-three.

I did age some of this for a while, and it didn't do well. The Virginias tasted great, but the flavoring seemed to have broken down and had an ill taste to it.