IMP Kyzen

I bought tins of all four IMP tobaccos at our 2015 NASPC show and noticed that tins of one blend would not sit flatly on their bottoms when stacked. That blend was Kyzen and every tin I examined had both the tops and the bottoms bulged out so that they rocked around like a top does when winding down. I have always found this bulging from off gassing to be positive in tin maturation and I was pleased to acquire them. Kyzen always opens with a noticeable whoosh and the aroma is wonderful. Although all four IMP blends are rather dark in their tin color, both Kyzen and Turkish Pride are somewhat lighter and contain more medium brown than darker elements. Kyzen smokes with a richness that is a good balance between the Latakia/Perique components and the Burley/Turkish components and occupies a spot right at the top of the bell shaped curve of English blend strength. Now, tobaccos in this position are in a very crowded field that is chock full of medium Englishes both good, bad and indifferent. Kyzen I rank right up there with the field leaders, Dunhill 965 and Germain Balkan Sobranie Mixture, even though it contains no Virginias and they both do. I have enjoyed every bowl of Kyzen that I have lit and the enjoyment lasts all the way down the bowl; unlike its sister blend Aiden, which I found gained strength as the bowl is consumed. I only know, for sure, of two other blends that have this Burley, Turkish, Perique and Latakia foumula and they are both tinned by Cornell and Diehl: Big 'N Burley and Odessa. There are, undoubtedly, more than these two although I am not aware of them. Of these two blends, I feel Kyzen is closer to Odessa. I highly recommend this English blend to all smokers and happily give it four stars. Update (8/24/16): A mild warning - I recently opened a tin of Kyzen whose top and bottom were bulged out until they were vey noticeably dome shaped and very taut. When I ripped the pull tab top open the tin kind of exploded and tobacco flew out onto the bench top and floor! However, the aroma from this tin was mouth-watering and it smokes heavenly.