John Middleton, Inc Philadelphia Mixture

The Virginias provide some citrus, dark fruit, earth and a little grass as the main components. The nutty, earthy, woody, slightly sharp and savory (due to age), spicy burleys (including Kentucky) are supporting players. There is a smattering of white burley, which also provides a touch of sharpness. I sense a little raisin and spice in the background which indicates perique. I also detect a light smoky, woody, sweet Cyprian latakia in almost the same amount of the perique, and is not always detectable. The same goes for the floral, woody, dry, spicy Turkish. The strength and nic-hit are a step or so past the mild level while the taste is a tad shy of the center of mild to medium. Won’t bite, but has a rough edge at times, and fast puffing may cause a little tongue tingle, which is often a hallmark of Middleton blends. Burns a little warm and clean at a moderate pace with a small inconsistency in flavor. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and needs an average number of relights. Has a pleasant sweet and mildly spicy after taste that lingers a mite. An all day smoke that reminds me of a lighter version of Middleton’s Walnut.

-JimInks