Paul Olsen Condor

This an extremely hardy and very interesting blend. As expected, the Perique takes center stage in both tin note and taste, but always effectively underlined by the other ingredients.

The tobacco presents itself as a medium-fine ribbon cut that packs and lights easily, the latter requiring a short amount of drying time. Moisture level is close to perfect out-of-tin, though, and I often smoke it that way. Colours are dominated by black and darkish-brown tones with the occasional medium-brown virginia ribbon.

The tin note, as mentioned, is mostly that of a leathery, tangy and slightly sour Perique. The canvendish compliments this with slight notes of cinnamonbread and unsweetened cacao. Some fermented sweetness to the scent as well, some of it provided by the very mature, yet understated virginias. It has a very convincing aroma of fine black tea, and I honestly think it could pass as such in a blind-test!

Taste is quite similar to the tin-note. The tangy, raisin-figgy and slightly plummy Perique dominates, sporting a discreetly delicious, almost cider-vinegary sourness through the entire bowl. As the smoke progresses, the spice begins to show more and more, reaching it's climax around mid-bowl. Black pepper, cloves and nutmeg appear. There is also a gorgonzola-ish flavour to be found, very similar to that of some dark fired kentucky's.

The black cavendish offers a fair amount of sweetness, again with some notes of bitter chocolate and a slightly fermented fruitiness, almost akin to aged port. Slightly toasty with the occasional hit of nuts. The virginias are discernible, but not always easily so. Aged, darkened hay and stewed fruits with a citrusy element more like mandarines than lemons.

Throughout the smoke, the taste and smell of black (darjeeling/assaam) tea permeates the experience, never being to much. There is a very slight casing employed (this has been confirmed by my local blender), almost unnoticeable, that has a mild taste of something like gummybears. Works extremely well with the tobacco as a whole, and as I said it is VERY mildly applied.

The taste waxes and wanes a bit, offering an increased complexity to the blend. But at times becoming too "shifting" for my tastes, which is why i have chosen not to give it four stars. Three and a half would be appropriate...

Burns clean, dry and even, leaving a greyish, cigar-like ash with very few dottles. Good for breaking in new pipes.