Ken Byron Ventures King's Ransom: Rich Dark English

This is an outstanding smoke. Opening the bag you would think it would be overwhelming with Latakia, with it’s very smoky aroma! So I thought! It’s perfectly balanced with Latakia, Virginia and Orientals, but it is pleasantly slightly sweet and well balanced with the Latakia and orientals, mild on a nicotine hit and I tried to freight train it to get some bite as a test, but not happening! Its a very mellow smoke that can be had anytime and the room note is definitely pleasant! Great job KB!!

First things first Did Mike and Mary McNeil let Ken in on a few house secrets??? Because if you're planning on finding a McClelland substitute, this is probably the closest thing out at the moment. How did he doooooo it?????

Pouch aroma is a sweet smoky aroma, with that awesome sour tang. ships on the moist side, but have no fear, not many relights here!

Initial lighting is easy; light tamp light. Oh my is this heavenly!! First half offers up deep, rich flavors of leather and woodsy smoke, sweet bread notes, and a very minor touch of sour. Touch and go bursts of sweetness that I enjoy immensely. The Orientals are very fragrant in here, and meld well into the other components. Second half the latakia, along with the Perique really come forward. The blend isn't held up by a lot of backbone, but the complexity and perfect balance does it for me. Bravo Ken! Bravo!

This is a rich and full smoke. If you like a good thick English blend, with a great deal of heavy dark and incensey goodness , youll love this. I would have to say it is very similar to fusilier's ration, which I consider to be one of the very best English blends ever created. It may be 40% latakia, but it certainly is not a lat bomb. This is a big soft and comforting English. May even be a good blend to transition into English blends with. It is mellow, but massively flavorful. All of the components are very easy to identify and prominent. This reminds me of 965, but mellower. It reminds me of nightcap, but less mysterious. Tiny sips produce nice puffs of smoke. This tobacco is easy. Is it an all day smoke? Absolutely, if you're the type of guy who likes to smoke English all day. I think KBV has a real gift for producing perfectly proportioned and nicely streamlined blends. This is no exception. All of the components come together in such perfect harmony that it seems like nothing short of magic. Char it, retamp lightly, light it again.. and you are set. This stuff reaches its peak rather quickly, and holds it throughout almost the entire bowl. As usual, sipping will pay big rewards. But not required. Like I said this stuff is very easy to have a good smoke with. To the proper English smoker, this stuff seems like an indulgence. Almost playful, and something you're not allowed to have all the time. Comparing this to Goblin city (also produced by KBV) is almost hilarious. Because these two blends are so far apart on the spectrum, yet they are both varieties of proper English. Yet both are absolutely exceptional blends. Someone mentioned that this blend reminds them of an old sailor. I couldn't agree more. This blend seems like something Herman Melville would have written about.