Ken Byron Ventures Crimson Guard

The matured red Virginias provide very tangy, lightly tart, fermented ripe and dried dark fruit, wood, earth, some citrus and spice, a couple blades of grass, and light sugary stewed fruit along with slight floral, smoky, bready, acidic, sour notes. The rum may mildly sublimate the tobaccos, but it also works synergistically to create a harmonious, consistent, earthy, tangy sweet flavor that translates to the lightly lingering after taste. The strength and taste levels are medium. The nic-hit is a rung less potent than that. Won’t bite or get harsh, but it does have a rough edge much of the time. This plug needs a light prep time, and is a tad moist. Burns cool, clean and a tad slow. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires some relights. Has a sweet room note. An all day smoke with some depth and body. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks