Ken Byron Ventures Bright Star

The bright McClelland Virginias provide an exceptional amount of tart and tangy citrus, some lemon, grass, honey, a few pinches of sugar and spice, and a slight floral note as the lead components. The Basma and Yenidje comprise twenty-five percent of the blend, and offer a lot of earth, wood, spice, tangy sweetness and a little dry sourness. They are rather floral, herbal, vegetative and incense-like, and are strong supporting players playing a little above their percentage in this product. There are times where they equal the bright Virginias in effect, and on rare occasions, surpass them by a step . The raisins, figs, dates, plums from the perique have a mild stewed quality, although the spice is minutely more obvious. The perique is almost a secondary star. The fermented tangy ripe dark fruity, earthy, woody, bready, lightly sugary matured red Virginia also sports a pinch of spice and is just above being an ever present condiment. The fermented, tangy stewed dark fruit, earth and wood from the stoved Virginia underscores the experience. The strength is a couple of slots past the medium mark, while the taste is in the center of medium to full. The nic-hit is medium. No chance of bite or harshness, and has no rough edges. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a mostly consistent, complex, sweet and slightly savory, punchy flavor that translates to the mildly lingering after taste. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasant room note. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable.

-JimInks

In my smoking experience, six bowls over three days I find the Perique stands out more than the other components of this blend. This too was a gift from a friend of mine at the cigar and pipe store we visit. This has a medium to full taste and one that I would be more inclined to smoke in the afternoon and evening. Very little natural sweetness detected, more cigarette like for want of a better word. Could be the Perique. There are so many VaPers out there that I do not really find anything unique about this blend. Wouldn’t kick it out of bed but no wow factor for me. So, a somewhat recommended blend from yours truly but you may try it and it might be the best thing since sliced bread. The journey of trying different blends is half the fun.