Ken Byron Ventures Crumb Fu

This is KBV’s spin tribute to Watch City blender Ernie Q.’s Deluxe Crumb Cut. The rugged, chunky burleys provide a lot of nuts, earth and wood, a little molasses, light cocoa, toast and sugar as the lead components. The stoved Virginia offers a lot of sugary, tangy, stewed, fermented dark fruit, lightly tart and tangy citrus, earth, wood, some bread and a pinch of spice as a supporting player. The herbal, floral, earthy, woody, soft vanilla-ish, lightly minty, sweet deer tongue is a condiment that plays a little above its station due to its inherent potency. The aspects of the candela leaf are tart and tangy citrus, grass, green tea, a little cedar, light vegetation, wood and earth, along with a small hint of pepper. It is just above being a condiment. The Syrian Latakia chips in with a small smoky, woody, earthy, incense and wine-like push to the experience. The rich cocoa and Absinthe toppings moderately sublimate the tobaccos as they help create a cohesively, mostly consistent, deeply rich sweet, rugged, floral, lightly herbal, savory flavor that translates to the pleasant, lightly lingering after taste and room note. The strength is a couple of steps past the center of mild to medium. The taste falls a slot short of the medium mark. The nic-hit is a rung behind the strength level. No chance of bite or harshness. Has a few minor rough facets that barely peek out over the smoothness of the smoke. Well balanced, very complex and nuanced with depth and character, it burns cool, clean and a little slow. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires some relights. Can be an all day smoke. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks