Ken Byron Ventures Verge Engine 2020

A friend of mine from the Pipe Club has purchased quite a few of his blends and I was lucky to be able to sample some of this. This is a great straight Virginia VA with probably a medium nicotine hit. Slightly sweet tasting and I wrote down full tasting but others rate this a medium. Your opinion may vary. I really am beginning to realize how much I like Red Virginia in pipe tobacco and maybe can elaborate more when I bum a few more bowls sometime down the road.

The fermented bright Virginia provides a big burst of tart and tangy citrus, some grass and hay, along with a pinch of sugar, spice, light acidity, and a moderate floral quality as the lead component. The stoved Virginia offers a lot of sugary fermented stewed, mildly creamy, tangy dark fruit and a little citrus, earth and wood as a supporting player. It just edges out the fermented tangy ripe dark fruity, earthy, woody, vegetative, lightly vinegarish and floral, bready, barely spicy red Virginia for attention. Has an extremely mild tangy red wine casing. The strength and nic-hit are a step shy of the medium mark. Partly due to the floral aspects of the Virginias, the taste is medium. No chance of bite or harshness, but it does sport a light rough edge. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable pace with a mostly consistent, richly sweet, lightly floral, slightly spicy flavor that translates the mildly lingering, pleasant after taste and room note. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. A comfortable all day smoke with some character, body and depth. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks

I've been smoking this all week and taking my notes. It is a straight Virginia blend of Red, Bright, and Shoved Virginia. To me there is some kind of lightly added sweet topping. It seem to go away quickly and or hide deep in the background. The stars are the Virginia's. A well put together blend. Should age nicely. It was enjoyed but not a thing I'm getting again. I still would recommend for any one who like a mild, no bite, mildly sweet tobacco.