Ken Byron Ventures Moriarty 2020

The smoky, woody, earthy, musty sweet Cyprian Latakia is the lead component by a small margin. The various non-stoved African Virginias and Malawi burley offer a lot of earth, nuts and wood, bread, some fermented tangy dark fruit with a little tart and tangy, sugary citrus and cocoa along with strong floral, vegetative, herbal notes, and a few pinches of spice. They play a close second place as well as above their percentage in the mix. The earthy, woody, herbal, vegetative, floral, toasty, lightly sugary, slightly spicy, stewed nutty Kentucky is in a potent secondary position. The fermented, sugary stewed, tangy dark fruity, earthy, woody, bready, stoved Virginia participates in a lesser support role. The dark chocolate and vanilla toppings moderately sublimate and smooths out most of the rough edges. The strength is a step over the medium threshold, while the taste is a rung higher. The nic-hit is close to the medium mark. No chance of bite or harshness. A mildly moist shag cut, it burns cool, clean, and a tad slow. It has a complex, slightly inconsistent, deeply rich, sweet and moderately floral, savory, light campfire flavor that translates to the pleasantly lingering after taste, and sweeter room note. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires some relights. Not an all day smoke, but those experienced in stronger blends will find it easily repeatable. Three and a half stars out of four.

-JimInks