Ken Byron Ventures Pork Chops & Apple Sauce (2020)

The very tangy, dark fruity, fermented, matured red Virginias provide a lot of earth, wood, bread, some sugar, a little vinegar, and tart and tangy citrus along with light floral, spice, creamy notes. The red Virginias are a lead component by percentage, but the sugary, fermented stewed dark fruit from the stoved Virginia and perique often equals, and by a small margin, overtakes them. The very tangy, stewed, sugary, fruity (raisins, figs, dates, prunes, and plums), earthy, woody, moderately spicy, fermented perique is a strong, competitive supporting player. It’s more fruity than spicy. The stoved Virginia offers tangy stewed, sugary, creamy, fermented dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, and a hint of spice in a lesser support role. The tart and lightly tangy, citrusy, mildly grassy, woody, floral, sugary, bready, acidic brighter Virginias also contains light tart lemon, apricot, and a couple pinches of spice as a condiment. The orange Virginia checks in with tart and tangy citrus, light tangy darker fruit, earth, wood, bread, light grass, sugar and acidity. It is a little less obvious than the bright Virginias. The mild dab of a fruity prune casing sublimates the tobaccos a mite, and it also encourages the deeply rich fruitiness of the blend.

The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps below the medium mark. The taste just reaches the medium threshold. There’s no chance of bite or harshness, and barely has any rough edges. Well balanced and complex, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate. The flavor is mostly consistent: punchy, tangy, mildly tart and acidic, fermented, sugary fruitiness, light floralness and some spice from top to bottom. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a lightly lingering, pleasant after taste, and room note. Can be an all day smoke. Three and a half stars out of four.

-JimInks