Ken Byron Ventures 901Q

The very tangy, stewed, sugary, fruity (raisins, figs, dates, prunes, and plums), earthy, woody, very spicy, fermented perique often takes first place by a small margin over the red Virginias. The very tangy, dark fruity, fermented, matured year 2000 Carolina 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 sugary, creamy, fermented stoved Virginia offers stewed tangy ripe dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, and a hint of spice in a secondary role, although its inherent stewed fruitiness conjoins with that of the perique in reducing the role of the red Virginias. 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 less obvious than the bright Virginias, and not very noticeable. The fruity prune casing mildly sublimates the tobaccos. The strength and nic-hit are medium. The taste level just crosses the medium threshold due to the zesty effect of the perique. There’s no chance of bite or harshness, and it barely has any rough edges. Well balanced and mildly complex, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a fairly consistent, punchy, tangy, mildly tart, fermented, sugary fruitiness, lightly floral, spicy flavor from start to finish. 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