Ken Byron Ventures Plague Bringer 2020

The basma and yenidje provide earth, wood, floralness, herbs, vegetation, some dry sourness and buttery sweetness, along with a mild spiciness. The yenidje possesses a small “unflavored soda note”, though the basma is the more obvious Oriental. They take a small lead. The year 2000 East Carolina red Virginia offers a lot of fermented, tangy ripe dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, some sugar, a little floralness and vegetation, light tart and tangy citrus, vinegar, and a few pinches of spice. It is a strong supporting player. The aspects of the incense-like Syrian Latakia are floral, earthy, woody, red wine-like sweetness, mild mustiness, and a little leather. The Latakia is ten percent of the production, but its effect is a tad higher than that. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the medium mark. The taste is a couple of notches past the center of medium to full. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. Has a few small rough edges, which is typical of Scottish mixtures. It’s also a bit smoother than those mixtures tend to be. Well balanced, nuanced and complex, it burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with a very consistent sweet and sour, fragrantly floral, deeply rich flavor that extends to the pleasantly long lingering after taste. The room note is a notch stronger. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it’s repeatable for anyone used to some strength and depth of body in a blend. Four stars.

-JimInks