Ken Byron Ventures Yoshimi’s Oriental Hot Mug

The deeply rich cocoa, cream and rum toppings are the stars. The rum takes a very small lead over the other two additives. As they sublimate the tobaccos quite a bit, some the regular tobacco aspects are less prominent than usual. The Macedonia Prilep, Katerini and Izmir provide earth, wood, some floralness, vegetation, light spice and herbs. Their sweet and sour qualities are fairly muted. That’s especially true for the sourness. The Orientals are a couple notches above the earthy, nutty, woody burley. The bright Virginia offers a lot tart and tangy citrus, grass, sugar, bread and small floral, spice notes in a condimental role. The effect of the mildly sugary, toasty black cavendish is a tad stronger than the Virginia. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the center of mild to medium. The taste is barely stronger than that. No chance of bite or harshness exists here. Hardly has a hint of a rough edge. Mildly complex, it burns cool and clean at a moderate rate with a very consistent creamy sweet, lightly floral and spicy flavor that extends to the lightly lingering, very pleasant after taste, and room note. Hardly leaves any dampness in the bowl. Requires an average number of relights. A fairly easy going all day smoke. Three and a half stars out of four.

-JimInks