Ken Byron Ventures Carry On

The various matured red Virginias provide plenty of fermented tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, some vegetation, mild floralness, sugar, tart and tangy citrus, grass, and a few pinches of spice as the lead components. The European style fire cured Kentucky offers a lot of earth, wood, smokiness, some floralness, herbs, spice, sourness, vegetation and nuts is a supporting player. The effect of the spicy, very plumy, earthy, woody, mildly raisiny perique is just below the Kentucky. The earthy, woody, sugary, nutty Yana-2 blackened burley is a condiment. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the medium mark. The taste is in the center of medium to full. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. There are a few small rough notes. Well balanced and complex, it burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with a deeply rich, very consistent, filling, sweet and spicy, floral, nutty, smoky flavor. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasantly lingering after taste. The room note is a little stronger. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. Four stars.

-JimInks