Ken Byron Ventures The Dread Planet 2021

Well, this is... Different. Don't misunderstand me; this is a very good Va/Per, deserving of the cult status normally associated with Esoterica. Perhaps it is the fact I have never had the opportunity to sample such vintage Virginias that is throwing me for a loop; the expected jammy, tangy flavors are there, but the most notable characteristic is a distinct note of spring dandelion flowers. Beautiful, but not at all what I expected. Very sweet on the palate, and burns remarkably slowly. I am very sensitive to acidic Virginias (generally needing at least 20 percent Perique as a buffer), but I can get away with smoking this in a narrow bowl. Pushed too fast, it could nip. That said, most pipers are either less sensitive, or (more likely) have better technique than I for handling Virginias. I won't knock it for my own ideosyncrasies. The Perique is there, albeit a bit light for my tastes; probably somewhere around 10-15 percent of the total blend. It seems to lean heavily into the musty fruit side of it's personality, and becomes more apparent in the final 1/3 of the bowl. If not for the singularly exceptional Virginias and careful blending, this might be a blend that I would pass by. As it stands, it occupies a similar place as it's namesake manga (Junji Ito's "Remina"); I'm glad that I have it, I can appreciate the artistry that went into making it, and I will certainly revisit it when the right mood strikes. That said, "Uzumaki" is more my speed.