HU Tobacco Livinghardt

The fragrant, incense-like Orientals offer plenty of earth wood, herbs, floralness, some smoke, buttery sweetness and dry sourness, vegetation, and spice. They take a small lead. The aspects of the musty, leathery, sweet Cyprian Latakia are plenty of smoke, earth, wood, herbs, some floralness, and a pinch or two of spice as a supporting player. The Virginia provides plenty of tart and tangy citrus, grass, sugar, vegetation, bread, floralness, mild tangy dark fruit, earth and wood. It forms the base of the blend in the third slot. The luscious blackcurrant topping is more obvious than the vanilla. Both moderately tone down the tobaccos. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the medium mark. The taste level is just past the center of medium to full. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. Barely has any rough edges. Well balanced, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a very consistent, smooth, zesty, deeply rich fruity, sweet and sour, floral, spicy campfire flavor that translates to the pleasantly lingering after taste. The room note is tad stronger. Leaves very little dampness in the bowl. Requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. Four stars.

-JimInks

The aroma of the blackcurrant topping is palpable and dominates the vanilla. This blend doesn't take the flame easily and requires a few lights. The sourness comes through the first 5 to 10 minutes into the smoke. The tanginess from Orientals is preparing the base for the blackcurrant aroma, which made me think for a second that I really tasted crème de cassis. However, vanilla becomes more prominent through the end of the first half and dominates the rest of the smoke. I liked Livinghardt compared to another HU Latakia aromatic, Daddy Gefftl. IMHO it's the best offering among the Clans of Scotland series.

This one leaves me a little blank. At first I was looking forward to the promissed strength. And there is a a strength . But it is a very strange almost empty strength. I know this sounds weard but it feels like a strength coat on over hot air. Try to inhale and make you a picture. I never came across of such a blend. The Topping here is delicious. Fruity fruity and a touch vanilla. The Tobacco behind,and it is far behind, tastes sour and bland. Maybe I try to put some burley or red virginia in to rescue the tin. This attemped failed in contrast to cochmond to me