Ken Byron Ventures Mr. Christian’s Bright Side 2021

The very floral Basma and Yenidje brights offer plenty of earth, wood, herbs, vegetation, some buttery sweet and sourness, and a fair amount of spice. They take a small lead. The bright Virginia provides a lot of tart and tangy citrus, grass, some bread, sugar, floralness, sour lemon, light vegetation, a few pinches of spice, and a bitter acidic note. It’s a supporting player. The delicate tartly sweet and sour, fruity, floral, slightly herbal lemon and elderflower casings have less of an impact than the earlier version of this blend due to the effect of the tupelo honey casing. All of them mildly tone down the tobaccos. Won’t bite or get harsh, and has few rough edges. The strength and nic-hit are a step past the medium mark. The taste is a slot past that. Burns cool and clean at moderate pace with a very consistent zesty, tartly sour, floral, spicy, mildly sweet and savory, rugged flavor that extends to the pleasantly lingering after taste. Leaves little dampness in the bowl. Requires an average number of relights. The room note is a tad stronger than the after taste. Can be an all day smoke for the veteran, and repeatable for the less experienced. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks