Ken Byron Ventures Your Welcome 2022

This January 2022 production is a more matured version of the 2021 Your Welcome. This review is an updated offering that describes the differences. The bright, orange and red extra matured Virginias produce plenty of tart and tangy citrus, grass, bread, sugar, earth, wood, some tangy ripe and dried darker fruits, floralness, vegetation, mild spice, tartly sour lemon, and a hint of acidity. The strength, nic-hit, and taste levels are a step past the center of mild to medium. It won’t bite or get harsh. Hardly sports any rough edges. Burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with very consistent fruity sweet and rather mild sour Virginia flavors that extend to the pleasantly, lightly lingering after taste, and room note. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl. Requires few relights. An all day three and a half star blend that should age well.

The bright is a little less prominent, and the orange and red Virginias are little more obvious. The extra maturing process is responsible for that. The bright is less floral, has less sour lemon, and most of what little acidity existed is absent. The citrus and dark fruit from the orange and red Virginia are the main flavor changes. They are elevated a couple of steps here. This 2022 matured version is a little less sweet, a tad breadier and smoother, and is a notch below the strength and taste levels of the 2021 manufacture.

Update 2-22-22: The February edition is mostly the same as the January production. The only differences are that the former is a tad smoother, less acidic, and floral. I notice a very small raisin note that I didn’t in the other two versions as well.

-JimInks