Ken Byron Ventures Hand of Gotz

The musty, leathery, incense-like, sweet Cyprian Latakia provides plenty of earth, wood, smoke, some floralness, and a little spice as the lead component. It’s half the blend. The Turkish Oriental offers a wealth of earth, wood, floralness, vegetation, sourness, some spice, and light buttery sweetness as a supporting player. The fermented various dark African, fire cured dark African and Van Gogh Virginias produce a fair amount of tart and tangy citrus, grass, earth, wood, vegetation, floralness, bread, sugar, some tangy dark fruit, sour lemon, mild spice, and light smoky barbecue. They are a couple of steps below the Turkish. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of notches past the center of medium to strong. The taste level just edges past that level. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. Has a few rough edges. Burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with a very consistent zesty, punchy, sour, spicy, mildly sweet, fruity, deeply floral campfire flavor that extends to the pleasantly lingering after taste. Leaves little dampness in the bowl. Requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke. Four stars.

-JimInks