The very floral Turkish prilep provides some earth, wood, smoke, herbs, incense, vegetation, spice, mild buttery sweetness and dry sourness as the lead component. The blackened and white burleys produce a fair amount of sugar, earth, wood, some nuts and toast as a supporting player. In the third slot is the stoved Virginia which offers plenty of sugary stewed dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, and a pinch of spice. The bright Virginia chips in with some tart and tangy citrus, vegetative grass bread, sugar, floralness, and light spice. It’s just above the condiment level. The various dark berries are the lead topping with some vanilla and buttercream adding extra dimension. They fairly tone down the tobaccos without drowning them out. The strength is a notch past the medium threshold. The taste level is a rung past that mark. The nic-hit is a step behind the overall strength category. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. Has the barest hint of rough edges possible. Well balanced with some complexity, it’s tad moist and burns cool, clean and a touch slow with a very consistent fruity, sugary, nutty, floral, spicy, mildly smoky, lightly sour, rather smooth flavor. Has a pleasantly lingering after taste, and room note. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires a couple more than an average number of relights. A comfortable, yet punchy aromatic that can be an all day smoke for the veteran aro smoker. It’s repeatable for the less experienced. Three and a half stars.
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