The Smoker New York, New York

Mostly light to mahogany brown with a few flecks of black tossed in. Tin aroma of a C&D-type mustiness, not unlike the old book aroma of Haunted Bookshop. It arrived at the perfect moisture level and I fired it right up, partly because it piqued my interest and partly because it came in one of those Sutliff-sourced tins that make me worry about the tobacco's longevity.

"Dry Finish" is the first and last thing I'll remember about this blend. Snorking it regularly brought out the subtleties of the various Virginias, which were in turn lightly sweet and earthy. A little more sweetness would have done this no harm, but I'm assuming Russ Ouelette followed the original Mel Feldman recipe correctly. The dry finish was evident in every puff. The flavor would hit the taste buds on the exhale and then evaporate, leaving nothing in its wake. The perique was a minor player and the Turkish even more minor but they did add a slight briny but refreshing flavor to the Virginias. I found this mildly complex but its overall focus was that Virginia earthiness that's sort of a cross between Virginia and burley. Overall the blend is noted for the dry finish... not overstaying its welcome. And it's something I'd like to visit again, although it doesn't make my rotation.