Ken Byron Ventures Red Line

The matured, fermented aged and Carolina red Virginias provide a wealth of tangy ripe and dried dark fruits, earth, wood, some sugar, bread, mild tart and tangy citrus, grass, vegetation, floralness, light vinegar and spice as the lead components. The dark African Virginia offers plenty of tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, some sugar, spice, vegetation, mild grass, light cigar, peat, and smokiness with a tinge of vinegar as a supporting player. I notice light vinegar and fruit notes from a casing. The strength and nic-hit are medium. The taste is a step more potent. No chance of bite or harshness, and sports few rough edges. Well balanced with a little heft and nuance, it burns cool and clean at a moderate rate with a very consistent fruity, tangy sweet, mildly floral, spicy, slightly smoky cigarish flavor that extends to the pleasantly lingering after taste. The room note is a notch stronger. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Not quite an all day smoke due to some punchiness, but it is repeatable. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks

Bag note is tart citrus with some hay and grass, not sweet. Nice ribbon cut perfect moisture level. Packs very easily. The first flavors are smooth grass and hay. The citrus and fruit notes are in the background but defiantly there, as you progress through the bowl the citrus is more evident. Very nice straight Virginia as well as being full flavored, I think it might have a vinegar casing but its very slight. Burns a bit on the warm side. I could smoke this all day super satisfying. Nic hit is a bit more than medium. Need to keep your cadence slow or this could bite. 4 solid stars Update came back to this and after 6 months of age its even better easily an all day smoke. Certainly a dark VA lovers delight. The natural VA becomes much sweeter as you progress through the bowl.