Ken Byron Ventures The Oriental Affair (221-B)

The Izmir and Samsun produce an abundance of earth, wood, floralness, vegetation, spice, herbs, a fair amount of sourness, incense, mild buttery sweetness, and light bitterness as the lead components. The red Virginias offer some tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, mild tart and tangy citrus, sugar, light floralness, and possibly some spice, which is undetectable given that this aspect is prominent in the Turkish. A moderately sweet, floral nougat topping mildly tones down the tobaccos. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the medium threshold. The taste is in the center of medium to strong. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. Has some expected rough edges. Well balanced and zesty, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a very consistent tangy sweet and sour, very floral, spicy, barely bitter flavor that extends to the pleasantly lingering after taste. The room note is a little pungent. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl. Doesn’t require many relights. Not quite an all day smoke, but it’s certainly repeatable. Four stars.

-JimInks