Ken Byron Ventures King's Ransom

The Orientals offer plenty of earth, wood, herbs, incense, vegetation, tart, bitter, dry sourness, spice, some smoke and mild buttery sweetness as they take a small lead. The musty, leathery, mildly sweet broadcut Cyprian Latakia provides a wealth of earth, wood, some smoke, floralness, vegetation, mild herbs, and light spice. It is a very close competitor to the Orientals. The matured red Virginia produces some tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, mild sugar, light tart and tangy citrus, floralness, and a few blades of grass. It’s a couple of notches above the condiment line. The bready, sweet, smoothing black cavendish equals the sweetness effect of the Virginia. The strength is a couple of steps past the medium mark. The taste is in the center of medium to full. The nic-hit is a slot behind the overall strength level. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. Has a few rough edges. Deeply rich, it burns cool, clean and very slightly slow with a mostly consistent floral, spicy, smoky, very mildly sweet and more sour, savory, partly bitter campfire flavor that extend to the long lasting, pleasant after taste. The room note is tolerable to strong. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires a couple more than an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable, specially for the veteran smoker. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks