W.O. Larsen Kentucky Gold

I enjoy this baccy. I would buy it again, it is ready to go out of the tin. KG is differant the what I usually smoke, but when savored slowly it is a pleasent companoin out on the porch, in the evenings of summer. this is a good smoke, as a change of pace for the VA smoker or as an evryday puff for anyone who can afford it.

Kentucky Gold seems to be a well balanced tobacco that burns very well. For me, right out of the tin it's easy to load and whatever the casing, it is very subtle and brings together the flavors of natural tobacco. It is a high quality tobacco that I like to smoke when I'm doing other activities which would cause me to re-light often since it doesn't get a bad attitude when treated that way.

This is NOT your typical Danish blend. It is an aromatic (I think there may be a touch of Bourbon or rye whiskey), but there is nothing fruity, or sweet about it. The burley used is quite full, and the Kentucky gives it the quality of oak logs burning. The flavor is earthy, spicey, and astringent, but not bitter.

The moisture level is perfect out of the tin. I can manage this with one match. This was wonderful, sitting outside on the first cold day down where I live. I have to agree with bigjonburley, that it would be a great way to end the day.

Sixteen years ago I had a shiny new Dr. Grabow and a pouch of the Prince, and let's just say I have kept Burley-heavy blends at an arm's length ever since. Thanks to the knowledgeable gentlemen above who pass along their smoking insight, I tried this tobacco and loved it. I'm used to Burley as a supporting role in Virgnia-dominant blends (such as Tilbury, which I love) but here it jumps right out at you. I loaded up an old gnarly Swinks Extra Long Canadian and smoked myself giddy. The weed from my tin was on the dry side of moist, just how I like it. The smoke is sweet (in a natural tobacco sense, not heavily cased) and spicy, with a wonderful anaesthetic effect on my tongue and cheeks. A truly bright and vibrant smoking experience that totally awakened the palate. A hint of bitterness was at the bottom (of my CLEAN pipe) but I guess that's characteristic of Burley. Those who prefer latakia 24/7 would probably find this too much of a shock to the system, but burley-wary Virginia guys like me should jump right in with both feet. Although this is an "American" style blend, it had enough of the Danish profile going (it is made there after all) that you MacBaren junkies out there might want give it a spin too. All I can say is that I'm glad I broke the Burley ban and I'll be trying some more (good ones) soon. I'm off to the Barbary Coast! Thanks again lads!

I normally smoke a whole tin (or, at least attempt to) before reviewing a blend. Kentucky Gold comes in one of those round 100g tins, so, at least I made it to about 7 bowlfuls before submitting this review.

First, I grabbed a tin of this stuff after reading tillmanj's review. I love reading his reviews because our taste buds appear to be similar. I also share tantric's love of a good burley blend. So, knowing both enjoyed Kentucky Gold, I thought I might too. And indeed I do!

In the tin I smelled a honey/whiskey odor. The leaf is long, stringy and a bit moist. I zapped the stuff in my blender and then packed a bowl. I don't think I can describe the smoke as well as tillmanj & tantric, but I do agree that it was a very nice smoke that packed a bit of tobacco wallop. Yes, you taste a wonderful burley along with the other leaf, and unlike many burley blends, there was no bitter taste at all, even during the last third of the bowl.

I found a natural sweetness through the first half of each smoke, and then less casing was detected during the lower half. It smokes cool and mostly dry and I think all "good ole boys" will enjoy a dose of this W.O. Larsen blend.