Sutliff Tobacco Company Crumble Cake Limited Edition No. 6 Phantom Privateer

I’ll be straight up honest I am not a huge fan of most VaPer blends, just not usually my preferred smoke, but this one is different for various reasons but the addition of Burley certainly is one of them. The other is the Phantom flavor induced by the barrel aging in an old rum barrel is another part of what makes this an enjoyable and excellent exception.

It’s a toss up which is the most forward varietal leaf, between the taste of the Virginia and the Perique but between them they are a great start. The red Virginia is tangy and full of dark fruitiness, sugary sweetness, a touch of vinegar and bread and the touch of almost lemon marmalade sour lemon. So close behind is the Saint James perique wish tosses in a little spice, raisins, figs, plums and to me a touch of deep dark cherry. And still very close on its heals is the Burley. Stoved and sweeter than expected along with wood, earthiness, nuts and cocoa a little licorice. Though it sort of falls under the banner of an aromatic the rum isn’t directly added but is the Phantom spirits of the barrel doing their magic. It adds a note of rummy sweetness that does seem to fade just a tad towards the bottom of the bowl…slowly disappearing like a Phantom!

Strength wise it medium plus and the nic is pretty much there with it. The taste is a bit higher than both so it’s a very flavorful blend for sure. I think the Phantom must have knocked the teeth out of this as it can’t bite and it’s smoothed most if not all the rough edges off as well. It’s of course in the classic form of a crumble cake that rubs out easily and for even me who likes drier tobaccos is perfectly moisturized as it comes from the tin. It burns cool and slow with more smoke than any VaPer due to the Burley which also adds greatly to the mouth feel. Tangy, sweet, fruity, nutty, gently spicy and deep and complex and rich and just a mouthful of yum. Retrohale is very enjoyable. Room note is tough for me as I live alone but seems pleasant enough to me. Definitely a four out of four for me and almost an all day smoke.

A Privateer is basically a government hired ship that raid and impedes commercial trade to help bring an enemy yield, sort of a friendly pirate. In this case the Phantom Privateer has pirated away any possible rough edges and left pirates booty of treasure in each tin.

Dave da Dragon

Tin note of sweet fruity raisins. Tobacco is a Cake of brown, yellow brown and dark brown. Moisture content is ok. Some may prefer to dry it a bit. Cake breaks apart and rubs out easily. Burns slow with a few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild to medium. Flavoring is mild, with notes of sweet rum, though the sweetness remains after the short-lived rum. Taste is medium and very consistent, with notes of tart and tangy plums, sweet floral grassy, spiced raisin, very savory, mild sour vinegary, bread, burnt sugar, earthy and woody, very mild bitterness, a citrus background note, and a moderately peppery retro. Virginia is leading with Perique supporting and being tamed by the Stoved Burley. Room note is tolerable to strong, and aftertaste is great.

Sutliff Tobacco Co. - Phantom Privateer.

The dark slices of kake have a smell that suggest a definite inclusion of rum. They aren't too moist, can be rubbed easily. I opt to keep a 'chunky' consistency once rubbed.

The rum doesn't come across as being alcoholic, it gives more of a sugary-sweetness to the smoke. Of the tobaccos I get lots of opulent, fruity, red Virginia, with an ample amount of sharp-spice from the Perique. The Burley is quite toasty, this gains volume after the first third of a bowl. A bowl of it burns reliably, only really needing an occasional tamp; unless neglected. I haven't had any bite from it, and the smoke's fairly cool.

Nicotine: healthy. Room-note: not great.

Phantom Privateer? A good smoke, not a great smoke. Three stars:

Recommended.

This was a mediocre blend, a lot of these Sutliff blends are starting to taste really similar, im
Guessing due to the way Sutliff processes their leaf. Not necessarily bad but nothing exciting, new, or different from previous releases.

This is simply a great Virginia Perique, enhanced by its lovely stay in a wonderful rum barrel. Just the right amount of perique to make it the perfect amount of spice to really tie that rum note together. I am going to be contrary and assert this is not flavored, just soaked in a rum barrel. Not topped as is what flavored usually implies. Will miss it when I smoke it all.