Sutliff Tobacco Company Maple Shadows

Shadows can contain no more than what was there in the light of day, but sometimes the shadows can contain things that go unseen and unknown in the light, mysterious and unexpected. This blend wears the name Maple Shadows and it is definitely on the mysterious and unexpected side. Maple blends are nothing new and many taste much like the rest with some variations but maple is maple more or less. It’s how it’s applied and what it’s applied to that makes a blend either whimper or growl and this one growls but it is a friendly shadowy beast and doesn’t bite!

The maple aromatic addition isn’t just added to the typical everyday grade burley, Virginia and cavendish base, it’s added to what is obviously of a higher standard base and has the added growl of Dark Fired Kentucky. The Dark Fired Kentucky takes a nice lead and puts its taste of darkness in the shadows. Like a dark woods at night you get some wood, and earth, nuts, herbs and a touch of peaty vegetation with its bit of smokiness. The Dark Fired Kentucky is well supported with variations of the some the same flavors from the burley including wood, earth, nuts, and adding some brown sugar and dark bread. What seems to be a Virginia of bit better grade than normally found in a basic aromatic adds some grass and tangy tart citrus, sweet sugar and floral. The above makes for a blend that would be a fine smoke as is and could stand on its own. To this is added a decent amount of good maple flavor but not too much. It does sort of push the tobacco into the shadows but not as much as expected, and as you go deeper into the shadows in your bowl that gentle glow of your cherry will bring the friendly growl of the tobacco out.

It will growl gently but not bite, burns cool and dry for an aromatic which I think is why the taste of maple comes through better than many aromatics as to genuinely taste an aromatic it must be smoked cool and slow. Doing so with this blend rewards you a sweet somewhat smoky savory mixture of all the flavors noted above in a nice balance, the tobacco shines through the topping and the topping enhances it instead of overpowering it. It’s starts out with a bit more maple and less tobacco but they even out and strengthen very shortly. The nic, strength and taste are all a solid medium to strong but so balanced as to be very pleasing. The after taste lasts a bit but is very enjoyable too and room note, always tough for me as I smoke alone mostly, seems about the same. The mouth feel is much more full and pleasing than just about any other aromatic I’ve tasted. Moisture level as tinned is perfect and it leaves little dampness and doesn’t need a lot of relights to bring it out of the shadows. It’s dang close to an everyday day smoke and is definitely easy enough to smoke several bowls a day…and I have and am glad it’s in an 8 ounce tin! It’s a 4 out of 4 for me.

Don’t fear the Maple Shadows as they are warm and flavorful and they will embrace you in the spirit of autumn.

Dave da Dragon

This was a rather bland outing from Sutliff just like they wanted to release something really quickly for the Halloween season. This is pretty flat nothing too special about it and the maple casing was very light. Also, the cut was a bit broad, making it difficult to pack.