Emerson Southern Forged Abercastle

So we have come about to one ESF standard offering that begs thoughtful consideration especially for all you bravehearted Burley enthusiasts. For the purposes of this particular commentary, entering is one strapping mixture labeled as Abercastle. Providing a bit of figurative context, Abercastle itself is the Welsh home of the massive neolithic stone dolmen set in place by the efforts of Samson’s mere pinky finger as popular legend holds. Ironically, as the smoking trials did reveal, Abercastle is a most befitting moniker, for it signifies the mannish mystique of the full-strength character that quickly overtook my unguarded briar.

Taking everything into account, Abercastle arrives nicely packaged inside a four-ounce glass Ball jar in the form of a moist puck of conjoined rough-cut ribbons. The compressed matrix of comprising ingredients marries the stouthearted bigness of commanding Dark Burley, potently spiced cigar leaf, teeming Acadian Perique and two bright strains of colorful Oriental leaves, Krumovgrad and Izmir. This fermented two-inch-thick disc premiers a streaming collection of mottled colors ranging from golden tans, soiled chocolate, distorted rich red browns, and somber ebon strands.

In a casual sampling of the essential jar airs, the smartly pressed Abercastle charges full on with a bold fragrance that is categorically sweet, tarty, and elaborately spiced. Embodied within this determined aroma is a clean prime note of rustic wooded Burley, loamy earthiness, some refreshing herbal spicing, a little guarded soured pungency, and a distinct alternative note that renders a sharp seasoned whiskey-like spirit although there is no reference to its inclusion within the published recipe.

If I were to accurately describe this mixture’s standard registration, I would most definitely state that Abercastle demonstrates stout resolve by an impactful digression of heady robustness, fullness of width and depth, passive native sweetness, and a shifting brilliance. Initially the push from the Orientals is quite considerable but the blend quickly finds a darker stronghold that serves to anchor its consistently powerfully brooding persona.

Furthermore, there was enough interesting complexity within its rounded recipe to make the tobacco intensely captivating and unmerciful in yielding a fist of tough-natured charisma. Additionally, the three primary tiers of flavor were expertly achieved leading to a well-balanced profile that centers as savory, exceptionally smoky, and perfectly laden with fervent articulated spice.
As the base profile evolved, the primary thrust naturally emitted from the Burley strain while the stoked Perique and vibrant Oriental leaves interplayed for secondary import within the wide middle band of taste. Completing the composite sphere, the complementing cigar varietal added a nice canty bottom-level accenting. Make no mistake, Abercastle is clearly a rugged proposition expressly designed for the experienced and adventurous piper all said.

In being chiefly a Burley-based entry, the formidable impression that was brought forth disclosed a shadier character of significant concentration. First and foremost, the strengthened force of the subject Dark Burley leaf aligned well with the curmudgeonly mantra of an Old Joe Krantz, meaning it was tenacious, rough-necked, and unyielding in its sordid surly presence. This principal characterization tendered a toasty, dank, tart, pastoral wood that had a plentiful degree of soiled earthiness and biting vegetal properties that leaned towards sour tendencies. What is more I gathered nodes of musky clove accenting and shreds of burnt cocoa. And to round out this main projection, the level of darker tannic zest and resolute smokiness that were denoted actually proved to be quite eventful as well.

As previously stated, the mid/upper band complemental remarking of the Perique and Orientals seemed to be generally circulating with parallel emphasis which made the achieved multilayer nuance exceptionally seasoned and effectually bold. Still, of slightly greater magnitude, the Acadian brought an incredibly strong contribution to Abercastle’s thrilling projection. Principally this strain endowed a base element of sweet-tart fig and sorted earthen mustiness. Further embellishing this sweeter disposition was the blatant evidence of substantial cutting pepper and an all-encompassing beefy umami overtone. The earnest resonance of the Perique element played confidently with felt consequence to the entire palate cavity. Its stinging physical sensation lingered for a considerable duration of time. Again, an additional direct reflection of the seriousness of this blend.

Sharing in this complementary glory, the twin Oriental constituents offered a presentation of precisely bright enhancements. Once the duo’s initial rush found its preferred place within the respectable rank and file, they crisply engendered a lively confluence that was of sweet-sour bitter temperament. Overall, the main thread seemed to manifest as a dense piney floral tailored with a dash of cinnamon-like perkiness which was most likely coming from the resident Krumovgrad. Offsetting this spicier tone, the Izmir was endowed with a humoring of cajoling lemony black tea and a tinge of contained softer sultriness. Overall, the light-heartedness of these decorative strains brought a tasteful abatement to the sheer forcefulness of the other two gutsier components.

And last but not least, for the entered cigar leaf, it personified itself down low with a darker sweet pungent earthiness on the whole. Embedded in that stream were tasteful ambiences of aged cedar and punchy complex spice. Judging from my own cigar aficionado experience, I surmised that perhaps a common Sumatran varietal was deployed but that is pure speculation in all honesty. Whatever the type it was that ESF used, the delightful headiness of the ensuing note provided a finishing splendor. Finally, I did just catch a dull thread of something that eluded a sweet brisky spirit in nature, but nothing too overt, which by speculation may be evidence of some sort of alcohol-based casing that may have been applied.

Regarding the spent aroma, Abercastle demonstrated a valorous position in yielding the merits of its manly spirit. Deeply committed, this tobacco posed a proud showing of a fertile essence that brought the native energy of its rich steely tobaccos. Evincing meaty clouds of obsessively dense smoke, a massive note of soured Burley wood etched with seasoned char and tarty greenness may describe it best. There was a further bundling of intricate spicing that challenged this soured dominance in borrowing pungency, stark earthiness, and exotic floral from the series of complementary tobaccos. Largely, the permanence stayed and bit down with uncompromised confidence. At best, the room note was all but tolerable, well at least to the average Burley enthusiast perhaps.

Regarding the physical attributes of smoking this ESF mixture, by objective assessment the tobacco achieved exemplary ratings with regard to virtually all mechanical performance concerns. There were two individual aspects that bear more critical commenting, however. Nonetheless, respecting general burn characteristics, temperature regulation, and overall consistency, Abercastle was essentially a comfortable companion.

With a bit of subjective nitpicking, the fact of the matter is I found the nicotine thumping bestowed by this tobacco to be absolutely killer and that is coming from a sorted character with vast smoking experience. Given the big residual exposure, I would honestly recommend slowly metered half bowl sessions, unless you revel in a serious case of confused wooziness. Secondly, there is a bit more preparation required allowing for its originating caked state. That condition combined with a slight degree of excess moisture does present some handling concerns, but this is understandable in truth; it is what it is.


Objective Scoring: (based on flavor, standard genre attributes and mechanicals): 176/196 ? 3.1 WAVG.
Subjective Rating: (factored for likeability and cost): 3.5 Pipes.