Japan Tobacco Momoyama

Ah, sweet oblivion. If only I could wander mindlessly through life, what wonders I would encounter. Nope. I had to develop taste. Learned, scholarly, erudite taste. Yet this ability has often betrayed me- that $4 bottle of wine can't possibly be good, I find myself saying, no matter how many times I find evidence to the contrary. And that tobacco, well, it's- gasp- an aromatic, for God's sake. Why, oh why, was I cursed with these sophisticated taste buds?

So it was not without a degree of disdain that I approached my first tin of Momoyama. Initially purchased on a whim (I enjoy acquiring oddball items), it sat on a shelf for many months. One day, when, despite having dozens to choose from, I couldn't settle on either a Virginia or Latakia blend, I decided to give it a try. The smallish, round tin features a red vessel, Hamborger Veermaster style, against a silver/gray background, with "Momoyama" written in a font that makes me wish I had better handwriting. Popping the lid revealed the finest quality ruffled paper liner I have ever seen. It was heavily saturated with oils, reminiscent of a tin of Penzance. Then it hit me- a heavy essence of fruit surged from the tin. Apple, prune, fig- overipe and stewed. Oh boy, I thought- this is going to be brutal. Surprisingly, this overt odor dissipated quickly, leaving a mild, persistent aroma that is semi-sweet with a hint of alcohol. The bouquet reminded me of a great Hermitage, perhaps a Chave.

Lighting and burning qualities are exemplary, and the mixture smokes cool (if smoked with care) and fairly dry. No description of the tobaccos used is given, but I guess it's based on Bright and Burley, with a healthy dose of Orientals and some Perique.

Ah, the Perique. I have a love/hate relationship with this leaf. It's one of my favorites, and one of the great condiment tobaccos of the world, but it is far too often misused. Even such classic blends as Three Nuns, Escudo, and, yes, even Haddo's can be off-putting. Perhaps it is because Perique is so powerful that the slighest inhomogeneities in the blend are apparent, causing a roller coaster ride, rather than a smooth, continuous smoke. In Momoyama, the Perique is perfectly incorporated, and builds, seemingly from nowhere, both in flavor and intensity, gradually and deliberately, as it should. Greg Pease should have so deft a hand.

Virginias with Orientals but without significant Latakia may seem a bit odd (the lovely Campanile comes to mind), and the light overtones of fruit may not be appreciated by all, but Momoyama goes a splendid job of integrating everything into a terrific blend. Any fan of Blue Note should try it to see what a proper, high-end, light aromatic can be. Any true fan of this hobby will recognize this to be a great blend, despite any preconceived notions regarding toppings.

More good news- it's ridiculously underpriced. If it were the next release from GLP, people would line up around the block to buy it.

Addendum, 7/04- I have just finished my penultimate tin of Momoyama, and find myself languishing in a slough of despondancy. I should have bought 100 tins. Make that 200.

Addendum, 12/04- Yes, Virginia fans, there is a Santa Claus, and he lives in the great state of Washington. I recently received in the mail the most thoughtful and generous gift in the form of two sealed tins of Momoyama. My faith in humanity, having languished over the last several years, has been fully restored. That a complete strange would see fit to share such a bounty with me has forced me to reconsider some long held opinions regarding the worth of mankind. To say the least, there exists at least one kind soul on the west coast who does not have to worry about finding bail money, at least as long as I'm around.