Japan Tobacco Momoyama

There isn't much left to say after Eulenburg's review, except to say ... yes, exactly, and thank you for piquing my interest enough that I bought a tin. I can't tell whether it has a very light and subtle topping, or simply a superior grade of perique in the mixture. An unusual balance of integration and complexity, I ordered more before I quite finished the first tin.

Perhaps this blend was never made to be aged so long. When I opened my tin in February 2022 after receiving it December 2003, the expected fruity and floral aromas had disappeared, having melded into the tobacco entirely. The aroma left was one reminiscent of Anisette liqueur. The dark brown and black ribbons felt dry-ish, though the tin's vacuum seal was intact. The paper liner-basket was stained brown from the tars.

The product packs well and it is surprising how much seems to fit in. It lights easily and burns well, needing only 1 or 2 re-lights, to a grey dry ash.

The room note shortly after opening carried a hint of the Anisette character, but after a week past opening, that was gone.

It smells natural and there seems to be a hint of a Latakia-like character on the palate and very much in the background of the room note. Sidestream aroma is natural, leafy, leathery and earthy though not spicy or aromatic.

The strength was a surprise - I was expecting mild to medium or medium MAX but it is quite fiull bodied in character, strength and has surprising nicotine content.

The after-aroma doesn't seem to linger on clothes as a foul, acrid, ashy smell. Rather it is like an Autumn leaf-fire's cooling ashes and fades altogether after a relatively short time.

I was disappointed that in my hesitancy to open it, I've allowed it to mature past the stability of the original flavourings, so I've missed the fruit and (claimed) Sakura aromas, but what is left is a solid, strong and complex mixture that is satisfying to pack and partake of.

Being no longer in production, this review is more for posterity and as a warning, perhaps, to those with a stash of this or any other product that may not be 100% natural and unflavoured - they may age beyond their best!

I was lucky to get ahol of 100g from 2005 of this lovely tobacco. "Semi-aromatic"...that hits the nail on the head imho. Definetly flavored, but in a good manner that leaves room for the tobaccos to shine too, even supporting and enhancing the naural tobacco qualities. The flavoring is more present in the unburnt aroma, than in the smoke, which is a plus for me.

The tin note is hard to describe...I get licorice, caramel and nougat-ish, with fruity notes and an underlying pepper spice to be acknowledged. Almost a ribbon cut, this is a very fine broken flake. Black colors, with red and brown speckles, very few bright ones.

Intense and complex taste. There's the melange of various tobaccos and the top-flavoring that flatters them and vice versa! Peppery, sour-fruity Perique, nutty and earthy Burley, with distinct Oriental aroma that has a woodsy-nutty and sour-ish touch to it. The tobacco qualities are accompanied by a never obtrusive topping of fruitiness, maybe some caramel and very slight licorice. The topping is hard to describe, but I find it very pleasant and mild.

Great, pleasant flavor that will appeal to both aromatic fans and natural lovers, who like a mildly flavored tobacco by times. The aging diddn't fade the topping away tho and its still perfectly conditioned. Not too moist, but a bit. Could be dried for a short time if prefered.

4/4 star worthy, smooth as silk, semi-aromatic, tobacco forward blend that's very pelasant as a treat by times. Worth trying if you can get ahold of it.