Details
| Brand | Golden Blend Tobacco Co. |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Latakia, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Other / Misc |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | 100g Tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.08 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 26, 2005 | Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
The previous reviewer, Carlo, characterized Golden Blend's "Blue Train" as a "semi-aromatic" and I have to agree with this. This blend falls into a category which is not well-represented at the present when compared to the two dominant categories of "English" and "Aromatic" blends. In my opinion Blue Train is a superlative example of a true "semi-aromatic".
Blue Train has a light, fresh tin aroma of natural fruit and tobacco with none of the overbearing properties of some heavily-cased aromatics. If you can imagine the smells of a peach orchard on a warm afternoon just before harvest, you will have good idea of the tin aroma.
The long, thin, confetti-like cut of this blend can make it a challenge to load so I find it best to tear it up a bit before loading and packing. Moisture content is just about right and comparable to most English blends I have tried, packing similarly.
A couple of good charring lights and you will be on your way to a pleasant smoke. As the other reviewers suggested, go fairly slow with this blend because it can burn hot - although I have never experienced any tongue bite. You will likely need a few re-lights along the way but, all-in-all, Blue Train burns well.
The taste of this blend is very representative of the tin aroma, which would seem to indicate a good marriage of casing and tobbaco as well as proper aging. The room note is light and pleasant - garnering neither compliment nor complaint from my better half. The Latakia is not at all evident in the room note though it will throw you a quick, passing wave when blown through the nose. The smoke is exceptionally pleasant in the nose and one can also begin to acquire a li'l nicotine buzz that way as well. A have categorized this as medium-strength, but it borders on strong when blown through the nose.
In all, I think Blue Train is a great blend. It has a wonderful tin aroma, good composition, nice burn, pleasant room note and the natural Virginia tobacco flavors are not drowned in a heavy casing. Blue Train is my choice for the first smoke of the day and the only one that I have found that actually compliments a light breakfast, whether before or after I smoke.
Blue Train has a light, fresh tin aroma of natural fruit and tobacco with none of the overbearing properties of some heavily-cased aromatics. If you can imagine the smells of a peach orchard on a warm afternoon just before harvest, you will have good idea of the tin aroma.
The long, thin, confetti-like cut of this blend can make it a challenge to load so I find it best to tear it up a bit before loading and packing. Moisture content is just about right and comparable to most English blends I have tried, packing similarly.
A couple of good charring lights and you will be on your way to a pleasant smoke. As the other reviewers suggested, go fairly slow with this blend because it can burn hot - although I have never experienced any tongue bite. You will likely need a few re-lights along the way but, all-in-all, Blue Train burns well.
The taste of this blend is very representative of the tin aroma, which would seem to indicate a good marriage of casing and tobbaco as well as proper aging. The room note is light and pleasant - garnering neither compliment nor complaint from my better half. The Latakia is not at all evident in the room note though it will throw you a quick, passing wave when blown through the nose. The smoke is exceptionally pleasant in the nose and one can also begin to acquire a li'l nicotine buzz that way as well. A have categorized this as medium-strength, but it borders on strong when blown through the nose.
In all, I think Blue Train is a great blend. It has a wonderful tin aroma, good composition, nice burn, pleasant room note and the natural Virginia tobacco flavors are not drowned in a heavy casing. Blue Train is my choice for the first smoke of the day and the only one that I have found that actually compliments a light breakfast, whether before or after I smoke.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 11, 2004 | Very Mild | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
TIN AROMA: Upon opening the beautiful tin (this blend could be purchased for the art work alone!), one is greeted by a wonderful natural peach aroma. Because this aroma is so natural, it's difficult to tell whether the subtle 'earthiness' is part of the fruity smell or the caskiness of the white wine barrel in which the mixture was aged. Possibly it's a bit of both. There is a well rounded mature virginia aroma but it definately plays second fiddle to the peach. Although the blend contains Latakia I could not detect any in the tin aroma.
ROOM NOTE: A very pleasant 'semi-aromatic' aroma which can only be described as a warm peach/sweet virginia smell; light and friuty but not at all sickly. No Latakia element could be detected in the room note.
PACKING: Although packing seems very easy initially, it soon becomes apparent that in order for the blend to burn well, you have to pack it on the light side of springy. But not too much on the light side or it will bite!
LIGHTING: As mentioned in the packing section, you have to pack it a little on the light side or the mixture will not take the flame well. You'll just get lots of wonderful white virginia smoke and then the pipe will go out instantly! I found it took a few matches and tampers to get it going; even then you have to be light on the tamping or you're back to square one. Sometimes the pipe nail is required to break things up a bit. But after the initial difficulties it burns well and evenly, although a little fast which is to be expected being a virginia blend. Burns very cleanly to a very fine white ash.
APPEARANCE: An attractive mixture with bright to medium brown virginia leaf flecked with occaisonal black Latakia; a broken flake that ranges from pieces of flat leaf to an almost ribbon consistancy. Can have the odd clump which needs to be rubbed out a little. Moisture content is on the dry side of perfect IMHO, although it acts as if overly moist when it comes to taking the flame.
SMOKING: Once the mixture is smouldering well, this really is a well rounded and satisfying smoke. Although the peach is definately the dominant flavour it never overtakes the wonderful natural flavour of the aged virginia leaf. Being a lover of English and Balkan blends I think the Latakia content is far too mild for me to detect any Oriental flavour, although maybe it contributes to the overall mellow character of the blend and also helps to cool things down a bit. Also, I could not detect any white wine or oak barrell flavouring but perhaps my palate isn't sensitive enough! Being a virginia blend, careful and measured drawing is required or it could bite. Having said that it's remarkably cool for a virginia, even at the bottom of the bowl. The flavour never deteriorates into harshness and the peach flavour is detectable and pleasantly sweet to the end. This blend is full bodied enough to give satisfaction in the evening but light enough to be a good all day smoke. A well balanced, quality semi-aromatic that has proved to be very versatile indeed.
PROS: A mellow, full bodied but light and refreshing mixture that can be enjoyed anywhere at any time. It has a splendid natural peach flavour that never gets out of hand; a semi-aromatic that burns cleanly and evenly. Excellent quality.
CONS: Can be difficult to light. Requires careful packing and is a little high maintenance at the start. Has a tendency to burn a little hot and fast with the potential for tongue bite and throat burn. However, this can be rectified with careful drawing.
ROOM NOTE: A very pleasant 'semi-aromatic' aroma which can only be described as a warm peach/sweet virginia smell; light and friuty but not at all sickly. No Latakia element could be detected in the room note.
PACKING: Although packing seems very easy initially, it soon becomes apparent that in order for the blend to burn well, you have to pack it on the light side of springy. But not too much on the light side or it will bite!
LIGHTING: As mentioned in the packing section, you have to pack it a little on the light side or the mixture will not take the flame well. You'll just get lots of wonderful white virginia smoke and then the pipe will go out instantly! I found it took a few matches and tampers to get it going; even then you have to be light on the tamping or you're back to square one. Sometimes the pipe nail is required to break things up a bit. But after the initial difficulties it burns well and evenly, although a little fast which is to be expected being a virginia blend. Burns very cleanly to a very fine white ash.
APPEARANCE: An attractive mixture with bright to medium brown virginia leaf flecked with occaisonal black Latakia; a broken flake that ranges from pieces of flat leaf to an almost ribbon consistancy. Can have the odd clump which needs to be rubbed out a little. Moisture content is on the dry side of perfect IMHO, although it acts as if overly moist when it comes to taking the flame.
SMOKING: Once the mixture is smouldering well, this really is a well rounded and satisfying smoke. Although the peach is definately the dominant flavour it never overtakes the wonderful natural flavour of the aged virginia leaf. Being a lover of English and Balkan blends I think the Latakia content is far too mild for me to detect any Oriental flavour, although maybe it contributes to the overall mellow character of the blend and also helps to cool things down a bit. Also, I could not detect any white wine or oak barrell flavouring but perhaps my palate isn't sensitive enough! Being a virginia blend, careful and measured drawing is required or it could bite. Having said that it's remarkably cool for a virginia, even at the bottom of the bowl. The flavour never deteriorates into harshness and the peach flavour is detectable and pleasantly sweet to the end. This blend is full bodied enough to give satisfaction in the evening but light enough to be a good all day smoke. A well balanced, quality semi-aromatic that has proved to be very versatile indeed.
PROS: A mellow, full bodied but light and refreshing mixture that can be enjoyed anywhere at any time. It has a splendid natural peach flavour that never gets out of hand; a semi-aromatic that burns cleanly and evenly. Excellent quality.
CONS: Can be difficult to light. Requires careful packing and is a little high maintenance at the start. Has a tendency to burn a little hot and fast with the potential for tongue bite and throat burn. However, this can be rectified with careful drawing.
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