John Patton Crossroads

On the strength of one of the reviews here I tried Oriental Dusk (another Patton blend), having been on a recent binge favoring blends with VA/Turkish and hopefully Cigar Leaf. After having declared it a 'National Treasure' I moved on in my expolorations. The blends I was trying at the time (many without the Cigar Leaf) included Embarcadero (a classic), Butera Blended Flake, McConnell's Scottish Flake, Pebblecut (a real winner), C&D Oriental Silk (very nice, very light) and their Sunday Picnic, Red Carpet and Riverboat Gambler. The C&D blends mostly have Perique as the condiment along with the Turkish. There's also Captain Earle's Honor Blend, which is a plug. While saying that there isn't a loser among those fine offerings, I was still looking for something 'more'.

So with that as background I'll declare that if Oriental Dusk is a national treasure (as is Storm Front, representing a zenith within it's own genre) then Crossroads is absolutely a treasure in its own right. Through a fluke I learned a bit about the component ratios and roughly we are talking 80% VA (3 varieties), 15% Izmir and 5% Cigar Leaf...rounding a bit here and there. It is nothing short of a masterwork for my tastes and yet another little symphony created by the erstwhile Mr.Patton who is renouned for balance and the interplay of flavors. The balance of VA's put them in the background as a base against which the Turkish really has reign to shine...with the Cigar Leaf lending depth and roundness. Thankfully being lower on the "N" scale, it can be an effective all day smoke...and it's become one for me. It seems that Izmir has become the darling of many blenders recently and that's all to the good as it has so much to offer...but is sometimes finickey in it's reaction to it's fellow components and to smoking cadence. Here, it's to the fore and seems to be tamed so that it behaves well, at least for me. Sipped, this blend is pure Turkish Bliss, which well might be a byline for it.

Only a month ago Oriental Dusk had to be ordered as a 'special order' and in a half pound amount. While fine for me, many might not have even known that 4-N's would put together ANY of Patton's blends on order. Now they have made Oriental Dusk a regular offering, available in any amount. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. My only hope is that this one meets the same fortunate fate...for if you like blends featuring Izmir this one should absolutely be on your short list.

My absolutely highest recommendation.