Peterson Summertime 2013

Ah, Peterson's yearly summer offering. I love these limited edition blends from Peterson. The tin artwork is always splendid, the blends are usually top notch, and I love the fact they are sold in 100 grams since only a certain number of tins are produced. I picked up a tin as soon as it hit the American market last week. I've had about a dozen bowls of it so far, so I feel a review is okay at this time.

Last year's was quite a disappointment, so I didn't know what to expect from this year.

This time it's a wonderful top dressing of mango and Caribbean rum. A much better flavoring than last year's lime which overpowered the coconut and rum.

It's mostly a Virginia blend with a few different kinds accented by some Burley and a bit more Black Cavendish. In the tin it's a beautiful arrangement of colors.

When you crack the tin you get a wonderful nose full of mango. It smells a lot like mango yogurt, if you've ever had it.

The moisture level is a bit on the high side. You can smoke a bowl right out of the tin, but I warn you it will burn a bit hotter and might gurgle a bit. For the best experience I'd suggest filling the pipe and letting it sit about fifteen minutes before lighting it.

Once it's the right moisture level it packs well. The leaf takes a char and true light nicely and burns evenly into a nice white ash, indicating a quality leaf.

As far as flavor goes the mango and rum are rather apparent and a bit on the strong side when you light it up, but they mellow out as the bowl begins to burn. After the first light up the mango and rum come through at a nice pace and I'm left with a wonderful sweet Virginia after taste. The flavoring isn't chemically to me.

I haven't experienced any tongue bite yet with this blend. The room note is rather nice. I tend to get a number of compliments from those around me.

Overall this is a quality aromatic and if you're interest is piqued by it don't hesitate to snatch up a tin or two. These yearly offerings from Peterson tend to sell out rather quick.

Smoked in May 2014. Fragrant, delicately sweet. Fruity, touch of vanilla and rum fragrance. Stays lit easily. Tad bitter. I'm not sure if some of the casing evaporated and the tobacco may have dried a bit. But it was the perfect dryness for lighting. The tobacco isn't in a sealed tin - it's a folded bag inside the tin. I put it in a mason jar as soon as I got the tobacco.

**Update** It has been over 100 degrees every day in Southern California, and this was the only tobacco that I could tolerate on scorching days like that. It was really nice on those days! Almost somewhat cool.

K&K special editions for Peterson and for themselves are always a mixture of Virginias (almost always red and bright), Cavendish and Burley; which is a superb mixture by itseilf.

What really changes is the flavouring they use. This Peterson Summertime special had a strong Mango tin note which is absolutely fantastic. The Smoke is lovely, but I found the flavouring too overpowering and sometimes I felt it stayed in my tongue even when I was not puffing. Not too much Rum detected. A decent smoke though.

Peterson - Summertime 2013.

At first I thought this was okay, halfway through I couldn't stand it.

Something I like about the Peterson Ltd editions is the packaging, due to the 'push clip' lid the hydration of them is always great. That's what we have here: it's perfectly moist. The aroma from the tin's strongly aromatic, it can instantly be identified as being a fruity blend.

This is the situation with the smoke: it's well put together, but it's too fruity for me; I can't taste any of the tobaccos, all I can taste is mangos and rum, with the mangos being lots heavier in comparison.

I get very little in the way of nicotine, there's pretty much none of it. But as aromatics are directed mostly at flavour smokers, that shouldn't be much of a problem I'd guess!

I find the mango gets stronger and stronger as the bowl burns down; at the beginning it was too much for me but by the end it's unbearable!

There are a few reasons why despite the fact I hate this I still recommend it somewhat. One of which is if you enjoy strong, exotic tasting blends you'll find this has accomplished that well!

Somewhat recommended.

I bought the tin too late to smoke it last summer so I am just smoking it! In the tin the tobacco is in perfect condition, not dry as it may happen being just in a celluloid bag in the tin. Among the special blends from Peterson I tend to think that their summertime blends are the best and do not give any disappointment. The 2013 edition is superb. Nice flavour in the tin, fruity aroma (peach, banana?). Beautiful smoke, the fruity aroma as an after note with some nutty bits is really nice. I enjoyed smoking it in the garden early in the afternoon on warm days. That is when it is at its best for my taste. If your stockist still has some, do not hesitate!

Very pleasant and fruity kind of Tobacco. Quiet wet right out of the thin. After a little drying the various aromatic components are coming out while smoking. Neutral room note. Ash is grey and no wet smoking, but smoke it slowly as it's a real pipe heater !

Another fine addition to the Peterson line of aromatics. This seems to have a very nice tin note and room note. This one ought to get you some positive remarks from passersby. All the elements seem to come together nicely in this blend. I agree with the other reviewers remarks below. Recommended.