Watch City Cigar Watch City Slices

Watch City slices - i read a quote recently and I don’t remember who said it . It read ; There are two kinds of pipe smoker , those who love Burley and those who don’t know they love Burley ! It took me about 4-5 years but the Burley bug has got a hold of me . I’m hooked . This is one delicious blend . Soft flakes a la C&D . Easily rubbed into ribbons with 3 fingers . Cocoa Burleys front and center . Dark fired , floral and earthy and a wee spicy . The Virginias fruity and bready . The Rum adding more fruitiness and smoothing out any rough edges which there are hardly any . I am suprised how creamy this blend is . I’m in love . 4 stars

Deep, rich nuanced burley flavor without hitting you on the head with nicotine. The toppings are masterfully subtle and serve to underline the natural flavor of the tobacco. I don't have much to add other than my enthusiasm for this terrific blend. Truly exceptional. I like it better than Solani.

Watch City Slices... I've got to say, I love me some Watch City Slices. It was by chance, or fate I suppose, that I recieved them. I placed my first order online from the good fellers over at Watch City based on reviews from here. I didn't notice that some blends, like 556, had been revamped to different blends, like 558. I asked Ernie to send me whatever he recommends since I had paid for it anyway. Watch City Slices surprised me as my favorite of that shipment, and I had passed on it thinking it sounded similar to many blends I had already tried and didn't care that much for. Beautiful slices, thick and easily broken apart, as much or as little as preferred. Burns like a champ, though if too broken up can get a touch warm. But the flavor is where this blend shines. A sweet, slightly Caribbean tasting tobacco with dark dried Kentucky showing off the whole time. The best descriptive words for this blend are fresh and crisp, it is a joy to smoke. I have a Savinelli Porto Cervo dedicated to this blend, and every time I pick it up and draw on it, the most wonderful tasting air greets my palate. It's almost mouth watering. I've of course ordered more since then, and it has been a bit more moist, and a bit more flavorful. That leads me to think I should have hydrated my first batch a wee bit, something I was tempted to do but never got around to.... I smoked it up too fast! Highly recommended, like most of the blends Ernie gets his hands into!

The cut is quite different to what I'm used to. Those are slices from a cake (pressed ribbon). After rubbing out, I end up with a kind of rough cut quite similar to the old timer burleys such as Carter Hall.

The pouch aroma is delightful: Boozy and nutty, sweet maybe almond something.

Mechanics are easy: A tamped gravity fill is enough, takes the a light and a half to get t going, and burns down with little relights.

The aroma is pretty sweet in the beginning. A kind light caramel with a spicy rum scent. Those dark and spiced rums, Jamaican style maybe. The nutty burley develops and quickly takes the lead. As the bowl progresses, the topping dissipates and you get this full on burley taste with a sweet twist.

If I smoke this too fast, it can turn bitter. I just let it cool down and it's back to its normal delicious self.

A 9mm filter was useful to me as it does produce quite a bit of moisture. There's no bite or burley mouth. Just an easy flavorful smoke.

I've smoked multiple bowls of it in the same day and do not get tired of it. To me, this is a perfect all day blend. Not too much nicotine, easy pack and easy smoke. I regret not getting more of this!