Motzek (Curly) Strang

This is a rope blend that cuts into coins fairly easily, though you should definitely dry it some before smoking because it will smoke wet. I packed the bottom with loose tobacco, stacked the coins, adding a little loose tobacco on top for an easier char lighting. By stacking the coins, you'll get all the flavors in nearly every puff, but if you decide to cube cut first, you'll be in for a variety of flavors in varying degrees per puff. The flavors are bold and forceful. The lead component is the very earthy, slightly sugary, very tangy dark fruity, woody, vegetative, herbal, floral, spicy, and tart and tangy citrusy sweet brown Virginias. They are amplified by the strong nutty, earthy, woody, mildly molasses sweet burleys, and further fueled by a blast of raisiny, figgy, earthy, plumy, very peppery perique. I suspect a little sugary black cavendish is present as well. It's a flavor bomb, but not so powerful that it would knock you to your knees. The strength, taste and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the medium mark. Burns slow with a cool, clean, very consistent, spicy, fruity sweet, rugged taste that never weakens or gets harsh, and translates to the pleasantly lingering after taste. It does require a few relights, and leaves a tad bit of moisture in the bowl, but not enough to hamper your smoking. It will not bite, but it does have some rough edges. Has a potent room note. Not an all day smoke. A blend for discriminating smokers best served and sipped in a pipe with a wide bowl to savor the full experience of a well balanced, complex, nuanced product. Four stars out of four.

Update June 4, 2021: This is a review and comparison of the new version of Strang to the original production. It mostly looks the same, except that when I cut the rope, I immediately noticed a wider black center than the old Motzek ropes. In smoking it, I discovered there was less burley, and none of its aspects (bold nuttiness, earth, wood, and molasses) are as potent as what was previously used. The same holds true for the much milder, less fruity, lightly tangy Virginias. The perique and black cavendish have many of the same familiar notes, but are less forceful and sweet in every way. The spice and fruit content of the perique is similar to the old Strang in taste, but not in strength or depth. That is especially true for the stewed fruitiness, and for the product as a whole. The strength and taste levels barely cross the medium mark. The nic-hit is a step below medium. Won’t bite or get harsh, and has fewer rough edges. The burn rate and number of relights are the same only if you give it plenty of dry time. It is moister than the original Strang. It also lacks some of the rugged quality I previously perceived. Though it possesses a fair amount of the original flavor qualities, it is less complex with fewer, weaker nuances, and not as well balanced due to the extra use of black tobaccos crowding out the Virginias and burleys. I consider the new manufacture to be “Strang-lighter”. My ratings at Tobacco Reviews reflect current productions, so this one is now listed at three stars.

-JimInks