Butera Kingfisher

For lovers of va/per blend this may be a bit of disappointment; but only because it's not a standard va/per blend. It's va, burley, and perique blended, pressed into cakes, then sliced. The slices break apart just trying to get them out of the tin, but that's what it's meant to do.

I won't go through all the description of tin appearance and aroma, as that has been done aplenty by other reviewers. However, I think it may be worthwhile to explain how I got this tobacco to become one of my favorite all time smokes after trying it, and being sorely disappointed.

First off, you might want to try a smaller pipe. Take two or three of the slices, and crumble them up as fine as possible, then use the gravity feed method to load your pipe. You may want to insert a pipe cleaner through the draw hole as you massage the tobacco into the pipe. The idea here it to have a very fine mixture packed very tightly into a small space.

I have found that, using the above method, this tobacco is extremely tasty and slow burning. It is one of the most enjoyable tobaccos I have ever encountered.

Kingfisher is the blend I use as a vacation from Latakia. It is all-around delightful and takes full advantage of the possibilities in Burley. It does so, first, by using really high-grade tobacco. At its best, as here, the much-maligned Burley gives you the essence of nuttiness and honey. It is never cloying, like an aromatic, but there?s nothing even slightly bitter about it. Kingfisher balances the Burley with warm, stoved Virginias for complexity and backbone. It tastes to me like a 50/50 combo: neither predominates, but the flavors marry for a smoke that is robust but light, all day long. There's Perique in there, too, floating around in the background.

Butera has another Virginia/Burley blend: Stonehaven, produced under the Esoterica label. While Stonehaven has a better tin aroma and comes in wonderfully menacing long black slices, it?s actually pretty boring to smoke. I used to cut it with Wessex Burley Slices until I found Kingfisher. Now there?s no need. Kingfisher is less interesting than Stonehaven in the tin, but in the pipe the situation is reversed.

Kingfisher comes in the same tins as the better-known Penzance and is cut the same way. It arrives a bit dry, and crumbles at the touch ("Krumble Kake," they call it). A bit of rubbing and you?re good to go. It burns quickly, but not hot, to a fine ash (surprisingly fine, for a flake). I smoke this blend in Dublins, as the slight taper to the bowl intensifies the flavor in the second half.

This is yummy stuff. There's enough written here to make my comments redundant, and I don't have any jokes this morning, so I'll keep it short. Perique content is not too high, just right for me, but it does seem to vary throughout the tin, from cake-flake to cake-flake. I like this. Every smoke is equal in quality and flavor strenght, but the taste profile wanders enough from bowl to bowl, to be ever interesting. Again,yummy. . .better than P.S. Bullseye, or 2015. (I know Bullseye has Cavendish, and 2015 no burley. . Kingfisher is still better). could use more nicotine.

Greetings and Salutations fellow imbibists. I thought I'd share my thoughts and experiences on a 'try' with Buteras's Kingfisher tobacco. tin: Rectangular, Beautiful picture on the cover Label: claims Virginia, Burley & Perique. Also proclaims "Double Cut, Krumble Kake. Opening tin: Found wrapped similar to Penzance, with white paper seemingly grease attached. Sniff test: Mild figs and raisins aroma, also deep undertones of Burley following the perique figgy smell. Color of Baccy: Dark Brown with 'spots' of light gold pieces scattered throughout. Texture: Lives up to the name of Krumble Kake. Noticed it to be slightly overmoist. with and hour or two left open, it could come down to the moisture level of MacB Navy flake. Flakes are twice the thickness of Navy Flake, But disintegrate quite well into the Krumble. Rub Out: Leaves lots of crumbles, with a few shags left for packing. Definitely NOT needed to reserve crumbs for charring. Packs: Packs tightly a little too quickly for my tastes. Smoking flavors: First Light brought the Wonderful spice of Perique, which held predominate for the first third of the bowl. Had to slow down, pack tighter to stay lit, and to have even burning. Second Light Minimal taste of perique, noticing the undertones of a darker 'chocolaty' leathery flavor building behind the fruity perique. Wondering where the sweet Virginia is at this point. Middle third of the bowl: Burley, shining in great detail here. That dark, wonderful fullness is definitely on top of the smoke here. Beautiful burn, smoking well, OH is this the zone? Listening to the raindrops hitting the porch roof, and mesmerized by the slight breeze wrestling with the clouds of smoke rising from the bowl. Aroma: Very mild, almost fruity smell. Sweet lingering after taste forming in mouth from Nostrils. Bottom third: Burley still going strong, Hmm, slight sweet VA taste. Perique makes second appearance, but still behind the burley. Bowl had to be heavy tamped at the end to facilitate even, and complete burning. Smoked clear to heel, with dark grey ash left. Bowl slightly warm in hand finished bowl, left with sweet Virginia aftertaste that reminds me that the label was correct. Pipe cleaners removed gunk similar to a heavy Latakia smoke, and took two to come clean. FYI I smoked it in a 95% broken in Sasienni 4 Dot rusticated Bent Brandy, that is reserved for VA or VA/P blends. I used a zippo to light and had no problems all the way to the heel. Trick was packing hard and tight once lit. Otherwise in the first light, she was burning in the center, and not the edges. Overall result, I like it. I'm going to be buying this tin for some stockup. Might see how she fares as an all day smoke.

Hope you enjoyed reading my review... Trael

This is a 7 year old sample. Presentation is very dark, almost black, thick, soft, crumbly flakes.

So now I know what "flavors of stewed fruit" means.... because this has it. Deep, dark, fruity, plumy, figgy, spicy, peppery. Rich and deep in flavor.

It is a bit moist out of the tin, and would probably benefit from some drying time. I smoked it straight out of the tin, and it required a higher than average number of relights, and left a bit of dottle.

Amazingly delicious stuff. Wish I could get more.

I quote Sound7: "Originally blended by J.F. Germain in UK, then by McClelland in US, then now by Peter Stokkebye in Denmark. I dont know where the person that added this description gets his information but Butera as of 02/27/2011 is still being blended as it always has been in the UK by J.F. Germain. My brand new tins that came from a couple different etailers say made in Jersey, British isles on both the front and back sticker."

Thank you for your correction, friend. I was the person I added, by mistake, these incorrect information about the Kinfisher manufacturer. I was adding these note to the Butera Pelican and then, repeat it was not my intention, I pasted it to the Kingfisher, too. Peace.

A exceptional smoke, although the Perique is a bit suspect to me. It may be green river burley which is processed in the same way. Regardless, a good smoke.

Earthy-spicey-yummy---One of my favorites! If you have any tins cellared,check the seals-This one can be faulty.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

This is a blend that definitely appreciates the "right pipe". I found it's deep flavour best comes out in a properly broken in Castello hawkbill: fairly thick walled 3/4" bowl...no ghosts. This is very tasty stuff and I deeply regret not popping one of the three tins I picked up three years ago sooner. Seems they are hard to get now, (figures!). I like Haddo's but would pick this over it anyday...far richer. Finally, the crumble cake, (which crumbles with ease), element is such a treat versus rubbing out flakes, (which more often than not don't rub out but turn into ropes like roll-your-owns). I'm trying to be less easy with handing out 4 stars...but this deserves it in my books. Bring it back already!!!!