Watch City Cigar Christmas Past (2014 Christmas Blend)

The granular burley is easy to pack, and fairly easy to keep it, though it usually needs a few relights after the half way point. The burley isn't very sweet, but it does have a touch of cocoa to go with a high degree of toast, earth, wood and nuts. The tonquin bean topping is not strong, and seems to come and go, though it somewhat weakens by the time you get to the last third of the bowl. The more I smoke of this, the more I'm thinking the topping has a touch of anise, too. The level of nuttiness never changes, but it is more noticeable towards the end because the topping is less obvious. The burley never gets cigarettish. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the mild mark. The taste is in the center of mild to medium. Won't bite or get harsh. Burns cool even if you push it a little. Burns clean at slightly less than a moderate rate with a very consistent, deeply rich flavor from top to bottom. Leaves little moisture in the bowl,a nd requires a few relights. Has a lightly lingering pleasant after taste and room note. It's meant to remind the smoker of the old-time burley blends, and it keeps its promise as an all day smoke. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks