CATEGORY: English
BLEND: Burley, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia
FLAVORING: None
BLENDER: Sutliff Tobacco Company
MANUFACTURER: Sutliff Tobacco Company
CUT: Ribbon
PIPE: Old German Clay no. 3 (black finish)
INTENSITY: Medium/Med.-Full
NOTES:
Capsicum | Almond | Minerality
Funky and sharp. The Perique seems to lend a psychotic-ish focus to the Latakia and that's the lead; although, oddly, in a minimally traditional Latakia manner. The smokiness seems contained to the back-end and short finish. Black pepper and a note akin to liquid smoke seared in a cast-iron pan. A capsicum-laden front-end tingle the lips somewhat more than delightfully-so. Quite nutty, with the Burley steadily driving in bitter almond fashion. That smooths on-into black walnut as it travels the palate. Graphite.
The room-note is downright unpleasant, even for an English blend. Although it's actually an American blend thanks to the Burley. I think I'll mix in some cheapy Cavendish and have myself an equally-awkward but perhaps more endearing Scottish. Where this blend lacks is in both body and balance. Complexity and even nuance would be only reasonably expected at a higher MSRP. This is a (tartly) serviceable blend, and honestly impressive for what it is and sans flavoring.
Performance-wise, it's quite ready to burn fresh out of the gym sock-smelling pouch. It is actually a hair dry and burns a goodly tick quick, leaving no moisture in the bowl but too, more dottle than I expected. The salt and pepper ash is on the sandy side. Smoke out-put seems to wiggle around some, in terms of volume and man, it smells off-putting--and again--even for an English and I am an English fan. I even listen to the BBC almost exclusively, at least in regards to bloody massive brilliant news.
All told, and this may surprise you, this would be an excellent blend to keep around and on-hand. I do have one final and general gripe. We are aware a thing is a budget item simply by looking at its price tag as compared to others; why use names which remind us ham-fistedly? Why not call this Something Something Manor or Lord Someone Someone? Throw some pillars or a noble bust on the pouch and allow me to delude myself. Not a fan of Government Cheese packaging.
TASTE: B
AROMA: B-
BURN: B+
FINAL GRADE: B
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79
::: very :::