CATEGORY: Straight Virginia
BLEND: Virginia
FLAVORING: no
BLENDER: John David Cole
MANUFACTURER: The Country Squire Tobacconist
CUT: Ribbon
PIPE: Old German Clay no. 3 (black)
INTENSITY: Mild-Medium
NOTES:
Sweet hay | Buttery oak | White raisins
Breathy sweet somethings sound better than whispered sweet nothings. Let's run with the deserved former, then. Silky smooth sips. Grassy hay, a tick yeasty, a bit pale nutty-toasty. Somewhat of a pastry vibe. A white wine allusion, particularly on the back-end. An oaken butteriness. Quite light in the mouth with a slight white pepper keeping it honest; at times registering as a more citrusy note. While less than fully sating on the palate, the lovely sweet exotic spice aroma does make well up for that
Slow pacing is of great importance here, as with most or all VA blends. This is aided by a slightly damp burn. One must not fear the occasional slight re-light. One must, however, fear the tongue bite--which is easily eluded via the aforementioned recommended rate of speed. The dampness does threaten to clog the draw here and there, but can easily be tinkered free. Blends like these, if their quirks are accepted and handled well, offer decent active meditations. A bowlful of Springtime flowers.
TASTE: B+
AROMA: A
BURN: B+
FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79
::: very :::