SAMPLE NOTES #1
Here is the first installment of quick notes on my impressions of 1-2 bowl samples from the box; all samples were smoked in MM cobs as my briars are all ensconced in their various dedications at the moment (being a bit demure, they do not normally go for one-night-stands; well, most of them at least):
Boswell Pipes & Tobacco Dan’s Blend: A pleasant, although somewhat uninspired, bright Virginia blend in a near shag cut with a slightly sweet and bitey quality reminding of some of the Virginia-based offerings of a well-known Danish outfit with a Scottish name. At times, it also reminded me a bit of Dan’s Hamborger Veermaster.
Cornell & Diehl Habana Day Dream (#420): Among the many things which bother me about the premium cigar industry’s U.S. sales style is the constant reference to ‘Havana’, ‘Habana’, ‘Habano’, ‘Cuba’, ‘Cubito’, and evocative and sometimes meaningless variations thereof in relation to cigars of Dominican, Honduran, Nicaraguan, and others of non-Cuban origin. In my opinion ‘Habana Day Dream’ is a silly name for a cigar-leaf blend containing (maduro) broadleaf from Pennsylvania; why not make the fact explicit in the first place? I think American growers produce a excellent cigar leaf as well as keep alive a segment of agriculture which, while economically less-and-less consequential, has tremendous historical and cultural significance. If I were to name this blend, I would call it ‘Lancaster Day Dream’, and perhaps place a picture of a Amish farmer on the tin label, relaxing against a bale of straw with a corn cob pipe clenched in his bearded jaw (wait, are the Amish allowed to smoke?). In any case, this is a good blend with much more in the way of complexity than, say, the same blender’s Billy Budd. The Latakia here is far in the background, and the Virginias and black Cavendish add a nice sweetness. The Perique serves a true condimental role, a garnish without which the blend might fall just a bit flat. Recommended, despite the name.
Greenfield and Winther White Burley: Dark and a bit nutty, with a soft mouthfeel and an earthy and pleasantly sour-spicy finish. Always nice to be able to try something of this vintage; a lovely aged burley.
John Patton Quadruple Virginia: This is essentially “Cool Hand Fluke” sans its massive amount of Perique; a nice Virginia blend which showcases the expected range of typical Virginia flavors; medium bodied with citrus and black cherry notes and a slightly tangy finish. Might purchase if a good deal was to be had, although would not necessarily seek it out given the competition.
John Patton Smoked Burley: A blend of six burleys and Latakia, this “American English” reminds of similar offerings by C&D. While the Latakia remains clearly present throughout the bowl, a nice mixture of tell-tale Burley flavors assert themselves at every step. While smoking this blend, however, I kept wondering how it would taste if the Latakia were exchanged with some nice Red Virginia and perhaps a bit of Perique, either a sign of boredom or yet another indication of my sometimes lukewarm response to the use of Cyprian Latakia outside the ambit of the traditional English/Balkan mixture.
Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky: Yes this stuff is strong, yet a bit light in body overall. Expected more depth of flavor then was present, even in spite of the slight casing. Would smoke again if offered, but would not go out of my way to purchase.
More notes to follow...
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