Regarding the blend(s) to be eventually known as English Springer…
I've let them rest a while to see where they would go. I'm still not sure which is 'my' formula and which one is Pete's take on it. I need to go back through my emails to find out. I actually have a hard time calling either of them 'my creation' because I really don't have much of a clue about tobacco blending and without Pete's help I'd be just as well off crumbling up oak leaves from the back yard.

But for now…

The unpressed sample (not in a baggie) has taken on a very nice citrus flavor that wasn't there much at first. The flavor to me reminds me of orange zest like you'd put in marmalade. It's also sweet - especially at first, although the sweetness does fade throughout the bowl. There's an enjoyable creaminess and smokiness as well and a fleeting toffee like flavor that comes thru in wisps occasionally. I don't pick up the toffee flavor in every bowl but it's there from time to time and I like it when I find it. There is just a bit of pepper coming through as the bowl burns down but not a lot.The flavor pretty much stays at what I'd describe as ‘creamy, smoky orange’ from start to finish with the only change being the gradual decrease in sweetness and a little increasing pepper. It's a little monochromatic in that regard but still very enjoyable and almost exactly what I was looking for.

The pressed sample (in the baggie) that was better at first has taken second place. It's not as citrusy as it was at first - which makes sense since there quite a bit less bright Virgina, percentage wise than in the previously mentioned sample. Actually, it's probably just as citrusy as it was, but the citrus has really come out in the other sample and hasn't in this one. There was a very nice, baking-spice-of-some-kind in this one at first but I can't find that at all now. (I can't identify this spice but it's there in a lot of English blends and I like it.) The flavor is still sweet, creamy and mildly smoky like the unpressed sample but the citrus is diluted in this one. Regardless, smoking this sample with a cup of coffee is very nice; it pairs very well.