Before this thread existed I sent my initial tasting notes to Pete. The two blends were Seminole Red and Outdoor Incense. The SR was envisioned as having the VA heavy sweetness and tang offset by a burley nut and some Lat creaminess. Also a smidgen of Oriental. As you read on you will discover I did a terrible job of explaining my concept. The second blend, Outdoor Incense, was a more focused idea and the results were consistent with the vision. The genesis of OI was the smell of Piñon pine burning in the air during fall evenings in the American Southwest. I also wanted to capture the smell of incense during High Mass at Cathedrale Notre-Dame, or at least make my back porch smell like it. Here are the notes:

Initial feedback. Surprised on both counts. The Seminole Red was not as sweet and fruity (ripe) as I'd hoped. Maybe drop back on the Black Cav and/or the bright VA and add red flake. Maybe less burley, though burley and red are very complimentary, IMHO. (Pretty sure it's not the burley upsetting the apple cart.) Maybe it needs a spot of perique, but I'm not looking for another VaPer, per se. I will need to smoke and study, smoke and study. It is complex with lots of shifts, which I like in a tobacco. Needs more gravitas, more dark draperies smothering the brightness of the everyday. Maybe a simple addition of moisture will help. Burned perfectly, no bite.
Not so with Outdoor Incense. From the name to the pack, burn and taste, it is dead on. Wouldn't change a thing. The Izmir adds that je ne sais quoi I look for and crave. It is close to Star of the East, piquant, bright, censorial and heady. The bottom of the bowl really boasts a bass note when the bright burns away. I know I'm mixing my metaphors but I'm kind of excited right now!

Pete speculated that it was indeed a case of burly-blocking in the first blend. He has some tweaks in mind and I'll grudgingly keep smoking some unbelievable custom blended tobacco in the mean time! Thanks Pete.