Just Tried Some New Blends
I happen to run across some tobacco at a local beer store today (looking for Moosehead...it's getting hard to find around here...).
MacBarens Vanilla Cream Flake: Was very moist in the tin. Absolutely perfect-looking flat sqaure panels. The aroma could double as air freshener. Wonderful deep vanilla notes. I cannonballed it into my MM Diplomat Spool, and puffed away. It lit very well, surprisingly, because it seemed very moist. The initial impression was sweet and dusky, like a dark-haired senorita on a moonlit beach, The vanilla wasn't apparent at first. Once it settled down, the vanilla eased in, and I was transported to another world. I gave up trying to find a good vanilla blend decades ago. Obviously, I gave up too soon. The flavor caressed my taste buds with creamy vanilla, but I could still taste wonderful sweet Red Virginia (I think), and maybe a little black, or stoved Cavendish. It smoked all the way to the bottom, to a dull grey ash with no dottle, and no relights. The flavor never changed. 5 Stars
Gawaith Hoggert Bob's Chocolate Flake: Where has this stuff been hiding all my life? From the tin, perfectly square sheets. The aroma made me worry about gaining weight just from smelling it. Chocolate everywhere, and I don't mean cheap candy chocolate, but pure cocoa. There was also a little of that wonderful Lakeland Essence, that only added to the excitement. I rubbed this out and let it dry for around 10 minutes. I packed it in my MM Diplomat 5th Avenue, and it lit very easily. The initial puff gave me a blast of cocoa heaven, and some Virginia, some Lakeland, and a little spice. After it settled down, the flavors all blended more, and it was an absolutely wonderful smoke all the way to the bottom. Nothing but grey ash was left. Sweet, Chocolaty, smooth....what's not to like? This could be one of my favorites.... 5 Stars
CAO Bella Vanilla: This seemed to me to be a broken flake, nice and moist in the can, with a different type of vanilla than the MacBarens. This was like pure Madagascar Vanilla beans (I am a chef, and I use these a lot, so I know what they smell like. It's the top-grade of vanilla). The smell was incredible. I wasn't even sure if I had to light it to enjoy it. It was moist, so I dried it a little before packing it. I loaded it in my Calabash, and it lit easily. I would be hard pressed to pick the best between this and the MacBarens. Both are equally good, just different. The Bella Vanilla has a little more refined taste, and it is more vanilla, and less other flavorings. It was also a little sweeter. The room note was unbelievable, like walking though a grove of orchids. I think this smoked a little smoother than the MacBarens. I guess it just depends on how complex you want your smoke to be. This was more straight-forward vanilla, with no attempt to enhance it with other flavors. I love them both. 5 Stars.
Until now, I haven't been a big fan of aromatics. Now I know...there are aromatics, and there are aromatics. These are some of the finest tobaccos I have ever smoked.
And the best part...they were only $5.00 a tin. The store got them by mistake, along with the cheap Captain Black, Smoker's Pride, and other stuff they carry. I really lucked out.
