I. Kir and Apple:
When Stanwell released their extended line in the US last year I was most excited to try this blend. I generally like apple tobacco and the addition of currants (kir) to the topping sounded interesting. The cut is pretty uneven and it is a bit on the moist side in the tin. The aroma is fruity, with a bit of zing and spice. I can faintly make out some hay from the Virginias that are hiding behind the Cavendish. The apple note is more along the lines of a tart, green apple than a Red Delicious or Macintosh. This may be the first aromatic I’ve smoked, that had it been a blind taste test, I would have sworn was from Dan Tobacco (the guys who, IMO, make these best aros on the market). It was like smoking high quality Virginias while sucking on an apple Jolly Rancher. The Kir gave it notes similar to homemade grape juice with the skins still steeping. It didn’t bite and it stayed lit easily. A winner in every way!
II. Classic
The prune/raisin smell is very predominant in the tin note for this blend. You can make out the Virginias and even a bit of the Burley, but the Cavendish wins the day with its distinct, sweet and sour note. The mix itself is very calico in color and the ribbons are cut to a moderate width .It requires some sitting out to dry before loading in the bowl. The nuttiness of the Burley is emerges more than the sweetness from the Virginias, which are bright, but not very strong. The topping reminded me of a plum wine I used to buy from the local Chinese restaurant. It had a good burn, was pretty bite-free, and left me a great mustache note :)
III. Fruit and Vanilla
This one has similar a fruit aroma that is somewhat akin to the Kir and Apple, but the addition of vanilla takes the edge off the fruity tanginess and makes it smell much more balanced. It is another variegated, medium ribbon-cut blend that is too moist to smoke right out the tin. It is hard to pick up anything beyond the topping notes and they have a slightly alcoholic scent like you would find in baking extracts. While I found this one to be a tad bitey, it reminded me of an orange and vanilla creamsicle. The hay notes were predominating, and the vanilla outweighed the fruit flavors. There was a faint Burley cocoa in the latter part of the bowl. It smoked well straight out the tin without any drying time.
IV. Extra Fine
This is a flake that has been cut into ribbons but only partially rubbed out. It produces a springy, thin ribbon with just a little bit of effort. The predominant scent is sweet hay, coming from the Virginias. There is a faintly aromatic note of some kind of fruit and, I thought, a touch of cinnamon. This is one of the newer Stanwell releases in the US and I had a bit of trouble getting much information regarding the topping. It is not heavily aromatic, and the Cavendish is not the dark, overpowering variety. This was a unique smoke. It reminded me of a Hawaiian sweet roll. There were notes of coriander and a typical Virginia grassiness with honey sweetness. It had a decent burn and was bite free. The only thing I didn’t particularly care for was the white pepper finish I got in the final ¼ of the bowl.
V. Jubilee
This is some really good smelling tobacco in the tin! The Virginias are like the freshest hay and are sweet and caramel scented. The Kentucky fired is secondary, but just adds another nuanced layer to the mix. The moisture level was pretty good out the tin, and the medium-width ribbons pack nicely. The Virginias in this are bright and tangy. The fire cured leaf helps balance out what can be described as floral notes. The finish is slightly sour and at one point a bit nutty. This was an interesting blend, but not quite as enjoyable to smoke as it was to smell in the tin. Good burn, no bite- would make a good “transition” tobacco for someone moving from aros to non-aros.
