I. Ashton Rainy Day
The Virginias in this blend are about the only things that smell common. The rest is a rather exotic mix of toppings that have a sweet, slightly floral, but mainly fruity profile. In some ways it reminds me of Rattray’s Sweet Fragrant blend. The sweetness is a honey-like scent rather than a goopy, sugary Cavendish smell. It is a mix cut that it a bit damp out the tin. I allowed mine to dry for an hour. When lit the floral aspect is definitely perceptible, but the Virginias ground the mix with notes of hay. The Burley seems to combine with the Cavendish for a toasted coconut flavor, and the fruit I thought it tasted most like was peaches. I had to relight a number of times, but I didn’t get bit in the process. This is a unique blend that will be an acquired taste, but it is good quality and smokes well for those who would enjoy it.
II. Gold Rush
This blend is a nice twist on a straight Virginia. It is comprised of bright leaf and is rubbed out pretty well. The sent is very grassy, but it has a very perceptible clover bloom note to it. This is topped off with a touch of lemon, making the mix smell very light and summery. I let it dry a bit, but it was not overly damp, right out of the tin. This was both light in body, and in strength. It had nice notes of hay and citrus zest, alongside an undercurrent of sweetness. It was never harsh, but I imagine it could bite you if you puffed too hard. This would be a fantastic blend on a hot summer afternoon.
III. Guilty Pleasure
This is a variegated blend of Virginias, burley, and Cavendish- all contributing noticeably to the tin note and the smoking experience. The topping, which smells a bit exotic, is toned down by the Virginia hay scent and the more neutral burley leaf. It is ready to smoke directly from the tin- I didn’t dry mine at all. The cut is anything but uniform, yet it packed easily. The first flavor to hit my tongue was vanilla cream from the Cavendish- followed by another pretty sweet flavor that reminded me of pecan pie filling- the nuttiness most likely coming out from the burley. The Virginias were faintly floral- every once in a while the retro was a bit like a Lakeland flashback. If there is a fruit in the topping, I believe it is something like apricots. This blend was a little hard to get going, but it never bit. The room not was very pleasant.
IV. Winding Road
This is a mix of thin, ribbon cut Virginias and Cavendish tobacco. The texture is very supple and springy in the tin- only slightly moist. The tin note is a mix of hay and caramel- like eating a Cow’s Tail (the candy) in a barn loft. The almost shag cut packs very easily, even in a smaller bowl. The Virginias in this are very mild and the Cavendish is faint and only reminiscent of toasted coconut. The former contributes flavor that at the beginning is more like fresh pressed olive oil, and finishes very grassy- but not very sweet. Kind of like breathing through your mouth while you mow the lawn. It's a nice blend that would be a good transition smoke for an aromatic to Virginia conversion.
V. Consummate Gentleman
Based on the name, I probably shouldn’t be allowed to smoke this :) The tin note is that of savory smokiness, leather, and a touch of sweet zing (almost like a BBQ sauce). The latkia seems to add a lot of subtly without being a majority contributor to the profile. It’s cut into a fine ribbon and doesn’t require sitting out prior to loading your pipe. The Virginias are medium strength and the Latakia is a bit sweeter than many blends. There are faint notes of oak and a touch of peppery spice in the retrohale – especially in the second half of the bowl. It stayed lit very easily, producing a dry smoke that didn’t bite. A solid English blend.
