Originally Posted by
Tobias Lutz
ORLIK
I. Racing Green
This is a partially rubbed mix of very hay scented Virginia, some burley, and a splash of dark Cavendish to finish the variegation. There is the slightest touch of lemon, but it is somewhat overwhelmed by a browned butter sort of nuttiness. You can finish rubbing it into fine ribbons very easily and it maintains a bit of spring when packed. The blend burned well with a predominant flavor of dry hay and a touch of orange blossom. About halfway through it transitioned to more of a green tea flavor, with a mild honey-like sweetness. I can see this one biting if not sipped, but it is a solid offering considering Orlik tins are usually pretty inexpensive.
II. Golden Sliced
In the tin, this is beautiful smelling stuff; sweet and sour, raisin and hay- absolutely delectable. The flakes are sliced so that they rub out into thin, springy ribbons, and the moisture level is ready for loading immediately. The sweet, barn-like notes really come out once the flake is prepped and the sweetness escalates some as well. This is one of the sweeter Virginia flakes that I know of. I actually find it to be medium strength and pretty one-dimensional (not as if that’s necessarily a bad thing). It reminds me of walking across a freshly mowed lawn on a summer evening when floral scents are still hanging in the air. I’m of the school that picks up a little Perique in the retrohale- though I realize that is a bit controversial :) Overall, I find it to be a good, quality smoke, but it isn’t among my favorites.
III. Club Mixture
This blend is a light aromatic that maintains a strong Virginia scent behind the caramel topped Cavendish. Therefore the tin note isn’t overly sweet, but has enough hay and nuttiness to balance out the mix. It is variegated in color and cut into medium ribbons that are a bit on the wet side upon breaking the seal. Before lighting it, Club Mixture already gives the impression of being a good “transition” aromatic. I loaded the pipe after letting it sit for about an hour. The Virginia in this tastes very “green”, and the caramel combines with the burley nuttiness to taste very much like maple. It is mild/medium strength, and can bite it hit too hard. I found the Cavendish to provide the sweetness rather than the Virginias. It burned well and had a decent room note.
IV. Mellow Mixture
This blend has a tin note that reminds me of Stanwell’s Melange. The Virginia doesn’t offer much in the way of scent, which is dominated by the Cavendish and its sweet and slightly fruity elements. There is a bit of cocoa from the Burley, and perhaps there is a touch of vanilla in the mix? The mixture of cuts includes a medium ribbon, requiring no addition rubbing out, and it is dry enough to pack directly out of the tin. Upon lighting I discovered notes of sweet plum and vanilla, married with toasted almonds. There was a slightly woody profile behind all the topping. The burn was good, and it was bite free. I was surprised by how predominant the ripe plum flavor was, but I found it very pleasant.
V. Golden Mixture
Not to be confused with golden sliced, this is an entirely different offering in more ways than the rub vs. flake dichotomy. The tin note still possesses a strong amount of sweet hay, but it is complemented with burley and Cavendish that give it much more nuance. There are moderately strong floral notes that remind me of a Four O'clock blossom. My nose also found a touch of sandalwood like spice, and a splash of butterscotch. It is a bit moist and does better with some drying time and a little additional rubbing. This is what I would consider a good “spring blend”. It is more medium bodied than I prefer in a hot weather smoke, but the flavors are great on a warm, sunny day. It is primarily dry hay, with clover like floral notes. The sweetness is very natural with honey aspects, and there is a touch of vanilla. It burns nicely and stays cool.
