I try 'em so you don't have to, folks.
I got this one in Germany about a year ago. The "musk" made me want to try this out of morbid curiosity.
Dang, this one is weird, but familiar.
Pouch note is of banana and perhaps some mandarin citrus and light baking spice. No musk. Very light latakia note if you try hard. The cut is... All over the place. The lat is almost granulated, but the Virginia looks like it was chopped on a cutting board - large slices.
Smoked this in a long stem clay for fear of ghosting a briar.
Initial light up reaction. This is a mild version of exotic passion with some smokiness? The lat in this lays pretty low initially, and the topping is fairly forward. This is a very light smoke. Not being a huge lat fan, I am pleasantly surprised here. The lat does well in the mix, doesn't hit you in the face. Still no musk. I'll have to smoke it around the wife later and see what she thinks of the room note. If the pouch note was a candle scent, she'd probably buy it.
Midbowl, most of the topping has burned off, but it's still there. I'm getting more latakia now, but it's still pleasant and not at all in the fore. Maybe now I'm getting the "musk" on the top of my tongue? Eh. I don't think so. Maybe a touch of alcohol, or wine. There is something else developing, a flowery sweetness. Slightly soapy? It reminds me of a C.Howards violet candy. (Those who know...)
This is not a strong blend. The topping remains (muted) to the bottom of the bowl, and I'm starting to get something spice related, maybe clove? I don't know. It's starting get a bit of ammonia on the tail end. Not sure what that's about.
There is one TR review for this blend, and the topping is described as "glühwein". I guess I can see that. This might be a nice one for the holidays.
Overall, this is intriguing enough that I'm going to keep it and try it again. Its got enough going on to hold my interest, seems to have a pleasant room note, and it burns well. The topping isn't that bad, all things considered - I'm actually glad that I don't detect animal glandular secretions in this tobacco. If it's there, I missed it, and for that, I'm grateful.
