A traditional English blend of 5 different Virginias, a very very light touch of perique and a good dose of Latakia. Originally a private blend but we liked it so much, we've gone public with it.
The Virginias provide a very mild tangy citrus, some grass, dark fruit, earth and wood, and are nearly the stars, though there's a little thinness to them. In an important supporting role, the plumy perique is spicy with a light raisiny quality. The Cyprian Latakia is smoky, earthy, musty and woody sweet, and supplies what strength there is as a very complimentary back up role to the Virginias. I notice an unidentifiable sweet topping that’s a little sugary, and perhaps lightly fruity. It’s almost nutty sweet without the actual nut flavor. Has a mild nic-hit. The strength is mild and the taste is a couple of steps past that level. Won't bite. Well blended with a very consistent flavor. Burns at a moderate rate with few relights, no harsh moments, and leaves virtually no moisture in the bowl. Pleasant all day, kind of mindless smoke with a nice room note and short lived after taste. Two and half stars, which I round to two because, while pleasing enough, it hasn’t a real depth of flavor except for sweetness.
Typical blonde-to-back of your basic English blends, with a prevailing bag aroma of your basic English blend but with a twist. Although Watch City doesn't say so, I was mildly bothered by some sort of flavoring I can't identify, either by smell or taste. There was a sweetness I don't associate with the component tobaccos.
The latakia was barely subservient to the Virginias and the initial lighting was of those two plus the topping. It makes this blend kind of unique and reminded me of GLP's Maltese Falcon, although it's been too long to make any meaningful comparisons. Both were good blends but their very uniqueness were also their weaknesses for me. Granted, instead of a "same old thing" English blend, something unique is often a good thing. But here it didn't work quite so well. There is also a light whisper of perique here but it came and went, leaving mostly a peppery sensation in the nose and back of the throat. The main problem I found with this one was the flavoring. Lightly sweet, but too sweet for the proceedings. 2 1/2 stars for me, but certainly something to try if you want to find a blend that is unique. Ernie Q has a signature that is refreshing, and several of his blends have made my rotation. Going to pass on this one, however.
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