This is an odd blend that has two flavors fighting for dominance on my palate. The rum and the Dark Fired Kentucky. While the tin note is wonderful, I get nothing of the sort from any point during the bowl.
My normal practice with most of C&D Small Batch blends is to set back the tin(s) I buy in the deep cellar for at least 6 months of additional aging time. Then, I open one tin and jar it to allow it to breathe for at least one week. I also give it a few shakes to help fluff it up if it's a ribbon cut and allow oxygen to reach all the nooks and crannies during the week.
Then, and only then, will I try a bowl.
However, there were so many positives about this blend posted by non-paid bloggers on my social media pipe groups, that I decided to forego my standard practices.
Really should have waited like normal.
To be fair, the blend itself is not at all peppery like one would expect a Perique heavy blend to be (if I recall, I believe this was around 50% Perique?), but that may be due to the use of well aged Perique that has mellowed over time.
Fresh out of the tin, I get the stone fruit notes associated with that aged tobacco. And Rum. Yes, there is RUM. This really overshadowed the other tobaccos in the blend with the exception of the DFK. And as I mentioned early on, the two really fought each other for dominance in my mouth, further cementing my opinion that further marry time & some aeration in a mason jar prior to smoking is going to benefit this blend greatly for the inaugural smoke.
I have high hopes for revisiting the blend, but I am giving it at least a month or three before I come back to it again. I see the potential here for great things so three Stars for now and possible additional Stars in the future.
