Briar Fox
Briar Fox is a blend consisting of Virginias and Burley, exceptionally smooth in character. This blend was even the personal favorite of the late Danish pipe maker Peter Heeschen. Characteristic of Briar Fox is its pressing into a traditional crumble cake, which easily crumbles to the preferred consistency. The flavor profile of this tobacco blend begins with a clear, unadulterated tobacco taste, evolves in complexity midway through the draw, and ultimately culminates in a pronounced spicy character, promising a recurring enjoyment experience.
Characterisation:
As is typical for the company, the Briar Fox is packaged in a small, round tin. Since this is closed with a ring-pull closure and a plastic lid, you should put the tobacco in an airtight container for longer storage. The cake, which is almost square when viewed from above, is also wrapped in cardboard. The pale, pressed tobacco is speckled golden and shows dark inclusions. Its scent is sweet, reminiscent of honey, cookies and raisins, with a hint of multivitamin juice. The cake is firmly pressed, but on average it is crumbly and almost dry.
Plugging:
As a cake, the Briar Fox must be cut before plugging. Its compact pressing requires a very sharp and stable, but not too thick, blade, as well as a suitable base. Since the consistency is dry and very crumbly, it is hardly possible to cut down “real” flakes. But that doesn't matter, as with a little care and practice you get an easy-to-plug ready rubbed.
Light up:
If the Briar Fox is plugged as described above, the crumbly flake pieces accept the flame extremely well. You almost want to leave it at the first flame. But you should still gently smooth the surface again before the second flame creates a lasting glow.
Smoking properties:
The Briar Fox delivers an extremely full smoke. Delicately spicy, it caresses the palate and tongue. Bread and nuts are particularly noticeable. The core aromas of Virginia and Burley emerge here. They are accompanied by delicate sweetness and hay notes. The mild, soft aroma created by this interaction creates a most pleasantly rounded and balanced impression. Since the compressed tobacco tends to open slightly as it burns, you may need to use the tamper occasionally. It is optimal to keep the tamping surface slightly slanted in order to press down the edges in particular, so that you get a conical surface. Otherwise, the burn is completely inconspicuous. In the end all you need to clean is some light, fine ash and hardly any condensate. Finally, noteworthy is the delicate aftertaste that remains in the mouth and is reminiscent of toasted bread.
Redolency:
The Briar Fox room scent is unobtrusive. However, consideration should be given to the company of non-smokers.
Conclusion:
The Briar Fox is a cake aimed at not entirely inexperienced pipe smokers. You should be able to handle a sharp knife and take some care in preparation. The light, tightly pressed, but very crumbly cake can then be put into the pipe not in flake form, but very well as ready rubbed. Characterized by nut and bread aromas, the lush smoke delivers a pleasantly rounded taste that invites you to enjoy it comfortably.
Copyright © 2024 by TECON GmbH
with friendly support of Dennis Hübel
