Manufacturer Description:
An English-style blend of a high proportion of Latakia and double-fermented Black Cavendish, rounded off with reddish Virginia and Oriental. A wonderful blend for lovers of smoky, full-bodied tobaccos!
Characterisation:
If you open the round tin and fold the paper apart, you see a predominantly dark sectional image, into which the lighter Virginias and Orientals mix. The cut is rather fine and frizzy, but a little dry, so the 123 Mixture should be transferred to an airtight container for longer storage. Despite the oriental, the cold scent is not very smoky or grassy, but rather characterized by the sweeter Cavendish and Virginia.
Plugging:
The fine cut of the 123 Mixture is easy to bring into the pipe. Gently pressed, it offers a good burning.
Light up:
Since the 123 Mixture is finely cut and rather dry, it quickly takes on the flame. After briefly pressing with the tamper and a second flame, the 123 Mixture burns evenly.
Smoking properties:
The 123 Mixture is an English blend that tastes like it smells. In a very balanced way, the base of mildly spicy and woody Virginia is combined with slightly sour, grassy oriental aromas. The Cavendish smooths out the background with brown sugar while smoky Latakia adds richness but doesn't dominate. The interplay of these different flavors is exciting to taste in its complexity, but not overwhelming. Due to the fine cut, the tobacco burns rather quickly and occasionally has to be re-fired. But the 123 Mixture does not tend to bite and burns down cool and dry with a consistently good taste. The cleaning of some medium gray ash and very little condensate is hardly any trouble.
Redolency:
The Latakia content is noticeable in the 123 Mixture. However, the room note does not appear as noticeable to non-smokers as with other blends containing Latakia.
Conclusion:
The light and dark brown blend of the 123 Mixture is easy to smoke and convinces with a finely composed balance of tobacco aromas. No component is in the foreground and yet the impression of an interesting play between sweetness, Virginia spice and the smoky and sour components of the oriental tobaccos is created. The moderate strength, both in terms of nicotine content and taste, make the 123 Mixture interesting even for those who have no experience with English mixtures. More experienced smokers will find the 123 Mixture to be an English tobacco that is not heavy and may even be suitable for the morning.
Copyright © 2012 by TECON GmbH
with friendly support of Dennis Hübel
