The red Virginia is tangy, dark fruit sweet with some earth, and a smidgeon of barbecue flavor as it forms the base of the blend. The stoved Virginias have a fermented sugary dark fruitiness and a little earth, and almost competes with the red for attention. The rare flue cured Virginia provides a hint of grass and some citrus in the background. The perique offers some spice with raisin and fig notes, and is a little more than a condimental addition. The Cyprian latakia is an important supporting player, adding a sweet smoky woodiness. The Oriental is woody, lightly spicy, with a slight sour hit here and there, and plays just below the threshold of the latakia. The nic-hit is mild to medium. The taste level is medium, and the strength falls just shy of that mark. There’s no chance of bite or harshness present. It’s presented in an easily broken apart krumble kake. The tobacco is a little moist, but I did not feel the need to dry it. I recommend not totally rubbing it out. I broke off small pieces and dropped them into the bowl. Burns a mite slow, cool and clean with a very consistent, complex, deeply rich and creamy smooth, smoky sweet taste to the finish. Requires some relights, and leaves just a little moisture in the bowl. Has a very pleasant, lingering after taste with a stronger room note. It’s almost an all day smoke for a beginner, and can be one for the experienced smoker. Three and a half stars.
In comparison to the regular Mississippi River, I find this to be a little smoother and richer in flavor. Its sweetness has a mildly more fermented attitude than does the regular MR. The addition of the flue cured Virginia adds a pinch of extra complexity. I find the spice content to be a hair higher as well. Well balanced, you’ll notice virtually all of the inherent aspects of the tobaccos in every puff.