Post by JimInks on Jul 27, 2018 14:47:31 GMT -5
Here's my reviews of the four latest HU blends:
HU Darkwood Scenery:
The dark fruity, citrusy, earthy, grassy Virginias form the case of the blend, but are not the major component regarding their effect on the blend. The boldly earthy, woody, mildly nutty, dry burley is a little more noticeable. The floral, dry and lightly buttery sweet, woody, earthy, lightly spicy Orientals seems to take the lead over the other varietals. The sugary, toasty black cavendish is in the background. The toppings are the stars here, and fairly sublimate the tobaccos. The deep licorice and cloves are the lead toppings in that order. The sandalwood is soft, smooth, creamy, woody and floral in support of the other toppings. The black pepper is a condiment. The mildly, citrusy fruity addition is mildly obvious. The strength is medium, while the taste level is in the center of medium to full. The nic-hit is a little closer to medium than it is to mild. Won’t bite, but the spice may tingle the tongue of a fast puffer. Burns slightly warm and clean at a reasonable pace with a rich, very nuanced, complex sweet and savory floral, spicy flavor from start to finish. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasantly lingering after taste, and the room note is a little stronger. Not an all day smoke.
HU Manyara:
The nutty, earthy, woody, lightly molasses sweet burley is the lead component with the cocoa/chocolate being the most conspicuous aspect. The fire-cured Virginias offer wood, earth, a little citrus, spice and grass, as well as a bit of dark fruit with a touch of fermentation as a supporting player. The very raisiny, plummy, spicy Louisiana perique also plays a support role. The woody, earthy, spicy, rather dry, mildly floral and nutty dark fired Kentucky is an obvious condiment. The same can be said to a lesser extent for the floral, woody, earthy, dry, slightly sweet Oriental. The smoky, woody, leathery Cyprian latakia is just noticeable, and I can’t say I really observe the Brazil to any degree. The strength level just reaches medium, while the taste is a little stronger. The nic-hit is a step or so past the center of mild to medium. No chance or bite or harshness, Burns cool and clean, and a slightly slow as some ready rubbed flake is in the mix with the ribbon cut. Has a complex, nuanced, sweet and lightly savory flavor all the way to the end. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, but does need a little more than an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, slightly lingering after taste. Can be an all day smoke for the veteran, and it’s certainly repeatable to varying extents during your smoking day. Three and a half stars out of four.
HU Moroccan Bazzar:
The dark fruity, earthy, citrusy, grassy Virginias are the base of the blend, and are a lead component. The buttery sweet, mildly floral and spicy, woody, earthy Orientals play just below the level of the Virginias, but at times rises up to compete and occasionally, surpasses the Virginias. Sweetened or unsweetened, I only detect the black cavendish here and there. The pepper is one of the more obvious toppings. The very floral clove has an important say in the proceedings as, to a little lesser degree, the incense, ginger, honey, and coriander. The figs, anise, and jasmine are the least noticeable toppings, but in a wide bowl, they reveal themselves a tad more. The tobaccos are sublimated by the toppings to a medium extent, and essentially provide a subtext of flavor. It takes a little time to figure them all out, too, as they meld well with each other. The strength is medium, and the taste level steps a little past that line. The nic-hit is closer to medium than it is to mild. Won’t bite, but the spice may slightly tingle the tongue of a fast puffer.
Burns cool, clean, and a little slow as the tobacco retains some moisture, and there’s broken flake in the mix. You may want to give it a light dry time, but you may risk losing some toppings if you do. I did not dry it. Has a lightly inconsistent, highly charged sweet, rather spicy, flowery taste from start to finish. Leaves just a little moisture in the bowl, but no goop or sludge. Needs some relights if not dried a mite. Has a very pleasantly lingering after taste and room note. Not an all day smoke. Reminds me of a seasonal type of mixture with an entrancing variety of flavors that work exceptionally well together.
HU White Horses:
The various Virginias offer a bit of dark fruit and earth as well as some citrus and grass, along with a touch of fermentation as the base of the blend. It’s mostly a team player. The woody, sweet and lightly dry and floral, earthy, very mildly spicy dark fired Kentucky is a supporting player. The sweet, lightly leathery, mildly floral, woody Havana leaf is a secondary player, and is a step more obvious than the spicy, raisiny, plummy perique, which is closer to being in the background. The strength barely makes the medium threshold, while the taste sits squarely on that mark. The nic-hit is nearly as potent as the strength and body of the blend. Won’t bite or get harsh, and is smoother than expected. Burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with a rich, mildly bold, complex and consistent flavor from top to bottom. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, lightly lingering after taste. Can be an all day smoke.
HU Darkwood Scenery:
The dark fruity, citrusy, earthy, grassy Virginias form the case of the blend, but are not the major component regarding their effect on the blend. The boldly earthy, woody, mildly nutty, dry burley is a little more noticeable. The floral, dry and lightly buttery sweet, woody, earthy, lightly spicy Orientals seems to take the lead over the other varietals. The sugary, toasty black cavendish is in the background. The toppings are the stars here, and fairly sublimate the tobaccos. The deep licorice and cloves are the lead toppings in that order. The sandalwood is soft, smooth, creamy, woody and floral in support of the other toppings. The black pepper is a condiment. The mildly, citrusy fruity addition is mildly obvious. The strength is medium, while the taste level is in the center of medium to full. The nic-hit is a little closer to medium than it is to mild. Won’t bite, but the spice may tingle the tongue of a fast puffer. Burns slightly warm and clean at a reasonable pace with a rich, very nuanced, complex sweet and savory floral, spicy flavor from start to finish. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasantly lingering after taste, and the room note is a little stronger. Not an all day smoke.
HU Manyara:
The nutty, earthy, woody, lightly molasses sweet burley is the lead component with the cocoa/chocolate being the most conspicuous aspect. The fire-cured Virginias offer wood, earth, a little citrus, spice and grass, as well as a bit of dark fruit with a touch of fermentation as a supporting player. The very raisiny, plummy, spicy Louisiana perique also plays a support role. The woody, earthy, spicy, rather dry, mildly floral and nutty dark fired Kentucky is an obvious condiment. The same can be said to a lesser extent for the floral, woody, earthy, dry, slightly sweet Oriental. The smoky, woody, leathery Cyprian latakia is just noticeable, and I can’t say I really observe the Brazil to any degree. The strength level just reaches medium, while the taste is a little stronger. The nic-hit is a step or so past the center of mild to medium. No chance or bite or harshness, Burns cool and clean, and a slightly slow as some ready rubbed flake is in the mix with the ribbon cut. Has a complex, nuanced, sweet and lightly savory flavor all the way to the end. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, but does need a little more than an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, slightly lingering after taste. Can be an all day smoke for the veteran, and it’s certainly repeatable to varying extents during your smoking day. Three and a half stars out of four.
HU Moroccan Bazzar:
The dark fruity, earthy, citrusy, grassy Virginias are the base of the blend, and are a lead component. The buttery sweet, mildly floral and spicy, woody, earthy Orientals play just below the level of the Virginias, but at times rises up to compete and occasionally, surpasses the Virginias. Sweetened or unsweetened, I only detect the black cavendish here and there. The pepper is one of the more obvious toppings. The very floral clove has an important say in the proceedings as, to a little lesser degree, the incense, ginger, honey, and coriander. The figs, anise, and jasmine are the least noticeable toppings, but in a wide bowl, they reveal themselves a tad more. The tobaccos are sublimated by the toppings to a medium extent, and essentially provide a subtext of flavor. It takes a little time to figure them all out, too, as they meld well with each other. The strength is medium, and the taste level steps a little past that line. The nic-hit is closer to medium than it is to mild. Won’t bite, but the spice may slightly tingle the tongue of a fast puffer.
Burns cool, clean, and a little slow as the tobacco retains some moisture, and there’s broken flake in the mix. You may want to give it a light dry time, but you may risk losing some toppings if you do. I did not dry it. Has a lightly inconsistent, highly charged sweet, rather spicy, flowery taste from start to finish. Leaves just a little moisture in the bowl, but no goop or sludge. Needs some relights if not dried a mite. Has a very pleasantly lingering after taste and room note. Not an all day smoke. Reminds me of a seasonal type of mixture with an entrancing variety of flavors that work exceptionally well together.
HU White Horses:
The various Virginias offer a bit of dark fruit and earth as well as some citrus and grass, along with a touch of fermentation as the base of the blend. It’s mostly a team player. The woody, sweet and lightly dry and floral, earthy, very mildly spicy dark fired Kentucky is a supporting player. The sweet, lightly leathery, mildly floral, woody Havana leaf is a secondary player, and is a step more obvious than the spicy, raisiny, plummy perique, which is closer to being in the background. The strength barely makes the medium threshold, while the taste sits squarely on that mark. The nic-hit is nearly as potent as the strength and body of the blend. Won’t bite or get harsh, and is smoother than expected. Burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with a rich, mildly bold, complex and consistent flavor from top to bottom. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, lightly lingering after taste. Can be an all day smoke.
