Post by atison on Feb 6, 2019 9:42:49 GMT -5
(stay with me through this, it has a point)
Its 1980 and I find myself in the pilots seat of my first bike without training wheels. The excitement is only matched by the anxiety of what its going to be like when I am "on my own". My father has a comforting grip on the seat and my shoulder as he guides me up to speed and slowly lets me take over both the balancing of the bike and the propulsion. I get a big grin on my face as I know its me doing it this time on my own. Then a twinge of anxiety creeps in at the thought that my safety net is not there. Just as a wobble starts on the handle bars I feel the comforting support of his hand on my shoulder as he helps stabilize the wobble and guides me back down to a controlled stop. I did it. With just enough support for it not to be a disaster yet I had moments that were all mine.
You might wander what the hell that story has to do with Davidoff Royalty yet if you have ever tried it you might be connecting the dots (at least partially) by now. This blend was recommended to me as a good intro to english style blends as it is known for its light, yet pronounced oriental notes with a gentle condiment of latakia. But it is not just a light english because there is a debatable addition of some kind of topping to it. It is such a subtle topping (if it truly exists) that you argue with yourself of what it is. Caramel? Vanilla? Buttered Rum? I can't discern what it might be.
Now, I am not new to english blends and do enjoy them regularly. With that said, this blend always intrigued me so I had to grab some.
Moisture out of the tin on this stuff was right on for immediate packing. Not a huge tin note of any of the components but a twinge of english and a touch of latakia. No presence of a topping on the tin note for me. Packs easy and takes a light well.
Out of the gate you might have a perplexed look on your face wondering "did I load the right stuff, I thought I was smoking an english". The buttery creamyness leads out of the gate with such a subtle sweetness that it doesn't cry aro but lets you know this isn't any normal english. The virginias tend to show the most as far as true tobacco taste goes. For the first 10-20 minutes this stays consistent. If it stopped here I would be completely satisfied with a whole bowl of this flavor.
Then the supporting hand gently lets you take the controls of the english at the core of the blend. A dramatic change happens where the up front notes take a big step into the background without fully going away and the oriental steps up front with the tiniest amount of latakia making itself known. For the next 20 or so minutes you are introduced to a quality (in my own interpretation) english representation that will gently introduce you to the core notes an english offers with just enough latakia in there to understand what it brings without smoking you out. I can't put my finger on what the spices are that I taste in orientals (maybe like patchouli) but I know that I like them. Somewhere between baking spices, musty vegetation and incense.
And then just when you think you are off on your own in true english blend land, the comforting touch of sweet butteryness comes back in. The two flavor profiles now play more together then the way the played on their own in the beginning. This now produces a core of english with a more nutty sweetness in the direction of walnut for me but with that creamyness tying it all together.
So the point of the analogy up front is to point out that this blend, in my mind, is a prime candidate for introducing someone to english blends who may favor either sweeter virginias or even aromatics. It will allow you to experience an unobstructed english profile yet with a helping hand to get there and a comforting support to bring it all together.
Beard note is pleasant as well but very light. Just some of the oriental spices left over.
Its 1980 and I find myself in the pilots seat of my first bike without training wheels. The excitement is only matched by the anxiety of what its going to be like when I am "on my own". My father has a comforting grip on the seat and my shoulder as he guides me up to speed and slowly lets me take over both the balancing of the bike and the propulsion. I get a big grin on my face as I know its me doing it this time on my own. Then a twinge of anxiety creeps in at the thought that my safety net is not there. Just as a wobble starts on the handle bars I feel the comforting support of his hand on my shoulder as he helps stabilize the wobble and guides me back down to a controlled stop. I did it. With just enough support for it not to be a disaster yet I had moments that were all mine.
You might wander what the hell that story has to do with Davidoff Royalty yet if you have ever tried it you might be connecting the dots (at least partially) by now. This blend was recommended to me as a good intro to english style blends as it is known for its light, yet pronounced oriental notes with a gentle condiment of latakia. But it is not just a light english because there is a debatable addition of some kind of topping to it. It is such a subtle topping (if it truly exists) that you argue with yourself of what it is. Caramel? Vanilla? Buttered Rum? I can't discern what it might be.
Now, I am not new to english blends and do enjoy them regularly. With that said, this blend always intrigued me so I had to grab some.
Moisture out of the tin on this stuff was right on for immediate packing. Not a huge tin note of any of the components but a twinge of english and a touch of latakia. No presence of a topping on the tin note for me. Packs easy and takes a light well.
Out of the gate you might have a perplexed look on your face wondering "did I load the right stuff, I thought I was smoking an english". The buttery creamyness leads out of the gate with such a subtle sweetness that it doesn't cry aro but lets you know this isn't any normal english. The virginias tend to show the most as far as true tobacco taste goes. For the first 10-20 minutes this stays consistent. If it stopped here I would be completely satisfied with a whole bowl of this flavor.
Then the supporting hand gently lets you take the controls of the english at the core of the blend. A dramatic change happens where the up front notes take a big step into the background without fully going away and the oriental steps up front with the tiniest amount of latakia making itself known. For the next 20 or so minutes you are introduced to a quality (in my own interpretation) english representation that will gently introduce you to the core notes an english offers with just enough latakia in there to understand what it brings without smoking you out. I can't put my finger on what the spices are that I taste in orientals (maybe like patchouli) but I know that I like them. Somewhere between baking spices, musty vegetation and incense.
And then just when you think you are off on your own in true english blend land, the comforting touch of sweet butteryness comes back in. The two flavor profiles now play more together then the way the played on their own in the beginning. This now produces a core of english with a more nutty sweetness in the direction of walnut for me but with that creamyness tying it all together.
So the point of the analogy up front is to point out that this blend, in my mind, is a prime candidate for introducing someone to english blends who may favor either sweeter virginias or even aromatics. It will allow you to experience an unobstructed english profile yet with a helping hand to get there and a comforting support to bring it all together.
Beard note is pleasant as well but very light. Just some of the oriental spices left over.
