Tobacco Sketches: Tropical Fruit Edition

It's a busy time for everybody, so here's three very short tobacco reviews.

Rattray Black Mallory: With its blend of Latakia, Oriental, and Black Cavendish, many, including myself, call this smoking tobacco a "Scottish Blend." The Latakia and Black Cavendish go hand-in-hand on this one, making for a very enjoyable smoke. Black Mallory is made by Kohlhase & Kopp, one of my favorite tobacco blenders.

Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Champagne: "Wow, it really does taste a little like champagne," I thought, as I enjoyed this cigar. The next day, I smoked an entirely different cigar and it tasted a little like champagne too, something was wrong. Turns out I'd been eating pineapple before each smoke. So, what can I say? This is a great cigar that goes well with pineapple. Perdomo says, "Our famous Champagne line has a 6-year aged U.S. Connecticut wrapper that imparts a smooth elegant flavor with a rich aroma and a super creamy finish." I think I need to get some more of these to test with other foods.

Park Avenue 44 Special Reserve: "This is made by the same people (K. Hansotia) who make Gurkha Cigars, but much less expensive," said my local tobacco clerk - he's very good on the upsell. Sporting an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, and a taste distinctly on the mild side, it compares favorably with, though not quite as smooth as, the above mentioned Perdomo.

Images: Library of Congress