Bosphorus Venice Nights

Venice Nights is one of Bosphorus's Virginia/Perique-structured blends. Per records it contains about 50% golden virginia, 30% perique and 20% burley; it is ribbon cut and prepared by leaving it to ferment for a long time in an oak barrel. No top-layer casing is applied to the blend; the sweet, fruity impression comes largely from this process and from golden virginia's sugar. In the first half of the smoke a sweet layer evoking fig, carob and plum leads; as it progresses this layer recedes, and burley's spicy fullness together with virginia's sweetness become pronounced. The woody, lightly tart taste from the oak lingers in the mouth for a while after smoking. Since it is offered at high moisture, it needs airing.