Hearth & Home Black House

Black House is a mixture Russ Ouellette prepared as a tribute to a great Balkan blend of the past, produced for a 2011 blending competition; records indicate it was judged the closest entry to the dark Balkan style it took as its model. Its composition includes quality Virginia leaf, Latakia, Perique, and dark fire-cured Kentucky. What sets the blend apart is its use of various Oriental leaves, including Yenidje; these add a dry-hay, spicy, tart depth to the smoke. The overall character is spicy, full-bodied, and smoky, with an earthy sweetness in the background. It is unflavored.