STATE EXPRESS - ROUNDELS

My impressions of this classic / discontinued blend

Round discs or State Street Express from 1972

DISCONTINUED

Manufacturer:  State Express (??!?)

Blend type:  English - Virgina / Perique in disc form

Components:  Virginia and Perique

Appearance:  Seductively dark presented in thin sliced discs.  Mostly dark tobacco with shades of light brown streaks throughout.  Since the tobacco came from a tin marked 5/13/1972 some of the Roundels broke apart during the move to the jar seen above.  (2 out of 2) - love the Roundel presentation)

Smoked In:  Mastro de Paja Dublin - tobacco chamber is tall and thin.

Prepared:  Completely rubbed out - rubs out to a fine shag - next time I will NOT rub it out this fine as I have a tendency to pack the bowl a bit snug and the draw is a bit on the firm side.

Nose in container:  Upon opening the 4 oz Bell Jar a concentrated sweet Christmas cookie aroma assaults you.  Notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and raisins.  Smell is divine and I usually smoke Balkan and Latakia-laden English blends.  Absolutely no latakia whatsoever in this mixure.  (2 out of 2) - this is what Virginia / Perique smokers are looking for)

Room notes:  First pass of the lighter and a few initial puffs releases a light and sweet pure fresh baked sweet-bread aroma.  Interesting and contemplative which leads to some light nutmeg spices.  As I got into the bowl about 5-10 minutes the aroma of bready Virginia was dominant with a heavy compliment of the raisin-like Perique.  I've always felt Perique offered a peppery spice but aged Perique inevitably adds a semi sweet pungent raisin-like aroma / taste.  Towards the end of the bowl, the aroma intensified and was easily one of the most pleasing pipe tobacco aromas I've had the pleasure of smelling.  The sweetness subsided and was left with incredible Virginia nuttiness and Perique richness. (3 out of 3 - no hints of off-aromas...develops in richness as the bowl progresses)

Flavors:  As noted above in the 'room note' description, this Virginia / Perique blend was astonishing and the initial sweetness was a real eye-opener.  I'm sure the 42 years of sleep this tobacco enjoyed only helped the Virginias develop a richness the newer blends only hope to attain.  The Perique in this was a real show stopper in my opinion.  I've had aged Virginias (12+ year old MacBarens and 20+ year old McClelland blends) that have been delightful.  I have not had any Perique blends THIS OLD so I was not prepared for the initial subtle Perique raisin flavors (expecting that heavy spice kick).  The Perique built in flavor as it did in the room aroma.  By the end of the bowl of tobacco (3 discs) I was left wanting to light another bowl.  Fearing palate fatique, I decided against it and grabbed a coffee instead.  (2.75 out of 3 - Exquisite spice, sweetness and approachable)

Overall:  It's tough to rate a blend that's 42 years old.  It's almost unfair in a way as some of the recent Virginia / Perique blends (flakes / plugs, etc) might eventually be this good.  But, it's a task I'm willing to inherit.  Virtually flawless.  Next time I approach this tobacco I will leave the Roundels a little chunkier instead of rubbing it out almost all the way.

If you EVER run across some of this and are a Straight Virginia / Perique fan (Escudo, Three Nuns) you owe it to yourself to jump on it if you can swing the cost.

9.75 out of 10

I'm willing to share a bowl or two with Worcester / Framingham locals if you reach out to me.