Merry Christmas to you and all forum members
@Radagast!
I’d be curious to read your impressions about the difference between flue-cured vs air-cured GCR.
pier
Cheers my friend!
My palate is about as refined as that of a racoon. Irrespective of that, my impression is as follows:
Hmm, how to describe.. Well at first my flue cured gcr was oddly perfumy, faintly uric, in a slight way when smoked and I didn't like it a whole lot. I did it as an experiment so I didn't do much more than a few leaves anyway, but for some reason, it is so much more mellow now (more than a full year later) and I can use it interchangeabley with flue cured lemon from any Virginia tobacco. It is different though, in that it is much more flavourful, like Virginia with it's own Turkishy tangy spiciness.
Air cured Goose Creek Red is very flavorful too in much the same way except I think not as acidic (hence the tangy bite). In fact it is so distinctive and flavourful that I haven't come up with many ways to use it in blends with other ingredients. And that's fine, it's very very nice all on it's own, but I have to be in the mood for it and I don't care all that much for Cavendish made from it unfortunately.
Do you think your flue cured goose creek is very acidic ? I growed it also but 50% with my flue cured goose creek would be way to high for a everyday smoke. I did mix it with commercial perique but i think i will need to make some of my own.
I think (with the sophistication of a garbage picking racoon) that my flue cured gcr is about as acidic as any flue cured lemon, likely as my small experimental handful of leaves was primed at that stalk level. I surely wish I had more and will definitely grow more next time, so all I can say is that it was worth doing but more tests are needed. Hope that helps.. and yes perique is very helpful in smoothing it out.
Also keep in mind that I sat on mine for over a year before I started really playing with it, that may have helped it mellow out. Have fun and let me know if you agree!