alfredo_buscatti":e4gt44oz said:
Thanks Kyle!
If Nav has more VA complexity, and thus less KY, I'm guessing that ODF is stronger?
Not sure how to answer that, but I'll try via guesses to your direction:
* As for stronger flavor, I'd say ODF has about a head-length lead over Nav. Meaning, not much. With (what I assume is) diminished use of overall Kentucky:VA ratio per Navigator, there's simply a different flavor--but since ODF uses Burley:VA, I can't say for sure. I'm probably safe to (further assume and) say some similar VA leaf exists in Nav as does Jackknife, and was chosen specifically to marry in pleasant contrast with the Kentucky. With that, the sometimes (pleasant) "harshness" that can be had by Kentucky isn't as up-front in Navigator, and is carried with the Virginia up the nasal passages in a unique way. In ODF, the character of the Burley (acting as KY, in this instance) is harder to find. It's there, but it just doesn't give up its secrets readily. When it does, it is more nutty, slightly herbacious/less spicy and challenging--focusing on only the "meat" (...probably the pressed Burley taking stage), whereas Navigator hints slightly sweet (and not simply due to the slight rum topping), grain-like, leaning more spicy than herbacious and focuses on nothing in particular (a good partnership of KY/VA).
That is why I dig Navigator so much, I think. Navigator is a jazz quintet, ODF is only banjo and guitar. Both awesome, done right--one just goes a step further. The complexity of Navigator is less KY:VA, where I believe the Burley:VA ratio in ODF is more on the Burley side--not to mention, with both leaf types hot-pressed together in ODF, might mute and smooth out a few of the "edges" of both...creates a smooth smoke, but there's a sacrifice of a little character. I think Pease might have made the call to treat the KY and VA differently/separately and then press them afterward, if I'm guessing as to the method. In cooking, especially Chinese cooking, timing and adding things in the right amount builds upon the flavor, rather than using one technique to do it all. If that's the case, good show, Greg.
* As for stronger nicotine, they're quite equal. I'm guessing the hot-pressed Burley in ODF is what's purring under the hood, and the Kentucky is moving along Navigator. The Navigator hits me quicker than ODF, but levels out just as fast. ODF can "accumulate" in my system if I was overzealous (or not paying attention) and chose a larger bowl to fill. Neither would be good on an empty stomach. I tend to grab the same bowls for smoking each of these, and so far they're quite manageable, pushing high-octane qualifying weight, but haven't gotten unruly.
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...resuming course:
I'm having my ninth bowl of Navigator out of this tin as I type this. Each time I smoke it, it pushes me that much more into "favorite" category. It's going to give fans of ODF a real hard decision to make if they are trying to streamline their cellars.
Ever have tobacco that works so well you forget you're smoking, it just kind of melds with whatever is happening? Sometimes this is an indicator, for me, of a good smoke. You can jump in anytime and concentrate on enjoying it, but "dropping the subject" while smoking is also a factor. Akin to being outside on a nice day, you don't spend every second counting how great it is, you eventually just sink into it, let it become a component of you, and go with the flow...
...8)
