For several years now the blending brilliance of Father McAllister has fulfilled my nicotine needs almost to perfection. His alchemy of "secret ingredients" is so unique it elevates the act of pipe smoking to a religious experience. However, because I publish a newsletter partially dedicated to the balm of briar I feel obligated to explore the plethora of fascinating possibilities currently available for the true connoisseur. Since Mr. McAllister does not care for my experimentations, proud as he is of his own mixing mastery, I am quite certain he will resent the high praise I have for this month's tobacco.
I love Latakia, perique and black Cavendish. Combine those three tobaccos with a jigger of rum and the result is something I cannot resist no matter how ridiculous the price may be. Accompanied by Reverend Greyfriar, I visited a local pipe and cigar shop last Saturday where I was wooed by the whimsy of the CROSS-EYED CRICKET. Greyfriar bought two Nicaraguan cigars. Somehow, on the way back to my house, the sly fox managed to con me out of half my tobacco in exchange for one South American stogie. Methinks my friend got the better deal.
Later that evening, in the comfortable surroundings of my study--admidst tomes of theology, fly rods, shot guns and enough ammunition to make me look like a cultic wacko--the Reverend and I fired up a bowl of this bodacious blend in our identical Bjarne freehands.
Upon sampling the two-ounce, ten-dollar canister, both Greyfriar and I were delighted by this excellent mixture. The tobacco lit well and burned nicely. There was enough tang to the taste to make you realize you were on to something different. However, the Cavendish base was sufficient to blunt the cutting edges of the Latakia, Turkish and perique, so as to render the over-all effect notably pleasing. And, the rum punch additive was distinct, though hardly domineering. One of the ironic peculiarities of puffing on a pipe is that you cannot smell your own smoke. According to my wife--and I always regard her opinion with due consideration--the aroma was fruity, but not cloying. I would say the fragrance of the blend corresponded perfectly with its sweet satisfying flavor.
CROSS-EYED CRICKET is so good it was suggested by Reverend Greyfriar that he and I give some--as in "copious amounts"--to Father McAllister for Christmas. I concurred whole-heartedly with the idea. The man has long deserved a serious humbling.
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
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