Welcome to another episode of Tasting Notes. Today I'm very excited to be talking about something very special: the first limited edition in the Per Jensen line of tobaccos produced by Cornell & Diehl and Jeremy Reeves: Aftensmad.

The Story Behind Aftensmad

Aftensmad is a stout blend designed for an after-meal, evening smoke. For some smokers, this can absolutely be an all-day tobacco, but it has that rich, robust character we typically associate with later in the evening, after a good, full meal.

Aftensmad translates to "dinner," which plays into the lore of this blend. It was inspired by Per Jensen's father, who served as a lookout aboard the Dannebrog, the Royal Danish Navy's ship. The ship often hosted the royal family for meals, and Per Jensen's father kept four actual menu cards from those occasions.

That history is reflected in the tin itself — the blend's own menu card sits on a beautiful blue-and-white Danish porcelain plate, and tucked inside, along with the blend's description and story, are miniature versions of the original menu cards. It's a nice touch that ties the whole project together.

Rich and Funky Tin Note

The tin note is rich, earthy, and almost chocolatey, with nice dark fruit notes and some of that barnyard funk you'd expect from Dark Fired leaf and Perique, both of which are in this blend. It's malty, slightly sweet, and earthy — really complex, and right up my alley personally.

Complex Components

Aftensmad is composed of Red Virginia leaf (AO-BFO from 2023), Izmir from Thailand (TKP-19 from 2019), Dark Burley, Dark Fired Kentucky, and long-cut Perique, with a touch of Red Virginia Cavendish added.

Preparing the Flake

The flakes are dense and dark — gorgeous, mostly chestnut to dark brown with lighter flecks throughout. This flake performs well regardless of preparation, but my preference is to rub the flakes out pretty much fully.

I gave them a little aeration and about five minutes of drying time. They're moist straight out of the tin, and with this many rich tobaccos in the mix, you don't want to dry them too much or you'll lose some of the nuance. They loaded into the pipe easily and took to the flame well after that short drying period.

First Impressions in the Bowl

The initial burst of flavor is huge — bold, full-bodied, with a dense smoke on the palate and a lot of spice right off the bat. This is everything darker-Virginia and Virginia/Perique smokers are looking for in a blend: warming spices and pepper on the retrohale, dark fruit, prominent Perique, malty and sweet Red Virginia, and a Red Virginia Cavendish that adds tremendous body.

Flavor Evolution Through the Bowl

As the bowl progresses, more sourdough-like notes emerge from the Red Virginia leaf — a little less malty, a little more piquant — while the spice continues to ramp up. The Perique is most noticeable early on and through the first third of the smoke, after which the Dark Fired leaf starts playing a more central role. The 2019 Thai Izmir is present throughout, lending an aromatic, floral quality, and together the Perique, Dark Fired, and Izmir build a nice, earthy foundation beneath the malty, bready base notes.

Aftensmad is an extremely complex blend. Different condimental leaves take center stage at different points in the bowl, moving in and out in a way that still feels balanced and well-harmonized. For smokers who favor intrigue over familiarity, this one offers a different experience depending on the time of day, the pipe, and how you pack it.

Final Thoughts

Aftensmad is rich, stout, and complex — medium-plus in strength and full in body. It's a lovely smoke for late in the evening after a good meal, paired with a beverage of your choice. If you're a fan of stout Virginia/Perique flakes like Rattray's Marlin Flake or Sam Gawith's St. James Flake, this one's for you.

I'm smoking this in a little sandblasted Billiard by Michael Parks, one of my favorite Virginia/Perique pipes, and this blend is singing in it right now.

Aftensmad is very limited in production and is the first limited edition in Per Jensen's portfolio. If you've tried the other Per Jensen blends and loved them, definitely give this one a shot — and if you're a fan of Virginia/Perique blends or darker Virginia flakes in general, this one's right up your alley. I also think it has strong aging potential; it's going to be beautiful in a few years.