Bacchanalia

Bacchanalia, taking its name from the festivals held in honor of Rome's god of wine, is a Virginia-burley blend from Sutliff's Private Stock line. A medium-brown, measuredly sweet Virginia leaf forms the base; an earthy, nutty burley is added on top. What sets the blend apart is the red-wine-direction flavoring applied.

The topping is of medium intensity, leaving a tangy, sharp edge alongside the sweetness. The dry, bready base of the Virginia-burley structure is still felt beneath the topping; nicotine is medium. A middle-ground option for smokers who keep their distance from heavily sugared aromatics but also find unflavored blends too plain. It went out of production along with the Private Stock line.