Contents: Virginia, Oriental (Izmir)
Cut: Ribbon
Strength: medium
Flavoring: none
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
I found this blend to be a great Virginia-Oriental mixture. It has a smooth, silky and cool smoke. Easy to keep lit. The sweet dimensions of the Virginia leaf dance very well wit the oily sweetness of the Izmir. And yes, it is nicely spicy too.
I highly recommend this fine blend those who like the Turkish taste added into quality Virginia leaf. You will for sure have nice moments of pipe smoking.
Cornell & Diehl - Sunday Picnic
Contents: Virginia, Oriental, Perique
Cut: flake
Strength: medium
Flavoring: extremely mild
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
This one is one of the best blends I've tried so far in this year. The tin aroma is robust and inviting at first seen.
The Izmir leaf is spicy as usual and much enjoyable. Perique adds a great and echilibrated strongness to the blend. Smokes cool, burns very well.
This rich and complex blend offers sometimes a fig like aroma, in another bowl of smoke you'll enjoy the fine, spicey oriental, and sometimes the sweet Virginias. A must try for all spicey/sweet blend lovers.
Cut: flake
Strength: medium
Flavoring: extremely mild
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
This one is one of the best blends I've tried so far in this year. The tin aroma is robust and inviting at first seen.
The Izmir leaf is spicy as usual and much enjoyable. Perique adds a great and echilibrated strongness to the blend. Smokes cool, burns very well.
This rich and complex blend offers sometimes a fig like aroma, in another bowl of smoke you'll enjoy the fine, spicey oriental, and sometimes the sweet Virginias. A must try for all spicey/sweet blend lovers.
McClelland - Virginia No.25
Contents: Virginia
Cut: ribbon
Strength: mild
Flavoring: none detected
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ***
Actually this blend deserves a four star rating in comparation with the most other VA blends rated with three stars by me. However I compare this fine blend with the other VA blends of McClelland.
It is a fine ribbon cut tobacco. The tin content smells just like a McClelland blend and it is well moistened. It dries out fast because of the fine cut. Packs well and burns well.
The first puffs are rich in cigarette like taste and well known McClelland sourness. After the 1/3 of the first bowls I've smoked I cought the nice sweetness of the blend with a satisfying matured and stoved VA flavor. The nicotine dosage is less than I've expected.
As the most other McClelland blends just char it and leave a while. Then you'll catch the real fun of it.
A pleasant, tasty smoke yet less satisfying nicotine dosage.
Cut: ribbon
Strength: mild
Flavoring: none detected
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ***
Actually this blend deserves a four star rating in comparation with the most other VA blends rated with three stars by me. However I compare this fine blend with the other VA blends of McClelland.
It is a fine ribbon cut tobacco. The tin content smells just like a McClelland blend and it is well moistened. It dries out fast because of the fine cut. Packs well and burns well.
The first puffs are rich in cigarette like taste and well known McClelland sourness. After the 1/3 of the first bowls I've smoked I cought the nice sweetness of the blend with a satisfying matured and stoved VA flavor. The nicotine dosage is less than I've expected.
As the most other McClelland blends just char it and leave a while. Then you'll catch the real fun of it.
A pleasant, tasty smoke yet less satisfying nicotine dosage.
Benson&Hedges - Gold Flake
Contents: Virginia
Cut: Flake
Strength: mild to medium
Flavoring: very mild
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ***
I smoked a tin of this fine blend almost a bowl or two per day. I can say that it is a high quality flake for any time smoke.
At the first bowls I would rate this tobacco with four stars without hesitating. After a while the casing in this tobacco, which very mild, began to disturb me a little bit. The casing is not overwhelming or untasty but it unfortunately shadows the natural flavor of the very fine Virginia leaf used in this blend.
The flakes are thin and easy to pack. It burns slow. I must say that it is one of the coolest flake I have ever tried.
The casing problem might be just mine. Maybe I will not feel it in this way in some other time in the future. I will surely will give this blend another try and maybe will update my review with four stars. It deserves only three stars for now.
Cut: Flake
Strength: mild to medium
Flavoring: very mild
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ***
I smoked a tin of this fine blend almost a bowl or two per day. I can say that it is a high quality flake for any time smoke.
At the first bowls I would rate this tobacco with four stars without hesitating. After a while the casing in this tobacco, which very mild, began to disturb me a little bit. The casing is not overwhelming or untasty but it unfortunately shadows the natural flavor of the very fine Virginia leaf used in this blend.
The flakes are thin and easy to pack. It burns slow. I must say that it is one of the coolest flake I have ever tried.
The casing problem might be just mine. Maybe I will not feel it in this way in some other time in the future. I will surely will give this blend another try and maybe will update my review with four stars. It deserves only three stars for now.
Gawith, Hogarth - Ennerdale Flake
Contents: Virginia, Burley
Cut: Flake
Strength: mild to medium
Flavoring: mild
Taste: medium to full
Recommendation: ***
Ennerdale Flake has the top particularities of a classical fruity- sweet Virginia blends of Lakeland style. It is similar to St. Bruno as underlined by the other reviewers. However it has an important point that the mild casing never shadows the true Virgina flavor in this blend. That's I think why GH has a top seller here.
It is not a strong blend. Smokes cool, nutty and fruity (maybe soapy for some of us). An all day high quality smoke for me.
Cut: Flake
Strength: mild to medium
Flavoring: mild
Taste: medium to full
Recommendation: ***
Ennerdale Flake has the top particularities of a classical fruity- sweet Virginia blends of Lakeland style. It is similar to St. Bruno as underlined by the other reviewers. However it has an important point that the mild casing never shadows the true Virgina flavor in this blend. That's I think why GH has a top seller here.
It is not a strong blend. Smokes cool, nutty and fruity (maybe soapy for some of us). An all day high quality smoke for me.
GL Pease - Cairo
Contents: Virginia, Oriental, Perique
Cut: Ribbon
Strength: mild to medium
Flavoring: none
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
GL Pease made a nice combination of Virginia and Oriental in this can. Its moisture level is perfect for immediately packing. Lights easily.
The Perique addition in this blend may overwhelm you if you are not a fan of it. From my point of view it is delicious. It adds to this blend a great dimension.
The smoke is tasty with sweet Virginia and authentic oriental leaf flavor.
If you pack it loose it will smoke fast and with rich smoke and won't bite. A tight load will burn longer with less smoke letting you enjoying the nice flavors of this blend.
Cut: Ribbon
Strength: mild to medium
Flavoring: none
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
GL Pease made a nice combination of Virginia and Oriental in this can. Its moisture level is perfect for immediately packing. Lights easily.
The Perique addition in this blend may overwhelm you if you are not a fan of it. From my point of view it is delicious. It adds to this blend a great dimension.
The smoke is tasty with sweet Virginia and authentic oriental leaf flavor.
If you pack it loose it will smoke fast and with rich smoke and won't bite. A tight load will burn longer with less smoke letting you enjoying the nice flavors of this blend.
Peterson's Perfect Plug
Contents: Virginia, Burley
Cut: Plug
Strength: medium to strong
Flavoring: mild to medium
Taste: full
Recommendation: ****
The tin contains a block of hard pressed tobacco protected in a sealed plastic. I like the presentation. It looks like you can take it anywhere in your pocket. It won't dry easily and it will ocupy a small sart of your pocket :) It is dark brown, at a medium moisture degree and very hard.
I have the patience of a pipe smoker and a modeller so I didn't look at how much time it takes when preparing the bowl with this fine blend. I tried to cut flakes and smoked. I also tried to rub it as much as I could. In both versions it lights hard and it is not easy to keep it lit. The flake version is harder to smoke. But with patience and several matches this tobacco satisfied me.
It has a high nicotine dosage. I personally prefered medium sized bowls just for this reason. It offers a deep, tasteful Virginia-Burley smoke. The casing is fruity and smooth but not too sweet.
This blend isn't an anytime tobacco for me. It must be enjoyed after dinner once or twice a week. I hope it will be available also in ready rubbed version, I would like to give it a try.
Cut: Plug
Strength: medium to strong
Flavoring: mild to medium
Taste: full
Recommendation: ****
The tin contains a block of hard pressed tobacco protected in a sealed plastic. I like the presentation. It looks like you can take it anywhere in your pocket. It won't dry easily and it will ocupy a small sart of your pocket :) It is dark brown, at a medium moisture degree and very hard.
I have the patience of a pipe smoker and a modeller so I didn't look at how much time it takes when preparing the bowl with this fine blend. I tried to cut flakes and smoked. I also tried to rub it as much as I could. In both versions it lights hard and it is not easy to keep it lit. The flake version is harder to smoke. But with patience and several matches this tobacco satisfied me.
It has a high nicotine dosage. I personally prefered medium sized bowls just for this reason. It offers a deep, tasteful Virginia-Burley smoke. The casing is fruity and smooth but not too sweet.
This blend isn't an anytime tobacco for me. It must be enjoyed after dinner once or twice a week. I hope it will be available also in ready rubbed version, I would like to give it a try.
Gawith, Hogarth - Bright CR Flake
Contents: Virginia
Cut: Flake
Strength: mild to medium
Flavoring: none
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
This is a first class Virginia flake for those who prefer a good sweet and true tobacco taste. It is a nice blend of dark and light Virginias and offers a very nice combination of flavors. It burns slow and cool giving a full satisfaction. However it may be light for nicotine kick lovers. For me it is an all day and any time smoke.
If you look for some complexity this might not fit to your needings. But for sure it will satisfy you with nice and remarkable flavorful smoke. I highly recommend it for pure and sweet Virginia smokers.
Cut: Flake
Strength: mild to medium
Flavoring: none
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
This is a first class Virginia flake for those who prefer a good sweet and true tobacco taste. It is a nice blend of dark and light Virginias and offers a very nice combination of flavors. It burns slow and cool giving a full satisfaction. However it may be light for nicotine kick lovers. For me it is an all day and any time smoke.
If you look for some complexity this might not fit to your needings. But for sure it will satisfy you with nice and remarkable flavorful smoke. I highly recommend it for pure and sweet Virginia smokers.
GL Pease - Barbary Coast
Contents: Virginia, Burley, Perique
Cut: Cube cut
Strength: medium
Flavoring: mild
Taste: medium to full
Recommendation: ***
The tin moisture would make it hard to light and smoke. So please have patience with this blend. It packs and lights very easily after a nice airing.
This is a nice blend. Spicy, cool smoking and satisfaction guaranteed taste. Just because of the full brandy taste I can't smoke it daily. It is an ocassional tobacco for me. It tends to burn fast because of the fine cube cut. So it may satisfy the fast smokers. I personally prefer to smoke very slow.
I found this blend week on sweet Virginias. If you are searching for sweet Va this blend may not be suitable for you.
Cut: Cube cut
Strength: medium
Flavoring: mild
Taste: medium to full
Recommendation: ***
The tin moisture would make it hard to light and smoke. So please have patience with this blend. It packs and lights very easily after a nice airing.
This is a nice blend. Spicy, cool smoking and satisfaction guaranteed taste. Just because of the full brandy taste I can't smoke it daily. It is an ocassional tobacco for me. It tends to burn fast because of the fine cube cut. So it may satisfy the fast smokers. I personally prefer to smoke very slow.
I found this blend week on sweet Virginias. If you are searching for sweet Va this blend may not be suitable for you.
Robert McConnell - Scottish Flake
Contents: Virginia, Turkish
Cut: Flake
Strength: medium
Flavoring: none
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
I feel bad that I did not try this great blend before.
The flakes are dark in color, with a wonderful, pure, grassy sweet, soure fig like, Virginia smell. The flavors are just what I was searching for.
The flakes have a high humidity level, so I aired the stuff. The airing settled also the flavors for sure. Flakes pack well.
It burns well. Smokes cool. I personally didn't detect any casing. Beside the quality Virginia I enjoyed a spicy flavor which I think means a Turkish addition and somehow a perfectly balanced addition of Burley maybe. The overall smoking experience of this tobacco is great. Offers all the satisfaction of a true pipe tobacco. I highly recommend it.
Cut: Flake
Strength: medium
Flavoring: none
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
I feel bad that I did not try this great blend before.
The flakes are dark in color, with a wonderful, pure, grassy sweet, soure fig like, Virginia smell. The flavors are just what I was searching for.
The flakes have a high humidity level, so I aired the stuff. The airing settled also the flavors for sure. Flakes pack well.
It burns well. Smokes cool. I personally didn't detect any casing. Beside the quality Virginia I enjoyed a spicy flavor which I think means a Turkish addition and somehow a perfectly balanced addition of Burley maybe. The overall smoking experience of this tobacco is great. Offers all the satisfaction of a true pipe tobacco. I highly recommend it.
Dan Tobacco - Hamborger Veermaster
Contents: Virginia
Cut: Flake
Strength: medium
Flavoring: extremely mild
Taste: mild to medium
Recommendation: ***
The tins I've received from Dan Tobacco had a very low moisture level. The flakes were easily turning into dust. So I carefully put the containing into my tobacco humidifier. After a couple of days they were ready to smoke.
It packed and light well and it is easy to keep it lit. Burns even and cool offering a quite long smoke. The taste of the true tobacco is present, however it is not enough. Also the sweetness of fine Virginia is not satisfactory. It has a nice dosage of nicotine.
This is a fine all day tobacco. But not enough to satisfy a fastidious Virginia smoker.
Cut: Flake
Strength: medium
Flavoring: extremely mild
Taste: mild to medium
Recommendation: ***
The tins I've received from Dan Tobacco had a very low moisture level. The flakes were easily turning into dust. So I carefully put the containing into my tobacco humidifier. After a couple of days they were ready to smoke.
It packed and light well and it is easy to keep it lit. Burns even and cool offering a quite long smoke. The taste of the true tobacco is present, however it is not enough. Also the sweetness of fine Virginia is not satisfactory. It has a nice dosage of nicotine.
This is a fine all day tobacco. But not enough to satisfy a fastidious Virginia smoker.
Esoterica Tobacciana - Dorchester
Contents: Virginia, Perique
Cut: Ribbon
Strength: medium
Flavoring: none detected
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
Well, first of all I must say that, if you are not a fan of the blends in which the Perique addition has made generously stay away from this stuff. The tobacco in the tin smells nice. It has a shaggy ribbon cut so some of you may prefer to chop it a bit. For me tha packing was not a problem. It lights easily and I can keep it lit without problems. The Virginias are really flavorful and sweet. Perique doesn't let you to enjoy a lot this sweetness. It is spicy and very peppery. The combination of flavors and overall strength of the blend satisfies me. I've enjoyed every bowl of it and ordered some more..
Cut: Ribbon
Strength: medium
Flavoring: none detected
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
Well, first of all I must say that, if you are not a fan of the blends in which the Perique addition has made generously stay away from this stuff. The tobacco in the tin smells nice. It has a shaggy ribbon cut so some of you may prefer to chop it a bit. For me tha packing was not a problem. It lights easily and I can keep it lit without problems. The Virginias are really flavorful and sweet. Perique doesn't let you to enjoy a lot this sweetness. It is spicy and very peppery. The combination of flavors and overall strength of the blend satisfies me. I've enjoyed every bowl of it and ordered some more..
A&C Petersen- Escudo Navy Deluxe
Contents: Virginia, Perique
Cut: Spun cut
Strength: medium
Flavoring: none detected
Taste: medium to full
Recommendation: ****
These disks of Va-Per must be tried by all Va blend lovers for sure. Escudo has a rich tobacco flavor and cool smoke. The Perique addition is masterfuly balanced and I detect its pepperness beside the rich Va flavor, which is very enjoyable for my tastes.
A first class Va-Per blend. Highly recommended..
Cut: Spun cut
Strength: medium
Flavoring: none detected
Taste: medium to full
Recommendation: ****
These disks of Va-Per must be tried by all Va blend lovers for sure. Escudo has a rich tobacco flavor and cool smoke. The Perique addition is masterfuly balanced and I detect its pepperness beside the rich Va flavor, which is very enjoyable for my tastes.
A first class Va-Per blend. Highly recommended..
McClelland - Blended Turkish Ribbon
Contents: Turkish
Cut: Ribbon
Strength: medium
Flavoring: none detected
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
This is for sure a nice blender tobacco. But it may be very interesting and satisfying for those who enjoy pure Turkish.
It has all the best parts of an oriental tobacco: grassy-sweet, cigarette like taste. Nice kick of nicotine. Slow burning. Enjoyable spicy flavor. However it is one dimensional and may become boring if you smoke it daily.
Available only bulk!
Cut: Ribbon
Strength: medium
Flavoring: none detected
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
This is for sure a nice blender tobacco. But it may be very interesting and satisfying for those who enjoy pure Turkish.
It has all the best parts of an oriental tobacco: grassy-sweet, cigarette like taste. Nice kick of nicotine. Slow burning. Enjoyable spicy flavor. However it is one dimensional and may become boring if you smoke it daily.
Available only bulk!
Solani - 633 Virginia Flake
Contents: Virginia, Perique
Cut: Flake
Strength: medium to strong
Flavoring: none detected
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
The flakes are compressed and hard. The tin aroma is fantastic. After airing these flakes they pack and burn better.
It smokes cool and slow. The sweet Virginias are rounded well with spicy Perique. If you love the Va-Per blends this one may be one of your favorites. Be careful with your puffing cadence, it may bite and the Perique may become harshful.
Even though it is a strong tobacco, can be smoked all day by those who love Va-Per blends..
Cut: Flake
Strength: medium to strong
Flavoring: none detected
Taste: medium
Recommendation: ****
The flakes are compressed and hard. The tin aroma is fantastic. After airing these flakes they pack and burn better.
It smokes cool and slow. The sweet Virginias are rounded well with spicy Perique. If you love the Va-Per blends this one may be one of your favorites. Be careful with your puffing cadence, it may bite and the Perique may become harshful.
Even though it is a strong tobacco, can be smoked all day by those who love Va-Per blends..
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