Have tried some tobaccos in the aromatic and burley categories, and it is time for virginia. Any suggestions for a new piper?
Recommendations For First Excursion Into Virginias
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C&D's Yorktown is a straight ribbon cut Virginia that would make a good first time Virginia.
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Orlik Golden Sliced got me hooked up to the Virginias. It is easy to handle and gives you an idea of what Virginias can taste although it has a noticeable topping.
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Orlik Golden Sliced and Escudo Navy De Luxe
Orlik Golden Sliced is a favorite beginner Virginia and often stays a staple after that. PS Luxury Navy Flake comes in bulk and is usually found agreeable. You may like some dark fired with your Virginia Perique, and Russ O.'s Fire Storm among others is a good blend to try. My usual advice, buy in small quantities even if you love a blend; your taste will develop and change, and jar what you don't like and try it again in a year. Escudo in tins is an upscale choice, and Amphora Virginia is a pouch tobacco that might appeal. Take it slow; sample around; keep track of what you've tried. Virginia is a mostly refined base for blends, so it may take a while to fully enjoy it. I'm such a burley buff, but a good Virginia blend is a beautiful thing.
All good recommendations so far, representing many of the well-known intro / staple Virginias.
+1 for Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake. That one includes some perique so is technically a VA/Per. I really like LNF and it's probably the most-smoked Virginia in my cellar, though take that with a grain of salt because I'm more of an English / Balkan as well as Burley smoker.
If you try some Virginias and enjoy them, then you definitely have to get your hands on some Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake. Hands down my favorite Virginia, and many others would probably agree. It can be hard to find though, and really needs to be thoroughly dried out before smoking because it comes packed very wet.
Can't neglect Mac Baren HH Pure Virginia, as a benchmark:
I can't speak for it with less age but Union Square from 2009 is one of the finest Virginias I've ever had the pleasure of smoking.
Mike S.
Mike S.
+1 for OGS and Capstan Blue. Both solid VA blends, IMO.
C&D Virginias are very forgiving. Opening Night and Red Carpet (Va/Per) are much over looked blends imo.
Also, try and get your hands on any of the Rattray (Old Gowrie, Hal O' the Wynd, Marlin Flake, Brown Clunee) offerings, though they may not be straight virginias.
Amphora has a pouch Virginia that I like a lot.
Look for the yellow pouch.
Look for the yellow pouch.
I won’t add any more specific tobaccos to the list of great suggestions already mentioned. But I would suggest that for a first foray in Virginia’s you may want to look at ribbon cuts and ready rubbed tobaccos as they are a little easier to pack and dry to your preferred moisture content than flakes and plugs. On the topic of moisture content, as others have suggested, most smokers prefer a much dryer tobacco when smoking Virginia’s. For myself, I sometimes dry out newly opened Virginia’s for 4-6 hours before smoking. After a tin has been open for awhile I while reduce the dry out time. Occasionally I pack a bowl of Virginia 1 or even 2 days before actually smoking it and it will not be too dry, especially with flake and plug Virginia’s. It is certainly possible, but I can not remember ever over drying a Virginia flake.
My B&M let me try some Comoy's Cask #4 today. It is technically a VaPer, but the Perique is very light. Not as light as OGS but very slight and complimentary.
I folded and stuffed it with great success. A very easygoing smoke. Taste was similar to the MacBaren Virginia Flake.
I folded and stuffed it with great success. A very easygoing smoke. Taste was similar to the MacBaren Virginia Flake.
This! OGS was my intro into VA’s and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it. The toppings really bring out the best in the VA’s so it’s an excellent starting point. From there you’ve got many choices, just start sampling little by little to find out what floats your boat.
Did they just start carrying that? They certainly didn’t carry it last time I was in there but it’s been a month or two. You’re talking about Habana House, right?
It was Habana House. He didn't have any on the shelf, but had the sample tin behind the counter. He expects to have it stocked soon.
I am a big fan of Peter Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake, but for a "just Virginia" experience, try PS 701 Virginia - I had some a while back and remember all the great things about a good Virginia Tobacco plus flavor characteristics that lasted to the very bottom of the bowl unchanged! That reminds me - I need to order more!
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