American VaPer Flakes: Any Suggestions?

mawnansmiff · Sep 5, 2017

Having trawled my way through many American (mostly McClelland) straight Virginia flakes I have recently moved onto American made VaPer flakes. Those sampled thus far have all been winners and far better in my opinion than the aforementioned Vas.
So far I have tried #2015, Pebblecut, Black Parrot, Bayou Slice, St. James Woods, Beacon, Beacon Extra, Tudor Castle, Telegraph Hill (ribbon), Stratford (ribbon) and Fillmore. The last being the only one I disliked due to the Latakia present. Some folks don't taste it but I do.
So I clearly prefer American VaPers over American straight Virginias. I find them to have much more body and depth along with richer flavours. Are there any other blends that members might recommend? I don't mind if oriental leaf is present or burley for that matter...just not Latakia!
I prefer flake/broken flake over other cuts by the way simply because they tend to burn better for me.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Jay.

cosmicfolklore · Sep 5, 2017

Solani 633 is a unique flake. The browns and red Virginias used give it a subtle difference to Escudo. I really prefer McClellands also, but this one makes an elegant change of pace.

JimInks · Sep 5, 2017

There aren't many American made VaPers that are broken flake or flake. McClelland makes most of them. Low Country Waccamaw may suit you. If you don't mind long, easy to break apart krumble flakes, I'd recommend Watch City Flake #558, and Old Dominion. Even though Solani 633 and Savinelli Doblone d'Oro (closest thing made today to the old VaPer Three Nuns) aren't American made, I recommend those, too.
I assume you've tried Dunhill Navy Rolls, Escudo and Davidoff Flake Medallions? If not, you may want to consider those.

deathmetal · Sep 5, 2017

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/2167/cornell-diehl-bayou-morning-flake

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/3530/cornell-diehl-burley-flake-1
Here's a handy search to find some possibles.
These look promising:
http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/9362/g-l-pease-sixpence

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/4409/g-l-pease-triple-play

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/10737/hearth-home-anniversary-flake

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/10699/standard-tobacco-company-of-pennsylvania-murrays-1921-cunningham

johnbarleycorn · Sep 5, 2017

One of my favorite American blends which I think will fall into your category is GLP Sixpence. Virginia + Perique + dark fired Kentucky.

mso489 · Sep 5, 2017

Russ O. at PC has done quite an array of Va/Pers, so you might want to check out his Acadian selections and others. I really like Fire Storm.

Chasing Embers · Sep 5, 2017

Bayou Morning Flake

andrew · Sep 5, 2017

Not a flake but a very rough cut, John Pattons cool hand fluke, it's strong though, 40% perique.

cortezattic · Sep 5, 2017

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/2572/hearth-home-anniversary-kake
...and I have to strongly second mso489's recommendation of Fire Storm.

sablebrush52 · Sep 5, 2017

Sixpence is pretty good, though I recommend aging it a bit. I didn't like it fresh, but even with only a year in the tin, it really opened up. If you're willing to smoke ribbon cut, you have more, and very good, options. Among my faovrites are RO Perique Series GP-11, H&H Viprati, D&R Rimboché AP, SJ, or AB. RO GP-11 is my favorite Va/Per at the moment. It's rich, flavorful, and well balanced. If you're willing to try something a bit off the beaten path, try Haddo's Delight. The primary components are Virginia and Perique, but there are other components and a bit of rum as well, so not strictly a Va/Per, but a very good smoke.

mawnansmiff · Sep 6, 2017

Wow chaps, thanks for the suggestions. Regards Solani 633 (not American), I have had that but wasn't overly impressed. Not bad but not great either.
Jim's suggestion of Low Country Waccamaw sounds right up my alley as does Old Dominion. I've tried Deluxe Navy Rolls but wasn't too impressed. Escudo and Davidoff Flake Medallions sound interesting, on to the list they go!
Bayou Morning Flake was already on my list but Burley Flake #1 is new to me. The others Brett suggested are either ribbons or are flavoured...I tend to steer away from both I'm afraid. That said, I could be interested in GLP's Sixpence if the topping isn't too heavy.
Jesse mentioned Viprati. A forum member (Eric I think) sent me a sample of that which I really liked but being a ribbon cut it burned too quick for me.
Many more reviews to read but you have given me some great ideas so many thanks fellas :clap:
Regards,
Jay.

pitchfork · Sep 6, 2017

I hadn't thought about it before, but it's strange that there are so few American VaPer flakes.
On Sixpence...I found the topping to be very mild (some kind of red wine or brandy, I believe). It dissipates after a while in any case. My guess is that it was blended in homage of the old Three Nuns, but the Kentucky Dark Fired gives it a different character from most pure VaPers. It's very good, though, however you classify it.
On Burley Flake #1...It has Perique in it, alright, but it's flavor is dominated by dark burley. It's very potent, both in flavor and nicotine, and I highly recommend it, but again, not your traditional VaPer.

deepspringfarm · Sep 6, 2017

I do wish Fire Storm came in flake form...then it'd be perfect.

cosmicfolklore · Sep 6, 2017

Crap, I just realized what Jay was requesting, and my comment totally missed the mark. Sorry.

deathmetal · Sep 6, 2017

Fire Storm sounds delicious. Cosmic's suggestions are also good. Holy crap, I have a new shopping list. I told you guys not to do this to me... oh well.

andrew · Sep 6, 2017

@jay if you didn't like dunhill DNR you most likely won't like escudo as some people claim it to be the same blend in different packaging. Also PS LBF is supposed to be very similar to Davidoff flake medallions

thomasw · Sep 6, 2017

Jay,
Triple Play is an American plug that has a VA-DarkFired-Perique flavour profile that two friends of mine, who prefer VA-Per blends, really find delicious. So much of how TP smokes is in how you, the smoker, prefer it prepared. FWIW, I have a preference for the slow smoke of cube cutting it. The smoke is long, soothing fill of rich body and subtle flavours, some of which are spicy in both a darkfired and a perique way. Have you tried Burley Flake 1 or 3 by CD? Also, I second Jim's suggestion of the admittedly non-US blend Doblone d'Oro by Savinelli or HU's Director's Cut; but as a Brit I bet you have piles of those already : puffy

: Outside of those, perhaps you've tried Solani 660 Silver Flake? Though a VA-Bur, its spiciness (darkfired spicy) is somewhat akin to a spicy VA-Per but just a bit more rich and earthy; I know I am off-topic and way outside the box with this suggestion, so I will stop babbling.

cortezattic · Sep 6, 2017

Former member here, SamCoffeeMan, put together a list of Vapers some time ago, so it's a bit dated. But you can scan the list for American flake entries that may have been missed.

http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/top-vaper-thread#post-457939
Here's a link to the Vaper Showdown cited by Sam:

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?s=29f3e2dc72663be82ebc8b616e83316a&t=8215

mawnansmiff · Sep 8, 2017

Thanks for those Cortez, I'm slowly working my way through the reviews of each one.
Triple Play has been suggested to me in the past so that is now added to my ever growing wants list.
Regards,
Jay.

fitzy · Sep 8, 2017

I would second Hearth & Home's Anniversary Kake. It's not quite a full blown flake but has a delicious bready quality to it.
PS LBF isn't american but with a few years age on it is deliciously sweet.

American VaPer Flakes: Any Suggestions?

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