Top 3 Bulk Virgina’s for Blending?

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Starting to Get Obsessed

Jul 15, 2018

120

0

• Aug 26, 2018

• #1

I need some advice. I’m looking for a great Virgina Bulk for Blending. I thought it would be helpful to hear your top 3 that work great for you.
I have always blended with “finished” tins of tobacco. However, I am at the point where I want to make another blend, but I don’t want to crack open tins from my cellar. All my blends have a substantial VA base.
There is one characteristic that I’d like you to take into consideration. I often press my blends so I prefer a solid medium or medium-light VA. When I press stronger VA’s than that, the finished product seems to land a little too bold than what I had hoped for.
Thanks!

 

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Starting to Get Obsessed

Jul 15, 2018

120

0

• Aug 26, 2018

• #2

I forgot to add...
I officially have a monthly budget thanks to TAD. So this is mostly for cost savings.

 

lordofthepiperings

Lifer

May 3, 2010

6,442

1,497

Las Vegas, NV

• Aug 26, 2018

• #3

I know a number of pipe guys who for years have been using Mac Baren's Virginia No.1 to personally tweak other blends. It'sa lighter bright Virginia that's just under $40 for a pound right now.

 

cosmicfolklore

Lifer

Aug 9, 2013

34,000

75,780

Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC

• Aug 26, 2018

• #4

You can do a search for “blending Virginias.” C&D and D&R have some, but Stokkebye and Sutliff also have some. But, keep in mind that these tobaccos have at least a minimal casing added. D&R and C&D probably have the best without much of anything added. Look beyond the online retailers that sponsor this forum for D&R, because The Briary has a lot more D&R blending tobaccos that are even listed on these online retailers.

 

cosmicfolklore

Lifer

Aug 9, 2013

34,000

75,780

Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC

• Aug 26, 2018

• #5

Some members are getting whole leaf tobaccos from online. Whole leaf would at least give you a true plug and not just a crumble cake. And, you could add your own casings as needed.

 

bluto

Part of the Furniture Now

Aug 24, 2018

737

8

• Aug 26, 2018

• #6

Yup , order up some whole leaf , you will be flush with several good quality Virginia varieties to experiment with
Highly cost effective also.

 

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Starting to Get Obsessed

Jul 15, 2018

120

0

• Aug 26, 2018

• #7

I have looked into buying whole leaf for pressing into flake, but I also enjoy crumble cake-style with some blends. I also think I’m going to need another press for whole leaf.

 

haparnold

Lifer

Aug 9, 2018

1,561

2,390

Colorado Springs, CO

• Aug 26, 2018

• #8

I'm a big fan of C&D Yorktown. It's available in bulk and has a pretty generic Virginia flavor profile.

 

mso489

Lifer

Feb 21, 2013

41,210

60,459

• Aug 27, 2018

• #9

This is a good question since so many of us (or at least "I") had McClelland as a default source for Virginia leaf for so long. If I had to go without recommendation on a not expensive bulk Virginia leaf for home mixes, I'd probably go with Sutliff, Lane, or C&D, though there are other good ones, Peter Stokkebye, etc. I wouldn't be above using some of the low-end bagged Virginia, but I wouldn't put that forward as a top choice. But I like the other suggestions here, as a guide, Daughter and Ryan, and others.

 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings

Jun 15, 2013

19,775

45,375

Southern Oregon

jrs457.wixsite.com

• Aug 27, 2018

• #10

It's the end of the world. I've started playing around with blending. It's fun! Nothing fancy, just baby steps with good components.

 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings

Jun 15, 2013

19,775

45,375

Southern Oregon

jrs457.wixsite.com

• Aug 27, 2018

• #11

As far as components, I'm using Sutliff 515-RC for the Red Virginia, the golden is a no longer available McClelland bulk blending tobacco, and I'm using D&R Too Timer as my Burley. I'm ordering AAA Burley to try out on a recommendation from jiminks as well as Yellow Virginia from P&C. The Perique I'm using for this first go around is also no longer available on the market, but you can find blending Perique on the P&C site. Type in "bulk blending tobaccos" in the search window. I tried looking for blending tobaccos at SP, but couldn't locate any. If they carry them, they're doing a good job of hiding them.

 

python

Administrator

Staff member

Apr 8, 2009

3,756

7,254

Maryland

pipesmagazine.com

• Aug 27, 2018

• #12

sablebrush52 Said:

I tried looking for blending tobaccos at SP, but couldn't locate any. If they carry them, they're doing a good job of hiding them.

Click to expand...

Here you go:
https://www.smokingpipes.com/tobacco/by-maker/cornell-diehl/bulk/index.cfm?tag=143
https://www.smokingpipes.com/tobacco/by-maker/cornell-diehl/index.cfm?tag=143

 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings

Jun 15, 2013

19,775

45,375

Southern Oregon

jrs457.wixsite.com

• Aug 27, 2018

• #13

Hi Bob,
Thanks for the links! When I tried to use their search engine, using "blending tobaccos" as the search term I got 1153 results because their search engine does not parse between the word "blend" and the word "blending".
More toys to play with!

 

mso489

Lifer

Feb 21, 2013

41,210

60,459

• Aug 27, 2018

• #14

I call what I do "mixes," or "mixing," since I'm using neither heat nor pressure, just setting the proportions and scooping them in the jar and letting them mingle. I don't think it has anything to do with my talent, but more often than not, I've had some good smokes. I don't get fancy. If I can get three tobaccos balanced and tasty, that's mission accomplished for me. If I have blends leftover in smaller quantities, I'll use one as a condiment in about a pinch, and the more plentiful one as the base. Also often pretty good.