I've been curious to try Wessex tobacco, particularly Red Virginia Flake, and was wondering if anyone has had it before? Did it bight much? Also, I wouldn't mind some suggestions of cool tobaccos or tobaccos that don't have so much tongue bight. Right now i'm still on a 100g tin of W.Ø. Larson and that stuff really gives me tongue bight.
-
-
Subscribe
------------------
------------------
----------------- -
Poker Deck
Pipes Magazine » Pipe Tobacco Discussion
Wessex Tobacco and Tobaccos With Little Bight
(36 posts)-
Posted 4 months ago #
-
It is possible that, like some, red virginias do not suit you.
More likely, you are smoking to fast, sucking too much and not sipping slowly enough.
In either case, give pause to this. Try something else instead of red virginias.
Let us know how you make out and good luck!
Posted 4 months ago # -
I smoke more blends from Wessex than any other mfg. The 4 I smoke are Brigade Campaign Dark Flake, Brown Virginia Flake, Gold Virginia Flake and Gold Brick. None of these give me any tongue bite and they are all very tasty to me. I did try the Red Virginia Flake but it bit me bad. I am very sensitive to Red Virginia's but I had to try it because I like so many of their blends.
I would try any of the above mentioned and stay away from the Red Virginia.
HarrisPosted 4 months ago # -
The Wessex Brigade Campaign Dark Flake is a nice blend. I smoke it frequently and have several tins on hand.
"The pipe draws wisdom from the lips of the philosopher, and shuts up the mouth of the foolish; it generates a style of conversation, contemplative, thoughtful, benevolent, and unaffected..."
-William Makepeace Thackeray, from The Social PipePosted 4 months ago # -
gecko, you may want to load up on any Wessex blends you really like. I predict it will be smaller companies like Wessex that will be the first to go if prices triple. I do not believe that smaller houses like them will be able to survive. I am up to around 70 tins of the BCDF and am going for at least 100 in the cellar. I made the mistake of not loading up on Three Nuns so I will not let history repeat itself.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Whats this about prices tripling?!
Posted 4 months ago # -
Prices are likely to at least double in the USA in 2013. It has to do with U.S. state, county and city sales and use taxes which are not being collected by internet vendors. The Feds here have two bills in Congress now to require internet merchants to collect all taxes based on the customer's billing address. When that becomes law, prices will rise dramatically, not just because of the taxes, but the cost to implement 70+ different tax systems by the merchants will increase their overhead dramatically and these costs will also be passed on to the customers.
These increases will, of course, also affect anyone buying tobacco from a USA vendor from outside of the Country.
Posted 4 months ago # -
i want to try their burley flake. i think it`s a flake. i maybe wrong, but i know they produce a tinned burley. has anyone tried the burley?
mike.
Posted 4 months ago # -
+1 Cigrmaster
There's nothing quite like tobacco: it's the passion of decent folk, and whoever lives without tobacco doesn't deserve to live.
-MolierePosted 4 months ago # -
I've never tried a Wessex blend. But I can tell you that Red Virginias, in general, probably need the most care in smoking than any of the Virginias. I'm currently going through a 2006 tin of McCranie's Red Flake, and it requires a very slow draw or else it will be sharp on the tongue. But if you're deliberate and mindful in how you approach these, I think you'll be richly rewarded. The Red Flake delivers a ton of sweetness when approached carefully.
I would say that it's good to approach any all-Virginia blend with caution at the outset, until you get a feel for the technique that delivers the most flavor with the least bite. (And the bite, in this case, is due largely to the high sugar content of this leaf, not any additives. If you're getting bit by an aromatic, I think you can lay the blame entirely on the flavorings/additives that are part of the blend.) The only exception is a dark-stoved Virginia. These tobaccos -- my favorites are McClelland's Dark Star and Butera's Royal Vintage: Dark Stoved -- are processed in such a way that their flavors are much darker and much more mellow. Sometimes, though, the processing/pressing also results in flakes that can be very hard to rub out. Dark Star is near-impossible. But it's okay to smoke it in chunks if you have to; just be prepared for many relights.
Bob
Posted 4 months ago # -
Once the taxes jump, I mays well almost buy all my tobacco in Canada again then, the cost won't be much, if at all, less.
Thanks for the info all, I will avoid the Red Virginia, I can already tell it's not going to be my cup of tea.
Posted 4 months ago # -
mlyvers, the Wessex Burley Slice is a flake and it is high in burley flavors. I recently bought a tin because I like HH Old Dark Fired and Stonehaven. I was not crazy about the first bowl so I am putting it away for a while to dry out and see if I like it better with a little age. I did the same thing with Old Dark Fired and I love that one now. The Burley Slice is definitely a quality tobacco and very pretty flakes. If you like Burley's I would suggest you try it.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I had P&C throw in a 100g can of Wessex Burley Broad Cut in today's order. It will go in the cellar for a year or three. It just sounded good, got good reviews and the price is right.
The Wessex Gold Brick came in today. I was surprised how it was wrapped -- a plain cellophane wrapped brick. I just dropped it in a jar and into the cellar it went.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I got a 7 oz can of the wessex burley broadcut. I'm about half done. Great stuff - nice burley flavor with a nice casing of some sort. Sublty sweet and tobacco-y. I also love their Brown VA Flake.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Thanks Tedvig. Glad to hear you are enjoying the Wessex Burley Broadcut. From what I read and the fact it was less than $15 for a 7 ounce can, it seemed a real no brainer.
Posted 4 months ago # -
roth, your not going to slice off a chunk of the Gold Brick and check it out? What if you really like it fresh, you will probably want to stock up on it. Better hurry, I just ordered another 5 bricks tonight. lol
I love the way it comes, it is one solid hunk of tobacco. It takes a real sharp knife to slice some off. I cube cut it once I get a slice, fun stuff.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I *may* cut the brick into slices soon than later (that is the original plan anyway), so ya, if I do that I will cube cut a slice and try it. Still, I am leaning on aging it. It is, after all, virginia.
In either case, I am pretty sure it will not disappoint.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I don't think it will disappoint but it could be your holy grail blend. You may want to back the truck up, it could send you to Nirvana, you may try it fall in love and then find out I have bought it all.
Posted 4 months ago # -
loseth:
I currently have an open tin of Wessex Red Virginia flake. It's the so-manieth one I've opened in the past several months. Wessex Red Virginia flake is milder and more perfumy than Rattray's Hal O' The Wynd, possibly due to a faint old-age top dressing. Smoke-wise it is a cousin to the Orlik Golden Sliced. A very pleasant and enjoyable product, if smoked slowly. Fully rubbed out it does not require much attention. I had several bowls yesterday, punctuated by Rattray's Accountants Mixture and other Latakia bombs.
Like all Virginias it is high in nicotine. Which is why untill I've finished this tin it will be my first bowl of the day.-----ATBOTH
Boring wafflegab about tobacco.Posted 4 months ago # -
Red virginias are great. I love 'em. Many do. But if, like Harris here and others, you have a phyiscal reaction to Reds it's best to avoid them.
The physical issue is due to the body's PH levels. For some of us, our bodies are more acidic, for some, more alkaline. Those who lean to the acidic side can have issues with certain foods as well as other substances such as red virginias. Supposedly, being slightly alkaline is best.
There are ways, with the help of a physician, to modify this, such as making changes to one's diet.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Wessex Burley Slice is a beautiful smoke for those who love burley. It is supposedly the closest thing you can get to the dearly departed Edgeworth Sliced blend...
As far as I know, it is a straight burley (though there may be a minute percentage of VA) with a casing of molasses.
It delivers a straightforward smoke with a rich nuttiness reminiscent of black coffee and occasional wisps of sweetness. It is my favourite burley to date and I recommend it to all.
I haven't tried to the Solani ABF yet but I hope it is just as good...
As for Wessex Gold Brick, I hope to try it in a few weeks. It hasn't gotten much love over the years, but it seems like people have been praising it more and more lately. Plugs are a fairly rare tobacco form these days, and this is unusual for the category in that it is only of medium strength...
Posted 4 months ago # -
Happy to hear I made a good decision on the Wessex Burley Slice. I have the 7 ounce can of it in the cellar and now I'm a bit more anxious to pop the can open LOL.
The Solani ABF, in my view, is a totally different animal as far as burleys go.
ABF is a full, all tobacco combo of selected aged burleys with nothing added. If there's a casing, I can't find it.
It really sounded like just the burley for me -- too often, burleys are too heavily topped/cased and too much the aromatic and these are not always what I am looking for in a burley. Such a burley as I've been seeking is not easy to find except in some OTCs.
ABF is very good but, TBH I was a bit disappointed. I suppose, after trying some of R.L. Will's other blends and having been duly impressed, I was expecting more -- or rather, I was expecting something that ABF isn't and, to be fair, isn't intended to be.
It is quality burley for sure, but a bit pricey, thus when all put together and evaluated, I likely will not be buying more of it.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Roth I think you should try a single tin of the Wessex Burley Slice and give us a short review.
I'd be interested to know if it scratched your burley itch or not...
To me, it is all I'd ever really want to represent the burley genre.
It is far superior to any of the burley OTCs I have tried, and it is a brilliant counterpoint to the Virginias I love. Don't get me wrong, it is not a "showstopper" smoke but it is very solid and its flavours are what I think about when I think about burley...
I just ordered two more tins of ABF but I don't plan on opening them any time soon. I am just hoping that they pan out. They may be a disappointment but I'm praying that the positive reviews out there don't lead me astray...
I'll be quite disappointed if I try them in a few years and wish I had more Wessex Burley Slices instead.
Posted 4 months ago # -
roth, if you want to sample the Wessex Burley slice shoot me a pm with your addy, I have an open tin. I tried it and it was not an instant hit with me so I am drying it out and aging it and will revisit in a few months. I did the same thing with Old Dark Fired and love that one now, so I do have hope for the BS.
Posted 4 months ago # -
@atboth
What do you mean when you say "fully rubbed out it does not require much attention"? Forgive my ignorance, I'm shallow in experience compared to most here.Posted 4 months ago # -
Hi loseth,
The Wessex Red Virginia Flake comes in thin slices that may either be crumbled up and stuffed into your bowl, or rubbed out and teased apart, so that it's almost like you're packing any other kind of tobacco. Some people maintain that partially broken slices are a better way to smoke flake, but in my experience, completely rubbing out the flake, and letting it dry to the right humidity level, before smoking it works best.
Because the Wessex flakes are thinly cut slices, this yields a fine ribbon-like pile of tobacco. Which is easy to pack, easy to light, and easy to smoke.
Cruising slowly through a bowl and occasionally giving it a light tamp will provide you with an effortless smoke that needs no re-lights.Posted 4 months ago # -
Many of us are using the "cube cut" method for flakes -- and loving it immensely.
However, if the flakes are very thin, other methods may be more suited to that blend.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Just cracked a tin of Brigade Campaign Dark Flake, don't want
to start a feeding frenzy / but damn...this stuff smells amazing; stewed
fruit and fig...I unwrapped the belt of flake and ripped off some
for drying, looking forward to my AM smoke w/espressoPosted 4 months ago # -
The jig is already up on the Brigade Campaign Dark Flake.
There are a lot of fans out there and it is hard to find that blend in stock for several months at least.
Don't get me wrong - it is not impossible, but you will find it is the rarest of the Wessex blends.
It seems fairly unique and I think it will continue to be in high demand.
Posted 4 months ago # -
That is one of the things about telling everyone how great a blend is, soon it becomes a bitch to find. But we all love sharing our favorites so what can you do, not talk about them, not tell your friends? I would rather deal with supply issues than not let people know about a great blend. it is what we are here for, talking about our favorites and sharing our experiences.
I found Campaign Brigade back in June and fell in love with it. A lot of people also found it because they were searching for alternatives to FVF. I actually like the BCDF better than FVF. I still smoke the FVF, but if I had to choose between the 2 it would be BCDF. I think that many flakes are going to be in short supply for the time being, there are many people who are stocking up and there are also many that are learning how great flakes can be. Hopefully the mfgs will see this demand and ramp up production.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Hopefully the mfgs will see this demand and ramp up production.
I still feel that, speaking about the boutique blenders, that is just not going to happen -- unless they get bought out by a big company like STG or Mac Baren -- and even if that happens, those small boutique blends may change or go the way of the Dodo.
The good thing about boutiques is the charm of it all -- how they've been doing it this same way for so many years -- how this one blend, first produced 200 years ago, remains unchanged.
We've seen it happen too often when a good thing is messed with, with all the good intentions to make it better, it can end up a mess. Sensieni comes to mind. There are many other examples.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Most of them are probably at maximum capacity, anyway, but if Wessex is blended by K&K (and I think they are) then perhaps there is a little more room to grow than if they were a standalone operation...
Not to dispute your theory, roth, because it is accurate time and time again in other industries, but we have been fortunate in the pipe tobacco world to see quite a few successful transitions.
I think we are all glad that Dunhill and Erinmore are being produced by STG rather than if they had to go the way of the Dodo with Murray's. I do not hear too many complaints about the new products. Escudo has changed hands numerous times, but it is still a high quality blend even if one can argue that its not what it once was. I think that companies like STG have been a blessing for the pipe tobacco industry. Even K&K is keeping venerable names like Rattray's alive even if what were once straight Virginias are now spiced up with Kentucky and Perique to compensate for their shortcomings...
Even FVF isn't what it once was either since the Zimbabwean leaf supply disappeared but that doesn't stop many people from searching far and wide for a single tin... (This is a little different as they are still a "boutique" producer as opposed to a conglomerate but you see what I mean!)
On the other hand, if a prominent cigarette company buys a pipe tobacco brand, then it is time to get nervous. Quality will begin a steady process of decline and you can bet that the weaker stablemates will be up on the chopping block if they inevitably fall behind on their sales quotas...
Posted 4 months ago # -
roth, good point, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. We wouldn't want them to rush things to market for the sake of increasing production, but I wonder if these people are at full capacity? With the decreasing sales over the years, they all could have scaled back and do have the capacity to produce more. I am sure companies like Wessex have noticed the increase in sales so hopefully they can do something about it without hurting the blend.
Posted 4 months ago # -
We can only hope, Harris. When Dunhill blends vanished here some years ago, it took a while to find a new blender and distributor but, IMO, Dunhill did it correctly. It's not a stretch to seeing at least some of our hopes for these other blends to materialize.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Some companies like MacBaren have been releasing new blends hand over fist to expand their market share in the face of declining sales.
Others like Samuel Gawith are at the max with just their regular offerings.
So I guess it depends on the individual company situation.
Honestly, I think companies will probably sit on whatever capital they have for the next year or two in the face of uncertain regulations. If you expand too much right now, and sales suffer a big setback due to taxation increases, then that is a good recipe for bankruptcy.
In the meantime we can hope for the best! I would really like to see some more BCDF on the shelves because there clearly isn't enough out there to satisfy demand at the moment.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Anthony, good points. If a company rolls the dice and ramps up production and the tax man doesn't hit as soon as we think or not as hard, then that company would reap some serious benefits as people continue to stock up waiting for the dooms day scenario. It would definitely be a risk, but if the company already has deep pockets, it could be a major win.
Of course I am hoping some company thinks like me so I can continue to load up without having to really chase, not too self serving is it?
Posted 4 months ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
Back To Top | Back to Forum Home Page
Members Online Now
westc73, flyguy, chawz, papa, blade, brdavidson, peckinpahhombre, brian64, wnghanglow, 05venturer, captainsousie, briarfriar, bullbriar, numbersix, pepesdad1, seilerjp, gwtwdbss, bigvan
| Home
| My Page
| Forums
| Events | Pipe Babes | Pipe
Listings |
Pipe & Tobacco Reviews |
Pipe Collecting | Pipe
Videos |
This site, PipesMagazine.com, is not in any way affiliated with Pipes and Tobaccos Magazine.
We are an online magazine & community and do not publish a print version.
| Pipe Manufacturer & Retailer Spotlight | Pipe News | Pipe of the Week | Pipe Smoking Thoughts | Put that in Your Pipe |
Wine | About
Us | Contact
Us | Links
| Privacy
Policy | Terms &
Conditions | Advertising
| Site Map |
| Join the Forum |
| Getting Published on PipesMagazine.com |
All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2009 - 2013 Right Click Media, LLCThis site, PipesMagazine.com, is not in any way affiliated with Pipes and Tobaccos Magazine.
We are an online magazine & community and do not publish a print version.
We use the SafeSurf Rating System to signify that PipesMagazine.com is for adults only
