A Question Regarding Virginia's and Request for Recommendations

[lostandfound]

Approximately how long does it take for a fresh tin/can of most Virginia flakes to mellow out and lose most of that "green" taste?
Which leads to my request. I'm looking for bready, honey-like, toasty, buttery, possibly caramel-y Virginia flakes that come close to these descriptive words with no to minimum aging needed.

I smoked a couple bowls of that Luxury Navy Flake- seemed grassy. Popped that tin of Brindle Flake and thought the same thing at first, but I allowed it to dry for a few hours and sensed a dramatic improvement. And to those of you who read and commented on my TAD post, yes, that is Cut Virginia Plug. However, I won't be opening it until my collection of tobaccos has grown to more substantial proportions. I also tried 3 Three Oaks Syrian, which I thought to be extremely light. Thanks for your input my brothers.

 

[pipebow88]

Not a tin or a flake, but J.M. Boswells "Dan's Blend" comes the closest to the falvor profile you describe of what I've tried. Sorry, but i can't help on the aging question. I'm not versed enough in aging at this time.

B

 

[cortezattic]

bready, honey-like, toasty, buttery, possibly caramel-y Virginia flake...

with no [or] minimum aging needed

BINGO!

 

[ciderguy]

McClelland Oriental Mixture No.1 hits on the buttery and caramel after 10 years unopened and about a month of sitting open. However, it isn't a flake. I don't know if gets there faster than that, because I only have the one tin that I stumbled upon.
So I'd say you are safe at a decade, but maybe other pipers can narrow it down to less than that.

 

[cortezattic]

I loved the 1855 too! But I think Erik has a real winner in 1931. Pop that darned lid ASAP! :wink:

 

[thesmokindragon]

Hmm, let me think...oh yeah F&T's CVP for sure!
Btw; now any good Virginia goes into Great status after age'in

so try some fresh (will have more grass/hay characters) but

over time will develop into something wonderful...if you can

keep yourself from smoking it all up...I like it fresh and of course

aged which is my problem

 

[crpntr1]

bready, honey-like, toasty, buttery, possibly caramel-y Virginia flake...

with no [or] minimum aging needed

INSERT CORTEZ'S PIC HERE

BINGO!

+1

 

[cigrmaster]

bready, honey-like, toasty, buttery, possibly caramel-y

If I tell you the exact blend that you are looking for I will have to kill you, so sorry.
The blend you just described is one of the most difficult to find, if you are willing to do some leg work, it can be had.
Are you dying to know what it is?
Are you ready for it?
You sure you want to know, having the knowledge it is a bitch to find?
Ok, maybe I better not tell you.
Oh alright, I am sure the suspense is killing you and you are probably thinking to yourself, that cigrmaster is a total jag off.
drum rollllllllllll................. Wessex Brigade Campaign Dark Flake. Now don't be pissed at me when you try it, fall in love with it, and then have a bitch of a time finding it. :lol:

 

[thesmokindragon]

+1 Cigrmaster.... Shhh..... it is hard enough to get

 

[cigrmaster]

smoking, I know I shouldn't be telling anyone, but I feel badly holding out on people. If I had never posted my list of flakes so many times, I would have completed my cellar months ago, but then so many of my friends here would not be smoking some great blends. It is a catch 22 for me as I love turning people on to blends I love, but it does make it harder for me to get them. I am done loading up on BCDF so no one has to compete with me anymore. Also grab yourself a tin of Astleys no 44 and 109, I think you will like them both. I recently cracked my first tin of 1 year old BCDF and even with only one year I could tell the difference between a fresh one. It did not require drying before smoking and the flavors were even better. This stuff is going to be incredible with a decade.

 

[thesmokindragon]

+1 on that brother, when you did your original post on the

Wessex Dark Flake, I did some sniper work (selling a bit of my

soul) and got myself a pound of it...glad I did, thank you-thank you ,

the blend is pure "Cloud 9", damn did Just post this to the world,

Dang!

 

[crazypipe]

McCranie's Red Flake ::

 

[cigrmaster]

smoking, it was interesting how I came across BCDF for the first time. I was looking at tobacco reviews and checking out all their 4 star blends and of course this one was on it. I had never heard of Wessex before and had never tried any of their blends. I looked to see if any of my favorite reviewers enjoyed it and lo and behold they had, so I grabbed a tin. After one bowl I decided I needed a lot more, but it also opened my eyes to their other blends. Now I stock 4 of their blends and that is more than any other house in my cellar. If you can handle Red Virginia's( I cannot) you should try their Red Virginia Flake, it is real tasty and beautifully presented flakes. I wish I could smoke it, because it is always in stock at all my favorite vendors.

 

[batdemon]

you are probably thinking to yourself, that cigrmaster is a total jag off.

Of course he is thinking that, why should he be any different than the rest of us? :rofl:

 

[captainbob]

lostandfound,
An alternative that I would suggest is Orlik Golden Slices as they do not require drying to enjoy. Another alternative is to try a predominant Virginia blend that is traditional-cut and not a pressed Flake tobacco. A blend to consider is Cornell and Diehls Captain Bob's Pot O' Gold Mixture. I was tired of drying Flake Virginia's. So, I decided to create a Mixture and cut it in a traditional method rather than pressed and sliced. The description of Pot O' Gold is below:
Brand: Cornell & Diehl

Blender: Tarler/Captain Bob Blend

Tin Description: This blend combines an excellent medley of premium Red and Lemon Virginia leaf, large Burley flakes and an element of Izmir Turkish. A special ingredient is a small amount of Red Virginia Cavendish with a very light Maple flavor. This is truly a satisfying and smooth all day smoke for the Virginia lover. Tastes like a Flake in a Traditional-cut!
Check it out here: http://tobaccoreviews.com/blend_detail.cfm?ALPHA=C&TID=4062

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

[lostandfound]

I've always wondered why certain blends are CONSTANTLY being reviewed and discussed on this forum. There is a plethora of tobaccos out there and yet, a relatively small number of them have us raving about them on the forum. Lo and behold, when you folks stumble upon something spectacular you keep it hush hush and start hoarding. Only when you've amassed somewhere between 10 and 100 tons do you make mention of said blends to the rest of us poor saps, and by that time, you might as well open up a B&M and become the exclusive distributer of "insert amazing tobacco name". *Sigh.*
Anyway, since you brought up Wessex Cigrmaster, how's the Gold Brick?
And to Captain Bob and the rest, I don't know why I felt the need to specifically mention flakes. Pot o' Gold and the Stokkebye blends will probably be included in my next order, along with several tins of Dunhill Flake and 965.
Thanks again gents, let me know if you think of any others.
PS. They don't necessarily need to fit this profile straight off the UPS guys truck, but if they can lose that grassy note (to me it's just "green") after a few months to a year that would be nice.

 

[thesmokindragon]

+1 on the MC Vs...mmm-mmm-mmm! Blackwoods, St James

Woods, Tudor Castle, X-Mas Cheer....drooling just thinking about

these blends now ;-)

 

[dragonslayer]

I haven’t tried most of the blends listed, but one I have no doubt will fit your request – SG Best Brown. Light, creamy with awesome 6” planks if you buy bulk. A perfect thickness and moisture content for both ageing and cubing. A nice cut up and cure in a tin and you have a perfect bowl to the end. I cut up about five planks into around ¼” pieces and let spread them on a plate. BBF dries faster than FVF with SJF taking a good 10 hours. Once you’ve done it a few times gauging when it’s “ready” becomes easy. Different climates will change the time. BBF takes a couple hours. Best way to tell is grab a good size pinch and let it drop to the plate, if you hear it “tingling” it’s golden, then into an empty tin for a couple days to let the small amount of moisture left in the center time to even out and give you some kindling for the top. It’s my morning coffee. I have no doubt you’ll enjoy it and meet your request.
Craig

 

[lraisch]

I'll second the recommendations for SG's Best Brown Flake but I'll also toss out a suggestion that you try McConnell's Special London Mature. The descriptions for this hint that it may be topped. I could not detect any flavorings, but the nutty, caramel like quality seemed to spring from the tobacco itself. Good stuff!

 

[thesmokindragon]

+1 on SG Best Brown as well...get bulk