American Straight Virginias & VaPers:Suggestions Please.

[mawnansmiff]

Just for clarity, below is the list of McClelland blends I am trying to procure...
Dark Star

Tudor Castle

Blackwoods Flake

GKCPC Boston 1776

2010 Classic Virginia

2015 Virginia Perique Flake

2035 Dark Navy Flake

22 Matured Virginia

Red And Black

Tawny Flake

Christmas Cheer 2016

Christmas Cheer 2015
...this I believe to be their entire collection of Va and VaPer blends. A couple I have tried but most I have not. Dark Star really seems a popular blend on TR.com so I rather look forward to that one ::
Regards,
Jay.

 

[jmatt]

You need to add McClelland CPCC Rich Virginia Flake and 5100 to that list. And McCranies Red Flake and Red Ribbon. They're made by McClelland, but the flake has already been in the tin aging for 5 years.

 

[styler]

Personally, the big omission so far in this thread is GLP Triple Play. An amazing va/per with the depth and strength of some kentucky.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Jmatt, the McCranie's Red Flake is now on my list but the Ribbon is not as I'm not a huge fan of ribbon/shag cut blends unless they taste exceptional.
Styler, I had totally forgotten about Triple Play so that too is now on my list. I am by the way something of a Kentucky fan.
Many thanks for the suggestions chaps, most helpful :clap:
Regards,
Jay.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

You listed Tawny Flake. I wasn't impressed with just the Blackeny process on a straight Virginia. But, it's big brother blend (McClelland: Blakeney Toasted: Bayou Slices) is a much better smoke that I enjoy frequently. It is a VaPer version, and it has a lot more flavor than it's weak little sister, Tawny. Just a suggestion.

 

[bigpond]

Dark Star and 2035 are the same blend but one is aged and tinned while the other is bagged.

Blackwoods Flake is essentially (and possibly entirely) 5100 & Dark Star mixed and served in broken flakes

Red and Black is the same as above but unbroken and distinct.
Are you sensing a theme? You'll see it again here.

5100, McRannies Red Ribbon/Flake, Christmas Cheer.
The point? These are all worthy blends but if you are purchasing as a lot you may be overwhelmed by the sameness of it all. You've plenty of stove and red here.
To break things up and add a bit of variety to the American Va experience I recommend you add;
McClelland's 24 flake. It's brown Va with a bit of Drama leaf.

Butera's Golden Cake. Broken flake, my tasting notes include "buddha's hand". :roll:
As far as seeking out other blenders, I think the best have been listed above in Watch City, LJ Peretti's. Both source their Va's from McClelland's, fyi.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Michael, somehow Bayou Slices managed to pass me by. Just read up on it and all was positive so on the list that goes too...cheers ::
Bigpond, the same applies to No. 24 Matured Virginia Flake so that too has joined the list, thanks.
Yes I was aware of the McClelland/McCrannie connections but I think I will give them all a whirl.
I have just discovered that a company called Hearth & Home have no fewer than 91 blends listed on TR, plenty of them falling into my category so a new list is in the making...all good stuff ::
Regards,
Jay.

 

[perdurabo]

What I see here is essentially a McClelland Virginia Love fest, which is well deserved. I've had enough Virginia from the House McClelland to say "Yes, if you want to know what Virginia tobacco can taste like, go McClelland." But there are two blends in the American style that have been left out. Get the McClelland stuff, but then search for a tin of GLP TriplePlay and C&D Chenet's Cake.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

In the H&H line you have to try Anniversary Cake and Marble Cake, both are made with the same naturally sweet Virginias and actually have a pastry cooking in the oven aroma that is natural to these blends.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Then you also have 4Noggins Prairie Wind, which is a very lightly topped VaPer.

 

[hawky454]

Yup, when I don't have Dunbar (hopefully never) Bayou Morning takes its place as an everyday smoke for me. I used to think you were right about C&D's VA's Cosmic, but Bayou Morning is close to being as good as Dunbar, just not quite. But that's a pretty big deal in my opinion. BM has depth and complexity and is up there with a lot of the more talked about VaPers in my opinion.
The best McClelland? Red & Black.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Hawky, I tried it also because it was so talked about and revered. I acknowledge that lots of people like it, but I just find it crude and harsh to my palate. Also, it's not a pure VaPer. It has quite a bit of burley in the mix with even a smokey tone to it. Lovers of big and bold tobacco would love this. But, knowing Jay's take on even the slightest of touches of latakia and smokey bold cigar and burley flavors and watching his reviews of cigar blends and bolder burleys in the tobacco, I just suggested that there is a big chance that he would not like this one.

Jay and I have been swapping tobaccos and I have been following his reviews, so I didn't make the suggestion off the cuff.

There are some folks looking for some flavors that I would gladly suggest Bayou Morning to, especially if they are a fan of the tobaccos Greg Pease uses. But, with this one friend, I think Bayou Morning would be a waste of his money. But, if you'd like to send him a sample, I am sure he would appreciate. ::

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Jay, you say you enjoy the Kentucky dark fired?

If you haven't tried Solani 660 (Silver label) flake, it's one of (if not THE) best I've smoked. It's a Virginia/Ky and it can only be found in the 100g tin, and it's pricey, but oh so worth it.

The Solani 633 (virginia flake [vaper actually]), is quite good too.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Actually Bayou Morning does (according to the reviews) sound appealing. Alas of the H&H inventory most blends that sound interesting are ribbon cut. However I have listed Marble Cake, Rolando's Own, Sweet and Savoury & Virginia Memory as potential candidates.
Yes Brian I do like dark fired Kentucky, rather a lot actually. If I want full on dark fired leaf I dip into my jar of Bold Kentucky and that sorts me out.
Of the two Solani blends you mention I have tried them both but found nothing exceptional in them though I do rather like their Aged Burley Flake! I like to smoke it as it is but also use it as a mixer for example in Gawith and Hoggarth's Dark Flake at a roughly 50/50 mix.
I doubt I will find any straight Virginia as lovely as FVF but I will certainly enjoy the journey. The same applies to St. James Flake, but if one never tries then one will never find out.
As I type this I am rather enjoying a bowl of Sunday Picnic, one of the better US blends I have tried to date. Needs a bit of drying even though it is a 2014 tin but otherwise a lovely smoke.
Thanks again for your input chaps :clap:
Regards,
Jay.

 

[sablebrush52]

Rolando's Own is no more. Did anyone mention H&H Viprati? That's a very good blend.

 

[hawky454]

Bayou Morning does NOT contain any Burley. Are you sure we're talking about the same blend? Sounds like you might be thinking of Old Joe Krantz.
Too bad ya can't get Esoterica's over there as I think you would be smitten with it. Hands down the best VaPer I've tried.
Edit* Actually, you may be thinking of Bayou Night? If so, that's very different than Bayou Morning.