Best "Bulk" Navy Flake/Straight VA Flake

[Puffaluffaguss]

Hello all, I know alot of you have been smoking much longer then I, so instead of buying an ounce of all the different bulk flakes (which ill probably still end up doing). I wanted to get some of your opinions. I've only tried PS LNF and Stokkebyes Evening Flake, I enjoy both but is there better? I'd like to hear what you o'l timers have to say.

 

[pipingfool]

Don't know about "better", but Newminster #400 Navy Flake is pretty damn good. Especially with a little age.

I also like PS LNF, and I have lots of it in the cellar. It is a remarkably different blend after a little age. For the better in my opinion.

GH Best Brown Flake #2 is another good one in bulk if you can find it.

Happy searching!

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

MB HH Pure Virginia, MB Virginia Flake, SG FVF, SG BBF and Newminster 400.

 

[jmsmitty6]

I feel like with bulk flakes, they do better with some age. I will recommend what's already been stated with Newminster, PS LNF and MB HH Pure Virgnia are good right out of the gate, but a year really helps them along.

Jason

 

[reloader]

My favorite flake so far is Luxury Twist Flake. I do however have most of the flakes mentioned here stocked in the cellar to age a while. I think Luxury Twist Flake is very good even when fresh.

 

[MikeDub]

If you consider 8 oz cans bulk - and I do - C&D Opening Night & GL Pease Union Square are both phenomenal VA flakes. I don’t really care for VaPer’s so I don’t have any suggestions for those.

If by bulk you mean available by the oz, I’d agree with most of the suggestions already given

 

[pcfdave]

Just curious. How do you know how old the bulk tobacco you bought is? I didn’t think to ask the b&m. And it obviously doesn’t have the tin date stamp. Is there a rule of thumb with store jars and how old their stuff is? I bought both the PS LNF and PS Lbullseye

 

[romaso]

I'll add Sutliff 507C Virginia Slices, a favorite of mine

Tobacco Reviews | Sutliff Tobacco Company - 507C Virginia Slices (Blending)

www.tobaccoreviews.com

 

[OzPiper]

I enjoy both but is there better? I'd like to hear what you o'l timers have to say.

One person's ***** blend may be another's *

By all means get recommendations.
But you still need to decide for yourself. You need to work out what YOU like

I would not buy 1lb of a blend on someone's recommendation unless I know that we have similar tastes

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

One person's ***** blend may be another's *

By all means get recommendations.
But you still need to decide for yourself. You need to work out what YOU like

I would just add that bulk tobacco is relatively inexpensive, so picking up a bunch of different blends isn't necessarily a tall order.

SPC has a great search function and the bulk blends can be found at various sites.

 

[OzPiper]

I would just add that bulk tobacco is relatively inexpensive, so picking up a bunch of different blends isn't necessarily a tall order.

In the US, EU and UK, and indeed a lot of countries, tobacco is still very cheap
Not so in Oz or Kiwiland.
I'm just about to put in an order for a 100Gm (4oz) tin. Price is AUD $289
Its a HUGE decision to stock up 1 lb of anything
Costly mistake if it's not to your taste.
Or you decide that there is something you like more.

 

[didimauw]

In the US, EU and UK, and indeed a lot of countries, tobacco is still very cheap
Not so in Oz or Kiwiland.
I'm just about to put in an order for a 100Gm (4oz) tin. Price is AUD $289
Its a HUGE decision to stock up 1 lb of anything
Costly mistake if it's not to your taste.
Or you decide that there is something you like more.

Man....289AUD IS 203 USD. I can get almost 4 lbs of the most expensive of my favorite blends for that price.

Alcohol cheap there?

 

[sablebrush52]

Another vote for Sutliff 507-C slices,

 

[kcghost]

A lot of choices out there.

 

[Swiss Army Knife]

Depends on what kind of Virginia you like. If you lean towards the yellow/bright then Newminster No. 400 and Sutliff 507C are the best bang for your buck. With the former being especially graham cracker-y.

If you lean toward the reds you're going to have a harder time. Maybe something like GH&Co. Best Brown Flake but that's more middle of the road than a true red flake to my taste. Still great though.

I'll be interested to see if anyone can recommend smaller B&M fare like Watch City's 558 Flake and LJP's 150th Anniversary Flake. I've tried 558 but not enough to give an opinion on it.

 

[OzPiper]

Man....289AUD IS 203 USD. I can get almost 4 lbs of the most expensive of my favorite blends for that price.

Alcohol cheap there?

You can get bottles of 2-buck chuck but alcohol is again quite highly taxed here in Oz.

Some years ago the Government legislated to impose a 15% GST (Goods and Services Tax) - the equivalent of UK's VAT.
Someone working in the Tax Department worked out that there would be a huge shortfall in tax revenue levied on alcohol at 15%
So in its wisdom they came up with the WET - Wine Equalisation Tax. To claw back all the monies they would have lost under the 15% GST

For instance, a 700ml bottle of Wild Turkey is AUD $55 and Makers Mark is AUD $59

Imported wine prices (eg French and USA) are significantly higher in Oz than in the USA
I do realise that due to state taxes, prices can vary quite a bit

But the Oz (anti-) Fun Police are out to see that we don't have too much fun.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

In the US, EU and UK, and indeed a lot of countries, tobacco is still very cheap
Not so in Oz or Kiwiland.
I'm just about to put in an order for a 100Gm (4oz) tin. Price is AUD $289
Its a HUGE decision to stock up 1 lb of anything
Costly mistake if it's not to your taste.
Or you decide that there is something you like more.

Those prices are insane. I won't complain quite so much when I next have to pay £20 for a 50g tin.

 

[rmbittner]

Hello all, I know alot of you have been smoking much longer then I, so instead of buying an ounce of all the different bulk flakes (which ill probably still end up doing). I wanted to get some of your opinions. I've only tried PS LNF and Stokkebyes Evening Flake, I enjoy both but is there better? I'd like to hear what you o'l timers have to say.

I’m curious how you define a navy flake. “Navy flake” has had a variety of official definitions in the past; nowadays it can simply refer to a flake cut. But it can also refer to a flake that includes rum—which is how I define it for myself, since I really enjoy those flakes. (If it doesn’t have rum in it, I’m at a loss as to what makes a plain flake “navy.” Seems that some manufacturers treat it as just a name for a flake these days.)

I don’t know if it qualifies as a bulk to you, but you can pick up Samuel Gawith’s Navy Flake in 8oz boxes. It is, by far, my favorite navy flake: a Virginia base with just a condimental touch of latakia and a rum topping.

 

[Peterson314]

I've got a quarter pound of Newminster 400 in a jar in the back of my cellar. It has about 6 months on it now, so I'm going to let it mellow. I haven't even tried it yet. Before I break into that, Stokkebye's Luxury Navy Flake is my go-to.

 

[AJL67]

Another vote for Sutliff 507-C slices,

This. Just finished a couple bowls and forgot how good it was, just traded a pound for a pipe and realize now i need to replace that,I’ll wait for one of the sales though.