Best Shag Cut Blends?

[mav]

Another vote for Five Bros, along with GH Kendal Mixed which hasn't been mentioned yet. Tobacco Reviews says it's all Va (bright and dark fired) but smoking pipes says it a VaBur.

Here is the Kendal family descrption from Tobacco Reviews:

Kendal comes in a number of strengths and cuts, based on blend of either Bright Leaf or Dark Fired.
Kendal Gold – All bright leaf
Kendal No6 – Mainly bright with a little fired
Kendal Mixed– Pretty much 50/50 of the two Kendal
Kendal No7 – Mainly dark fired with some bright leaf Kendal Dark - All dark fired leaf

Does anyone know if these descriptions are still accurate?

 

[ThermionicScott]

Another vote for Five Bros, along with GH Kendal Mixed which hasn't been mentioned yet. Tobacco Reviews says it's all Va (bright and dark fired) but smoking pipes says it a VaBur.

Does anyone know if these descriptions are still accurate?

As I understand it, it's a nomenclature thing. "Virginia" can mean (at least) two different things: most commonly, it refers to flue-cured grades that are light and sweet. But it can also refer to dark Virginia varieties (descendants of the original Orinoco strain?) that are then air- or fire-cured. These will more resemble burley or dark-fired Kentucky, so blends containing those leaves are often categorized as having burley/DFK even though that's technically incorrect. "Dark-Fired Kentucky" is a specific variety of leaf before curing, and not everything that's dark fired is truly "Kentucky."

Hope that helps, and I welcome correction from the experts.

 

[mav]

As I understand it, it's a nomenclature thing. "Virginia" can mean (at least) two different things: most commonly, it refers to flue-cured grades that are light and sweet. But it can also refer to dark Virginia varieties (descendants of the original Orinoco strain?) that are then air- or fire-cured. These will more resemble burley or dark-fired Kentucky, so blends containing those leaves are often categorized as having burley/DFK even though that's technically incorrect. "Dark-Fired Kentucky" is a specific variety of leaf before curing, and not everything that's dark fired is truly "Kentucky."

Hope that helps, and I welcome correction from the experts.

That's a huge help, thank you!

 

[kcghost]

You can try Rattray's "Blowers Daughter", GH's "Kendal Dark Vintage", Five Brother's, and Pease's "Penny Farthing".

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

D&R Ryback is a good one.

My next pick would be 5 Bros, but to my tastes the Ryback has more flavor.

Thanks for suggesting Ryback. It wasn’t on my radar. I love shag cut tobacco. Just pack it in any pipe and light up. Not complicated. I enjoy Five Brothers, Le Petit Robin and D&R Three Sails. My next SP order will include a pound of Ryback and give that a try. Along with Three Sails, it is an economical way to stock a cellar.

 

[renfield]

Semois isn’t quite a shag, but close enough that it packs and smokes like one.

 

[Douglas]

1. Five Brothers
2. Manil’s Le Petit Robin

 

[thomasw]

Tabac Manil Le Petit Robin is delicious. I pack it tight in a small billiard.

So delicious… Also i like C&D’s OJK and 5 Brothers.

 

[huntertrw]

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Thanks for suggesting Ryback. It wasn’t on my radar. I love shag cut tobacco. Just pack it in any pipe and light up. Not complicated. I enjoy Five Brothers, Le Petit Robin and D&R Three Sails. My next SP order will include a pound of Ryback and give that a try. Along with Three Sails, it is an economical way to stock a cellar.

l ordered some more D&R Three Sails and a pound of Ryback to try, along with some other items. The UPS tracking had it out for delivery on Friday. It was never delivered. I checked the tracking again and it stated “We tried to deliver to the business but it was closed. Another attempt will be made next business day” My wife and I were home all day Friday and it is a residential address, not a business. No delivery today either. I sent SP an email asking them to sort it out. I want my Ryback!

 

[AroEnglish]

Ordered some GH Kendal Dark and Kendal Gold just to see what a shag is like.