Getting back into pipe smoking in the last year, I found my tastes gravitating toward Virginias. It was around the beginning of 2025 when I began sampling different Virginia blends (mainly as flakes), and I've kept notes. I really need to spend more time with each one for a more thorough review, but thought I'd share my notes thus far. The blend ingredients were copied from the Tobacco Reviews site. I might add to this post as I have a chance to explore further, and won't include a number rating.
I've smoked all of these in a pair of Hardcastle Canadian-shape pipes with 3/4" diameter bowls, accompanied by coffee to drink. I've found that all of these require a slow smoking cadence to avoid overheating the pipe or risking tongue-bite. All of these have a somewhat similar room note of smoked tobacco, not unpleasant, and not like cigarettes. These notes are for the fresh tobaccos (some with a little age at the store), I don't have any aged for comparison.
Orlik - Golden Sliced (red can)
Canned: 07/2024, Opened: 03/20/2025
Ingredients: Virginia, Perique
Tin notes: Deep and rich tobacco; slightly sweet; anise; fruit (citrus).
Notes: Tobacco slightly wet, needs some drying to burn better. Very light and smooth smoke. Slight sweetness, bright citrus.
Thoughts: I smoked this while fishing and found it a good, uncomplicated companion when focused on other tasks. The slightly sour flavor and a bit of spice (maybe from the perique?) isn't my favorite.
Capstan Navy Cut (blue tin, flake)
Canned: 09/2024 Opened 03/26/2025
Ingredients: Virginia
Tin notes: Very boozy; sweet fruit - plum and apricot; fresh cut grass hay.
Notes: Very pleasant, mellow smoke. Arrived a little wet, needed many re-lights (drying a flake for about 30 minutes helps. Taste of light fruit accompanying quality tobacco, hints of rising bread dough.
Thoughts: I really enjoy this blend, and have smoked about six pipe-fulls. It is especially nice with my morning coffee. Unfortunately it is costly and currently less available from my regular online venders. I still plan on stocking up on a few cans when I can.
Peterson University Flake
Canned: 11/2023 Opened: 03/29/2025
Ingredients: Virginia, Burley
Tin notes: Strong plum smell, almost like jam or preserves
Notes: Fairly wet in can, needs some drying time. Can definitely taste the burley as earthy, especially when puffed hard. Somewhat sweet from topping. Good amount of nicotine. More pleasant room note than other VABURs I've tried.
Thoughts: Good blend, but not the straight Virginia I'm seeking. I definitely need to spend more time with this one, could be a nice change in the rotation.
Peterson "Flake" (believe this used to be Dunhill Light Flake)
Canned: 01/2023 Opened: 04/02/2025
Ingredients: Virginia (Lemon and Bronze)
Tin notes: sweet plum pudding (Christmas figgy pudding), dates, early-summer grass hay, booze, citrus, slightly sour.
Notes: Works well folded and stuffed, but also easily rubs out into near ribbon flake cut. Moisture pretty good out of the can, didn't require an excessive number of relights. On first light I picked up a sort of unsalted pretzel flavor or baked bread. Some rich unami flavor.
Thoughts: This one appears to me as very similar to Capstan (without the same topping). I'm very pleased with this one and could see it as an everyday smoke. Very relaxing and enjoyable. Out of the VA flake I've tried I liked this one very much.
That's it for now, I have a few bulk samples on the way: C&D Virginia Flake; Gawith Brown Flake Aromatic and Dark Bird's Eye Vintage Cut; and Newminster 400 Superior Navy Flake.
I've smoked all of these in a pair of Hardcastle Canadian-shape pipes with 3/4" diameter bowls, accompanied by coffee to drink. I've found that all of these require a slow smoking cadence to avoid overheating the pipe or risking tongue-bite. All of these have a somewhat similar room note of smoked tobacco, not unpleasant, and not like cigarettes. These notes are for the fresh tobaccos (some with a little age at the store), I don't have any aged for comparison.
Orlik - Golden Sliced (red can)
Canned: 07/2024, Opened: 03/20/2025
Ingredients: Virginia, Perique
Tin notes: Deep and rich tobacco; slightly sweet; anise; fruit (citrus).
Notes: Tobacco slightly wet, needs some drying to burn better. Very light and smooth smoke. Slight sweetness, bright citrus.
Thoughts: I smoked this while fishing and found it a good, uncomplicated companion when focused on other tasks. The slightly sour flavor and a bit of spice (maybe from the perique?) isn't my favorite.
Capstan Navy Cut (blue tin, flake)
Canned: 09/2024 Opened 03/26/2025
Ingredients: Virginia
Tin notes: Very boozy; sweet fruit - plum and apricot; fresh cut grass hay.
Notes: Very pleasant, mellow smoke. Arrived a little wet, needed many re-lights (drying a flake for about 30 minutes helps. Taste of light fruit accompanying quality tobacco, hints of rising bread dough.
Thoughts: I really enjoy this blend, and have smoked about six pipe-fulls. It is especially nice with my morning coffee. Unfortunately it is costly and currently less available from my regular online venders. I still plan on stocking up on a few cans when I can.
Peterson University Flake
Canned: 11/2023 Opened: 03/29/2025
Ingredients: Virginia, Burley
Tin notes: Strong plum smell, almost like jam or preserves
Notes: Fairly wet in can, needs some drying time. Can definitely taste the burley as earthy, especially when puffed hard. Somewhat sweet from topping. Good amount of nicotine. More pleasant room note than other VABURs I've tried.
Thoughts: Good blend, but not the straight Virginia I'm seeking. I definitely need to spend more time with this one, could be a nice change in the rotation.
Peterson "Flake" (believe this used to be Dunhill Light Flake)
Canned: 01/2023 Opened: 04/02/2025
Ingredients: Virginia (Lemon and Bronze)
Tin notes: sweet plum pudding (Christmas figgy pudding), dates, early-summer grass hay, booze, citrus, slightly sour.
Notes: Works well folded and stuffed, but also easily rubs out into near ribbon flake cut. Moisture pretty good out of the can, didn't require an excessive number of relights. On first light I picked up a sort of unsalted pretzel flavor or baked bread. Some rich unami flavor.
Thoughts: This one appears to me as very similar to Capstan (without the same topping). I'm very pleased with this one and could see it as an everyday smoke. Very relaxing and enjoyable. Out of the VA flake I've tried I liked this one very much.
That's it for now, I have a few bulk samples on the way: C&D Virginia Flake; Gawith Brown Flake Aromatic and Dark Bird's Eye Vintage Cut; and Newminster 400 Superior Navy Flake.
