Comparing Virginia Flakes

[hoosierpipeguy]

I smoke Virginia Flake near exclusively for several years. My favorites are :
Sir John's Flake Virginia
MB HH Pure Virginia and Virginia Flake
F&T CVP and Vintage
Pfeifen Huber Virginia Golden Flake
McClelland Virginia Flakes of course
Union Square
Capstan Blue and Yellow
Vauen No 14

These are my go to blends. Give me all I want of the first 6 and I'd be fine.

 

[Puff nstuff]

My suggestions:

GH Glengarry Flake
Sillem's Mayor 1814 Flake
PS LNF (with some age on it)

 

[tschiraldi]

My favorite Virginia flakes come from Gawith Hogarth, Fribourg and Treyer, and Dan.

 

[Anarres]

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.

Among the samples on your way, dark bird's eye has significant smell and taste of dark fired kentucky, at least more than id like in a Virginia forward blend.
Just two cents from a fellow virgina lover

 

[fr0st]

Thanks Anarres, I thought I'd throw in a few other 1 oz samples (some just because they are high in N) to round out the order.

On the topic of pure VA flake, I'm also looking to for a bulk (or less expensive tinned variety), which ages well and which I can cellar. In the past 15 years my cellar has become respectable, but it's probably over 95% English blends. I might look into trading some duplicates for more VA in the future.

There are so many blends to try that I doubt I'll get to them all. But, I'll definitely reference these recommendations for my next order.

 

[Choatecav]

Thanks Anarres, I thought I'd throw in a few other 1 oz samples (some just because they are high in N) to round out the order.

On the topic of pure VA flake, I'm also looking to for a bulk (or less expensive tinned variety), which ages well and which I can cellar. In the past 15 years my cellar has become respectable, but it's probably over 95% English blends. I might look into trading some duplicates for more VA in the future.

There are so many blends to try that I doubt I'll get to them all. But, I'll definitely reference these recommendations for my next order.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record......... I do want to mention that you CAN buy Faulker Flake from Country Squire, in bulk quantities. Just sayin'.....

 

[fr0st]

So, I compiled your recommendations so far, shown below in table format. I included some blends which are no longer produced, but that I'll be on the lookout for.

Manufacturer	Blend Name	Ingredients	Recommendations	Tin/Bulk	Notes
Astley's	109	VA	1	T	Retired
Capstan	Blue and/or Yellow	VA	1	T	Best fresh
Cornell & Diehl	Opening Night	VA (red, bright)	1	T
Cornell & Diehl	Sunday Picnic	VA/Per/Or	1	T
Country Squire	Faulkner Flake	VA (bright)	1	B	Avail from C.S.
Fribourg & Treyer	Cut VA Plug	VA	1	T	Retired
Fribourg & Treyer	Vintage Flake	VA	1	T	Retired
Gawith Hoggarth	Glengarry Flake	VA	1	B	Honey Dew top
GL Pease	Union Square	VA	1	T
John Aylesbury	Sir John's Flake	VA	1	T
McClelland	Virginia Flakes	VA	1	T	Retired
Mac Baren	HH Pure VA	VA	1	T (16oz avail)
Newminster	No. 400 Superior Navy Flake	VA	1	B
Peter Stokkebye	PS402 Luxury Twist Flake	VA	4	B
Sillem's	Mayor 1814	VA	1	T
Sutliff	507C VA Slices	VA	1	B	​
Vauen	No. 14 VA Flake	VA	1	T

 

[Brad H]

So, sounds like a few pounds of LTF and cellar them.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Another very good Virginia Flake is C&D Virginia Flakes. I am not sure why this one remains an underdog on forum discussions, but it has no casings, as per discussions with Jeremy. It is very light and has notes of baked breads and pastries. I love this stuff. And, it ages very well.
If you are going to smoke it right away, buy a tin, but if you are going to age it, just buy bulk,

 

[ThermionicScott]

Interesting that no one brought up Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake yet. It's a touchstone blend from that house, and worth trying.

 

[fr0st]

Interesting that no one brought up Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake yet. It's a touchstone blend from that house, and worth trying.

I’ve wondered about this one as well. From what I’ve seen it seems to always be sold out online. I’d really like to get some SG Full VA Plug, but that seems really unobtainable.

 

[Choatecav]

Interesting that no one brought up Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake yet. It's a touchstone blend from that house, and worth trying.

You're right that it should be on any list of good Virginia's. In fact, your post flung a cravin' on me and I chose some FVF for my "after chores smoke."

 

[fr0st]

Tomorrow I‘ll stop by a tobacconist I haven‘t visited in years. Hope to find something nice, this thread is a great reference- thanks!

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

It's not a flake but Samuel Gawith Brown No.4 Twist is pretty tasty. It's a stout smoke that uses dark fired Virginias. Definitely worth a look if you've never tried it.

 

[BingBong]

It's not a flake but Samuel Gawith Brown No.4 Twist is pretty tasty. It's a stout smoke that uses dark fired Virginias. Definitely worth a look if you've never tried it.

View attachment 383693

I have a tin, never smoked. One day...

+1 for FVF though - it's the one I smoke most while lunting, for some reason. Guaranteed to go out if I stop maintaining it, ideal when the pipe has to be pocketed for a while.

 

[fr0st]

Updated Table:

Manufacturer	Blend Name	Ingredients	Recommendations	Tin/Bulk	Notes
Astley's	109	VA	1	T	Retired
Capstan	Blue and/or Yellow	VA	1	T	Best fresh
Cornell & Diehl	Opening Night	VA (red, bright)	1	T
Cornell & Diehl	Sunday Picnic	VA/Per/Or	1	T
Cornell & Diehl	Virginia Flake	VA	1	B
Country Squire	Faulkner Flake	VA (bright)	1	B	Avail from C.S.
Fribourg & Treyer	Cut VA Plug	VA	1	T	Retired
Fribourg & Treyer	Vintage Flake	VA	1	T	Retired
Gawith Hogarth	Brown #4	VA/KY/Cigar	1	T
Gawith Hogarth	Full Virginia Flake	VA	3	T	8 oz maybe avail?
Gawith Hoggarth	Glengarry Flake	VA	1	B	Honey Dew top
GL Pease	Union Square	VA	1	T
John Aylesbury	Sir John's Flake	VA	1	T
McClelland	Virginia Flakes	VA	1	T	Retired
Mac Baren	HH Pure VA	VA	1	T (16oz avail)
Newminster	No. 400 Superior Navy Flake	VA	1	B
Peter Stokkebye	PS402 Luxury Twist Flake	VA	4	B
Sillem's	Mayor 1814	VA	1	T
Sutliff	507C VA Slices	VA	1	B	​
Vauen	No. 14 VA Flake	VA	1	T

It appears that all of the full VA SG offerings are recommended (as well as some related blends). 8 oz packages of SG are listed on many sites, such as SP- but from what I gather these are rare in the US.

 

[Sig]

I'd add Peter Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake for a less expensive cellar stuffer. It has a touch of Perique, but almost indistinguishable. Just enough to add "something". And it ages well.
And if you're trying VA flakes, you can't forget the Watch City Cigar blends. They have several decent flakes sold by the ounce.

 

[fr0st]

Stopped by the Tobacconist today, they mainly had Peterson, and few others. I picked up a few more Virginia flakes:

Wessex Red Virginia Flake
Fribourg & Treyer Cut Blended Plug
Rattray’s Stirling Flake

Peterson Irish Flake (VaBur) - a favorite of mine, and almost out.

The Wessex has “gentle flavors of coriander and rose” - should be interesting to try. I’ll probably try this one in a cob first.

 

[johnnyflake]

I also enjoy Virginia Flakes a lot and have been into many over the years. I am going to put you onto my absolute favorite, especially with a year or two of age. You need to try Dan Tobacco Treasures of Ireland Limerick. IMHO, nothing even comes close to it!

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

I have a tin, never smoked. One day...

+1 for FVF though - it's the one I smoke most while lunting, for some reason. Guaranteed to go out if I stop maintaining it, ideal when the pipe has to be pocketed for a while.

You gotta try it, it really is awesome stuff. Has a cigar note.