The flavors of straight VA tend to be less defined than most other tobaccos. Thus I would dedicate them. But practically speaking, maybe in 200 years I will have a palate able to pick up:
1. ghosting. I've only detected latakia carryover
2. the taste of briar, or resin if it has not been correctly cured
3. the taste of a cob. Some say it is sweet or like corn
4. the rubber in vulcanite
5. the five overtones available in the morning as compared to the other 5 that come out at night.
The quality of the blends by GL Pease, Russ Ouelette and Rudiger L Will of Solani attest to the sensitivity of their palates, but I question the claims of most as to the acuity of their palates, especially in such claims as are above.
On Will from the 4noggins website:
Rudiger L. Will was literally born to blend tobacco, growing up in his father's tobacco factory playing amongst the hogsheads and bales of fine leaf. After spending over three years traveling the world studying tobacco growing, handling, and manufacturing, he soon announced his presence to the world by developing the original blends for one of the most popular lines of pipe tobacco ever, Borkum Riff. In 1997 R.L. Will, by then long established as one of the greatest blenders ever, introduced the Solani line of tobaccos. In developing the Solani line, Will wanted to offer the pipe smoker very mature tobaccos with as little additives as possible. The line has met with great success because of the taste, fantastic room aroma, and master blending ability of R.L. Will.
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