So, this is a first for me: my first virginia, my first flake, and my first review!
So, I busted out my H.I.S. Billiard, and used the fold and stuff method. I enjoyed the tin note, and the yellow and very light brown color of the tobacco was very appealing. The tobacco was fresh from the tin, no drying time, which I think it might need, as I did get some gurgling about halfway through the smoke. I had no issues getting it to initially light, however it did need several relights throughout. I'll be trying it rubbed out, which I've read really benefits this particular blend.
The tobacco itself was mild and very sweet, with a nice hint of citrus. I think oranges? My taste is not very refined, so i'm spitballing on that, but it sounds correct. The citrus taste was very mellow to start, and then picked up about a quarter of the way through the bowl. This may have been related to the moisture though, as it was around here where I started noticing the gurgle.
My major complaints with this smoke were not necessarily with the tobacco. The pipe got incredibly hot, very quickly. I've noticed this pipe tends to feel hotter due to the relatively thin walls on the bowl, but this was extreme. I attribute this to me smoking too fast, the tobacco being moister than it should have been, as well as that we are extremely hot outside today in general (Pushing close to 100 today). Hopefully a change of pipe and slowing down plus drying should help that.
Overall, I think if I were to rate this on a 1-10 scale, I would give it a 6, mainly due to the issues I noticed. I'll be trying it rubbed in a different pipe tonight, and I'll post my thoughts then too. Hopefully that changes and I give it a higher score. If I was going off of taste alone, I would give a 7.5. Nice flavor overall, but nothing spectacular.
So, I busted out my H.I.S. Billiard, and used the fold and stuff method. I enjoyed the tin note, and the yellow and very light brown color of the tobacco was very appealing. The tobacco was fresh from the tin, no drying time, which I think it might need, as I did get some gurgling about halfway through the smoke. I had no issues getting it to initially light, however it did need several relights throughout. I'll be trying it rubbed out, which I've read really benefits this particular blend.
The tobacco itself was mild and very sweet, with a nice hint of citrus. I think oranges? My taste is not very refined, so i'm spitballing on that, but it sounds correct. The citrus taste was very mellow to start, and then picked up about a quarter of the way through the bowl. This may have been related to the moisture though, as it was around here where I started noticing the gurgle.
My major complaints with this smoke were not necessarily with the tobacco. The pipe got incredibly hot, very quickly. I've noticed this pipe tends to feel hotter due to the relatively thin walls on the bowl, but this was extreme. I attribute this to me smoking too fast, the tobacco being moister than it should have been, as well as that we are extremely hot outside today in general (Pushing close to 100 today). Hopefully a change of pipe and slowing down plus drying should help that.
Overall, I think if I were to rate this on a 1-10 scale, I would give it a 6, mainly due to the issues I noticed. I'll be trying it rubbed in a different pipe tonight, and I'll post my thoughts then too. Hopefully that changes and I give it a higher score. If I was going off of taste alone, I would give a 7.5. Nice flavor overall, but nothing spectacular.
