Focusing On Straight VAs

[PipeIT]

They are different because they use different Virginias. CB has dark fruit and some citrus with earth wood, and mild grass. HV is all citrus with plenty of grass and hay, and has a much higher PH content.

I really need to watch the PH with VAs, been making the roof of my mouth irritated. Really going to have to dry my VAs real crisp in the future and sip very slow.

Even if we dry our VAs real crisp, pack not to tight, and sip slowly, is there anything else we can do to offset the negative effects of the PH of VAs?

Thanks

 

[JimInks]

I really need to watch the PH with VAs, been making the roof of my mouth irritated. Really going to have to dry my VAs real crisp in the future and sip very slow.

Even if we dry our VAs real crisp, pack not to tight, and sip slowly, is there anything else we can do to offset the negative effects of the PH of VAs?

Thanks

Aged tobacco is your best bet for that. Or avoid bright Virginias as much as you can.

 

[sparker69]

Capstan, OTOH, was a pleasure to smoke. It earned a place with Full Virginia Flake, Dunhill/Peterson Flake, and Marlin Flake as some of my favorite Virginia flakes.

Just cracked a tin of Peterson Flake for the first time. Some nice flavours in there, not to mention oodles of creamy smoke!

 

[Ray Popp]

Having been away from my pipes for some 20 years and coming back to them, and having lurked and learned a few things, am thinking of starting back with VAs and VAPERs. The need for the Latakia having faded long ago ... a few questions ...
Did I read that long deep narrow bowls are best of VAs? Or is that only for flake?
I have one bowl I know that I will not smoke VAs in, long, deep, and wide.
Does anyone smoke VAs in things like Bent Bulldogs, Rhodesians, Bent Apples and the like?
I appreciate that it will take a few bowls to rid my pipes of the ghosts of British Blends past ...
I have the means to invest in a few new pipes over time to dedicate to VAs and VAPERS, what shape seems to work best? That way I can keep what are already used to British Blends, "British", and have a "Colonial Collection" for the VAs and VAPERS. Some comments on shape would be helpful.

 

[SBC]

Having been away from my pipes for some 20 years and coming back to them, and having lurked and learned a few things, am thinking of starting back with VAs and VAPERs. The need for the Latakia having faded long ago ... a few questions ...
Did I read that long deep narrow bowls are best of VAs? Or is that only for flake?
I have one bowl I know that I will not smoke VAs in, long, deep, and wide.
Does anyone smoke VAs in things like Bent Bulldogs, Rhodesians, Bent Apples and the like?
I appreciate that it will take a few bowls to rid my pipes of the ghosts of British Blends past ...
I have the means to invest in a few new pipes over time to dedicate to VAs and VAPERS, what shape seems to work best? That way I can keep what are already used to British Blends, "British", and have a "Colonial Collection" for the VAs and VAPERS. Some comments on shape would be helpful.

This topic is debated here from time to time, and the broad disagreement you'll find in those conversations leads me to doubt that there's any universal answer -- or even a "usually" answer. If there were, certainly more consensus would emerge among such experienced pipe smokers.

Now, something that has a little more consensus behind it is this:
That some individual pipes (regardless of shape) make certain tobaccos shine, in an unpredictable way which you simply need to discover by trial and error.
But even this is a controversial claim. Some of our best smokers say that they notice no difference in a given blend from pipe to pipe.
But I think that more than half of smokers do feel that certain pipes showcase certain tobaccos especially well. But many will insist that these discoveries never all along predictable lines.

Yes, some of our most ardent Straight VA devotees smoke out of squatty shapes almost exclusively.

 

[rmbittner]

This topic is debated here from time to time, and the broad disagreement you'll find in those conversations leads me to doubt that there's any universal answer -- or even a "usually" answer. If there were, certainly more consensus would emerge among such experienced pipe smokers.

Now, something that has a little more consensus behind it is this:
That some individual pipes (regardless of shape) make certain tobaccos shine, in an unpredictable way which you simply need to discover by trial and error.
But even this is a controversial claim. Some of our best smokers say that they notice no difference in a given blend from pipe to pipe.
But I think that more than half of smokers do feel that certain pipes showcase certain tobaccos especially well. But many will insist that these discoveries never all along predictable lines.

Yes, some of our most ardent Straight VA devotees smoke out of squatty shapes almost exclusively.

Perhaps this will be controversial too, but I find that oil-cured pipes bring out the best in the Virginias I smoke.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I still chase the flavors of aromatics I like, and have really narrowed those down since summer.

Mostly, I've been on a Virginia voyage the past few months. Straight, some Virginia "plus" (a little Perique is nice and this Bankside, which has a bit of Latakia, I'm smoking as I type is pretty cool) and really into the flakes.

Don't really have any bite issues. I did eliminate Coca Cola and high fructose corn syrup in any condiments or beverages as part of my weight loss/getting in shape the last almost two years. But . . . . I'll still have a little Coke with a Virginia from time to time (the wife always has some on hand). For some reason, the tingle of the carbonation is a really good indicator to me of what is going on with any chance of "bite" --- maybe seems strange, maybe not, but it really works for me as the occasional "regulator".

Merry Flaking New Year!

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Can anyone say, how does Capstan Blue compare to Dan Tobacco Hamborger Veermaster?

I’ve certainly not smoked every straight VA out there, but Hamborger Veermaster seems like a very fine VA.

Capstan Blue is stronger with more distinct flavors. Both very good, just different.

 

[Ray Popp]

This topic is debated here from time to time, and the broad disagreement you'll find in those conversations leads me to doubt that there's any universal answer -- or even a "usually" answer. If there were, certainly more consensus would emerge among such experienced pipe smokers.

Now, something that has a little more consensus behind it is this:
That some individual pipes (regardless of shape) make certain tobaccos shine, in an unpredictable way which you simply need to discover by trial and error.
But even this is a controversial claim. Some of our best smokers say that they notice no difference in a given blend from pipe to pipe.
But I think that more than half of smokers do feel that certain pipes showcase certain tobaccos especially well. But many will insist that these discoveries never all along predictable lines.

Yes, some of our most ardent Straight VA devotees smoke out of squatty shapes almost exclusively.

Thanks for the response ... Seems I bound for an interesting adventure ...

 

[PipeIT]

Aged tobacco is your best bet for that. Or avoid bright Virginias as much as you can.

How about Stoving VAs?

 

[JimInks]

How about Stoving VAs?

Give it a try.

 

[ADKPiper]

For me the issue with Virginia blends is that I always know how much better they would be if I cellared them for a long time.
And I don't have the patience or inclination.

 

[PipeIT]

When I see the comments on fresh vs aged, it certainly seems like the vast majority like a blend aged.

It’s a shame, that when companies started out, that they didn’t start putting away blends to age, to eventually sell us aged blends some day. hmm

 

[vosBghos]

Just cracked a tin of Peterson Flake for the first time. Some nice flavours in there, not to mention oodles of creamy smoke!

burns cool too for sure a pleasure with no fuss

 

[vosBghos]

When I see the comments on fresh vs aged, it certainly seems like the vast majority like a blend aged.

It’s a shame, that when companies started out, that they didn’t start putting away blends to age, to eventually sell us aged blends some day. hmm

I'm liking this , they did it with Mac Barren last month

Aged Capstan Navy Cut 4-Pack Pipe Tobacco

Get your Aged Capstan Navy Cut 4-Pack Pipe Tobacco from the #1 in customer service and fast affordable shipping (and a small business) TobaccoPipes.com!

www.tobaccopipes.com

 

[The Clay King]

I like the plug version.

View attachment 190615

@Chasing Embers Looks good , didn't know they made a plug version. Do you think it would suit my clay pipes???

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

When I see the comments on fresh vs aged, it certainly seems like the vast majority like a blend aged.

It’s a shame, that when companies started out, that they didn’t start putting away blends to age, to eventually sell us aged blends some day. hmm

C&D actually had a tobacco line of a few blends they sold for consumers to age called Cellar Series (including Bijou). The estimated peak times vary from 7 to 16 years.

I like your suggestion better, but it's not necessarily practical from a business standpoint with cash flow and storage space, even if sold at a premium later.

 

[PipeIT]

I'm liking this , they did it with Mac Barren last month

Aged Capstan Navy Cut 4-Pack Pipe Tobacco

Get your Aged Capstan Navy Cut 4-Pack Pipe Tobacco from the #1 in customer service and fast affordable shipping (and a small business) TobaccoPipes.com!

www.tobaccopipes.com

I saw this Capstan sale when it came out.