I Tried My First Virginia Today
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Too bad, I love that stuff!
I'd do what Eric says, put it on a shelf and try it in a few months. I'm pretty new to this also and have found that my tastes have developed to where I like some things now that didn't appeal to me when I first started.
Edit: I wouldn't expect the flavor to change much in a few months. More for you than the baccy.
I'd do what Eric says, put it on a shelf and try it in a few months. I'm pretty new to this also and have found that my tastes have developed to where I like some things now that didn't appeal to me when I first started.
Edit: I wouldn't expect the flavor to change much in a few months. More for you than the baccy.
Smoking Virginia's takes practice. First off you tried it in a brand new pipe with no cake, secondly you have never tasted that flavor before so you don't really know what to look for. Also if you did not dry it enough or smoked it too fast and did not pack it right, you won't get much flavor. When Virginia's are smoked in a broken in pipe with a nice cake and sipped slowly, the flavors come out in a harmony of deliciousness. Do not give up, stay with it and keep practicing, it will come.
From the descriptions I've seen, HH Mature Virginias is also a little bit of a different animal than your average Virginia.
It is probably not the best choice as an introduction.
"22 different tobaccos are included in this blend and of these 15 are Virginia tobaccos. Before blending the tobacco the Virginias has been stored for years to mature and develop the final aromas, just like when good wine is put aside for aging. Virginia types like bright yellow/golden leaf, mature red/mahogany leaf, dark Virginia and a Black Virginia Cavendish are blended and left to store so that each tobacco taste marry into a taste unity. To enhance and support the Virginias a touch of Oriental is added and finally the taste is rounded with just an easy hand of pressed Burley."
PLUS it is topped with red wine balsamic. Yes, red wine balsamic.
"the HH Mature Virginia, one of the top flavors is red wine balsamic. What its used for is mixing salads and stuff like that. So, we get to the, shall we say the normal kitchen and just use it to get this very distinct flavor, and that’s the only top flavor."
That is from our very own PipesMagazine articles - straight from the horses mouth, or in this case Per Jensen's...
In other words, it is a very "busy" blend with a lot of cooks in the kitchen. I have never tried it, but honestly the descriptions above are not making rush out and find it...
Pick a more conventional VA and try again. Meanwhile, keep trying the HH Mature Virginia and if you can't get any satisfaction out of it then jar it up for a few months and try again with more experience under your belt.
It is probably not the best choice as an introduction.
"22 different tobaccos are included in this blend and of these 15 are Virginia tobaccos. Before blending the tobacco the Virginias has been stored for years to mature and develop the final aromas, just like when good wine is put aside for aging. Virginia types like bright yellow/golden leaf, mature red/mahogany leaf, dark Virginia and a Black Virginia Cavendish are blended and left to store so that each tobacco taste marry into a taste unity. To enhance and support the Virginias a touch of Oriental is added and finally the taste is rounded with just an easy hand of pressed Burley."
PLUS it is topped with red wine balsamic. Yes, red wine balsamic.
"the HH Mature Virginia, one of the top flavors is red wine balsamic. What its used for is mixing salads and stuff like that. So, we get to the, shall we say the normal kitchen and just use it to get this very distinct flavor, and that’s the only top flavor."
That is from our very own PipesMagazine articles - straight from the horses mouth, or in this case Per Jensen's...
In other words, it is a very "busy" blend with a lot of cooks in the kitchen. I have never tried it, but honestly the descriptions above are not making rush out and find it...
Pick a more conventional VA and try again. Meanwhile, keep trying the HH Mature Virginia and if you can't get any satisfaction out of it then jar it up for a few months and try again with more experience under your belt.
+1 to Harris answer. Virginias when not aged right, prepared right, and smoked in the right pipe are a horrible horrible experience. But when it all comes together nicely, one of the finest experiences you can have in the hobby.
If I may make a recommendation - trt some Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake, and cut the flake into little cubes. Pick a pipe with a small diameter, high bowl ("chimney"). Gravity fill, light pressure on top. Take your time to light evenly. Smoke slowly. Chances are you will very much enjoy it.
If I may make a recommendation - trt some Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake, and cut the flake into little cubes. Pick a pipe with a small diameter, high bowl ("chimney"). Gravity fill, light pressure on top. Take your time to light evenly. Smoke slowly. Chances are you will very much enjoy it.
I also did not notice that you were using a brand new pipe.
That probably goes a long way towards explaining why it tastes so bad.
The pipe needs to be broken in.
My comments remain though about HH Mature Virginia being an atypical Virginia blend so as hfearly says BBF or even Orlik Golden Slices/Dunhill Flake/McClelland etc would be better candidates to gauge your taste for Virginias right off the bat.
That probably goes a long way towards explaining why it tastes so bad.
The pipe needs to be broken in.
My comments remain though about HH Mature Virginia being an atypical Virginia blend so as hfearly says BBF or even Orlik Golden Slices/Dunhill Flake/McClelland etc would be better candidates to gauge your taste for Virginias right off the bat.
These VA's are much milder and forgiving in terms of technique:
SG Best Brown Flake
GH Best Brown #2
McClelland VA #22
Also, what Harris said. Dry it out, pack lightly, smoke slowly. You'll get the hang of it, and it will become second nature, but you really have to coax the sweet VA taste out of these tobaccos. Smoke too hot and all you'll get is just a bunch of hot, smokey air. Don't give up, you'll get the hang of it pretty soon.
My first experiences with VA's were very disappointing, but now I smoke them twice as often as latakia blends.
SG Best Brown Flake
GH Best Brown #2
McClelland VA #22
Also, what Harris said. Dry it out, pack lightly, smoke slowly. You'll get the hang of it, and it will become second nature, but you really have to coax the sweet VA taste out of these tobaccos. Smoke too hot and all you'll get is just a bunch of hot, smokey air. Don't give up, you'll get the hang of it pretty soon.
My first experiences with VA's were very disappointing, but now I smoke them twice as often as latakia blends.
I agree with simenon. HH Mature Virginia is way too complex as an introduction to Virginias. The tin note smells like Pepto Bismol to me, though that doesn't come through in the flavor. It is wine-like and smoky tasting with a suggestion of grassiness in the background. It's kind of unique, and not representative of the genre. It answers the question, "What's a good Va blend?"; but the question should be, "What's a good example of a straight Va blend?"
For a much more conventional experience, smoke a straight Virginia like:
4th Generation 1855 (a personal favorite),
Sam Gawith Medium Virginia Flake,
Mac Baren Virginia #1 (just a touch sharper than the rest)
Gawith & Hoggarth Bright CR Flake,
Esoterica Peacehaven (a bit more complicated, grassy, pungent and wine-like).
McClelland #27 (or #22 if outdoors)
There are many, many others out there to develop your palate. Go to LuxuryTobaccoReviews.com, which categorizes blends:
For a much more conventional experience, smoke a straight Virginia like:
4th Generation 1855 (a personal favorite),
Sam Gawith Medium Virginia Flake,
Mac Baren Virginia #1 (just a touch sharper than the rest)
Gawith & Hoggarth Bright CR Flake,
Esoterica Peacehaven (a bit more complicated, grassy, pungent and wine-like).
McClelland #27 (or #22 if outdoors)
There are many, many others out there to develop your palate. Go to LuxuryTobaccoReviews.com, which categorizes blends:
Roth,
It could be the best Virginia blend in the world but you can't argue that it is a typical one judging from its construction and casing alone. One could also say that the maker is not known for its prowess with Virginias. (Save perhaps for #1, with its fairly mixed reviews)
My opinion, to be succinct, is that I have no interest in trying it.
With hundreds of blends out there today, one can't be expected to try them all.
That doesn't mean that I can't help the OP diagnose his dilemma with the blend. If you reread my post I did not condemn HH Mature Virginia but I provided him with objective information about its composition alongside of my subjective skepticism...
It certainly sounds complex, and as you can probably appreciate, that is a blessing to some and a curse for others.
Anyway I have said my piece and zonomo can take it if he finds it helpful or he can leave it if he finds it is full of hot air. I personally hope that it was somewhat useful as it could help keep him on the path of VAs despite a rough start.
It could be the best Virginia blend in the world but you can't argue that it is a typical one judging from its construction and casing alone. One could also say that the maker is not known for its prowess with Virginias. (Save perhaps for #1, with its fairly mixed reviews)
My opinion, to be succinct, is that I have no interest in trying it.
With hundreds of blends out there today, one can't be expected to try them all.
That doesn't mean that I can't help the OP diagnose his dilemma with the blend. If you reread my post I did not condemn HH Mature Virginia but I provided him with objective information about its composition alongside of my subjective skepticism...
It certainly sounds complex, and as you can probably appreciate, that is a blessing to some and a curse for others.
Anyway I have said my piece and zonomo can take it if he finds it helpful or he can leave it if he finds it is full of hot air. I personally hope that it was somewhat useful as it could help keep him on the path of VAs despite a rough start.
Some tobacco is not a good starter blend and this one is it for you apparantly. I really like it and consider it my top Virginia for now. Till something comes along I like better but I doubt it. So like everyone else has said give it a chance and revisit later after you've had more experience with other Va.
I love Virginias, but I can't smoke them. Way too sensitive, no matter how much I dry them out. If you are trying Virg. for the first time mate, may I make a few suggestions?
1) Dry the baccy out a little more than you usually would, just to take a bit of the sting away untill you get used to it
2) Smoke it WAY slower than you normally would smoke your other baccys and keep it burning gently
3) You said you smoked it in a Brand New Pipe? I suggest you try it in a well broken pipe, one that you know smokes cool.
1) Dry the baccy out a little more than you usually would, just to take a bit of the sting away untill you get used to it
2) Smoke it WAY slower than you normally would smoke your other baccys and keep it burning gently
3) You said you smoked it in a Brand New Pipe? I suggest you try it in a well broken pipe, one that you know smokes cool.
take your time with virginias. there many to choose from. you will have to reserch yourself. some are strong, some are mild, then you have the ones that fall in between strong and mild. i would sugest a mature virgina from mccellands. they have brown label virginias and mature viginias. they also have bulk virginia. smoke slow with virginias. good luck to you.
mike.
mike.
zonomo:
Don't base your opinions of Virginia blends on this one alone. As others have noted, this is not a straight-Virginia blend by any means. It is not representative of a Virginia-only blend.
For a straight Virginia, I would highly recommend Rattray's Old Gowrie and Samuel Gawith's Full Virginia Flake (but that's currently hard to find). There are also any number of Virginia blends from McClelland you might enjoy. (It's been so long since I've had any straight Virginias from them other than Dark Star that I don't know what would be best for you. Dark Star, while wonderful, probably shouldn't be your first straight Virginia; it requires some work and patience to reap its benefits.)
Bob
Don't base your opinions of Virginia blends on this one alone. As others have noted, this is not a straight-Virginia blend by any means. It is not representative of a Virginia-only blend.
For a straight Virginia, I would highly recommend Rattray's Old Gowrie and Samuel Gawith's Full Virginia Flake (but that's currently hard to find). There are also any number of Virginia blends from McClelland you might enjoy. (It's been so long since I've had any straight Virginias from them other than Dark Star that I don't know what would be best for you. Dark Star, while wonderful, probably shouldn't be your first straight Virginia; it requires some work and patience to reap its benefits.)
Bob
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