I'm Not In Love With Virginias - Need Suggestions

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jpmcwjr

Moderator
Staff member
May 12, 2015
24,570
27,077
Carmel Valley, CA
I echo fnord's suggestion: Have you ruled out English or Balkan blends? I'm no longer fleet of foot, just of mouth. When said foot isn't lodged there. GLPease is a master of those blends, and Std. Tobacco of PA has recently joined the group with the master blend Russ Ouellette, bringing back some classic John Cotton blends.

 

brudnod

Part of the Furniture Now
Aug 26, 2013
938
6
Great Falls, VA
One of my regular smokes is Lane MV-1000. Pure Virginia, mellow, not too much nicotine (I can't tolerate very much) and relatively inexpensive. It is a very light aromatic but if you want a true non-aromatic, I like Cornell & Diehl Tom Eltang Virginia which has a bigger nic kick. The former tobacco comes as bulk; the latter is in a tin. Both seem to cellar well BTW.

 

badger

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jan 2, 2016
105
0
From McClelland's tobacco Co.
It may be necessary to smoke up to four ounces of a natural product before the mouth adjusts to the clean taste and subtler range of flavors typical of these Matured Virginia tobaccos. The smoker is rewarded for the effort as he becomes able to distinguish the delicate variations in taste and deepening richness these tobaccos develop as they are smoked.
Without overstating the point, VAs take a little practice.

 
May 3, 2010
6,423
1,461
Las Vegas, NV
I would say put off exploring Virginias until it gets warmer.
I got big into Virginia and VaPer blends last summer and I noticed when it started to cool off I wasn't getting nearly the flavor out of them that I had when it was warmer.
I'd suggest revisiting Orlik Golden Sliced. Try out Dunhill Flake, Newminster's No. 400 Superior Navy Flake, GL Pease's Union Square, Escudo, H&H Anniversary Kake, Stokkebye's Luxury Bullseye Flake and Luxury Navy Flake, and Mac Baren's HH Pure Virginia.

 

docspipe

Might Stick Around
Dec 12, 2014
94
0
For me mgvsquared, I also favor Burleys. I find them a meatier smoke, enjoying the plumes of smoke they produce and that old world pipey type room note they leave. My favorite is Solani's Aged Burley Flake and Mac Baren's HH Bold Kentucky. I used to enjoy the original Edgeworth Sliced (not the Orlik produced version). OTC Burleys that I enjoy are SWR Regular and Lane's Ready Rubbed (reintroduction of Edgeworth's Ready Rubbed). The newly reintroduced Amphora Original is also quite nice. I'm a fan of Irish Flake and Rattray's Stirling Flake as well.
When I do smoke a Virginia I like Mac Baren's Virginia No 1 and their Virginia Flake, and McClelland's Navy Flake and their Dark Flake No 2035. They are not grassy and that is why I, too, don't care much for Orlik's Golden Slice.
I suppose it can be all summed up in the oft quoted saying, "Smoke what you like, like what you smoke." Happy puffing!

 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,210
60,433
Explore the burley blends for a while. There are plenty of good ones. Keep one or two Virginias in small quantities. Virginias are especially prone to improve with age, perhaps more than any other leaf. One good old staple is McClellands Red Cake Virginia 5100. If you can get around the ketchup fragrance when you open the jar, it might appeal to you ... eventually. I've always enjoyed Virginia in rotation and as part of English blends, but I can see how it would take some acquiring of the taste for it.

 

judcole

Lifer
Sep 14, 2011
7,149
32,928
Detroit
I'm going to assume, perhaps incorrectly, that you are relatively new to the pipe world. If you aren't in love with Virginias - so what? Don't try to smoke any for a while. Smoke what you do like. Come back to Virginias in a year or two or three. Everyone does not have to like every kind of tobacco!!! :puffy:

 

mgvsquared

Lurker
Jan 25, 2016
17
1
Been MIA for a couple of days. Sorry all, and again, all the suggestions! Thanks!
I'll be trying some more blends and putting these VA straights on the back burner to come back to with time once I get my technique better. I'm still pretty new to all of this so I'm going to be patient with myself. I have some Dunhill Nightcap to try (smells like a wet dog, ugh). I will report that I really liked this Peterson Irish Dew. Light aromatic. I got a decent amount of VA taste I think, but with some mellow notes of what I could only descibe as whiskey. It was nice.

 

krizzose

Lifer
Feb 13, 2013
3,104
18,035
Michigan
Another Virginia that's not light and grassy is McClelland Navy Cavendish. Mild in strength, but very rich and flavorful

 

okiescout

Lifer
Jan 27, 2013
1,530
6
mgvsquared, Don't love Virginias? well shame on you. :lol:

Just kidding. There are some great Burly blends out there as already recommended. Good luck. I would not take Virginias off your list long term.

 

shutterbugg

Lifer
Nov 18, 2013
1,451
21
The thread reminds me of the old vaudeville joke about the guy who goes to the doctor and while bending his thumb backwards says "Doc it hurts when I do this. What do you think?" Doc says "I think you should stop doing it."
If you don't like Virginias, don't smoke them. Pipe smoking is not a worm-eating contest, you don't get points for endurance.

 
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