Messing around with States of Virginia

[Peter Turbo]

So I have a couple tins of the States of VA release and decided to make a few mixtures with one of the tins.

First off, I really enjoy the matured Bright VA brick we got in the tin, I wish they would just sell this on its own. So I decided to make a VaPer with it.

The brick weighed around 13 grams after I had smoked a small bowl of it. So added about 10% perique (1.3g) to the rubbed out flake, mixed it up for a good while to combine and I was left with a very sweet tasting VaPer. Right up my Alley. Using fresh Sutliff TS20 perique.

The next two mixtures I ended up making one ounce (28.3g) of each, using the remaining red and stoved in the tin, I broke them in half as even as I could.

I mixed up an English blend that had very dark, sweet and smoky notes. I really enjoy this mix more then some commercial english blends I smoke. Very lat forward tin note but pretty balanced in terms of flavors in the actual smoke.
Here is the break down, nice and simple:
7g States of VA Red
7g States of VA Stoved
6g C&D Izmir
5g C&D Latakia
3g Sutliff TS20 Perique

Next I mixed up a VA/Ori/Per blend that is the most complex of the three flavor wise. Notes were shifting between sweet, sour, woody, earthy, almost cigar like. The tin note is very cigar like. Fast paced puffing did bring forward what I can only describe as an ultralight cigarette note.
Here's the mix broken down:
8g States of VA Red
8g States of VA Stoved
8g C&D Izmir
4g Sutliff TS20 Perique

So yeah all in all I'm very satisfied (and surprised) with how all of these turned out. Just curious if anyone else was mixing these up as well and what were your results?

 

[minerLuke]

I bought 3 tins to try out and I am looking forward to playing around with them just as you have. Definitely given me some ideas!

 

[Brewfan]

I also really like the golden VA in it, but the tin I opened had a miniscule amount of it compared to the red and stoved. The stoved alone was probably 50% of the tin, which was unfortunate because I find it overpowers everything it's mixed with.

The next tin I open I think I'll mix in some outsiders like you did.

 

[Peter Turbo]

I also really like the golden VA in it, but the tin I opened had a miniscule amount of it compared to the red and stoved. The stoved alone was probably 50% of the tin, which was unfortunate because I find it overpowers everything it's mixed with.

The next tin I open I think I'll mix in some outsiders like you did.

That's weird I thought all three bricks would be the same size/weight I guess they skimped on a few tins.

 

[Peter Turbo]

I also really like the golden VA in it, but the tin I opened had a miniscule amount of it compared to the red and stoved. The stoved alone was probably 50% of the tin, which was unfortunate because I find it overpowers everything it's mixed with.

The next tin I open I think I'll mix in some outsiders like you did.

Ive been smoking Hearth and Home Bright Night and its a really great bright va, like a deeper, sweeter version of what we got with states.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I'm trying to understand... Is "States of Virginia" the name of a product that has been released by a company? Maybe one that did so over the summer while I wasn't paying attention?
Otherwise, I am not sure what you are talking about.

 

[AJL67]

I'm trying to understand... Is "States of Virginia" the name of a product that has been released by a company? Maybe one that did so over the summer while I wasn't paying attention?
Otherwise, I am not sure what you are talking about.

States of Virginia is one of those limited editions, and it comprises a trio of distinct tobaccos all held within a single tin. Each of the tobaccos are variations on Virginias, including stoved, Yellow, and Red varietals, each with their own unique flavors and aromas.

States of Virginia - Sutliff Pipe Tobacco | Smokingpipes.com

A limited edition release for the 4th of July, Sutliff's States of Virginia packages individually stacked flakes of stoved, yellow, and red Virginia tobacco.

www.smokingpipes.com

 

[cosmicfolklore]

States of Virginia is one of those limited editions, and it comprises a trio of distinct tobaccos all held within a single tin. Each of the tobaccos are variations on Virginias, including stoved, Yellow, and Red varietals, each with their own unique flavors and aromas.

States of Virginia - Sutliff Pipe Tobacco | Smokingpipes.com

A limited edition release for the 4th of July, Sutliff's States of Virginia packages individually stacked flakes of stoved, yellow, and red Virginia tobacco.

www.smokingpipes.com

Thanks, hate I missed it. It must have been released in the summer?

 

[AJL67]

Thanks, hate I missed it. It must have been released in the summer?

Bunch of places have it in stock, under $15 at country squire

 

[Peter Turbo]

Ran out of the States stuff making those mixitures but heres something else I mixed up today. Smells good the initial bowl was promising but I'm curious how it will taste after two weeks in a jar.

2oz Virginia (Amphora VA and Dan Tobacco VA Slices)
2oz Aged Maduro Cavendish
1oz Match Ready Rubbed
14g Perique
Two pinches of Latakia

 

[Peter Turbo]

Ran out of the States stuff making those mixitures but heres something else I mixed up today. Smells good the initial bowl was promising but I'm curious how it will taste after two weeks in a jar.

2oz Virginia (Amphora VA and Dan Tobacco VA Slices)
2oz Aged Maduro Cavendish
1oz Match Ready Rubbed
14g Perique
Two pinches of Latakia
View attachment 313306

Was smoking this mix a bit today and its come out nice after sitting for a couple months. Might add a bit more latakia for a little more smokiness but its good as it is. A kind of creamy, mild and sweet blend with a tiny bit of leather from the lat. I was hoping to get more plum/raisin from the perique but not coming through like I'd hoped.

 

[kcghost]

Interesting experiments but not for me. I'd be scared I'd ruining two blends that I liked.

 

[jbfrady]

Was smoking this mix a bit today and its come out nice after sitting for a couple months. Might add a bit more latakia for a little more smokiness but its good as it is. A kind of creamy, mild and sweet blend with a tiny bit of leather from the lat. I was hoping to get more plum/raisin from the perique but not coming through like I'd hoped.

I've always found more plum/raisin from Red VA than perique

 

[telescopes]

I haven't been using States of Virginia in mixes, but I have been doing something similar with Sutliff 507 and 515RC.

 

[Peter Turbo]

Mixed up a VaPer with some Watch City Virginias and Sutliff Perique

4 ounce batch
60g Simply Orange 2022
30g Simply Red 2021
23g Sutliff TS-20 Perique 2023

Gonna stuff it in a mason jar for a few weeks and see how it comes along. Packed my Peterson 6 shape with some and its tasty.

I don’t think much of simply/red orange on their own so I hope this is enough Perique to spice things up and get rid of some bite. I could always add more I guess.

 

[Peter Turbo]

View attachment 344406
Mixed up a VaPer with some Watch City Virginias and Sutliff Perique

4 ounce batch
60g Simply Orange 2022
30g Simply Red 2021
23g Sutliff TS-20 Perique 2023

Gonna stuff it in a mason jar for a few weeks and see how it comes along. Packed my Peterson 6 shape with some and its tasty.

I don’t think much of simply/red orange on their own so I hope this is enough Perique to spice things up and get rid of some bite. I could always add more I guess.

Had a smoke of this today after its done a little over two weeks in the jar. Had a nice sweetness with some fermented notes, much more married and tastier then the first bowl I had after I mixed it. Going to have another bowl later for sure. To me its much better then having Simply Red/Orange on their own.