Murray's - Warrior Plug

[deathmetal]

Some of the UK tobacco blends manage to capture simultaneously a density and a full flavor that makes them hit hard with all of the raw power of only mildly constrained nicotiana tabacum. Thanks to the generous gift of a Pipes Magazine forum member, I was able to sample this tobacco in depth, and experience what makes it a perennial favorite among certain smoking circles.
A mild plum flavor glazes the tobacco, which appears as a light but not entirely dry brick. Slicing off a few 2mm slices, rubbing them out and allowing them to dry thoroughly works best in this climate, producing a heap of brown-black fibers that take a couple lights to get going but then produce solid smoke. Not massive, like a dry leaf tobacco, but blue and strong. The flavor maximizes the Burley in harmony with the darker varieties of Virginia, possibly stoved together because of their intense collaboration. As the plum evaporates, a strong vegetable flavor gives way to a nutty, sweet and tangy smoke. "Warrior Plug" does not wear its complexity on its sleeve, but allows the different textures of these two ingredients to meld and separate, oozing forth in a heavy smoke that is both flavorful and gentle on the mouth.
The tobacco burns cool and stays lit easily, after a charring light, tamp and another couple encouragement lights. Then, like incense, it emits its smoke in measured doses with easy pulls on the pipe end. Like many of the best straightforward tobaccos, it requires the smoker to acclimate and then settle back to enjoy as what was once a single flavor expands. I can see how this might not appeal to those who like intense and vivid variety, but for someone seeking a solid all-day or late-night smoke, the plug is where it's at.

Killer stuff. Wish this was in every US B&M.

 

[misterlowercase]

Excellent review,

spot on the mark.

"Warrior Plug" does not wear its complexity on its sleeve, but allows the different textures of these two ingredients to meld and separate, oozing forth in a heavy smoke that is both flavorful and gentle on the mouth.

Indeed.
Velvan has knocked Warrior from the top spot on my charts,

but I do very much love the stuff.
Oddly, the Irish market stuff seems different than the England market stuff.

Irish market had a bar cut, oblong instead of square, and was more liberally sauced.

Given, my sample batch was only 5 pouches and they may've been an anomaly.

More testing samples required. ::
I prefer the England market version as it is more subtle, yet still plummy.
Warrior's broad depth always pleases.

::

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I had some from a box pass, and fell in love with it. Great flavor, very sweet but still rich and strong. I can see working this into my every day rotation, as soon as I can get some more.

 

[rhoadsie]

Okay, you've convinced me. Just ordered some warrior from pipedivan.

 

[papipeguy]

I'm smoking Velvan Plug as I read this thread. I've really taken to the Irish plugs in the last 2 years and just got Warrior, Velvan and Mick McQuaid from James Fox of Dublin. Another I would recommend is Revor Plug. Very tasty as well. These plugs are long fun smokes once you get the hang of them.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yeh, that Revor plug is some quality stuff. I tried that in the box pass as well. Tasty stuff.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I wonder why this style of plug has never caught on here in the US. Except for GLP and some small batch local twists like Cotton Boll, none of the US blenders offer anything close. At least until War Horse is released,and if Lane Tobacco doesn't f it up.