Novice needs some Virginia recommendations....

[smokecloud84]

Last few months have been smoking McConnell's Scottish Cake, Rattray's Old Gowrie and Capstan Navy. Enjoy them all especially the SC so going to buy some more virginia's, already decided on McConnell's Red Virginia plus a couple more, any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ray47]

My favorites are:
Peter Stokebbye Luxury Navy Flake

Peter Stokebbye Luxury Twist Flake

Cornell & Diehl Yorktown

MacBaren Virginia #1

 

[fightnhampster]

My favorite straight Virginia is GLP Union Square. Great flavor, and no bite. Its a flake.

 

[workman]

Mac Baren HH Pure Virginia, Amphora Virginia, Rattray's Hal o' The Wynd (va/bur/per), Fribourg & Treyer Vintage Flake are some that spring to mind.

 

[smokecloud84]

Thanks guys

 

[alexnc]

All good recs. If you like the red va you might want to try Sutliff red va cake. Mac Baren navy flake is nice as well

 

[patiobum]

After enjoying McClelland 5100 for years, I have found that Sutliff Matured Red Virginia 515 RC is close to 5100.
Not quite the same but, real close. Still the Virginia sweetness in the background.

 

[lawdawg]

Orlik Golden Sliced is a readily-available and easy-to-smoke Virginia. It's kind of one-dimensional, but a lot of people like it, myself included. It's easy burning characteristics would make it an excellent option for a novice.
Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake is a "must-try" Virginia Flake, though it has a reputation for being finicky and hard to smoke, and it is often sold out everywhere, so it would probably be a poor "novice" recommendation. However, I've not had any trouble with it at all, and it's my favorite Virginia flake by far (based on what I've tried so far). It just comes packed very wet and you have to really dry it out.
+1 for Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake. It's a Va/per flake with some sort of light topping. Not very many Virginias are available in bulk, and I appreciate that the Stokkebye blends are. It's very easy to add a cheap ounce of a few bulk blends to an order so you can inexpensively sample a bunch of blends. Aside from Samuel Gawith FVF, I keep gravitating back to Stokkebye LNF.
The other guys named some well-respected Virginia flakes as well.

 

[alexnc]

looks like I misspoke - the VA I referenced is Sutliff Crumble Cake Red Virginia
Patiobum, have you tried that? I'm curious how it compares to the Sutliff Matured Red Virginia 515 RC

 

[mso489]

I'll second lawdawg on the Orlik Golden Sliced, especially for anyone starting with Virginias. It reputedly has some Perique, but many can't taste it, and it is both a flavorful but gentle version of Virginia that is widely enjoyed even by people who are not mostly Virginia smokers, like myself, a burley devotee.

 

[sablebrush52]

GL Pease - Union Square

Sam Gawith - Full Virginia Flake,

Astley's - #44

C&D - Yorktown

F & T - Cut Virginia Plug

Sam Gawith - Best Brown Flake

John Aylesbury - Classic/Luxury Flake and Sir John's Flake

Sutliff - #507-C Virginia Slices

Wessex - Campaign Dark Flake
are some of the straight Virginia blends that I smoke.

 

[danimalia]

+1 to the Orlik Golden Slicd and the Stokkebye Luxury Flakes. I really like Watch City Flake #558. Savinelli Doblone D'Oro, H&H Anniversary Kake. GL Pease Stonehenge Flake.

 

[jaytex1969]

I will "2nd" Ray on the MacBaren Virginia #1.
I grabbed a few ounces recently and was surprised how much I enjoyed it.
Inexpensive, available and ready to light up with no fuss, maybe 20 minutes of air time.