Questions on Virginia Blends

[Sigmund]

Maybe Im a lost cause on blends that are mostly straight Virginias. I found OGS underwhelming, I have some aged PVF. Its nice on occasion but I seem to never reach for it. I tried HU Haymaker...again, pleasant but not exciting.

Given the newest tobacco company shut downs Im not going to mess with McBarrren.

If I have not loved any of those is there any point? I was thinking about a tin of Reiner Long Golden Flake. It is avaliable in the EU. But it is just a slight variation of what I have already tried and ignored?

My other thought is to just ignore them and keep buying the blends I like. There is a thought in the back of my mind that Im missing something. Maybe its not my thing...hard to say

 

[BingBong]

Try a 9mm filter pipe without filter, smoke slow, look for the nuances. First time I smoked Germain Gold Leaf, I thought I was smoking air. I had to change the way I smoked and the pipe I used; gradually, I tuned into it and now I can't get enough of the stuff.

 

[JimInks]

Maybe Im a lost cause on blends that are mostly straight Virginias. I found OGS underwhelming, I have some aged PVF. Its nice on occasion but I seem to never reach for it. I tried HU Haymaker...again, pleasant but not exciting.

Given the newest tobacco company shut downs Im not going to mess with McBarrren.

If I have not loved any of those is there any point? I was thinking about a tin of Reiner Long Golden Flake. It is avaliable in the EU. But it is just a slight variation of what I have already tried and ignored?

My other thought is to just ignore them and keep buying the blends I like. There is a thought in the back of my mind that Im missing something. Maybe its not my thing...hard to say

Reiner Long Golden Flake is a VaBurPer blend.

Have you tried Capstan Blue Flake? If that doesn't do it for you, perhaps something like Sam Gawith Best Brown.

 

[BingBong]

Reiner Long Golden Flake is a VaBurPer blend.

Have you tried Capstan Blue Flake? If that doesn't do it for you, perhaps something like Sam Gawith Best Brown.

I have to say, I love FVF but can't live with Best Brown. It's strange how such similar blends from the same producer can provoke opposite reactions - Virginias are all about subtlety, maybe.

 

[Roach1]

Try Pfeifen Hubers Virginia Flake . It is a bit stronger than Golden Virginia Flake.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

You don't have to force yourself to like Virginias. If you are enjoying something else, double down on that. The only Virginias I smoke these days, either I grew them or C&D makes. But, that's just me. I went right for Virginias for two reasons. One, I was a cigarette smoker and the taste of tobacco only was what I was looking for, and two, I was told that they age well. Now, with most of my cellar over ten years old now, all I can say is that age doesn't make much of a difference. But, I am glad that I am insulated with enough tobacco that shut downs of tobacco companies doesn't affect me much.
Most of what you are going to have access to isn't going to be straight uncased Virginias, so I can't really help anyways.

 

[Sigmund]

@cosmicfolklore I might just do that (doubledown). Its pretty expensive to have a wide cellar in the EU. Im pretty happy with a handfull of blends that I really enjoy. Most of the time when I branch out its just extra noise and I end up with a shelf of stuff I rarely touch. And of course as we see...the blend we like are not forever. Thanks for the permission to not be into a blend While I can appreciate them Im never like, "Damn, I cant wait to light up some _____"

Also, I too smoked cigarettes but I never especially enjoyed them so tastewise, it was not hard to leave behind....the habit of course was more difficult.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

There's no obligation to like a certain blend type. I almost exclusively smoke straight Virginia Flake, that's what works for me.

 

[Pipke]

My other thought is to just ignore them and keep buying the blends I like. There is a thought in the back of my mind that Im missing something. Maybe its not my thing...hard to say

You are not missing anything that you like. What sort of brands are available to you in France?

 

[Sigmund]

@Pipke

I can get Mcbarren (for now)
Dan Pipe blends
Pretty much anything that is stocked at Estervals.

There is a lot of choice. I already have full virginia and HU Haymaker. Im not sure its worth it to start a buying frenzy just to decide that they arent for me.

I tend to have a sweet tooth but not fake sweet that just hammers the same note over and over.

 

[Uguccione]

Do you know Motzek products? They make - among many others - a virginia blend called "Salvo 2.0". I've heard good things about it, I'm even considering buying a couple of hundred grams.

 

[gcm]

The whole reason i like Virginias is because they are so underwhelming. I feel like im drinking a subtle tea, or maybe eating a chunk of grass... Either way the only reason i smoke them is because i LIKE them. I'm not fond of Burley blends, and also have a very meager stock of them.
Tbh i was also underwelmed by haymaker but i think its part of the charm.

 

[The Libertine]

I'm not much of a fan of virginas on their own. I smoke what I like and try not to give into trends or what everyone else is smoking.

 

[Pipke]

Il me semble, they blend Perique with Virginia for a reason. It's like cheese and butter. Any dish can be improved with either, or both.