Ready Rubbed VA's and Va/Pers

[Jwebb90]

Viprati.

 

[Mr_houston]

Pease Telegraph Hill (VAPer) and Laurel Heights (VA) are ready to smoke out of the tins. I’ve been enjoying both lately.

 

[karam]

C&D Yorktown, C&D Derringer, D&R Rimboche SJ and AP, HU 5th Anniversary Blend, HU Edward G, HU Director's Cut (hopefully, I hear it's now been returned to it's original blending), Rattray's HOTW, Sutliff Matured Red Virginia 515 - RC-1, Sutliff Match Victorian, GL Pease Stratford, Esoterica Dunbar, Esoterica Dorchester, Watch City Rougaroux

Is that so?

 

[sablebrush52]

Is that so?

Hans had a chat with K&K

 

[karam]

Hans had a chat with K&K

Nice one, I’ll be sure to try it then!

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

Good catch. I shouldn't have said topping when I meant casing. I know pretty much all tobacco has some semblance of topping to some degree. Thanks for that!

@FurCoat definitely worth trying a tin. 15 mins. of dry time right out of the tin is highly recommended, which should come as a surprise to absolutely no one.

What is the difference between topping and casing? Asking for me, not a friend.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

What is the difference between topping and casing? Asking for me, not a friend.

From my understanding:
Casing is applied to almost all tobacco (before blending) for a variety of reasons, but mainly pH control (which translates into less bite from pH extremes). Casing is not usually something that comes through in the flavor of the tobacco, but some are super tasters....

Most VAs have a sugar solution casing to raise the pH (reducing the acidity) where as burleys usually have a molasses solution added to lower the pH.

Toppings are added after blending and are added for flavor enhancement. Think fruit, whiskey, etc.

That's my understanding from watching Jeremy Reeves in a few YouTube videos.

 

[lawdawg]

If you can get your hands on some, Esoterica Dunbar is superb.

I picked up a few tins of Dunbar last year, and I have been a bit disappointed with it. I've had a few great smokes with it, but overall, it seems exceedingly light in the flavor department. I only smoked half a tin, so perhaps I still need a bit of time to figure that one out.

While on the issue of controversial views on Vapers, Virginias, and flake tobacco, I always rub out flakes and coins, so all mine end up being "ready rubbed" though not ready from the factory. I've made a few feeble attempts to smoke flakes in flake form, but have not had much luck keeping them burning and end up just rubbing them out for a predictably good smoke, even if I may perhaps be losing out on some nuance in the blend.

 

[JohnClyde]

Germains Gold Leaf Ready Rubbed that we (used to) get over here in the UK.

I'm told its our version of Eso Peacehaven but have never tried it to qualify.

Very similar (identical?) to Germain's Medium Flake.

 

[Streeper541]

I've made a few feeble attempts to smoke flakes in flake form, but have not had much luck keeping them burning and end up just rubbing them out for a predictably good smoke, even if I may perhaps be losing out on some nuance in the blend.

I usually rub mine out too. I've tried the fold & stuff, the stuff, the roll, etc... and always seem to get the best & most consistent experience from Flakes & Coins when I rub them out.

As for my suggestions, I wanted to suggest a range of price points more than anything else. Happy smokes!

 

[lawdawg]

I usually rub mine out too. I've tried the fold & stuff, the stuff, the roll, etc... and always seem to get the best & most consistent experience from Flakes & Coins when I rub them out.

As for my suggestions, I wanted to suggest a range of price points more than anything else. Happy smokes!

I guess you’re (translation: me) a lucky man when you’re favorite va/per so far is PS Luxury Navy Flake! Tried Dunbar, like it okay. Tried Dunhill Navy Rolls this week, smoked five bowls, and can’t get it all.

Maybe I’ll just stick to Capstan Blue and Full Virginia Flake and stay away from the Perique.

 

[PipesRock]

Mine are already mentioned but...
Old Gowrie, Match Elizabethan/Victorian. Wonderful easy smokes.
Still yet to try Watch City Rougaroux and obviously need some fresh HU Directors Cut now.

 

[lawdawg]

I usually rub mine out too. I've tried the fold & stuff, the stuff, the roll, etc... and always seem to get the best & most consistent experience from Flakes & Coins when I rub them out.

As for my suggestions, I wanted to suggest a range of price points more than anything else. Happy smokes!

And here I am today smoking another bowl of Dunbar and thinking its absolutely excellent, despite what I said earlier. Can’t tell if that peach-like note is a topping or just the natural tobacco flavors. Anyhow, that’s one of the funny things about pipe smoking - sometimes you’ve gotta smoke an entire tin to even figure out whether you like a blend.