Thought I did it like straight Virginia after smoking things like Orilik and Peterson Flake. This one has changed my mind. I guess it’s bright vs. red Virginias. 
Red Virginia Aha
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Reds are heavenly, I love them straight. With so few straight reds it always irks me when they're blended with something.
Love the reds, the tang, bready baked goods notes with darker sugar sweetness
My all-time favorite Red Virginia was McClelland's 5100 which I enjoyed as McCranie's Owner's Choice - there was simply nothing else like it!
I love a good red Virginia with McClelland 5100 Red Cake being my favorite. The closest I've found to match it is Sutliff 515RC-1. Clearly not the same, but nothing will match 5100 Red Cake.
I don't hate VAs, but they're not my most favorite, but it's not like last place and first place have a huge spread... we're talking from 0-100, lowest is 90 and highest is 100 kind of situation.
But when it comes to VAs specifically, my preference is for red/mature and/or stoved. Whatever a blend is, if it has VA and has only bright/yellow/whatever VA, I'm likely to like it far less than a similar blend with red.
When it comes to straight VAs, I definitely prefer straight red and stoved far and above any kind of mix with bright VA. CRF is one of the few straight VAs I like. Another was C&D House Reserve fall edition from one year, was a mix of stoved and unstoved VA.
But when it comes to VAs specifically, my preference is for red/mature and/or stoved. Whatever a blend is, if it has VA and has only bright/yellow/whatever VA, I'm likely to like it far less than a similar blend with red.
When it comes to straight VAs, I definitely prefer straight red and stoved far and above any kind of mix with bright VA. CRF is one of the few straight VAs I like. Another was C&D House Reserve fall edition from one year, was a mix of stoved and unstoved VA.
I love a good matured Red Virginia. Love the savory funkiness. I still have a pound of McClelland 5100, various Christmas Cheers, 40th Anniversary, the McCrainie's Red Ribbon and Red Flake, Suttliff's various Cringle Flakes, etc.
Matured orange Virginias are nothing to sneeze at either. Many of the Christmas Cheers have some orange Virginia and I think a couple are just orange Virginia. Simply Red is pretty good, though a little bland for me when fresh. I'll be opening up a bag of it from either 2021 or 2022 to see if it's deepened any.
Matured orange Virginias are nothing to sneeze at either. Many of the Christmas Cheers have some orange Virginia and I think a couple are just orange Virginia. Simply Red is pretty good, though a little bland for me when fresh. I'll be opening up a bag of it from either 2021 or 2022 to see if it's deepened any.
Over the years some of the best smokes I ever had were with red VAs, too. My aha moment was with HU Janneman Flake.
Currently smoking some 2022 CRF. It is by far my favorite VA. The lives were harvested in 2020 so it cured for 2 years before packing into the tin. 13.52% sweet and a delightful smoke. I pack another good VA like Edisto or Opening night in the bottom and top off with CRF of a delightful long lasting smoke.
Robert McConnell Red Virginia and Wessex Red Flake are real keepers.
