No Virginia issues here, but if ever have to give them up, I'm done with smoking.
Regarding Tonguebite From Virginias
- Thread starter workman
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I’ve never had bite issues with Virginias, but every now and again I will go through a brief period where the Virginias I smoke are just kinda lame. Harsh, bitter and acrid, and just missing that magic bready malty sweetness I like them so much for. I’ve started to recognize it better when it happens every 8 months or so, so now I switch to burleys or Aros for a week or two. Usually the next Virginia I smoke is back in magic territory. It’s actually happening right now, even with this inept self-blended VaPer. That second half of the bowl cooked sweetness is back
I've noticed this bite from SG blends in general. FVF, Golden Glow and even Navy Flake being the worst offenders for me even when it's crispy dry.
I believe there are two types of bite or burn. Heat or chemical/allergy. Red Virginia seems high on the list for causing one or the other.
I have to be very careful with Virginia's. I have to sip them very slow. And smoke them in the right environment. The colder it is outside the better they smoke for me. I cannot go above a moderate paced puff or they start tearing my mouth up. And the flavor is lost.
The key for me is drying and packing as loose as possible, along with a slow sipping. Tamp only when you need to avoid having to relight. In my experience, the hottest the smoke gets is on relights. A well behaved tobacco is a bonus. The more notes you take about preparation and details of the smoke, the better off you will be. After a while the routine becomes second nature.
I leave em alone. Actually, I do have a jar of 50/50 MacBaren VA #1 and Carter Hall that I dip into when the mood strikes. Not often. I honestly don’t get much from VA. It’s been a very long while.
Taste is an interesting thing. I don’t often get bite from Va and indeed it was the flavour that got me hooked on smoking a pipe. I wonder if as some people have mentioned a change-up may help?
Like @Rook, this is exactly the boat I am in with most Virginias - excepting D&R Windsail, which smokes perfectly for me; thank you @jiminks - which leaves me in a position where I otherwise can't touch a straight Virginia or a typical straight Virginia blend - say for example, something like C&D Yorktown - without feeling like I need to be so careful as to how I smoke, that for me, it's like walking down a steep, ice-covered driveway while wearing leather-soled shoes and inflatable vinyl kiddie water-wings; in the event of mishap.
So for me, the question would be: What is the intrinsic difference between these two Virginia blends; for difference revealed therein would point to the suspect or suspects. - Sherm Natman
So for me, the question would be: What is the intrinsic difference between these two Virginia blends; for difference revealed therein would point to the suspect or suspects. - Sherm Natman
This is exactly what I do. Seems to work just fine this way.
Is this with FVF that you've had cellared for awhile or is this from the last drop? People I've been chatting with are saying blends were different with the last drop and that one of those blends mentioned was FVF.
Since K&K started altering blends to sub out pricier leaf used with some of the HU and Rattray's blends it seems like other blenders may be doing the same. Most smokers won't notice the difference. But some of these boys, who have been smoking these blends for decades, are beginning to look at the latest arrivals and have been saying, "WTF?"
Well you mention a C&D Virginia which is near lowest rung
I think most is that the tobacco is so fresh. You can’t even compare any of these products fresh to something with 2 years of age. I don’t trust a lot of these codger memories past a year or two.
I personally can't speak to the Gawith question as I haven't smoked any recent supply. Your comment regarding aging is a fair point, but I not sure how much aging for a couple of years affects Virginia sting. I've had Virginia blends jarred for a decade that still had plenty of sting.
The K&K changes have been independently corroborated. Costs go up. The customer doesn't want to pay for it, so quality goes down. The customer, largely, doesn't care, or notice.
I like Yorktown and Bijou. CRF isn't bad either as long as you didn't improint on McClelland or pick up Cringle Flake 2020 late last year. The other stuff, not so much.
Yes, I used their Yorktown blend in my example; but, what is the ladder you are referring to when you say "it's near the lowest rung" - the lowest rung of what ?
You're terribly cryptic and abstruse lately, my friend. - Sherm Natman
Yup, I find that with certain tobaccos, they are better after a resting period.
Interesting, I might have to try that. Not that I just have one laying around or anything. ?? But on a serious note, the G&H #20 can be a but of a pain to pack with how long the ribbons are.
Small orders, at least with new tobaccos. I've also learned the hard way ?