Seeking Straight Red Virginia Flakes & Ribbons Only

[Effortlessdepths]

Thanks to you fine folks, I have refined my question from a day or two ago on Swanky Virginias. I decided to order some Edisto and give that a shot.

In the meantime, I am seeking specifically other straight red virginia flakes or other cuts. No blends. No bright Virginia, no Perique, no flavoring. Just straight Red Virginia. Thanks I'm advance.

 

[NookersTheCat]

Now with Sutliff and McClelland gone it's harder. In fact most people in the know say that one of the biggest reasons for McClelland closing was the lack of quality Red VA being farmed, not the other way around. C&D has a few of course though (as with most things) their quality is debated.

One of the best I've seen reviewed here is McConnell's but that has some Perique in it so out of your list. I very much enjoyed C&D's small batch Anthology 2023 and the few iterations of Carolina Red Flake that didn't also have Perique but again, those were limited edition and are now gone.

If you were willing to compromise on your disqualifiers I'd say McConnell's and Rattray's Red Rapparee but those both are not "Pure" Red Va's
Unfortunately I think you will find that finding such a thing in today's market with fair price and availability a rather tricky endeavor. Even now what little remains of the 515rc is being snapped up at break neck speed and it was only 6 months ago most people would scoff at it as mere floor sweepings compared to 5100. And 10 years ago those same people would say the same about 5100 lmao

Ken Byron has some Red only blends but again... pricey and spotty availability and his whole operation is in limbo now since Sutliff.

 

[Ahi Ka]

+1 on the KBV. I’ve enjoyed his Jupiter slices, while out of stock there might be something else available.

Also, while “red Virginia” as a blend description can differ from it as a leaf classification, this could be fun:

Flue Cured Virginia Red Leaf, 1lb.

Our Flue Cured Virginia Red Leaf is the highest leaf position on the tobacco plant. The result is a heavy bodied (thick) leaf with a more pronounced tobacco flavor.

wholeleaftobacco.com

 

[anotherbob]

usually in the description of the blend. My main go to tobacco is a Red on Red blend. And I think it's awesome. Yorktown by the way. The thing is there is no rule that says a blend can only have what it lists on the tin. As far as any regulatory body is concerned it's tobacco and whatever they do to process it, well what they add to it. But my suggestion is do some reading and searching. If you go to certain websites and search red and virginia you'll get more hits then you need but at least it's a place to start. If you go to smoking pipes click on all tobacco and then on the left side click family and pick VA then go to the components excludes and click everything but VA you'll have a good place to start but read the descriptions.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

C&D Red Carpet, Opening Night, and Red Virginia Ribbon.

 

[sablebrush52]

Watch City Simply Red and Simply Orange are worth a look if available. Ernie stated that they would continue on without Sutliff, which has me wondering if he’s going to brokers.
If you’re looking at McClelland style matured red, you can find it at around $800 a pound.
There’s Wessex and McConnell red Virginias and there might be something in the HU line up.

 

[lupy1234]

Blending Tobacco: RED VIRGINIA

Sweet, deeply resonant and strong in flavor. Will bite if handled carelessly like most straight VA tobacco. A great blending Virginia. Strength: Medium Flavoring: None Detected Taste: Medium Room Note: Tolerable

4noggins-com.myshopify.com

 

[lupy1234]

Robert McConnell Red Virginia

Robert McConnell Red Virginia: Manufactured By: Kohlhase, Kopp and Co. Blend Type: Virginia/Perique Contents: Perique, Virginia Flavoring: Cocoa/Chocolate Cut: Ready Rubbed Net Weight: 50g

arlingtoncigar.com

 

[BingBong]

Not forgetting Fribourg & Treyer Blackjack, which is an orange/red r/r, although it is cased with liquorice or something, being a Kopp blend. Once the tin has been opened, the casing fades though. I use it as a mixer or straight, nice and tangy but a bit one dimensional.

 

[lazar]

Rattray's Red Rapparee is a heavy-ish Latakia/Oriental, not a VA blend.

Wessex has an odd rose/coriander topping.

 

[elvishrunes]

I‘m going to keep track of this thread, I recently started to enjoy them and couldn’t find much in term of flake anyhow on SP.com, a lot sweeter, fruitier, and less bitting than regular Va’s. But I still really like the regular. I got a couple tins of Sutliff Red Va cake, great stuff and I can tell will age well, and managed one tin of McClelland 40th anniversary for a decent price…. But just a taste, and obviously not available.

I’ve heard mixed reviews on C/D Carolina Red, comes out in the fall. Look for this, it looks interesting…

edit: too bad Gawith doesn’t make one, their only weakness IMO.

 

[dottlejockey]

KBV Redline is decent. Red and dark VA.

 

[krizzose]

Low Country Edisto is a simple and tasty red Virginia. It also has the wonderful quality of being readily available.

As mentioned, KBV Jupiter Slices and Redline are very good. If I’m not mistaken, Jupiter Slices is a blend that KBv has said will survive the loss of Sutliff components.

 

[craig61a]

I’ve got 9 pounds of Sutliff Red Virginia Ribbon TS1R stashed away. I happen to like it so I added to my cellar when there were Sutliff 20% off specials. That way I always plenty of aged Sutliff Red Ribbon available.

Of course now that Sutliff is out of the picture, I’ll have to source my Red from somewhere else… ah who am I kidding? I won’t go through 9 pounds anytime soon.

I have C&D Red Ribbon Va stashed as well, and I’d say it’s comparable to the Sutliff. As well as McClelland Red Cake. And probably some Peter Stokkeby Red Va.

I find that regular old red Virginia really shines when blended with perique tobacco.

As for perique, I have Peter Stokkebye 311 perique, Sutliff TS-20 Louisiana Perique, C&D Granulated Perique, and WLT Perique stashed away. They are all good. I like the TS-20 because it’s in ribbon and blends well with other tobaccos.

By up whatever red you can find and stash it away. It’s worth the investment…

 

[craig61a]

What I really wish I could lay my hands on is some more WLT Katerini…

 

[Brad H]

C&D Red Carpet, Opening Night, and Red Virginia Ribbon.

Yup. What this guy says.

 

[Effortlessdepths]

Thanks everyone, I've taken down some notes for future purchases. I purchased Edisto, we'll see how that goes. My goal is to find a red Virginia that I truly enjoy and make it my all day smoke. Then when fall rolls around, snag as many C&D Carolina Red Flakes as I can for a more sumptuous option, and for cellaring.

As a side note, I effing love katerini lead, I once begged Jeremy Reeves to let me buy some but he said no, alas...

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

How about Seattle Pipe Club’s Hogshead?

 

[carp rides again]

This years fall CRF will be with perique if their pattern holds true, been one year without perique one with. If you want it without your gonna have to get CRF from past years prolly from tin bids or at a pipe show or at a Brick an Mortar if your lucky

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

How many Virginia Flakes have you smoked aside from Z red? F&T CVP? Capstan Blue? MB HH Pure Virginia Flake or Virginia Flake? The availability of quality straight RED virginia Flake is quite limited. Rather than be stuck on that, it's recommend you thoroughly explore all the quality Virginia Flakes out there.