Stuck On Virginia

[alexnc]

Are many of us almost only straight Virginia smokers? I was wondering how many of us, and I was wondering if many arrived there after loving a wide variety over a long time.

Never saw it coming, but I’ve stopped my usual rotation of genres. I used to rotate VAs, VaPers, Burley & Burley blends, Cigar blends, Lakelands, and maybe ridiculous - Rum blends. (Quit Lat blends years ago and never fell in love with any Aros except Lakelands) I’ve not made it out of VAs since September and kind of don’t think I will. I’ve tried to go back to other genres several times just to be sooo happy to get back to VAs a bowl or so later.

If you’re a straight VA smoker - did you start that way or become that way over time?

 

[fireground_piper]

Started on VA and aromatics. Those are still my main smokes and what I cellar. My favored aromatics are also predominantly VA based as well.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

For several years I was, but then my favorite Virginias went down with the McC closing. And, I have found that there are many, many wonderful burleys out there... not those OTC codger crap ones, but real burleys without the aromatic stuff added. Now, I can graze on any genre, and I enjoy the diversity.

I didn't find anything special about being devoted to just one genre anyway.

 

[gervais]

I really enjoy the natural taste and sweetness of a good Virginia. I'll venture off to a burley or English every now and then, but always love coming back home to Virginias

 

[rmbittner]

I can’t see myself ever smoking only one type of blend, but I always have a straight VA in the rotation—either a flake or a broken flake.

 

[SBC]

Are many of us almost only straight Virginia smokers? I was wondering how many of us, and I was wondering if many arrived there after loving a wide variety over a long time.

Never saw it coming, but I’ve stopped my usual rotation of genres. I used to rotate VAs, VaPers, Burley & Burley blends, Cigar blends, Lakelands, and maybe ridiculous - Rum blends. (Quit Lat blends years ago and never fell in love with any Aros except Lakelands) I’ve not made it out of VAs since September and kind of don’t think I will. I’ve tried to go back to other genres several times just to be sooo happy to get back to VAs a bowl or so later.

If you’re a straight VA smoker - did you start that way or become that way over time?

Like you, my rotation has gradually and unintentionally circled in on VAs more and more.

I'm not exclusive -- out of every 10 bowls, maybe 2 will be a VaPer (which is still pretty much VA territory), 1 an aromatic, and 1 a latakia -- but the majority, I just happen to reach for a straight VA.

 

[alaskanpiper]

I started out the typical way, aromatics followed by latakia blends (which I egregiously over-cellared in my fledgling state of ignorance). But for the last couple years at least about 80% of the bowls I smoked are either straight VA or VA/per, which I enjoy equally. I still mix in the occasional burley, cigar leaf, etc. and even more occasionally a latakia blend (typically prefer the lat to be condimental though). But yeah, pretty much solidly in the VA/Vaper camp for years now.

 

[bullet08]

Avoided VA. Lack of strong flavor and burning hotter than others. But with sensitivity for Latakia, I'm tasting VA more, and moving closer to it. Aromatics also aren't bad now. My palate must be evolving, or going south.

 

[dunnyboy]

I started out the typical way, aromatics followed by latakia blends (which I egregiously over-cellared in my fledgling state of ignorance). But for the last couple years at least about 80% of the bowls I smoked are either straight VA or VA/per, which I enjoy equally. I still mix in the occasional burley, cigar leaf, etc. and even more occasionally a latakia blend (typically prefer the lat to be condimental though). But yeah, pretty much solidly in the VA/Vaper camp for years now.

Almost identical trajectory, including loading up on Lat bombs.

 

[TheWhale13]

I mainly smoke Va-based blends, since it tastes the best. Other things work, but a nice pipe tobacco should be sweet and light, not smoky or dry. But what is not different regarding personal taste..

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

I started off like most - aros and lats. Quit those and was all over the place with Lakeland and Burley and VA and VaPers, etc. To an extent I still am. But probably 80% or more of my smoking is straight virginias. I still love a good Burley blend and very occasionally, a Lakeland.
I smoke more Orientals now than I used to also.
I could see myself in your position one day. My cellar is almost exclusively Virginia flakes or VA based blends.

 

[Sinzalot]

Started off trying everything, latakia blends were an early favourite. VaPer's became my next favourite, Dunhill Elizabethan was my go-to for many years. Then the Va's entered the ring and I haven't looked back. Peterson's Signature Flake being my all time favourite. I still enjoy Burley's now and then but Virginia's are the bulk of my cellar now.

 

[PipeIT]

I’m really now into pretty much only VAs, or VA forward blends.

But, Holy Crap, I recently had a bad run in with VAs, making the roof of my mouth feel slightly scaled, irritated and throbbing.

I haven’t smoked in 3 weeks so far because of this. I’m going to wait about 3 more weeks.

All I know is, if your mouth is sensitive, be careful with the PH balance of some VAs.

 

[eslavs]

I’m really now into pretty much only VAs, or VA forward blends.

But, Holy Crap, I recently had a bad run in with VAs, making the roof of my mouth feel slightly scaled, irritated and throbbing.

I haven’t smoked in 3 weeks so far because of this. I’m going to wait about 3 more weeks.

All I know is, if your mouth is sensitive, be careful with the PH balance of some VAs.

View attachment 200457

I seem to be the opposite of most - as I've progressed over the years, I seem to have settled in to reaching for burley blends 80% of the time, with aros, english and some VA based blends the other 20%.

When it comes to straight VAs, I must have a sensitive mouth. For some reason, they don't seem to agree with me....

 

[vosBghos]

Feel like I took a crash course and ended up really digging straight Va and Oriental blends sans Lat I go back and forth between those two the most. I've cellared wide but not deep on everything including Lakelands but not goopy nor respectable Aro's just not my thing.

 

[judcole]

A good portion of my smokes are straight Virginias - probably half to two-thirds.

 

[krizzose]

I’ve always smoked mainly Virginia forward blends, with straight Virginias well-represented. I’ve never liked Latakia, but I’ve always liked aromatics. It’s only been in the past few years that I’ve started smoking burleys in quantity. However, Vas have remained about 70% of my smoking volume, while burleys have taken their market share from my aromatics

 

[Auxsender]

I’m really now into pretty much only VAs, or VA forward blends.

But, Holy Crap, I recently had a bad run in with VAs, making the roof of my mouth feel slightly scaled, irritated and throbbing.

I haven’t smoked in 3 weeks so far because of this. I’m going to wait about 3 more weeks.

All I know is, if your mouth is sensitive, be careful with the PH balance of some VAs.

View attachment 200457

Damn. Good for you. You must have iron will power. I tried going 2 days and simply couldn’t.

 

[Auxsender]

I started with American/crossover English blends and ended up balls deep in VA and VA/Pers. I no longer have any desire for Latakia. I recently tried to smoke the very respectable and high quality Arango Balkan Supreme and had to dump the bowl about a quarter of the way through because I simply didn’t like it. Currently smoking Sutliff Elizabethan Match which I MUCH prefer to the original.

 

[anotherbob]

Are many of us almost only straight Virginia smokers? I was wondering how many of us, and I was wondering if many arrived there after loving a wide variety over a long time.

Never saw it coming, but I’ve stopped my usual rotation of genres. I used to rotate VAs, VaPers, Burley & Burley blends, Cigar blends, Lakelands, and maybe ridiculous - Rum blends. (Quit Lat blends years ago and never fell in love with any Aros except Lakelands) I’ve not made it out of VAs since September and kind of don’t think I will. I’ve tried to go back to other genres several times just to be sooo happy to get back to VAs a bowl or so later.

If you’re a straight VA smoker - did you start that way or become that way over time?

not quite what you're asking but. My favorites are straight Va and straight burly. Or at least my most smoked blends are. And no planning went into that just mainly happened. I think the thing with Va is it kind of hits this very nice sweet spot. Sweet enough to just be nice on a basic level while also being complex enough and having enough nuance to dig into when you feel like it. Sort of a good leaf no matter what mood you're in or even if your smoking mood changes through out the smoke. For example I only smoke oriental mixes when I really want to pay attention to the pipe and not also pay attention to the book I am reading or what the clouds are doing. Va I don't feel like I lose that much if I pay more attention to the clouds or the girls playing soccer, but if I want to get into pipe hermit mode I certainly can.
But at the end of the day we like what we like and despite what hipster tell you there is no accounting for taste.