Suggestions for a Sweet Virginia

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isaac

Part of the Furniture Now
Sep 18, 2012
591
5,795
Portland, OR
So I know McClelland was McClelland. There will never be anything like it. That being said, I do enjoy their 40th Anniversary blend and the sweetness that is provided.

What is along the same lines of a straight virginia, or one that has perique as a condiment that would fill that taste?

It seems I have sweet tooth that I just cant seem to satisfy.

Blends I have tried so far are as follows, and mind you these are virginias in general i have tried.

Samuel Gawith Best Brown
Tordenskjold
Orlik Golden Slicess
Reiner Golden Slices
St Bernard Flake Tobacco
Stonehaven
Sutliff 507c
Rattray Hal o the Wynd

The Reiner has some subtle sweetness as well as the Hal o the Wynd, but not that deep sweetness.
 

isaac

Part of the Furniture Now
Sep 18, 2012
591
5,795
Portland, OR
Most Virginias will get sweeter with age. The SG BBF is quite sweet to me when aged. I'd recommend Mac Baren HH Pure Virginia and Vauen No 14. Wessex Gold Virginia Flake for citrus sweet.

Im smoking some 2014 SG BBF now. Its great and honestly I stock heavily on BBFF. Unfortunately somone gave me samples of McClelland that ruined that for me. HAHA

A friend recommended I try the following, which seem to be rare as hens teeth

Fribourg & Trayer Cut Blended Plug
Fribourg & Trayer Cut Virginia Plug
Robert McConnel Red Virginia
 
Jan 28, 2018
13,912
155,506
67
Sarasota, FL
Im smoking some 2014 SG BBF now. Its great and honestly I stock heavily on BBFF. Unfortunately somone gave me samples of McClelland that ruined that for me. HAHA

A friend recommended I try the following, which seem to be rare as hens teeth

Fribourg & Trayer Cut Blended Plug
Fribourg & Trayer Cut Virginia Plug
Robert McConnel Red Virginia
The McClelland shouldn't ruin it for you. It's just different . I love it, sad it's gone but I still enjoy many of the other great Virginia blends.
 

isaac

Part of the Furniture Now
Sep 18, 2012
591
5,795
Portland, OR
The McClelland shouldn't ruin it for you. It's just different . I love it, sad it's gone but I still enjoy many of the other great Virginia blends.

Well it was a case of continually asking for something sweeter, and he pulled out the blue tin. That actually did it for me. Agreed that there are many other great blends out there. Just trying to find that sweetness.
 
Mar 1, 2014
3,658
4,960
I still say Sutliff Victorian (formerly Elizabethan) is one of the best bulk VaPer blends out there, leaning toward Plum flavors and not the sweet hay or honey grahams.
 

karam

Lifer
Feb 2, 2019
2,582
9,861
Basel, Switzerland
Be aware that all those blends are topped. Cut Virginia Plug tastes like a creamsicle to me. Not my thing, but that may not bother you.
I’d say that Cut Blended Plug tastes like a biscuit, I really love it :) CVP is along the same lines for me but just overall milder. I’ve got 3 more F&T on order to see what they are like before settling and cellaring.
 
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krizzose

Lifer
Feb 13, 2013
3,361
20,865
Michigan
I’ll add to the recommendations of Marlin Flake. Wessex Brigade Campaign Dark Flake is also quite sweet. Both are still being manufactured, but hit the US only periodically, and are snapped up quick.
For readily available blends, Capstan Blue is a good sweet straight Virginia, while Hearth & Home Anniversary Kake is a VaPer that’s on the sweet side (much like Marlin Flake)
 
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