I recently posted a thread asking for VA suggestions as, up until now, the only VA I have come to enjoy is Royal Yacht. This site did not disappoint. I received great suggestions and settled on trying Union Square, Newminster, and St. Bruno.
I'm not great at writing reviews, but hopefully this will at least give some indication of how these blends behave.
Union Square
I liked this blend the least of the three, so I've decided to cellar it and see what happens after a while. It came at a moisture ready to smoke I thought right out of the tin. It was easy to pack, light, and keep lit. Overall, the blend was for the most part uneventful for me. Most of the way it seemed as though I was smoking a decent quality cigarette. I know its tobacco, but to me this lacked enough complexity to really keep me interested. The flavor did not change much throughout the bowl. Hay and grass highlighted the smoke, but not in enough of a pronounced way. It was just a stale, basic, experience for me.
St. Bruno
I enjoyed this smoke after I stopped trying to analyze it. It took about 20 min of air drying to get it to a decent moisture level. The topping, which out of the tin is very strong in smell, I have read many people detest. I actually think its a preservative of vinegar if I'm not mistaken. It grew on me throughout the smoke, but only after I stopped trying to figure out if I liked it or not. I don't really need to break down the complexity of flavors in this blend, because I believe I can sum it all up with 1 sentence: It tastes like OGS without a topping. I've read OGS has a topping, and I've read it doesn't. Either way, whatever that floral scent is in OGS its distinct. There is a name for it, I've since forgotten. But it's the main thing I don't like about OGS. About halfway through the bowl though, the OGS natural, rich, tobacco flavor really shines for me, and that's what St. Bruno was like for me.
Newminster
For me, this blend was absolutely delicious, complex, and full of character. It took about 20 min to air dry to a decent moisture level. It was easy to light and keep lit. The tin note is exceptional, not like fresh pastry, but more like walking into a place where pastry is made very day. The scent of the place itself is simply a pastry aroma, but it's not trying to be. The note carries into the smoke, if smoked cool. But if you heat it up a little, a new dimension emerges, it moves from bready to grass, hay, and a bit of citrus. Push it too hard though and it warns you by becoming a bit rough and bland. Thats ok though, I thoroughly enjoyed the back and forth between flavors of cool and warmer smokes. It was a remarkable experience. Also, it comes in bulk, so that is a huge plus. Will definitely be stocking up very soon.
