Va-Or’s?

[hoosierpipeguy]

Waccamaw IS good but it’s heavier in on the perique for sure.

Oriental silk is decent. It’s what’s in the tins from C&D from Chicago this year.

the Virgina Oriental sold by C&D at the Chicago Pipe Show this past year was not Oriental Silk.

 

[tg51]

the Virgina Oriental sold by C&D at the Chicago Pipe Show this past year was not Oriental Silk.

Has it been renamed or dropped as a blend?

 

[sablebrush52]

Savinelli Brunello Flake is definitely worth trying. Watch City Persian Slipper is another.

 

[cortezattic]

The absolute best in the category is Orcilla Mixture from Robert Lewis.

IMO, Orcilla contains Latakia, but some folks disagree.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

the Virgina Oriental sold by C&D at the Chicago Pipe Show this past year was not Oriental Silk.

I was second guessing myself a few minutes later on that one.. got the names mixed up.

Someone told me what was tinned for Chicago is available as a bulk, but I’m at a loss for what they said it was.

 

[mikefu]

C&D's Sunday Picnic is another to consider. Its nice and bright with the Turkish adding some sour incense notes.

 

[jeff540]

Unfortunately, I never got to try McClelland’s grand oriental blends. I am looking for virginias tweaked with orientals, or orientals tweaked with virginias. NO LATAKIA PLEASE, honestly given up on the idea of latakia tweaking a virginia. As I write this I am smoking some Laurel Heights, supposedly the most delicate kiss of latakia in it... not to me, it seems to obfuscate most of what I enjoy about virginia. I have had stokkebye “turkish”, and i loved that one. I tend to favour the brights over the darks... my favourite VA of all time was Klondike Gold, never had something so bright and bite free as that one. Anyhow, anyone got suggestions for a Va-Or?

Your tastes sound similar to mine. If you found that Stokkebye Turkish scratched that itch, then stock up on it. I fell in love with McClelland's Grand Oriental "Drama Reserve" for buttery, sweet and full taste that wasn't pure Virginia but something new and wonderful. I have not found anything to replace that.

The previously mentioned GL Pease "Cairo" is of the same style, but too rough around the edge, bitter, and not nearly sweet enough. Those attributes I've found with all the C&D manufactured blends unfortunately. I will go out on a limb here, and suggest two that are "kissed" by latakia but make up for it in smoothness and sweetness: Esoterica's "And So To Bed" and Davidoff's "Royalty."

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Your tastes sound similar to mine. If you found that Stokkebye Turkish scratched that itch, then stock up on it. I fell in love with McClelland's Grand Oriental "Drama Reserve" for buttery, sweet and full taste that wasn't pure Virginia but something new and wonderful. I have not found anything to replace that.

The previously mentioned GL Pease "Cairo" is of the same style, but too rough around the edge, bitter, and not nearly sweet enough. Those attributes I've found with all the C&D manufactured blends unfortunately. I will go out on a limb here, and suggest two that are "kissed" by latakia but make up for it in smoothness and sweetness: Esoterica's "And So To Bed" and Davidoff's "Royalty."

Older iterations of Cairo are very smooth and very sweet.
If you can get a tin from 2010 or older it’s worth a try.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Has it been renamed or dropped as a blend?

Double checked.. a pipe club buddy says that Jeremy Reeves told him that the tinned chicago blend was indeed Oriental Silk. ?‍

Guess we could query Jeremy.

 

[tg51]

Double checked.. a pipe club buddy says that Jeremy Reeves told him that the tinned chicago blend was indeed Oriental Silk. ?‍

Guess we could query Jeremy.

Have you smoked the blend before? If so what are your thoughts (considering getting some)

 

[fightnhampster]

Embarcadero is my favorite. Ramback Balkan is good if puffed slowly.
I'll have to give Bijou a try.

 

[jeff540]

Bijou is decent, one of the sweetest non-aromatic C&D blends I have tried to date but still a little rough around the edges. That said, IMHO its flavor profile is nowhere near the OP's inquiry.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Double checked.. a pipe club buddy says that Jeremy Reeves told him that the tinned chicago blend was indeed Oriental Silk. ?‍

Guess we could query Jeremy.

You could do that or smoke multiple tins of both. One bowl of each and you would know they aren't the same. Also consider some common sense. Do you really think C&D would take a rather run of the mill blend, package it differently and sell it as a special show commemorative blend? I suppose anything is possible but if that were to get out to the general public, how many tins of their special show blends do you think they would sell next year?

With that said, believe whatever you wish.

 

[mso489]

Casual, I have a tin of Presbyterian aging, so I'll look forward to that. I smoke so slowly, I should have a five-year hiatus on buying tobacco. I'm always smoking up samples, small partially filled jars, and pouches, trying to work my way to the many tins. I can see Edward G. Robinson peering at me from the bottom of a stack of unopened tins from here.

 

[Casual]

Casual, I have a tin of Presbyterian aging, so I'll look forward to that. I smoke so slowly, I should have a five-year hiatus on buying tobacco. I'm always smoking up samples, small partially filled jars, and pouches, trying to work my way to the many tins. I can see Edward G. Robinson peering at me from the bottom of a stack of unopened tins from here.

I’m in the same position. This is my first year, but my pace is 3 tins per year. Choices must be made. I had a single bowl out of about 35 blends and decided that Presbyterian may be my go-to for now.

The next week Planta sold to STG. Just my luck.

 

[lukasstrifeson]

Anyhow, anyone got suggestions for a Va-Or?

Since no one else has mentioned it, may I recommend Sam's Flake by Samuel Gawith. If you're looking for a premium Virginia with a subtle hint of Orientals, could be a good candidate to scratch the itch.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

You could do that or smoke multiple tins of both. One bowl of each and you would know they aren't the same. Also consider some common sense. Do you really think C&D would take a rather run of the mill blend, package it differently and sell it as a special show commemorative blend? I suppose anything is possible but if that were to get out to the general public, how many tins of their special show blends do you think they would sell next year?

With that said, believe whatever you wish.

According to Jeremy the CPCC tinned blend was indeed Oriental Silk.
He could be lying.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Did someone mention S&G Sam's flake Virgina /orient with a hint of added 'saucing, Tonkin bean they say and something,, though it is a bit on the pricey side

 

[Casual]

At the suggestion of the thread I just tried Red Rapparee. It was quite good, and actually oriental forward, despite the presence of some Latakia. Thanks for the pointer.

 

[brooklynpiper]

You should try Turkish 84. Not because it'll scratch any itch, it'll just make you grateful that other tobaccos exist.