Virginia blends with deep, earthy flavors?

[geopiper]

I don't fully understand the world of virginia tobaccos, hence my question here. I'm looking for recommendations on straight virginia tobacco blends that have a deep, earthy creamy nature. Not the tangy, tart flavor from some bright virginias.

What should I be on the lookout for in this category?

thank you.

 

[jzbdano]

GL Pease Union Square comes to mind.
Edit to add my tin was 8 years old when I cracked it. No experience with it fresh but I doubt it is much different.

 

[pianopuffer]

Capstan Blue comes to mind. Or any VA with a few years of age on it.

 

[oldtoby]

One that flies under the radar is C&D Opening Night.

I'm not a C&D fanboy, but this is a good one. Red Virginia bliss, imo.

 

[lightmybriar]

C&D Virginias will serve you well!

 

[peregrinus]

...deep, earthy creamy nature. Not the tangy, tart flavor from some bright virginias.

My favorite these last few years is Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake. Depending on how much, or even if, you rub it out determines the depth of earthiness.
If you want to add some earthy mushroom flavor SG also makes St. James Flake, a FVF with perique.
Both are theoretically available in 50g and 250g sizes.

 

[danimalia]

It's not a straight VA, but I suspect GLP Embarcadero will deliver what you're looking for. Here's a quick write up of my initial half dozen bowls. Really opened my eyes in terms of what a VA-based blend could be.

 

[burleyboy]

HU Haymaker is one, that I do not like due to it‘s earthyness. I prefer the sweeter Virginias.

Haymaker reminded me a bit of Dark Fired Kentucky, although it only contains Virginias. Also HU state, that it’s completely unflavoured. It could be the right blend for you.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

One that flies under the radar is C&D Opening Night.

I'm not a C&D fanboy, but this is a good one. Red Virginia bliss, imo.

I don't consider the majority of Virginia blends to be deep, earthy in flavor. Opening Night is the one that comes to mind. Yorktown would be the other. GLP Union Square to a lesser degree.

 

[stogie37]

You may immediately disregard this recommendation as it contains a whopping 25% Perique - but the tin of C&D Bayou Morning Flake I am working through struck me as deeply earthy and creamy. The perique content is at times peppery, but mostly it’s just dark, not too tangy, stewed fruit. This tin has 5 years of age, which certainly helped mellow the tobaccos - and I’ve never smoked a fresh tin. Nonetheless, top of my list for “earthy” VA.

 

[jeff540]

Everyone's tastes are slightly different, but some of the earthier, sweet, and creamy VA blends I have experienced include:

1 - McClelland dark stoved style (Dark Star, Dark Stoved Flake for Butera, Dark Navy bulk, etc.) Good luck finding a replacement for this style. Esoterica Kingsbridge comes close, and I'm looking to try a few of the Rattray's dark virginia blends that allegedly are in the same vein.

2- MacBaren HH Pure Virginia flake. It's very good right out of the tin, not too tangy or bitey

3 - Stokkebye Navy Flake - give it a year to sit in a mason jar, and its sweet earth city

4 - Wessex Burley Slice - yes, I know it's burley forward, but it has earthy flavor in spades without any bite.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

C&D Briar Fox, but it is a VaBur. Tilbury by Esoterica is the only straight Virginia that I found to be Earthy. CF&D Virginia Flake is kinda earthy, but more in the lightly sweetened oatmeal range.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Wessex Campaign Dark flake.
Rattrays Marlin Flake (contains some non Virginia leaf but it fits that profile nicely).
Astleys no. 44.
Gawith Best Brown.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It's interesting how everyone has a different sense of "earthy" than me.

 

[sablebrush52]

You might have some luck looking into blends featuring dark or brown flakes or stoved Virginias. Germain's Brown Flake, SG Best Brown, Wessex Campaign to a lesser extent, come to mind. They're not the easiest to find. McClelland is gone, so you can forget about them unless you're willing to pay a high premium.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

J.F Germains Brown Flake is probably the virginia with the most deep earthy taste that I've smoked.

Chris.

 

[geopiper]

Thanks for all the recommendations everyone. I really appreciate it.

 

[stogie37]

It's interesting how everyone has a different sense of "earthy" than me.

I’m def tracking with your Briar Fox recommendation - that one crossed my mind too

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Oh, I am merely curious to go back and try these suggestions too. I don’t claim to think I can taste better than anyone else, ha ha. But, I do taste pretty good... well.

 

[troutface]

I don't know about earthy, but Astley's No.44 has what I would consider more bass notes.