Virginia / Burley (VABUR) Recipes

[fr0st]

As of late I've found myself gravitating toward VABURs, I often enjoy Cowboy Coffee (technically a VA-Kentucky), Rattray's Old Gowrie (VA/KY/Per), and one called "Sunday Afternoon" (below). I'm not a huge fan of most plain, straight VA's or the several VAPERs I've tried (they're ok, but most don't have much flavor to me).

I'd like to hear experience on ratios for blending, heavy on the Burley, VA, and perhaps DFK.

I have the following blending tobaccos (from C&D), all are ribbon cut unless noted. I only have a few ounces of each, so I'd like to keep my experiments to a minimum.

VA Flake (broken)
VA, Bright
VA, Red
Burley, Dark
Kentucky, Dark Fired
Turkish, Izmir
Perique, (Long Cut)
Perique, (Granulated)


In Robert Goff's "Ninety More Pipe Blends" he includes this one, which I've tried and enjoy- but it can be a bit "bitey"

Sunday Afternoon
62.5% (10:16) Bright Virginia
37.5% (6:16) Burley Red Tip


Goff includes a blend in his book "Blend Your Own Pipe Tobacco", which I plan on trying next:

Burley Virginia Blend Base
33.3% Burley Red Tip
33.3% Virginia Bright
33.3% Virginia Red

Other blends I want to try (from "Ninety More..."):

Curiosity
Burley 36%
Virginia Red 23%
Flue-cured (light) 23%
Perique 18%

Burley with a Bite
Burley Red Tip 50%
Basma 50%

Artifact
Burley Red Tip 50% (8 parts per 16)
Virginia Red Flue-cured 37.5% (6 parts per 16)
Basma 12.5% (2 parts per 16)

Artifactoid
Burley 50% (8 parts per 16)
Virginia Flue-cured 37.5% (6 parts per 16)
Oriental 12.5% (2 parts per 16)

 

[khiddy]

Note that the Red Burley Tips that Bob calls for in his recipes is different than the straight C&D blending burley that you have: Red Burley Tips are much stronger in nicotine and flavor. The C&D Dark Burley is close, but if you want to be true to Bob Goff's recipes, you really need to be using Red Burley Tips (most likely from whole leaf, as I'm not aware of any prepackaged Red Burley Tips for blending).

https://wholeleaftobacco.com/product/kentucky-burley-red-tips-1-lb/

 

[JD Buckeye]

Note that the Red Burley Tips that Bob calls for in his recipes is different than the straight C&D blending burley that you have: Red Burley Tips are much stronger in nicotine and flavor. The C&D Dark Burley is close, but if you want to be true to Bob Goff's recipes, you really need to be using Red Burley Tips (most likely from whole leaf, as I'm not aware of any prepackaged Red Burley Tips for blending).

https://wholeleaftobacco.com/product/kentucky-burley-red-tips-1-lb/

Good catch, Ken

 

[makhorkasmoker]

I blend Kentucky burley, burley red tips, and dark air cured in roughly the same amounts . I used to add a smidgin of either red Virginia or ripe Virginia to soften it—but eventually figured out I prefer the air cured tobaccos on their own

 

[fr0st]

So far I haven’t found a source with stock of Burley Red Tips. But I’ll keep looking.

Has anyone had success blending the standard C&D offerings for a strong VABUR?

 

[JD Buckeye]

Could a small amount of rustica be subbed in for the nicotine strength?

 

[khiddy]

Could a small amount of rustica be subbed in for the nicotine strength?

Or Five Brothers, which is a strong burley in a shag cut. That wouldn't change the flavor noticeably.

 

[fr0st]

I signed up to be notified when the Burley Red Tips are back on stock from the Whole Leaf Tobacco site.

In the meantime I’m going to mix a small amount of the VABUR Base using equal Dark Burley, VA Bright and VA Red. I’ll let it sit for a week or so and give it a go.

 

[makhorkasmoker]

I signed up to be notified when the Burley Red Tips are back on stock from the Whole Leaf Tobacco site.

In the meantime I’m going to mix a small amount of the VABUR Base using equal Dark Burley, VA Bright and VA Red. I’ll let it sit for a week or so and give it a go.

Depending on what you’re going for, you might try blending some of c&d ‘s white burley into that. The dark is strong in flavor with some cigar notes. Though a bit harsh on its own , the white makes a good base.