Which Virginia?

[sallow]

Folded flake is awesome. I bought several more tins.
On a whim I re-opened the jar of the wessex brick tonight and got a whiff of a nice plum note I hadn't noticed before. The hay note is gone and in the pipe I am finding just a bit of a deep sweetness. Still a bit mild though but I will definitely slowly make my way through the plug.
As far of the blackwoods goes, it is a light sharp McClelland, nothing outstanding so far. I will let it sit and see what develops.

 

[petes03]

The ones I've had from your list are McConnell Folded Flake, McClelland Blackwoods Flake, and Hamborger Veermaster.

The Folded Flake was OK, the Blackwoods is finicky, but decent. The Hamborger Veermaster, IMHO, is an excellent smoke!

 

[sallow]

Petes I'm hoping with a little time the black woods will fill out. What makes the veermaster so good? Is it a soft flake? You prefer it to McConnell's folded?

 

[petes03]

@sallow.

IMO, the HV is much easier to deal with. It's thin sliced, and requires much less prep time and attention during the smoke than Blackwoods.

But mainly because I prefer the flavor! It just has a very nice, easy going flavor about it. The flavor profile tends to change here and there throughout the bowl, especially depending on how you prep it. There's a few flavors going on with it, ranging from mild honey, hay and grassy tones, dark balsamic vinegar, to dark molasses, and a few more!

I prefer to fold it, then scrunch it up a bit before stuffing it into the pipe.

It's also good fully rubbed.

 

[sallow]

Thanks, so I opened a tin of the Veermaster. This is good stuff. I like this style of soft flake. In the tin it reminds me of Germain's Medium.
Its got loads of flavor in the pipe. I would rank this up there with the folded flake or Astley's 44. I wish it was easier to get a hold of.