As far as these D&R Virginias go, is there a difference in composition or is it just a difference in cut?
Windsail vs Three Sails
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This article might help answer your question:
I liked Three Sails so I bought Windsail Silver to try and like that as well.
Jim's Revised D&R Blends Reviews. :: Pipe Tobacco Reviews
I've now tried all the Daughters & Ryan blends except for the Blender's Bench series. As I have revised the earlier reviews, I thought I'd post the updated versions for those who may be interested. D&R Athey: The Virginia is grassy, hay-like, and citrusy sweet with a slight honey note, and...
pipesmagazine.com
I liked Three Sails so I bought Windsail Silver to try and like that as well.
I have read on reddit one person explain that the difference is the amount of flue cured Virginia in each one and the corresponding nicotine strength (Windsail Silver being 100% golden and Three Sails being shag cut) but that's the internet and not these forums so its not as reliable 
From what I’ve seen Three Sails, Windsail, Windsail Silver, and Windsail Platinum are all four composed entirely of flue cured Virginia.I have read on reddit one person explain that the difference is the amount of flue cured Virginia in each one and the corresponding nicotine strength (Windsail Silver being 100% golden and Three Sails being shag cut) but that's the internet and not these forums so its not as reliable
I recently read somewhere I can’t pinpoint right now that the Windsails are strongest to lightest from plain through platinum.
It looks to me that the biggest difference in descriptions I could find of Windsail and Three Sails is that of Windsail being ribbon and The Sails being shag.
Reviews by @JimInks do sound a little different between Three Sails and Windsail that may be more than just cut even though neither mention casings/flavoring.
The reason I’m so curious is that one of my favorite home mixtures is equal parts Three Sails, Sutliff 507-S stoved Va, and DFK.
I'm thinking of trying Windsail in the next batch for a better texture and not having the shag crumble to shake in the mix as badly when carried about in a pouch for a day (or days), but really like the flavor of the mix as it is.
Then again some of the flavors noted in Windsail may play just as well, if not better with the stove and dark fired-I’m just leery of breaking into a pound to make a couple ounces to try.
That, and the fact my supply of 507-S is now finite.
I didn't mention toppings because there are none. They are cased.
Outside of the cut of the tobacco, the Windsails and Penhookers have a little more of a mixture of different Va. grades than Three Sails from what I was told. Three Sails has a little more citrus, grass, and the acidic note is a tad more obvious, especially when bought fresh, or a least it did during the Mark Ryan era. I haven't tried the post-Ryan era blends so I have no idea if anything is different or not from what I am used to.
I have noticed that all of my stash of the blends in question have darkened with age, and I see just a light bit of red here and there in the Windsail that I have been smoking that I didn't see when I bought it in 2018. And the 2016 Three Sails that I'm smoking is darker, and barely has an acidic note. All of them have matured well.
Thanks Jim, I appreciate the input.
In hopes that the composition of the blends haven’t changed too much, I think I’ll get some Windsail for the next batch and leave the remainder of my Three Sails from early last year to age by itself.
Windsail may bring the citrus/acid down just a smidge in the mix and play a little better with the stoved and dark fired I’m mixing with.
In hopes that the composition of the blends haven’t changed too much, I think I’ll get some Windsail for the next batch and leave the remainder of my Three Sails from early last year to age by itself.
Windsail may bring the citrus/acid down just a smidge in the mix and play a little better with the stoved and dark fired I’m mixing with.
it does raise the odd question, for me at least.
If they are based on the same flue cured golden virginias. how are they varying the nicotine content so much
If they are based on the same flue cured golden virginias. how are they varying the nicotine content so much
I’m no expert, but I think position on plant (top, mid, and lower) will affect strength of leaves even on same plant.
im not expert either, but from what I have read with virginias.. position on leaf normally means its going to be a "bright" or a "red" virginia.
The sweetest of the VA's during the Ryan era for me was 3 Sails. Windsail was purported to be Canadian grown VA leaf and of course its presentation was different than 3 Sails. I enjoyed it too.
I still have some Picayune in its original bag. It's about half full.
I still have some Picayune in its original bag. It's about half full.
I've been smoking both the original Windsail and Three Sails a fair bit over the past few days, and my impression is that Three Sails seems to be 100% entirely bright Virginia presented in a shag cut whereas Windsail is mostly red Virginia with just a little bright Virginia for contrast and comes in a ribbon cut. Both come drier than the Atacama desert and smoke perfectly well that way, and have no toppings of any sort.
Of the two Three Sails is milder by a significant margin, whereas Windsail is actually a fairly stout smoke as far as Virginias go and reminds me a great deal of Cornell & Diehl's Yorktown; just with less bright Virginia and more red. Windsail has a real old timey historical feel to it, like what you might imagine clay tavern pipes being filled with back in the 1600's and 1700's, and is wonderfully rustic and robust without getting into Gawith rope territory levels of strength.
If you're the RYO sort then Three Sails also makes an excellent cigarette, just be wary of your smoking cadence since it does burn hot and like most bright Virginias it can get a touch bitey. Unless you've got lungs of steel though I wouldn't recommend Windsail for RYO use, since it's a bit too rough around the edges for cigarette usage.
Hope that helps!
Of the two Three Sails is milder by a significant margin, whereas Windsail is actually a fairly stout smoke as far as Virginias go and reminds me a great deal of Cornell & Diehl's Yorktown; just with less bright Virginia and more red. Windsail has a real old timey historical feel to it, like what you might imagine clay tavern pipes being filled with back in the 1600's and 1700's, and is wonderfully rustic and robust without getting into Gawith rope territory levels of strength.
If you're the RYO sort then Three Sails also makes an excellent cigarette, just be wary of your smoking cadence since it does burn hot and like most bright Virginias it can get a touch bitey. Unless you've got lungs of steel though I wouldn't recommend Windsail for RYO use, since it's a bit too rough around the edges for cigarette usage.
Hope that helps!
I think you guys are both right, I know for cigars the position dictates nicotine strength. Wouldn't be surprised if it was true for colouring, but that is mostly done in the curing process. I'd imagine the varying levels of leaf would have their own sugar content that might factor into what colour they turn when cured.