World's Best Va/Per

[fishingandpipes]

Escudo. It has been written down somewhere in tomes of yore. Can't fight it.

 

[judcole]

It's completely subjective,just like anything else that is based on personal preference. One man's meat is another man's poison.

 

[cortezattic]

I'll second the opinion of sfsteves, and suggest 4noggins' Prairie Wind. It showcases Perique's fruity side.
I listed a bunch of VaPers to try in a similar thread from a few months ago.

 

[papipeguy]

I enjoyed Butera's Kingfisher but good luck finding it.

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

Fillmore with 5 years of age.

 

[escioe]

Fillmore with 5 years of age.

I haven't had it quite that old, but I have one tin left from 2006 that I'm going to open on its 10th birthday. It really is an amazing blend if you like deeper, darker perique blends.

 

[kanaia]

http://pipesmokersforum.com/community/threads/vaper-showdown.10515/

 

[escioe]

That VA / perique showdown is amazing reading. I don't agree with all of his rankings, but the descriptions are so detailed that I can make up my own mind about what I'd like and why.

 

[sallow]

I enjoyed Butera's Kingfisher but good luck finding it.

I really miss this blend. It was one of a kind.

 

[bluesmk]

"

http://pipesmokersforum.com/community/threads/vaper-showdown.10515/ "
Take your time with this and enjoy, there's a wealth of information in that running thread! Enjoy!

Dan

Gabrieli Pipes ::

 

[trucha]

+1 on the black sea sokhoum. While it is not a vaper at all it is really a complex and high quality tobacco. Different from anything else I've ever tried. I just cracked the tin a couple of days ago and I've smoked 3 bowls of it but I am having a hard time pinning down the favors. This is the first of the McClellans grand orientals I've tried but it makes me want to try them all.
Anyway. I smoke mostly escudo (this one is hard to beat by anybtobacco). Orlik and dunhill. If you are looking for a decent but cheap bulk vaper I like ajs and rolandos by h&h.

 

[rootling]

King Eider From Bufflehead was the best VaPer I've ever had. Good luck finding any now. AS for current production I have to say Beacon by McClellend is my hands down favorite. Virginia Flake by Solani and Escudo aren't far behind.

 

[cortezattic]

*1 to rootling. :clap: Beacon is frequently overlooked. I never raved about it online,

but it is one of those blends that disappear in no time once you've popped the tin.

One of these days I'm gonna have to try Beacon Extra.

 

[andystewart]

Edward G and Directors Cut from HU Tobacco, a micro-blender in Germany. I know that it's rare in the US but that doesn't make these VaPers any less wonderful.!
http://shop.strato.de/epages/63080810.mobile/en_GB/?ViewObjectID=37610320

http://shop.strato.de/epages/63080810.mobile/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/63080810/Products/%22OWB%20Director%60s%20Cut%22
Andy

 

[Rincewind]

+1 on Escudo Navy Deluxe

 

[cigrmaster]

Ok, now that everyone has had their say, this is the definitive list of the world's best vapers.
Escudo, it is the vaper in which all others are judged.
Dunhill Deluxe Navy Rolls, very similar to Escudo but people with a discerning palate, can easily recognize that the Dunhill NR is a sweeter blend with less peppery overtones that the Escudo has.
Samuel Gawith St James Flake. A world class flake that can also be bought in bulk.
Solani 633, it's honey topping makes it a very nice sweet vaper when fresh. When aged it is similar to the old Three Nuns in that the Perique gets stronger with age and becomes more spicy. I have it fresh and I have a bunch from 2002 and they are like night in day in their differences. Both are excellent.
Now that I have published my list, you can stop looking.
ps, I should also mention that GL Pease Haddo's Delight is also a world class Vaper and it would have made my list if I could smoke it. Unfortunately for me that red Virginia content is too high and it bites me badly so if any of you are prone to bite because of the red's be careful with this one. If I ever get over my problem with the red's this is the first blend I would add to my cellar because it is that tasty.
pps, Orlik Golden in my opinion is not a vaper as I have never detected even the slightest hint of Perique in it, even after aging it for 15 years I could not taste any Perique.
Here endeth the lesson.
But seriously folks, there are a ton of great vapers on the market, but my four are the best. :crazy:

 

[Rincewind]

@Harris. I am fairly new to the wonderful world of Va's and VaPer's and haven't yet developed that discerning palate you speak of regarding Escudo and Dunhill. I have smoked a fair amount of both and after I read somewhere that they were supposedly produced on the same table side by side I then tossed my two opened tins into the same jar and forgot about it. I have some new tins now and will have to smoke them back to back in the same pipe to see if I can pick up on the difference you speak of. Thanks for the info and I have just put in an order for the Solani 633 and most of the Va Flakes on your list you posted about three months ago that I haven't tried. I wanted to ask your opinion about the Wessex Brigade Classic Virginia with Perique that was available from SP before I ordered any. I couldn't find a review of it on TR. I know you have issues smoking red VA's but wondered if you (or anyone else) had any experience with it.

 

[yazamitaz]

Oh boy. Drhuff just opened the door to the most prolific advertisement for WBCDF on the planet.
Harris, please begin your dissertation my good man.......
BTW, it's wonderful stuff

 

[jazzlover]

The consensus on the world's best va/per seems to be Escudo. I'll have to try it.

 

[kola]

I find the popular VaPer Escudo a bit on the sweet side (cavendish maybe, dunno??)
IMO, Sammmy Gawith's St James Flake is the VaPer king, bought in bulk when it's available is a dang good deal.