I've discovered Virginias!!!

[EvanS]

Relatively new to pipes but in the last few months I have learned enogh about pack, light, sipping and heat to really start enjoying my bowls. BTW - thanks to all of you that have directly and indirectly guided me to where I am now.......
So far I have mostly hung around with English/Balkan/Oriental types (McC 2020, 5110, Penzance) along with a few mild aromatics like Virginia/Burley-based Vanilla Nut and Jamaican Rum Lane repacks from the B&M and some Pipeworks & Wilke blends. NO real Cavendish treatments...it just doesn't set well with me. S far I have been loving this new hobby and I have zeroed in on some great tasting tobacs, if I say so myself
BUT I realized that I had never had a true Virginia mix. So I ordered up a tin each of Old Gowrie, Hal O' The Wynd and McC #24 Virginia.

Rubbed out some #24 (which did not smell like ketchup, but more like Heinz 57 to me), let it set some and loaded up an old Medico, which is clean but had taken a beating over the years.

Oh man, what a surprise!!! Thus stuff is great!!! My cigar-based palette will not let me do a real review, yet, but let me say that the tart, tangy sweetness was just a great and pleasant departure from the black-tinged goodness that I have been smoking. But man this stuff WILL bite. I had it going nice and mellow but got greedy about 1/2 way down and wanted more...lesson learned

Now if you'll excuse me Tobacco Review is calling me to feret out some more Virginia sweetness for trial and cellaring.

[mr.c]

try as I might, I cant get into virginias

[Bruce]

whataya talk'in about mr.c? You enjoyed the old Three Nuns, Sobranie Virginia #10, and a few others that we smoked together.......what about those?.......

[EvanS]

Mr C - who knows if I will really get INTO Virginias? But funny thing is, so far, I have not found a type of pipe tobac that I DON'T like, other than Cavendish mix and various aromatics.
Some people can't have latakia - I love it
Some don't tolerate Perique - so far so good
Maybe I'm just a smoke ho

[mr.c]

Originally Posted by Bruce

whataya talk'in about mr.c? You enjoyed the old Three Nuns, Sobranie Virginia #10, and a few others that we smoked together.......what about those?.......

those aint straight virginies though . I am talking about mcraines red ribbion and hal o wynd tasteless to me

[Kayak_Rat]

Originally Posted by mr.c

those aint straight virginies though . I am talking about mcraines red ribbion and hal o wynd tasteless to me

Pipe Snob!!!!!!





PS: Check out the 5100 by McClellands, a staple in most peoples collection. I am also enjoying some CAO Patriot Flake currently. Might give it a go.

[IHT]

Joe, you have the palatte of a billy goat. remind me to send you a tin of pencil shavings next time.

----

evanS - i almost went blind when i discovered vagi... OH, we're talking pipe tobacco! then two other Virginias i'd recommend are:
samuel gawith Full Virginia Flake
Orlik Golden Sliced

[EvanS]

Originally Posted by IHT

Joe, you have the palatte of a billy goat. remind me to send you a tin of pencil shavings next time.

----

evanS - i almost went blind when i discovered vagi... OH, we're talking pipe tobacco! then two other Virginias i'd recommend are:
samuel gawith Full Virginia Flake
Orlik Golden Sliced

LOL - that is NOT what's supposed to make you go blind!!!

But looky looky at me!! On the rail before I was even told. Just earlier today I placed an order with PipesandCigars for 1 ea of the following Sam Gaw's - Squadron Leader, Full Vaginian Flake, Commonwealth, St James Flake and Best Brown along with Orlik Golden Sliced and Peretti Oxford Flake.
Hmmmm, maybe with all these tins coming I'll HAVE to get into Virginias. Oh well, I guess it's just the burden i carry

sigh......

[EvanS]

well Mr. C says Hal o the Wynd is tasteless. Not to me, I thought it was quite good, some spice and woodsyness at the end and nice and smooth all throgh the bowl. But I will say that I sure wish I had tried HOTW before I tried McC #24. I can STILL taste (or at least remember) #24 from several hours ago. Really prefer the smooth tang from #24.

[hyper_dermic]

While your at it, give McCraines Red Ribbon and Solani Silver Flake a try.
Those plus Gowrie are what im stocking up on currently. FVF is pretty darn good to, and can be had at a good price when u buy bulk.

careful though, once you start noticing all the subtle flavors in straight VAs, its hard to go back to anything else
also.. smoke them in a pipe thats broken in a bit... ive noticed that my newer pipes just dont have the sweetness or tangyness that broken-in pipes do.
Cobs also work GREAT for smoking Straight VAs..
speaking of which, im gonna order another 5pack of cobs...

-hyp

Aaaaahh! Pipedom, so many rooms to open, so few to close. Nothing like the next tin to be opened; the smell, the taste, and completeness of the smoke.

Congrat on finding the VAs
You should find some nice sweetness in the Best Brown, it holds well in the bowl, i enjoy it a bunch. And like Kayak_Rat mentioned, try some 5100 by McClellands, good virginia baccy that is almost too sweet. Another virginia that i've been groving on alot is Guilford Courthouse by C&D, the pinch of Izmir (Oriental leaf) rocks my socks, if you get the chance, try some.

And don't forget the BURLEYS


Root

[IHT]

Originally Posted by EvanS

LOL - that is NOT what's supposed to make you go blind!!!

well, it wasn't VJ's that caused me to go blind, it was the reaction to seeing them when i was... well... young dum and full.... y'know...

nevermind.

[EvanS]

Originally Posted by Root

Aaaaahh! Pipedom, so many rooms to open, so few to close. Nothing like the next tin to be opened; the smell, the taste, and completeness of the smoke.

Congrat on finding the VAs
You should find some nice sweetness in the Best Brown, it holds well in the bowl, i enjoy it a bunch. And like Kayak_Rat mentioned, try some 5100 by McClellands, good virginia baccy that is almost too sweet. Another virginia that i've been groving on alot is Guilford Courthouse by C&D, the pinch of Izmir (Oriental leaf) rocks my socks, if you get the chance, try some.

And don't forget the BURLEYS


Root

Burleys??? Did you say BURLEYS??!! Root, would you possibly mean burleys like the C&D's I have not yet opened like Haunted Bookshop, Bailey's Front Porch, Old Joe Krantz ( I love that name cuz I grew up knowing a Joe Krantz)...or were you refering to something else? I gotta know

Originally Posted by EvanS

Burleys??? Did you say BURLEYS??!! Root, would you possibly mean burleys like the C&D's I have not yet opened like Haunted Bookshop, Bailey's Front Porch, Old Joe Krantz ( I love that name cuz I grew up knowing a Joe Krantz)...or were you refering to something else? I gotta know

Those and many more.

Learn the VA and VAPers first then we shall talk of burley men and burley tobaccos.


Like i said "many rooms".....

[dhaus]

Am working on St. James Woods now - VA/Per type. I think my technique (both packing and smoking) is way off, but got through a half bowl yesterday without tongue bite. Of course, that half bowl had been sitting around since last weekend after it bit horribly. I may not have let it sit out enough after rubbing the flakes before filling the pipe. Followed yesterday's VA/Per with a small bit of Frog Morton. Smoked perfectly. Maybe I'm just an english ho.