Flake suggestions

[MarkOfThePipe]

So, I finally dug into Va/Per flakes. My first non Lat blends since I started smoking a pipe, and i really dig them. I've opened an orlick golden sliced, and former's straight grain, plus some bulk PS Lux Navy Flake. I have a tin of erinmore flake, and a tin of blackwoods flake yet to open. I'd really appreciate and would be open to any suggestions of blends to get ahold of to get a better feel for the genre. Doesn't really have to be Va/Per flakes exclusively either, im open to trying anything in flake or broken flake form.

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

As far as I know Erinmore and Blackwoods are not VaPers. However, I love Blackwoods Flake.

Some VaPers that I would recommend trying would be
Reiner Long Golden Flake
GLP Fillmore (very peppery)
PS Luxury Bullseye Flake
S.G. St James Flake

Some Straight VA's I enjoy
Blackwoods
S.G. FVF
S.G. BBF
F&T Cut Virginia Plug
Union Square

VA/Turk -
Embarcadero is pretty fantastic.

One of my absolute favorites -
Solani 660 Silver Flake. It's a VA/Ky combo that I find to be ridiculously good.

 

[Ocelot55]

Well, I can think of several that are a "must try" for flake lovers: MacBaren Old Dark Fired, GLP Union Square, GLP Embarcadero, SG Full Virginia Flake, and SG Best Brown. These are all flakes but the cut, moisture content and form are all different, so it will take a little practice to learn.

 

[monbla256]

Besides Blackwood Flake, which IMHO is one of the PRIMO non VaPer flakes made, another few you ought to try would be McC's bulk Fragrant Matured 2000, a nice all Red Va mixture and their bulk 2035 another "straight' Va Mixture. If you want's a nice, smoothe easy prep and smoking VaPer, try some of Comoy's Cask #4 in bulk. OGS is a good one as well and for a straight bright Va flake you CANNOT beat Dunhill's Flake.  

 

[Docsknotinn]

My stock Flakes,
VaPer;
LGF
SJF

VA;
CC
FVF

VaBur;
Stonehaven

 

[Brewdude]

Lots of good suggestions here.

Let's add McC Christmas Cheer for perhaps the finest straight 'ginny weed flake in existence. But be aware that this can be very sharp and bitey while young.

McC 2015 bulk is also a very fine VaPer. It' a broken flake.

There will be many other recommendations on this thread!

:tongue: 


Cheers,

RR

 

[MarkOfThePipe]

You guys rock, thank you so much. I'm going to put some of those on my short list to try.

 

[Docsknotinn]

Mark if you want to try ODF and Reiner LGF shoot me a PM.

Dave

 

[idbowman]

All good suggestions above. Don't miss D&B's suggestion of GLP's Fillmore - it's very Vaper-y, but there's also just a tiny bit of Latakia that a lat-smoker like yourself is likely to appreciate.

 

[rothnh]

AFAIK, McClelland Personal Reserve: Blackwoods Flake has no Perique. It is one of my favorite virginias though and a must try IMO.

I do have a can of a McClelland Va/Per open: Beacon Flake. The Perique in this one is a condiment (which is the way I like it). Micky C also offers the Beacon Extra, which amps up the Perique, if that's more your thing. Speaking of Perique heavy, Escudo has 18% and is at or near the top of the list for many Va/Per lovers.

Some of my favorite Va/Pers include Hearth & Home Anniversary Kake, Rattray's Marlin Flake, Samuel Gawith Saint James Flake, Former Cross Grain Flake among others.

As for Greg Pease's virginias, all are superb quality, but every GLP blend I've smoked requires 1-2 years aging, minimum. Right now I've got some 2 year old Jack Knife Plug open -- I really like plugs, too few true plugs are available from U.S. blenders -- but plugs take some work to prep.