MichaelM
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2014
- Messages
- 631
- Reaction score
- 0
Let me start with a disclaimer. I do not intend to start a discussion on the merits of popular Virginia blends, or to suggest that anyone that enjoys blends that I do not enjoy is in any way wrong or misguided. That would be silly as I firmly believe that smoking what you enjoy is the only rule in pipe smoking. But I think my experience with Virginia blends may not be unique and I want to offer my thoughts for others that might be in a similar frame of mind. In brief, I wish I knew what I know now 15 years ago, and maybe I can save someone some time.
I started pipe smoking back in the mid 1980s and after a year or so of smoking Captain Black I discovered English, Balkan, and Orientals. For a long time I only smoked in these genres with Lane's #10 Downing Street, Bengal slices, and McClelland's Oriental Mixtures making up the bulk of my rotation. I switched to cigars for about 5 years and when I came back to pipes I found many of my old favorites either out of production or somehow less satisfying. That is when I discovered Burley in all its glory and became interested in more straight tobacco blends (i.e without the heavy latakia or orientals). I wanted to try straight Virginia tobaccos, and the recommendations were always the same, McClelland makes the finest Virginia blends. As I've described elsewhere, I can't get past the vinegar topping/casing. Of course the fans say that is just how mature Virginia tastes so I assumed that I would have to give up on finding something I could enjoy. I tried a few other manufactures halfheartedly (how could they be better than the universally agreed upon best?) but never found anything that I liked.
In a recent thread Alandadp asked for recommendations for a red Virginia blend without toppings or casings, and some of the replies got me thinking again. I decided to try a tin of GLP Union Square for the following reasons. First, it is clearly stated by GLP that the tobacco in Union square is not topped or cased. Second, it is blended by C&D who traditionally use only distilled water in blending their non-aromatics as told to me by Mr. Tarler back in the mid 90s. Finally, it came highly suggested by folks here on BoB. Over the past 2 weeks I've smoked about ¾ of the tin and here are my impressions:
The tin note was the first worry for me. As I popped the lid I was in fear of vinegar or barbecue sauce, but what I got was a clean sweet aroma that I can only describe as prune-like. Some might say figgy, but there was a subtle sour depth that makes me think prune. The tobacco is a loose flake that rubs out easily and seems to have a perfect moisture level. The method I've been using is to stuff a folded flake and top it with a bit of rubbed out tobacco to help get the burn started. Overall the blend burns just about perfectly with minimal relights. On the initial light I get deep sweet notes of caramel that come and go as the bowl progresses. There is some Virginia tangy qualities here, but nothing off-putting like I get from the McClelland offerings. The most remarkable quality for me is the creamy depth of the smoke. This is really very good and a quality I had thought I would never get from a straight Virginia blend. There is also a spice that emerges in the second half of the bowl that is reminiscent of perique even though there is clearly no perique present. This stuff is fantastic and I am hooked!
This experience got me to pop open a tin of C&D Interlude, a straight Virginia with a light honey topping that was sent to me by mistake in an order from P&C (they sent the correct item and told me to keep the Interlude). I've not smoked enough to review it, but I like it so far. And just this evening I popped a tin of SG Best Brown Flake and enjoyed the first bowl. Now you might say I was foolish to form my opinion of a whole genre based so heavily on the products of a single manufacture, and you would be correct. The message I want to send is not that A is better than B, but rather that you have to try both A and B, and probably C before you can make an informed decision. I'll not be turning away from Burley any time soon, but I'll certainly be more open minded when choosing the next blend to sample.
Mike.
I started pipe smoking back in the mid 1980s and after a year or so of smoking Captain Black I discovered English, Balkan, and Orientals. For a long time I only smoked in these genres with Lane's #10 Downing Street, Bengal slices, and McClelland's Oriental Mixtures making up the bulk of my rotation. I switched to cigars for about 5 years and when I came back to pipes I found many of my old favorites either out of production or somehow less satisfying. That is when I discovered Burley in all its glory and became interested in more straight tobacco blends (i.e without the heavy latakia or orientals). I wanted to try straight Virginia tobaccos, and the recommendations were always the same, McClelland makes the finest Virginia blends. As I've described elsewhere, I can't get past the vinegar topping/casing. Of course the fans say that is just how mature Virginia tastes so I assumed that I would have to give up on finding something I could enjoy. I tried a few other manufactures halfheartedly (how could they be better than the universally agreed upon best?) but never found anything that I liked.
In a recent thread Alandadp asked for recommendations for a red Virginia blend without toppings or casings, and some of the replies got me thinking again. I decided to try a tin of GLP Union Square for the following reasons. First, it is clearly stated by GLP that the tobacco in Union square is not topped or cased. Second, it is blended by C&D who traditionally use only distilled water in blending their non-aromatics as told to me by Mr. Tarler back in the mid 90s. Finally, it came highly suggested by folks here on BoB. Over the past 2 weeks I've smoked about ¾ of the tin and here are my impressions:
The tin note was the first worry for me. As I popped the lid I was in fear of vinegar or barbecue sauce, but what I got was a clean sweet aroma that I can only describe as prune-like. Some might say figgy, but there was a subtle sour depth that makes me think prune. The tobacco is a loose flake that rubs out easily and seems to have a perfect moisture level. The method I've been using is to stuff a folded flake and top it with a bit of rubbed out tobacco to help get the burn started. Overall the blend burns just about perfectly with minimal relights. On the initial light I get deep sweet notes of caramel that come and go as the bowl progresses. There is some Virginia tangy qualities here, but nothing off-putting like I get from the McClelland offerings. The most remarkable quality for me is the creamy depth of the smoke. This is really very good and a quality I had thought I would never get from a straight Virginia blend. There is also a spice that emerges in the second half of the bowl that is reminiscent of perique even though there is clearly no perique present. This stuff is fantastic and I am hooked!
This experience got me to pop open a tin of C&D Interlude, a straight Virginia with a light honey topping that was sent to me by mistake in an order from P&C (they sent the correct item and told me to keep the Interlude). I've not smoked enough to review it, but I like it so far. And just this evening I popped a tin of SG Best Brown Flake and enjoyed the first bowl. Now you might say I was foolish to form my opinion of a whole genre based so heavily on the products of a single manufacture, and you would be correct. The message I want to send is not that A is better than B, but rather that you have to try both A and B, and probably C before you can make an informed decision. I'll not be turning away from Burley any time soon, but I'll certainly be more open minded when choosing the next blend to sample.
Mike.
![[3-Size Set] Copper Pipe Cleaner for Drill, Clean 1/2, 3/4, 1-in Copper Pipes & Tubes for Soldering, 3 Tube Cleaning Brushes, Model InerLok050, 075, 100, w/ Stainless-Steel Wire Bristles & 1/4” Shank](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41QVxunlqML._SL500_.jpg)
