Adventures in Virginias

[john parker]

Thanks to the gracious generosity of Capt, I have started some adventures in Virginias! Started off his wonderful pif tonight with a bowl of Red Cake (5100) in my Kaywoodie!

First a bit of background. Am new to pipes for the most part; mostly have been a cigarette smoker. Over the last month I have smoked Frog Morton and Penzance (English blends), a mellow burley, and a little bit of 1Q aromatic.

The Red Cake packed and lit wonderfully well. Did realize that describing taste is going to be as difficult as describing smells. The Red Cake certainly isn't an English blend, burley or aromatic. I have read that Virginia pipe tobaccos are similar to a cigarette; that may be partially true. But the Red Cake certainly has a heavier mouth feel and richer taste/aroma than cigarettes. Initially I thought maybe hay (alfalfa specifically) was there. Sweet it isn't; pure is probably a better word. Read that some thought citrus was there, and I thought of a muted lime with perhaps a touch of anise. Not sure I experienced any bite though I had to puff enough to overcome several relights in the Nebraska wind; certainly not any more bite than my Frog Morton. Aftertaste is clean, not campfireish like latakia.

Looking forward to my next adventure tomorrow night!

 

[Freebirth]

Yeah man, right now I think Virginias or VaPers are my smokes of choice. I do enjoy English and burley blends (aromatics not nearly as much) but there is something bright and clean about Virginias that I just adore. Price hooked me up with some Stokkebye's Luxury Navy Flake and opened my eyes to the world of VaPers.

 

[Hirsute]

I agree with your description of hay or alfalfa. Young virginias often have that grassy/hay/alfalfa taste to me. With a few years of age, though, the grassiness goes away and you get more of a round mouthfeel, with more of a raisin/wine flavor. One of the things I love about virginias, is how much they change with age.

 

[Capt]

Great review John!

I agree with your description of hay or alfalfa. Young virginias often have that grassy/hay/alfalfa taste to me. With a few years of age, though, the grassiness goes away and you get more of a round mouthfeel, with more of a raisin/wine flavor. One of the things I love about virginias, is how much they change with age.

The Red Cake I sent him was from either 2010, or 2012, I can't remember which. I know I wrote it on the bag. It had already started to develop a deep rich hue to it, which leads me to believe I sent him the 2010.

 

[Hangten]

I agree with your description of hay or alfalfa. Young virginias often have that grassy/hay/alfalfa taste to me. With a few years of age, though, the grassiness goes away and you get more of a round mouthfeel, with more of a raisin/wine flavor. One of the things I love about virginias, is how much they change with age.

+1 I enjoy the aged Virginia's a lot.

 

[Hunter]

Very cool, I should look into them a bit more... and off topic, but I read the title wrong...

 

[jiminyshiznit]

Very cool, I should look into them a bit more... and off topic, but I read the title wrong...

You came for the film review and left with a list of tobaccos to try.. coulda been worse!

 

[john parker]

Great review John!



The Red Cake I sent him was from either 2010, or 2012, I can't remember which. I know I wrote it on the bag. It had already started to develop a deep rich hue to it, which leads me to believe I sent him the 2010.

The packet of Red Cake is marked 7/08. Just remember you are dealing with someone who has never tried Virginias before and who has never written a review of tobaccos before, so if I am off or vague, please forgive! And I am probably "reading" into the experience what others have said about Virginias. Will be (weather willing) trying it again tonight and will report.

 

[Capt]

The packet of Red Cake is marked 7/08. Just remember you are dealing with someone who has never tried Virginias before and who has never written a review of tobaccos before, so if I am off or vague, please forgive! And I am probably "reading" into the experience what others have said about Virginias. Will be (weather willing) trying it again tonight and will report.

Dang, I gave you the real good stuff! lol. I have 5100 cellared all the way back to 2002.

You're doing great, I can't wait to read the next review John!

 

[john parker]

Just in from the second bowl of Red Cake! "Rich" describes it perfectly! Another bit of background - I am an old farm boy who was familiar with hay. Alfalfa has a deep, rich, nutritious smell to it; and that describes the Red Cake to a tee. No bite, perfect flavor throughout the 30 minutes. No turning like wood ashes at the end (like my Frog Morton often does). I did not detect citrus or anise or any other flavor tonight. Just a nice, consistent smoke from beginning to end. Thanks again, Capt!!

I did get some Bell mason jars are the grocery today. They are drying in the dishwasher at the moment. I bought 8 ounce ones; hope those aren't too big. The smaller ones looked too small for use in the future. But does a small amount of tobacco in a big jar constitute a problem? Or, when storing tobacco, is stuffing the jar to the top the goal?

 

[Capt]

Just in from the second bowl of Red Cake! "Rich" describes it perfectly! Another bit of background - I am an old farm boy who was familiar with hay. Alfalfa has a deep, rich, nutritious smell to it; and that describes the Red Cake to a tee. No bite, perfect flavor throughout the 30 minutes. No turning like wood ashes at the end (like my Frog Morton often does). I did not detect citrus or anise or any other flavor tonight. Just a nice, consistent smoke from beginning to end. Thanks again, Capt!!

I did get some Bell mason jars are the grocery today. They are drying in the dishwasher at the moment. I bought 8 ounce ones; hope those aren't too big. The smaller ones looked too small for use in the future. But does a small amount of tobacco in a big jar constitute a problem? Or, when storing tobacco, is stuffing the jar to the top the goal?

Don't worry about the size of the jars for those samples. You will get through them fast enough not to worry. I can't wait to hear your take on the FVF!

 

[Shave_Rat]

I did get some Bell mason jars are the grocery today. They are drying in the dishwasher at the moment. I bought 8 ounce ones; hope those aren't too big. The smaller ones looked too small for use in the future. But does a small amount of tobacco in a big jar constitute a problem? Or, when storing tobacco, is stuffing the jar to the top the goal?

Based on the info I had read when looking into that question, it depends on if you are merely putting it into jars for basic shorter term storage, or if you are purposely trying to age it. When aging, the general opinion was the least amount of air space in the jar as possible, since the aging doesn't begin much until all the oxygen in the jar has been used up. If it's just shorter term storage to keep it safe, then it won't matter how much/little you put in the jar.

 

[oc_in_fw]

Just in from the second bowl of Red Cake! "Rich" describes it perfectly! Another bit of background - I am an old farm boy who was familiar with hay. Alfalfa has a deep, rich, nutritious smell to it; and that describes the Red Cake to a tee. No bite, perfect flavor throughout the 30 minutes. No turning like wood ashes at the end (like my Frog Morton often does). I did not detect citrus or anise or any other flavor tonight. Just a nice, consistent smoke from beginning to end. Thanks again, Capt!!

I did get some Bell mason jars are the grocery today. They are drying in the dishwasher at the moment. I bought 8 ounce ones; hope those aren't too big. The smaller ones looked too small for use in the future. But does a small amount of tobacco in a big jar constitute a problem? Or, when storing tobacco, is stuffing the jar to the top the goal?

John, sounds like you received some fine tobacco- lucky you. As to the jars, for large quantity storage I use the pint jars, and half pint for regular use. For instance, when I got 16 oz of Sqadron Leader, about 12 oz went into several pints for aging, the rest in halves for smoking.

 

[john parker]

John, sounds like you received some fine tobacco- lucky you. As to the jars, for large quantity storage I use the pint jars, and half pint for regular use. For instance, when I got 16 oz of Sqadron Leader, about 12 oz went into several pints for aging, the rest in halves for smoking.

Guess I am inadvertently all set for long term storage! And not set for short term use!

 

[john parker]

Prepared the FVF as Capt specified: microwaved it for exactly 8 seconds, tore it in three parts and then rubbed it out. Actually ended up using about 2/3rds of a flake as my Kaywoodie is not overly large. Went out to the porch and commenced to light it; with some difficulty because my matches kept going out - nothing to do with the tobacco.

Found the tobacco to be extremely mild to the point of having almost no discernible taste. Edit: should say that the taste was very clean. Mouth feel was warm and rich, but the taste was pure. Wife (sitting beside me) said that it smelled like a fireplace in the autumn. Initially I was trying hard to decide if I tasted a Lakeland note (which I have never tasted before), but not sure I ever did. The smoke progressed well with only two re-lights, but the taste was never strong. A very mild flavor. Most interestingly, when I had finished smoking and we were watching hummingbirds at our feeder, I noticed that the aftertaste was exactly like the taste of tea at our Chinese restaurant - either jasmine or oolong. And that has lasted.

Will try it again tomorrow night to see if I pick up anything more or anything different.

 

[Capt]

Nice John! There is no Lakeland in FVF, just their way of fermenting the Va.

 

[john parker]

Well, fiddle! Wrote my experience with FVF tonight, then switched quickly to Tobacco Reviews and lost it all! Will start again! Had my second bowl of FVF tonight, and found it hotter and more acidric than last night. Followed the same preparation procedure as before and used my same Kaywoodie. While I got an aftertaste of Chinese tea last night, the tea note ran throughout the smoke. My wife also thought it had a tea-like aroma while she was sitting next to me. Think I prefer the McClelland Red Cake to the FVF at this point. Believe tomorrow I believe I may try the McClelland 5115. Understand from my peak at Tobacco Reviews that the 5115 is an aromatic with citrus and fruit. Will see!

 

[Capt]

Well, fiddle! Wrote my experience with FVF tonight, then switched quickly to Tobacco Reviews and lost it all! Will start again! Had my second bowl of FVF tonight, and found it hotter and more acidric than last night. Followed the same preparation procedure as before and used my same Kaywoodie. While I got an aftertaste of Chinese tea last night, the tea note ran throughout the smoke. My wife also thought it had a tea-like aroma while she was sitting next to me. Think I prefer the McClelland Red Cake to the FVF at this point. Believe tomorrow I believe I may try the McClelland 5115. Understand from my peak at Tobacco Reviews that the 5115 is an aromatic with citrus and fruit. Will see!

How was the moiture level in the FVF after the micro? You may need to cut the time down a bit, if it has dried out some.

It took me a few tins to "understand" what FVF was all about. Once you get past the moisture part and are able to read the tobacco, it will come to you. Thanks for keeping up the reviews John!

 

[the_edski]

It took me a few tins to "understand" what FVF was all about. Once you get past the moisture part and are able to read the tobacco, it will come to you. Thanks for keeping up the reviews John!

FVF definitely needs some coaxing to get the full effect. If you do the first 2/3rds of the bowl just right, the last third is a sublime experience in what VA's truly are!

 

[john parker]

Hmmmm - well don't think the FVF was too dried out. Still seemed to be a bit of moisture left in it, though it lit fine. Think the "problem" I have with the Virginias is that I smoke cigarettes. So the taste is nothing different, new or exotic. So far I can say that what I have tried so far tastes like a good cigarette should.