Help/recommendations for Virginia-Burley blends

[KarlMaldensNose]

For the longest time I turned my nose up at Burley, and for mostly stupid reasons. But lately I've been warming up to it, particularly in blends with Virginia leaf. Peterson's Perfect Plug (3P's) and Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired in specific have really wowed me. I smoked through a tin of Peterson's Irish Flake back when I first started with pipes and thought it was decent enough, but nothing worth returning to. I'm planning on checking out G.L. Pease's Jack Knife Plug (Va-Bur) and Triple Play (Va-Per-Bur) as soon as I am able to. Are there any other Va-Bur blends out there that you guys would recommend trying? I'm aware of Gawith & Hoggarth Dark Flake Unscented and Dark Plug but they're difficult to find in North America, especially the plug, which is what I'm really interested in.

 

[Commander Quan]

3 Friars is one that I didn't care for personally, but I've sent it to a couple guys for blind reviews and they both raved about it.

 

[KarlMaldensNose]

Thanks, Derrick. Never heard of it. I'm guessing it's a reference to Three Nuns (which is also a Va-Bur blend, I think). I'll look into it.

 

[Commander Quan]

Yeah it's supposed to be C&D's homage to 3 Nuns. I don't think the 2 are anything alike, but nobody asked me when then named it.

 

[michiganlover]

I am just a newbie to the world of pipes (about 3 weeks in), but it sounds like maybe H and H Classic Burley Kake might fit what you describe. I am enjoying smoking it so far. Very smooth, and mild.

 

[puros_bran]

GH&co Dark Flake is a staple in my cellar. Aromatic or unscented, it doesn't matter. It is the Rolls Royce of pipe tobacco.

 

[KarlMaldensNose]

I am just a newbie to the world of pipes (about 3 weeks in), but it sounds like maybe H and H Classic Burley Kake might fit what you describe. I am enjoying smoking it so far. Very smooth, and mild.

According to TR.com, Classic Burley Kake has cocoa, rum and anise flavourings added to it. I tend to strongly dislike noticeable artificial flavourings and sweetness. How intense are these toppings or casings, in your opinion?

GH&co Dark Flake is a staple in my cellar. Aromatic or unscented, it doesn't matter. It is the Rolls Royce of pipe tobacco.

ARGH! You're killing me with this. I want so very badly want to smoke this flake but it is elusive stuff. Mind telling me where you found it in stock?

 

[Bk124tt]

http://www.smokingpipes.com/tobacco/by-maker/gawith-hoggarth/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=4003

 

[KarlMaldensNose]

Ah, that's my problem... I always forget about the bulk sections. Thanks, gentlemen.

 

[Devilpup]

I'm a big fan of c&d old joe kranz and Peterson university flake. Ojk is more of a burley blend with a light sprinkle of va and a bit of perique. Reminds me of some cigars.

 

[KarlMaldensNose]

I'm a big fan of c&d old joe kranz and Peterson university flake. Ojk is more of a burley blend with a light sprinkle of va and a bit of perique. Reminds me of some cigars.

The casing/topping always scared me off Uni Flake. I really don't like obvious artificial sweetness or flavours... or even faint wisps of anything sugary or perfumey. Samuel Gawith FVF is as sweet as I can go. For the briefest moment I thought Frog Morton's Cellar cured me of that, but I've decided that even light toppings like with Cellar are not for me. Even Rattray's Marlin Flake and Boswell's Northwoods are too sugared-up for my tastes. But OJK has always interested me. Seems like a "codger" blend if there ever was one. Might be worth a try. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Devilpup]

The casing/topping always scared me off Uni Flake. I really don't like obvious artificial sweetness or flavours... or even faint wisps of anything sugary or perfumey. Samuel Gawith FVF is as sweet as I can go. For the briefest moment I thought Frog Morton's Cellar cured me of that, but I've decided that even light toppings like with Cellar are not for me. Even Rattray's Marlin Flake and Boswell's Northwoods are too sugared-up for my tastes. But OJK has always interested me. Seems like a "codger" blend if there ever was one. Might be worth a try. Thanks for the tip.

OJK is definitely a Codger burley if there every was one. It's a great smoke but the vitamin N is too high for some people.

 

[Pipe Novelist]

I was lucky enough to get my hands on some Esoterica Stonehaven from 2007 the other day. It is probably the quintessential VaBur blend but the only problem is that it is almost impossible to find. Villigers 1888 After Dinner is a fairly good one as is Cornell and Diehl Exhausted Rooster.

 

[ryeblade]

Stonehaven is the the Jabba the Hutt of VaBur blends. Ya' don't leave home 'cause ya' can't git up... There are some 'flavors' buried in there but no tonquin which I believe only belongs in the wash & rinse cycle.
The H&H Klassic Burley Kake and for that matter House of Calabash/Steven Books VaBur blends have a bit of somethings added. Steven Books is Merlin with tobacco's but there may be a personal chemistry at play for your taste profile.

 

[Everyman Jack]

Resurrecting here, but have any of you tried the Missouri Meerschaum company "Missouri Pride"? I've heard someone compare it to "what prince albert wants to be when it grows up."

 

[Freebirth]

According to TR.com, Classic Burley Kake has cocoa, rum and anise flavourings added to it. I tend to strongly dislike noticeable artificial flavourings and sweetness. How intense are these toppings or casings, in your opinion?

Don't be scared of it. The toppings are used very carefully and do nothing but compliment the taste. It's a fantastic burley blend. This ain't Captain Black. Everything comes together so smoothly with a rich, creamy mouthfeel. It's one of my favorite smokes.

 

[Blue_2]

Resurrecting here, but have any of you tried the Missouri Meerschaum company "Missouri Pride"? I've heard someone compare it to "what prince albert wants to be when it grows up."

I can't say that I have, but I've tried the Country Gentleman and it's good. All of the Missouri Meerschaum blends are blended by Russ Ouellette, so they have a decent chance of being better than the average pouch blend.