Broadening my horizons

[christeaux]

So far in my limited experience with pipesmoking I have not strayed far from my Englishes, and I have no regrets in this because I love my English blends. However I would also like to broaden my horizons. I would like to try a virginia or two and couple of burley's. Unfortunately like most any of us I do not have the budget to jump in blindly and just smoke until I find one that sticks, so what are a few of the fan favorites for some of you.

 

[PipeGeek]

Have you seen the "BoB's Essentials" post in this section?

 

[idbowman]

GLP Fillmore is a VaPer with a bit of Latakia added...might be a good way to bridge from English to Virginias.

Orlik Golden Sliced is also a pretty popular option (and pretty inexpensive, as well).

 

[Dutch]

Definitely McClelland's Christmas Cheer! :bounce:

 

[Rob_In_MO]

Definitely McClelland's Christmas Cheer! :bounce:

Either that or their Holiday Spirit.

 

[christeaux]

Have you seen the "BoB's Essentials" post in this section?

I did but I was reading from my wife's phone at the time, I miss a lot when I do that.

 

[PipeGeek]

I did but I was reading from my wife's phone at the time, I miss a lot when I do that.

For some reason, this made me laugh more than it probably should...

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Definitely McClelland's Christmas Cheer! :bounce:

Either that or their Holiday Spirit.

Totally different tobaccos though--Holiday Spirit is much more an aromatic with strong chocolate notes. Christmas Cheer is a straight Virginia. 8)

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Stuff I like, because I also like English stuff and wanted to venture out:

Rattray's Brown Clunee, Marlin Flake or Old Gowrie-- all variants on a theme, all darker, matured mixes with a little Perique and other stuff added in.

GL Pease Union Square -- my first venture into straight Virginias--it's a good'un, bright, toasty, mild-to medium.

McClelland Dark Star (aka McC's 2035 in bulk) -- Nice, dark, thick matured Virginia. Less toasty, more bold. Can be bitey if you aren't careful, but I don't have a problem with it.

SG's Best Brown Flake -- hint of natural sweet, somewhat thick, very easy smoke, very cool.

Hope we all give ya some good hints. 8)

 

[monbla256]

So far in my limited experience with pipesmoking I have not strayed far from my Englishes, and I have no regrets in this because I love my English blends. However I would also like to broaden my horizons. I would like to try a virginia or two and couple of burley's. Unfortunately like most any of us I do not have the budget to jump in blindly and just smoke until I find one that sticks, so what are a few of the fan favorites for some of you.

As to Virginia's I would recomend all of McClellands Virginias but in particular their Virginia Woods for a ribbon cut and the Matured Virginia #27 for an easily rubbed out flake. They are both nice straight red and yellow Virginias, slightly sweet and mellow and easy on the tongue and smoke cool and dry to a nice grey ash to the end. No syruppy sweet goop just really nice tobacco! Either one would be a good intro to the world of Virginia for a begginer as well as being a continued blend as you get more experience. I smoke both and have smoked Balkan/English blends for over 40 years and usually start the day with one of these

 

[Rob_In_MO]

Definitely McClelland's Christmas Cheer! :bounce:

Either that or their Holiday Spirit.

Totally different tobaccos though--Holiday Spirit is much more an aromatic with strong chocolate notes. Christmas Cheer is a straight Virginia. 8)

True, but they're both pretty good (at least to an Aromatic smoker). :mrgreen:
And both are quite different than the English blends the OP has been smoking...

 

[Zanaspus]

To me, the best intro Va's would be McClelland 5100 and Orlik Golden Sliced. They are simple and tasty and easy to branch out from.

Burley: It's hard to go far afield with Solani ABF, Wessex BS, and/or PA or CH.

 

[christeaux]

Thanks guys, esp, kyle and doc, exactly the tips I was looking for.

 

[jlong]

For a powerful virginia punch, there's Mac Baren's Virginia No 1. The tin aroma alone will make your eyes water.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

To me, the best intro Va's would be McClelland 5100 and Orlik Golden Sliced.

Also, this. I love both of these blends. 8)

 

[jefe1037]

I wouldn't be doing my local B&M credit if I didn't recommend something by IRC. Their Virginia Flake is a heck of a product. They have about a million other house blends, mostly aromatics. People swear by the Three Star Blue -- If I'm not mistaken, they normally throw a sample of this in with an order.

 

[Smoker99]

Virginia's--to me Rattray does them best. HOTW, Old Gowrie, and Marlin Flake.
Burley-- C&D is the king of burley, and the most relatively pure ones you can buy. Burley Flakes #2 and #3, Big N Burley, and Burley Straight are all good ones.