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Well tobacco fans, it's that time of year again. Not only is spring upon us, if the quarter inch thick layer of pollen covering my car every morning is to be believed anyway, but the organisation-that-shall-remain-nameless-for-copyright-reasons has finished it's first round of play.
Last year we started our own bracket, the Spring Showdown, to highlight some of our favoured blends for the season that sees us finally walking out of our snow-covered cottages and walking squinting into the light. This year we decided to do something a little different, honing in on a style tailor made to warm days and cool evenings — Virginia-Periques.
So, without further ado, here's this year's field:
Perhaps one of the better known VaPers, the spun cut flakes are grassy, slightly citrusy, with gentle fruit and spice notes from the condiment Perique. The gentle flavours and relatively mild nicotine content make it perfect for all day smokers.
McClelland - 2015 Virginia/Perique Flake
McClelland adds a helping of spicy, plum-like Perique to their unique red and orange Virginias to make a very singular VaPer. Like most McClelland blends, this one can be quite devisive, but if you're a fan of their tangy Virginias who also happens to love a good VaPer, this one isn't to be missed.
Cornell & Diehl - Bayou Morning Flake
The pressed version of Bayou Morning, this C&D blend is a Perique lover's dream. With 25% Perique, Bayou Morning Flake delivers spice and ripe fig, combining perfectly with tangy Old-Belt red Virginias.
Gawith, Hoggarth & Co - Louisiana Perique Flake
A VaPer that's light on the Perique, GH&Co's entry into the VaPer field focuses its attention on the sweetness of the Virginias, using Perique to add a hint of spicy figginess, and then using a light whiskey/chocolate topping to bring out the nuttiness of those VAs.
With the inclusion of some black Cavendish, Rattray's has created a VaPer that, while offering a mellow sweetness, is still very much true to its type, with tangy sweetness from the Virginias and spicy, almost bitter fruit notes from the Perique.
While most VaPers tend to aim more toward a clean palate, Fillmore embraces the more decadent, rich side of the style, with spicy plum and fig notes, an almost molasses like sweetness to the aged reds, and an ever so slight smokiness from a literal pinch of Latakia.
Samuel Gawith - St James Flake
A Perique lover's VaPer, St James offers a lightly topped flake with lots of body, a good, peppery kick, and plenty of grassy sweetness from the otherwise earthy bright VAs. This one will be hard to beat.
While some would argue that this is a somewhat one dimensional VaPer, its fans know that one dimension is more than enough, delivering a tangy blend with some bready sweetness from the VAs and a hint of raisin and spice from the gentler allocation of Perique.
Round 1 Match Ups
To avoid controversy and, if we're being honest, to stop Andy and I throttling each other, we decided to once again revert to the sorting hat (in this case a ball cap with bits of paper in) to pick the match ups. Trust us, it's just safer this way.
Now that the contenders have been announced and match ups drawn, we're going to get down to the dirty business of smoking all of these blends and picking the winners. If you have any thoughts on who the winners should be, or want to suggest your own favourite VaPer blends, feel free to leave a comment below.
Tagged in: At Smokingpipes Cornell and Diehl Dunhill Escudo Gawith and Hoggarth G. L. Pease McClelland Rattray's Reviews Samuel Gawith Spring Showdown Tobacco
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Comments
1:Escudo Navy Deluxe
2:St James Flake
3:Louisiana Perique Flake
@Xingle H That's a solid top three!
Last year's showdown gave me TAD and eventually PAD, so I have been awaiting what is in store for us this year. I can't wait to hear the reviews.
@Roscoe Korn Thanks Roscoe, we're looking forward to writing them (and smoking all of our favourite VaPers).
I'm hoping Elizabethan fairs well as this is my favorite go to blend. I smoke a ton of this stuff.
St James is certainly a show stopper. Hard to beat indeed.
@Bryan Webber It's definitely a contender.
@Mike Pomery Indeed, though there's still some tough choices.
Thanks for confirming that Fillmore is supposed to contain Latakia since there's no mention of it in any web description I could find (including the Pease website). I thought I was losing my mind when I cracked open a tin last year and smelled the Latakia. :-)
Three other contenders not in this year's lineup that I think are well worth mentioning - Sillem's Councilor 1695, McConnell Scottish Flake, and Solani's 633 Virginia Flake with Perique. But of the ones in this year's lineup, my favorite by far is St James Flake.
I think there are only two true VaPer blends in the field, Bayou Morning Flake and Elizabethan. Bayou Morning, certainly comes out on top, expressing the luscious dried fruit and spice of the perique and the caramelized citrus from the red virginia. It's a one horse race.
McC 2015 and C&D Bayou Morning Flake are two of my favorite blends.
Escudo is another.
Escudo
Fillmore
St. James Flake
Elizabethan
Hello there,
Looking forward to this stand off. Almost feels a bit like the World Cup quarter finals.
Will you be posting on every match? I'd love a little write up on why a certain tobacco won and who got hurt in the process 😆.
I can only attest to escudo as I have not tried any of the others and will be basing future purchases on this contest.
@AZ Mountain Geek There were quite a few really great blends that didn't make the eight. It's a shame but I think we still managed to get at least one or two choices for everyone.
@Smokingchef Well Bayou Morning Flake is definitely in with a good chance.
@Tom Greene Glad we could get some of your favourites in there.
@Zack Wilson Good luck!
@Sid We certainly will, just as we did for last years :D
Filmore
Filmore
Escudo
@WINEGRAIN Haha, I take it you want Fillmore to win.
Saint James Woods
2015
Beacon
Why is Saint James Woods so overlooked?! Oh well more for me!
@John It did get brought up, but ultimately eight spots means that some blends just aren't going to make it, but that doesn't mean they aren't good.
C'mon guys get to smoking and the first round picks, NCAA has you beat!
Step up with the fade shot.
My Pick Pease Fillmore and a close second of Bayou Morning. Marlin would also be a great contender. St. James can be a little sharp in some tinnings, or a little floral in others, but when it is on, it is on.
@Justin Noone The new one is up.
Cheers and Genuine Thanks for the Reviews and Recommendations ! I have some Serious Shopping and Smoking to do...
@Alix Andrew Cain Thanks for reading Alix, have fun!
Escudo and Marlin Flake
Bayou Morning Flake and St. James Flake
Fillmore and McClelland 2015
It's probably not feasible but it would be fantastic if there was a sampler pack of these that we could order - a few bowls of each. Until then... to the wishlist you go, tins.
Escudo and Elizabetheen head-to-head
Although, I hope Escudo comes out on top!