Celebrated for their natural, tangy sweetness and exceptional aging potential, Virginia tobaccos are among the most ubiquitous of all components; few blends would exist without Virginias. They combine wonderfully with other varietals, from Burley and Perique to Latakia and Orientals, and can stand easily on their own in pure Virginia pipe mixtures. They're also quite ancient, originating in the early 17th century; however, Virginias' characteristics have changed dramatically over the centuries.

Virginia leaf originated in the North American colonies in the 1600s when John Rolfe experimented with the Caribbean tobacco, Nicotiana Tobacum, a sister plant to North America's Nicotiana Rustica varietal, bringing seeds of N. Tobacum from Trinidad to the soil of Virginia. At that time, Europeans had developed a taste for the sweetness of N. Tobacum, preferring it over the earthy, comparably more bitter character of N. Rustica, and Rolfe sought to capitalize on this preference to see if N. Tobacum could thrive not only in the Caribbean but in Virginia as well.

And thrive it did, catalyzing further tobacco cultivation in the colonies to meet increasing demand from English pipe smokers. However, the Virginias of that day were still closer to what many today would consider light, slightly sweeter Burley. It wasn't until the early 19th century that innovations in curing would result in the leaf we identify as Virginia.

As an appreciation for sweeter tobacco increased, farmers began experimenting with flue curing. Unlike the longer-standing, air-curing process, which involves drying tobacco leaves in open air (and is still administered for Burley), flue curing uses indirect heat inside closed barns to dry the leaves. This process dries the tobacco at a quicker rate, thereby preserving much of the leaves' natural sugars and resulting in a more naturally sweet tobacco. Today's Virginias maintain this flue-curing technique, and the leaves can vary in shade and sugar content depending on how long they're left on the stalk and how quickly they're cured, creating numerous shades from Bright and Golden to Red, Orange, and Mahogany. Because Virginias are primarily defined by their curing process, they can be sourced from numerous regions beyond their historical origins, including Canada, Zimbabwe, and Brazil, as well as other areas of the United States, like North Carolina, but the name will always commemorate those first seeds planted by Rolfe in Virginian soil.

With such widespread use, the Virginia family of pipe tobacco is vast and endlessly explorable. To help with such exploration and future favorite discoveries, we've compiled a list of Smokingpipes' top 10 best-selling Virginia blends — those that primarily or entirely comprise Virginias and showcase the varietal's distinctive flavor profile.

Top 10 Best-Selling Virginia Pipe Tobaccos:
1. 10. Davidoff: Flake Medallions 50g
2. 9. A&C Petersen: Escudo Navy Deluxe
3. 8. Newminster: No.400 Superior Navy Flake Pipe Tobacco
4. 7. Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation: Evening Flake Pipe Tobacco
5. 6. Samuel Gawith: Full Virginia Flake
6. 5. Sutliff: 507C Virginia Slices
7. 4. Peter Stokkebye: PS403 Luxury Bullseye Flake
8. 3. Cornell & Diehl: Briar Fox
9. 2. Orlik: Golden Sliced
10. 1. Peter Stokkebye: PS400 Luxury Navy Flake

10. Davidoff: Flake Medallions

Comprised of "classically traditional blends and invitingly elegant flavors," Davidoff pipe tobacco is for the sophisticated, connoisseur smoker. Crafted with a careful selection of first-class tobaccos and expert blending techniques, even the most discerning pipe smoker is sure to find a new favorite in Davidoff's Flake Medallions, a classic coin-cut blend of sweet Virginia and spicy Perique tobaccos with a core of mellow, fermented Black Cavendish for added body.

Available in: 50g

After a few tins now, I never tire of this one. I love how it gets better as you get into the bowl, and at the final bit toward the end. I catch myself daydreaming after an hour - Blake R., 4-star review at Smokingpipes

• Components: Virginia, Perique, Black Cavendish
• Cut: Flake
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

9. A&C Petersen: Escudo Navy Deluxe

A storied blend originating in the early 1900s, Escudo Navy Deluxe has delighted pipe smokers for over a century, and though its manufacture has changed hands, the original recipe of this iconic, staple mixture has earned it a spot in countless rotations and sixth on our list of best-selling Virginia blends. Pressed, spun, then cut into coins, Escudo Navy Deluxe features Virginia tobaccos from North Carolina and Perique from Louisiana, and the mixture is allowed to mature between being pressed and spun, deepening the flavors for a profile that balances notes of grass and sweetness with tangy spice. Perfect right out of the tin as well as with years of age, there's a reason Escudo is widely considered the King of VA/Pers.

Available in: 50g

God (whichever you choose) trimmed his beard, and STG gathered the trimmings and then spun, pressed, aged, and sliced them into what is simply the finest Va/Per for my money, anywhere, anytime. If you like Va/Pers, this is probably the pinnacle. The balance, IMO, is perfect, just a hint of pepper, and a very very slight sweetness. It's a keeper. - Jason B., 5-star review at Smokingpipes

• Components: Virginia, Perique
• Cut: Coins
• Strength:
• Room Note:
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8. Newminster: No.400 Superior Navy Flake

Newminster is the bulk-tobacco branch of Villiger, backed by the manufacturing prowess of Mac Baren, and while No. 400 Superior Navy Flake may seem like a fairly standard straight Virginia blend at first, it's not your average mixture. These flakes combine the finest Virginias from three different continents — North America, South America, and Africa — offering a deliciously nuanced flavor profile of tart and tangy citrus notes alongside honey sweetness and woodsy depth. No.400 Superior Navy Flake is an immensely popular blend, ranking third in our list of best-selling flake tobaccos and as number four in this list of best-selling flakes.

Available in: Bulk

A simple and yet satisfying smoke all the way through the bowl. I reckon this tobacco may benefit a lot from proper aging. It is now one of my favorites. - Kam D., 5-star review at Smokingpipes

• Components: Virginia
• Cut: Flake
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

7. Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation: Evening Flake

The Stokkebye tobacco tradition dates to 1855 when Erik Peter founded the family business in Denmark. Today, Erik Peter's great-grandson Erik Stokkebye continues the brand's four-generation legacy, offering pipes and pipe tobaccos for discerning smokers. One of only a few bulk offerings from Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation, Evening Flake is a traditional Virginia/Perique mixture that's hot-pressed for a week before being sliced into flakes.

Available in: Bulk

This is an amazing flake tobacco. Perfectly balanced. Not too sweet not too spicy. Just right. The flavors are perfect with a hint of caramel at the end. Recommend it.. - JasonR., 5-star review at Smokingpipes

• Components: Virginia, Perique
• Cut: Flake
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

6. Samuel Gawith: Full Virginia Flake

Samuel Gawith was the son-in-law of Thomas Harrison, a snuff manufacturer who moved his trade and equipment to Kendal, Cumbria, England from Scotland in 1792. Gawith inherited this equipment from Harrison, and the company has been crafting premium tobacco since, with one of Samuel's two sons continuing the brand while the other joined with Henry Hoggarth to establish Gawith Hoggarth & Co. In many of their mixtures, Samuel Gawith maintains the standards enforced by the United Kingdom's strict purity laws of the 19th and 20th centuries — such laws dictating how much and what type of flavorings could be added to pipe tobacco and ensuring that sub-quality leaf wasn't hidden under the veil of exorbitant toppings.

Full Virginia Flake from Samuel Gawith is a dark-brown, sumptuous flake entirely comprising Virginia tobaccos. Hot-pressed and bold-flavored, Full Virginia Flake is among Gawith's most iconic blends, perfect for lovers of straight Virginia pipe tobaccos.

This flake is strangely simple and yet complex while consistently growing on you from start to finish. Perfect white ash with smooth burn, smoke somewhat slowly and you will benefit with the flavors of semi-sweet Virginia goodness - Justin J., 5-star review at Smokingpipes

Components: Virginia

Cut: Flake

Strength:

Room Note:

Taste:

5. Sutliff: 507C Virginia Slices

Sutliff Tobacco Company dates to 1849 when H.W. Sutliff opened his first tobacco shop in San Francisco. Among the oldest continuously operating blending houses in the United States, the manufacturer has long furnished retailers with high-quality blending components and pipe tobaccos. In fact, many of the house blends offered by tobacconists around the country are made by Sutliff. 507C Virginia Slices is among our most popular Sutliff blends, period, and it ranks here as a top-five best-selling Virginia pipe tobacco — also ranking fifth on our list of best-selling flake tobaccos. It's a pure, Bright Virginia mixture of A-1 grade, flue-cured tobaccos, lightly topped for sweetness to elevate the natural grassy and tangy notes that make Virginia tobacco such a beloved varietal, and cut into long strips of flake that break up consistently for easy packing.

Available in: Bulk

I have smoked this VA flake for years and find it first-rate. It is my regular, daily tobacco. I also find that it cellars well. Recently I opened a 5 lb. box from 2011 and it was superb. If a smoker wants a flake similar to Orlik's Golden Sliced (without the Perique) or Peter Stokkebye's Luxury Twist Flake (without the aromatic top-note) — and in bulk to boot — this will be an ideal tobacco for you! - Dan L., 5-star review at Smokingpipes

• Components: Virginia
• Cut: Flake
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

4. Peter Stokkebye: PS403 Luxury Bullseye Flake

Second on our best-selling list, Peter Stokkebye's PS403 Luxury Bullseye Flake earns its name by wrapping Virginias and Louisiana Perique around a center of Black Cavendish in a coin-cut mixture. It was originally titled Luxury Curly Cut before changing in 2006 and is one of Peter Stokkebye's most popular blends. The Virginias offer natural sweetness alongside the fermented tang and spice of Perique, all balanced by the mellow aroma of the Black Cavendish.

Available in: Bulk

A platter that matters. These coins go down like water. Fresh-mown hay Virginia + stewed fruit Perique + sugary Cavendish. More grainy sweet than spicy. It's easy to see why this one makes the top 10 consistently. - Sparky, 5-star review at Smokingpipes

• Components: Virginia, Perique, Black Cavendish
• Cut: Coin
• Strength:
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3. Cornell & Diehl: Briar Fox

Briar Fox is a storied, staple C&D blend and was the personal favorite pipe tobacco of late Danish artisan pipe maker Peter Heeschen. Comprising smooth Virginias with a generous helping of Burley, Briar Fox presents a crumble cake that is easy to rub out, offering greater control of its consistency before packing, and the flavor profile is marked by a natural tobacco character that deepens in complexity and ends with a spicy finish.

Available in: 2oz | 8oz | 16oz

This tobacco is simply amazing. It was love from first puff. - Joshua L., 5-star review at Smokingpipes

• Components: Burley, Virginia
• Cut: Cake
• Strength:
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2. Orlik: Golden Sliced

A favorite blend for many pipe smokers, including a number of notable artisan pipe makers, Orlik Golden Sliced is a mixture of mature Golden Virginia tobaccos with a very small pinch of Perique, offering a naturally sweet flavor and room note reminiscent of bergamot. It's considered by many to be the quintessential Virginia flake due to its approachability and enjoyable flavor, and is immensely popular in both the United States and Denmark, easily recognized by its bright red tin and shrewd, pipe-smoking judge logo.

Available in: 50g | 100g

Orlik has everything that you buy a light Virginia for: sweet hay/grass flavor with just a little Perique tang. I've tried a lot of them and this is the one I came back to. Consistent and burns good no matter how you prep it. I rub it out just a little and it never lets me down. - Joel G., 5-star review at Smokingpipes

• Components: Virginia, Perique
• Cut: Flake
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

1. Peter Stokkebye: PS400 Luxury Navy Flake

Peter Stokkebye's Luxury Navy Flake is a pressed and sliced blend of matured "Old Belt" Virginias — the term denoting Virginia tobaccos from North Carolina's oldest growing regions — lightly accented with a whisper of Louisiana Perique. Incredibly popular and maintaining the number one spot on our list, this bulk offering from Peter Stokkebye has been a celebrated favorite of countless pipe smokers old and young, expert and novitiate alike, thanks to its approachable flavor, thin cut, quality components, and unbelievably attractive price.

Available in: Bulk

This is by far my go-to tobacco. I never have to second guess a bowl of this, easy to fold and stuff and smokes great. - savinelliman320, 5-star review at Smokingpipes

• Components: Virginia, Perique
• Cut: Flake
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

So there you have it: our top 10 best-selling Virginia blends here at Smokingpipes. Keep in mind, these blends were ranked based on popularity, not by our own tastes or judgments. If you don't see your favorite on the list, leave us a comment and share your thoughts — perhaps it will make it on a future list!

Latest Updates (2024):
• Peter Stokkebye PS400 Luxury Navy Flake stayed at #1
• Peter Stokkebye PS403 Luxury Bullseye Flake moved from #2 to #4
• Orlik Golden Sliced moved from #3 to #2
• A&C Petersen Escudo Navy Deluxe moved from #6 to #9
• Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake entered at #6
• Cornell & Diehl Briar Fox moved from #9 to #3
• Sutliff 507C Virginia Slices stayed at #5
• Newminster No.400 Superior Navy Flake moved from #4 to #8
• Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation Evening Flake moved from #10 to #7
• Davidoff Flake Medallions 50g entered at #10