Dobie's Dobie's Four Square-Virginia

The flue cured Virginia is grassy/hay-like with some citrus, and a little earth. There’s a light sugar note along with a mild spiciness. The nic-hit is a shade past the mild threshold. Burns slightly fast with a consistent flavor. Requires few relights, and leaves virtually no moisture in the bowl. Easily burns to ash. The after taste and room note are pleasant, but short lived. An uncomplicated all day smoke. More of a two and half star blend.

-JimInks

Because I have smoked the entire line of Dobie's originals over and over again over the years (with great appreciation for all of them), I purchased the full line-up of the remakes to see how they stacked up.

There are literally hundreds of pipe tobacco blends on the market today just like this one. Light Bright with a citrus edge. Virginia leaf comes in many grades and blenders usually reserve the higher grades for unflavored leaf. I think this one is a middle of the roader and can be enjoyed. I guess I'm more used to the well aged Virginia leaf because this one seemed a little rough around the edges. Still, not a bad smoke.

I am in complete agreement with the other two learned reviewers that preceded me; this is a descent but not outstanding Virginia blend. It presents in the tin as a uniform dullish yellow brown color of consistent broken ribbon texture with a familiar grassy citrus aroma. This is the top of the bell-shaped curve presentation for a blond Virginia and begs for something special that would elevate it to four star status. Alas, it isn't there and that is about as negative as I can comfortably be about this, otherwise, workable blend. I showed this tin to a close Virginia-experienced smoker friend and he thought it to be very good. I felt it burned rather quickly and found I had to go easy on tamping in the bottom half of the bowl or it became too compacted to allow easy draw. In micro blending it sweetened everything to which it was added and this is okay if you want your English blends sweetened; not a trait I was looking for in blending, necessarily. All in all, this is a classic three star blend.