Carroll P. J. & Co. Ltd. Velvan Plug

(3.60)
The blend is made in the same manner and style as Yachtsman Plug, using appropriate rich flavourable styles of leaf. The difference is a light flavouring prior to the pressing process to give a unique flavour and aroma, with the traditional smooth taste

Details

Brand Carroll P. J. & Co. Ltd.
Blended By Carroll P. J. & Co. Ltd.
Manufactured By  
Blend Type Virginia Based
Contents Cavendish, Virginia
Flavoring Other / Misc
Cut Plug
Packaging 50 grams pouch
Country United Kingdom
Production No longer in production

Profile

Strength
Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild to Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

3.60 / 4
7

2

1

0

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 21, 2015 Medium to Strong Mild to Medium Medium to Full Pleasant to Tolerable
The Virginias are very earthy with a little grassiness, and are dark fruit sweet in a fermented way. I also notice a little citrus. Even though they don't list burley as a component, the boldness of earth suggests a little of it to my taste buds. One of the toppings is pleasantly floral in a Lakeland way, but not overly so or quite the same way as a Lakeland is. I can't identify the other toppings, but I taste apricots, plum, figs, and dates among the sweet flavors of the toppings and the tobacco. It takes a little time to prepare, and needs some dry time, but smoking it dry would cause some loss of the fullness of flavor of which this has plenty. Has a strong enough nic-hit to enjoy without making you have to sit down and shake off the wooziness. No chance of bite. Burns slow, requires a number of relights, and needs a little stirring of the tobacco after the half way point, even when you pack it loose. Will leave moisture in your bowl, but if you're not a wet smoker and properly prepare and cut the tobacco, you can avoid dottle. I cut it in small, thin flakes, and it smoked to a fine gray ash. The flavors remain dominant with no dull or harsh spots all the way to the finish. Leaves a very pleasant after taste.

-JimInks
10 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 19, 2016 Medium to Strong Very Mild Medium to Full Tolerable
Summary: the mixture of sweet and dark Virginias in this plug creates a gentler version of the UK plug with a slight mixed fruit topping.

Three ingredients stand out: a caramel sweetness from the Cavendish, a lighter Virginia with its late summer flavors, and a darker Virginia which gives the nutty flavor some report. Blended together expertly, and topped with a mixture of fruit essences, "Velvan Plug" provides a gentler and smoother version of the classic rich dark UK plug that nonetheless delivers the full flavor and internal complexity smokers expect from this genre. Over the course of the bowl, the Cavendish and topping take a backseat to the rich Virginia, allowing the smoker to taper off from a casual smoke into a contemplative puffing experience which reveals its nuances in layers.

Thanks to Pipes Magazine forum member "misterlowercase" for this sample.
8 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Feb 21, 2014 Medium Very Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
Except for the very light dark fruit-like topping (albeit a bit stronger than the touch of fruit I seemed to detect in the Yachtsman), unsurprisingly v like the Yachtsman Plug: In terms of the tobacco, a moderate, darkish flavor, rather more burley-like than VA. . . .

The plug is fairly easy to carve up and cut down. Once done, it takes a light about the same as the average plug, and stays lit very nicely. Well worth trying.
Pipe Used: briars, meerschaums, a cob, and a clay
PurchasedFrom: James Fox, Dublin
Age When Smoked: 2 months from purchase
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 19, 2009 Mild to Medium Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
Another fine example of plug tobacco. As stated, similar to Yachtsman, Warrior, Golden Bar, McQuaid, all with a bit different taste and aroma, but like these others, a solid performer.

Now more difficult to buy this in the US, like so many other European tobaccos, it is worth every effort to get a chance to prepare and smoke.

Ages well, and provides the smoker a rich, somewhat complex taste and aroma. Preparing this plug is easy and depending on your preference, can be cut and crumbled/folded/rubbed/chuncked for desired packing characteristics.

This can be an all day smoke. I like this in a group 5 size pipe with only 20 to 30 minutes of "drying" time before lighting.

...a pipe is to be savored...
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 09, 2016 Medium Mild Medium to Full Pleasant
Whatever these former British plugs now made in Denmark might have been, they seem to me today to all be made from the same core tobaccos and process. I think they are mostly Red Vas with some Burley, to which more or less degrees of African fired leaf is added to tweak the strength between brands, and to which each brand has its identifying casing added. They all seem to me to be cased with molasses or treacle.

The identifying flavour of Velvan, and this is really only evident on the pouch note and for the first few puffs, is stone fruit, probably peach or apricot, but might also include plum, or any combination of these essences. It is one of the milder of its plug family and if there is any fired leaf here it is minimal.

I prepare these plugs all in the same way. Slice about 2mm from the end. Lay this down and slice against the grain to produce small cubes. A quick rub will help the separation. Pack loosely, and wait until ash has formed a layer on the top and then correct the draw with a tamper. After this, these tobaccos burn quite well thereafter.

This baccy has an enduring, rich, deep sweetness. How much is casing and how much comes from the pressed Va I cannot say, but the result is very tasty.

I would classify this as a light aromatic in the British tradition, which still means a lot of tobacco flavour and a reasonable amount of strength too. I especially enjoy these plugs in a warm kitchen on a winter's day, but that might be a luxury unavailable to others. Rugged up in the great outdoors, anywhere cosy, and this tobacco becomes a true comfort.
Pipe Used: Lepeltier
PurchasedFrom: James Fox, Dublin
5 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 14, 2015 Medium to Strong Medium Full Pleasant
Velvan Plug is no longer made, but was another stroke of genius by the Carroll Company which made my all time favorite plug - Mick McQuid. Velvan was stronger and a little more cased (dark fruit essence). Like McQuaid Plug, it was a bugger to prepare for smoking but the effort was worth it. For those of you who have not ever had the pleasure of smoking a Virginia Black Cavendish, this would be a fun one for you. I have not seen any in years though. Strong stuff!

Pipestud
5 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 01, 2016 Medium to Strong Mild to Medium Medium to Full Pleasant
Carroll P. J. & Co. Ltd. - Velvan Plug.

This has to be one of the toughest plug's I've ever encountered. That said though, I find it a very enjoyable smoke; due to the hard work it feels extra rewarding!

The plug is contained in a cellophane bag inside the pouch. When I break this open I can't identify much, if any, aroma from the large dark plug of tobacco; it has to be cut and rubbed to release any and even then there's only a faint one. Preparing this requires an extremely sharp knife, and lots of patience; it's definitely not a blend to have on your 'quick smoke' break! Although it's quite robust, once some slithers have been sliced off they don't seem too demanding to rub out, then it's time to fill and light.

Velvan lights up easily, and then, as I said, gives a very rewarding smoke. The first enjoyable factor to 'leap' out at me is the feel of the smoke; it's really silky, creamy, cool and smooth; it seems impossible to not feel relaxed!

With the flavour, aside from the natural tobacco's, the main addition I get is a sort of floral one. There's maybe a kind of citrus note but that could emanate from the Virginia. I'd say it's about mild to medium in added taste strength with the flavours becoming a little more concentrated as the bowl burns down.

Nicotine doesn't fall into the same category though; definitely above medium, if not strong at times!

Velvan gives me a really good burn. I seem to be able to smoke, and smoke, and smoke it without hardly a tamp nor a re-light.

Despite the fact I detest having to prepare plug tobacco's I find this a cracking smoke. I feel this is very worthy of a full house!

Highly recommended.
Pipe Used: Levent Meerschaum Clas
PurchasedFrom: James Fox
Age When Smoked: New
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 26, 2010 Medium Medium to Strong Medium Strong
I have always regarded Velvan as being a bit like a more refined version of Condor.

It's got a distinct fruitiness, yet you can't quite identify which fruit it smell like. The first 2/3rd of the bowl are rather smooth and tasty - that unidentified fruitiness prevailing. The last third can get a bit spicy and a bit harsh. A nice tobacco that can be enjoyed regularly. It's a pity it's getting so hard to find now.
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 21, 2008 Medium Mild to Medium Medium Pleasant
I got this tobacco from dublin when I went there for holidays, 2 weeks ago. Of course I visited the legendary Peterson of dublin shop and unfortunately did not make to visit the factory. I do not know if this bakie comes also in ready rubbed form but in the plug form it gives a pleasurable smoke and is a nice procedure to cut the tobacco. It needs some time to get dry after you open the pack. It packs without problems in my barrel vauen ( artistic piece)as for the flavor typical virginia with apricot but not too fruity but sweet.Virginia dominates and cavendish just adds the sugar, i canot find similarities with Yachtsman but it reminds me enrimore plug without the bitterness. Here the burning is slow and smooth without any heat problems. Lastly i found the bottom of the bowl very moist it needs to get dryer I guess.So it pocess all the good characteristics of a plug tobacco. For those who like sherlock holmes style tobaccos is a must, I think. I will not have a chance to buy a new pack of this since I live far away from dublin...but i will survive i guess smoking davidof golden flakes, oak peterson ,night train as a perique lover. +++++Update 21-octo-2008+++++ I know it will sound strange for this kind of tobacco, but i think that there might be perique, or there is something spicy because it also seems different than perique. However to my taste this spicyness is something i do not really like. Even if it contains perique, the combination is no good. Maybe one experienced smoker could find the spicy igredient. I have tried it in two different pipes with the same behaviour
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 12, 2017 Mild to Medium Very Mild Extra Full Pleasant
It was a sad day when I leared that Velvan Plug was discontinued. It is a fantastic, easy smoking tobacco. Suble sweetness and earthiness from the viriginias, I also taste the classic dried fruits like figs, apricots, and raisins like you generally do with high quality ingredients that you always get from European made tobaccos. If you can get your hands on some, do it, you will thank yourself. Im glad I still have a couple of these left in my cellar!
PurchasedFrom: Across the pond
2 people found this review helpful.
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