The smoke starts off quite sweet with light tangy and woody Virginia flavours. The subtle honey flavouring builds mid-bowl, with traces of lemon, and remains until the end. Overall it is low in strength, but the last 1/3 of the bowl was often peppery and gave me the niccups a few times.

This tobacco lights easily, stays lit and burns hot if smoked anything more than a little fast. I bought a tin of this thinking it would make a nice light-aromatic summer-time smoke. It fits the bill in most respects, but it burns too fast to be smoked outdoors. For a Virginia blend, it is rather one-dimensional even if treated right. The tobacco dries-out quickly, and with the various small “cube-cuts”, I was soon left with half a tin of dry dusty tobacco (although it does smoke better on the dry side). I agree with others who suggest that a rather immature or poorer quality tobacco has been chosen as the base for this aromatic.

I opened the tin and it first smelled ok, the citrus/honey fragrance coming out of the tin at first seemed inviting. I packed a corn cob and there we go, after half a bowl, I have to stop smoking, I am feeling nauseous becasue of the "overflavoring".

The tobacco is Virginian, very mild on its own, and the flavoring is VERY overwhelming in contrast with the tobacco. I felt like Ashton sold me stale tobacco soaked in citrus/honey...

I gave it a try the next day, after eating this time, but again, I could not finish it. I smoke Virginian in my cigarettes everyday, but it does not make me sick like this. I am very curious about who liked that mixture...or I really had a bad tin? Anyway, not even good enough for a home blend to my taste...one more try in a few weeks and then to the trash, update in a couple weeks.

To get a good experience, I have to 1)dry a bowl's worth for at least an hour 2)pack lightly in a cob (aluminum and briar kill it, somehow) 3)sip it so gingerly like you're scared it might be lit 4)smoke indoors, away from any breezes. (It burns hot as it is...Also, the testosterone usurping succubus I cohabit with makes indoor smoking difficult!) 5)totally concentrate on the experience. (Number 5 is the real gooch.)

A lot of y'all will think 'So what?' because this is your MO for every time you smoke. Me? Most times I'm clenching, drooling, walking, talking and generally not paying attention. This weed goes lifeless at the slightest provocation...a real problem for someone with ADD like myself.

But boy howdy, when it's on, it's on! Mmm Mmm...subtle sweet citrus. (More so than even OGS.)I love the color of the ribbon and its 'Gerber Baby' pureed apricot smell as well. (The room note whilst smoking is quite nice too.)

I wish this was a 'set it and forget it' blend, but alas, it's not. Still, I enjoy gold Rush enough to at least entertain keeping some on hand...for the rare times I can quiet my monkey mind and actually 'be one with the smoke'.

Sadly, three stars.

As other reviewers have mentioned, the tin aroma is sweet and with a slight citrus scent. It's moist and looks tasty.

I found it needed a little extra rubbing out, otherwise it was a swine to keep alight.

I can detect , rather surprisingly, no discernable room note, although Mrs RH has not passed comment either way.

Halfway through the tin, it's remained tasteless. Drying it out, it's still tasteless. Lacks character. No bitey.

Won't be buying another tin after this has gone.

I am not a VA smoker everyday, but I do enjoy a nice light easy going Virginia on a hot summer day while relaxing with a glass of ice tea or a tall malty beverage.

The moisture content was almost perfect upon popping the tin, and it did definitely benefit tremendously from a few months on the rack.

I bought this in the late winter, and not being in the lighter VA mood yet, I let it be until the early summer.

The tin aroma is wonderful. A delightful bouquet of dried fruit and citrus. It packs with ease, and stays lit with minimal trouble. Occasional tamping and slow puffing leads to a euphoric expeirence.

I would recommend this to anyone just delving into the world of Virginia tobaccos, or someone who is looking for an easy going all day smoke.

The room note is very nice, but maybe not to non smokers. It of course has that very natural tobacco aroma, and no sweet casing that will have the ladies tripping over your heals. Still it is not a bad indoor smoke.

This isn't disgusting, but I don't much care for aromatics, and good virginia leaf should never need to be cased this heavily.

I would have said "green".

Other than that, I like the lemon/honey flavoring - not too strong but definitely present throughout the smoke.

A decent straight VA, but one of my least favorites of the kind. More agining pre-tinning would have helped I think.

I bought this in a shop because it was the only staright VA they had. That will likely be the scenario if I ever buy this blend again.

I'm keeping my tin to see if age improves the green twang. One can hope.

Thanks,

Ethan.