This tobacco is great for aromatic smokers that would want to dabble in Virginias without sacrificing too much of the flavoring. I do find that the chocolate flavor takes over most of the time. The Perique is weakly applied and adds nothing to the mixture. In conclusion, another average mixture for me. Even if the tobacco is of quality, the blending is a waste of inspiration and resources. A semi-aromatic at best or a light aromatic at worst.

The tin I am reviewing now is the K&K version, it just came in the mail today along with a Peterson Aran XL02 pipe, which I am breaking in with the Red Virginia.

I wasn't happy with the tin, because it was a bear to open! However, the toby itself is superb. Not as good as the pre-K&K version, but superb none-the-less. The tobacco inside is primarily high-grade Red Virginia with just a bit of Perique. A wonderful berry topping has been applied, and to me it smells like a mixture of strawberry and cherry. That tin note translates to room note, and the room note gets high marks from others. However, at least for me, those notes do not translate to taste - I simply taste naturally sweet high grade Virginia with a whisper of Perique. It has wonderfully rich, but not strong, Virgina flavor (with that fine whisper of Perique). It reminds me very much of Peterson's Sherlock Holmes, only much fuller.

If you like well-behaved Virginia blends, or well-mannered Va/Pers, I think you will like this. Nuanced it ain't, but a fantastic Virginny it is. Most times I just want a rich and relaxing pipe, and if sipped slowly this blend really delivers and without any bite. I'm going to have to next smoke this is one of my pipes that is already broke it. I have complete confidence that it will be even better.

Red VAs are richer, stronger, sweeter and spicier than regular VAs.

With a bit of Périque, this mixture becomes something any pipe smoker would like to try.

I will rebuy!

During the time I have managed to smoke Virginias properly, and have to say that RV tends to smoke hot if rushed, but hardly bites.

As per the K&K site RV is given to be a medium strenght blend of Virginias with a pinch of Perique and a hint of aromatization (chocolate !). I frankly don't smell any chocolate both in the tin aroma and the smoke, I smell a very light berry topping, which hardly affects the smoke. The strenght does not exceed the mild/to/medium mark.

Regarding me RV is pleasantly not-so-sweet-not-so-fruity smoke, which can be experienced both contemplatively or absent mindedly. The good character of this blend is taken to light with the calmest sipping, the largest bores being the optimum.

The Perique, declaredly a pinch, does its job giving very faint notes of stewed fruits without any sourish effect.

Too much fruity and very mild for my taste. After finishing every bowl, I looked to smoke something else with a rich tobacco taste.

And where is the perique in this blend? I didn't detect it. Sorry, I can not recommend for real tobacco taste seekers. Maybe would be a pace for aromatic fans.

Tin aroma is good, with wafts of fruit with vanilla overtones and a somewhat pungent (perique'ish) component (I can't say I pick up on the "spice" and roundness I usually attribute to perique while smoking it, though).

I'll miss having the mixture around now that this tin is nearing the end of its life, but I'm still undecided on whether or not to buy it again. It's good, but not outstanding (something I find to be true about most McConnell blends). Perhaps when the next break-in is due...