Robert McConnell - Red Virginia Superb pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
< PREVIOUS Showing reviews 21 through 40 of 40 reviews of this tobacco
arpie55	01/11/2009	Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
this starts out with a bit of an irritation on the tongue that gives the impression of a tongue bite to follow, this is apparently caused by the casing which seems to burn off within the first quarter of the bowl because this blend caused no tongue bite at all. 2nd quarter this settles down and becomes a very pleasant smoke that gets richer as it progresses, i found the final 1/4 to be the high point of the blend. the burn is clean and complete. one thing that i found with the cut is that the strands seem to be so fine that if packed just the little bit tight they would restrict the draw, i found that a loose pack was much better and allowed for a much more pleasant smoke. i tired the frank method with the blend and found it to work exceptionally well. overall i would say that this well above average for a tobacco with a flavoring.
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Slow Triathlete	11/10/2008	Mild	Very Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
"a dash of Perique" is absolutely right. I hardly tasted it at all. The only hint of Perique that I got was when I happened to smell it rolling out of the bowl. Overall to me, this was an average Virginia. It bit if smoked to fast but the taste was just okay. I enjoy Gawith's Full Virginia and Best Brown to this one.
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Silver Spigot	10/15/2008	Strong	None detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
Severe tongue bite. Avoid.
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smoking-rob	02/11/2008	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
My tin also says "The original RED VIRGINIA pipe tobacco" The smell from the tin is simply delicious, fruity at first but smell deeper and up come chocolate and even roast almonds/hazelnuts. I think this is a top flavour as opposed to a casing. The smoke itself is that of a virginia, light, mild with the barest hint of Perique,I would say about 1-2 %. I am now smoking this with some Perique of my own added, more zest as one would expect. I plan on keeping this in my rotation! Rob.
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ElHumidor525	01/16/2008	Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I've been working on a tin of this for about 2 weeks now, and this tobacco really grew on me. The first few bowls i thought were harsh, but after the third or fourth bowl, the tobacco mellowed out. This was because of the aromatic i smoked in the pipe prior to the Red Virginia. The blend description says perique, but i couldn't taste any perique. There is a topping of some kind on this tobacco, its noticeable when the seal on the tin is broken and when you sniff the tobacco but not when its being smoked. McConnell's Red Virginia is a nice everyday tobacco. I give it a strong 4 stars....
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renoguard	10/18/2007	Medium to Strong	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant
I hope this is the right stuff. The tin I bought didn't say "superb". It just read "the original RED VIRGINIA pipe tobacco". And had a picture of an Indian and a white guy sitting and smoking. I bought a tin of this yesterday, packed my GBD Rockroot and must say that i Enjoyed it. It reminds me a little of Davidoff's Oriental, but a little bit more "spicier". At first I thought it was toungue bite, but I think it was the perique. I will have to give i few more test puffs to give a really good analasys. If you are wanting to explore the world of tobacco beond the regular standbys, then I would recomend trying a tin. And again, If you are ONLY into the Cpt. Black type mega sweet "Sundae-in-a-briar", then reach for the can of blue note on the next shelf. As you can probably tell, I am by NO MEANS an expert. In my book, There are 2 kinds of tobacco. There's GOOD and there's GARBAGE. This is GOOD :-). That is only one man's opinion.
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Mr. Dottle	05/23/2005	Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
My sentiments regarding this tobacco were eloquently expressed by reviewer ?pxi106? below and restated here: ?This isn't a tobacco that triggers deep thoughts on the first smoke. You don't think anything the second time you try it, either. As a matter of fact, this isn't a tobacco that will ever jump into your mind. Yet you will notice yourself reaching for it almost every time you go to fill a pipe, almost unconsciously. An insidious tobacco.? I did notice myself reaching for it more often than my other open VA blends. I wasn?t particularly impressed with it at first but after repeated bowls, it grew on me. This is a nice, pleasant and refreshing VA blend. A cigarette is to be smoked. A cigar is to be enjoyed. A pipe is to be savored. I rate this tobacco 9.0 out of 10.
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latakiahaze	05/15/2005	Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This tobacco suprised me. Seeking a Virginia break from latakia and aromatics, this came as a very pleasant suprise. I had already discovered Marlin Flake but found that, unconsciously, Red Virginia had taken over as my daily smoke of choice. This is a light coloured, mildly sweet blend. The tin aroma is fruity but enigmatic, a slight hint of peaches or apricots? The flake is rubbed out so easy to pack. It ignites spontaneously and burns well to a light grey ash. Although I have found it can burn a little hot, this may be due to my enthusiasm rather than the tobacco itself. The taste of mild virginia is extremely satisfying and the peppery backdraft of perique keeps the mixture interesting. It's not too spicey however but a subtle and well balanced combination that works very well. This is one of those rare smoking experiences where I find myself instinctively planning the next pipeful. Give this one a try if you like virginias. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
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Warwick	03/01/2005	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Tolerable
My first McConnell. A fair but not outstanding VA/P blend. The taste is primarily red VA, but I do find that the perique definitely makes itself known by its peppery effects on my tongue, in the room note, and a certain nicotine kick I identify with perique. If there is indeed a topping, it has eluded me outside the tin. The VA is not very sweet, and I agree with Tantric that the blend has a "wood like character". This gives it something of an 'earthy'tinge, which can be pleasant in terms of complexity, but also makes it a little rougher in flavor. It also makes me wonder how aged is the VA component. The broken flakes smell delicious, and pack easily. Moisture level is about right. The blend smokes well and evenly after the charring light. The perique is prominent for the first third and then recedes in the latter half, as does the roughness mentioned above, and the VA sweetens just slightly. Overall, the flavor is fairly consistent (monotonous?). There is only a little moisture, and it burns down to a fine ash. Certainly it is well-blended in terms of balance, but by the same token it simply seems to lack enough distinction to draw me to buy another tin. I'd rather go to Marlin Flakes for a VA, or Esoterica's Dunbar or Dorchester for a VA/P blend.
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Jakob Kiilerich	02/27/2005	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
This is indeed a lovely VA blend, smooth and buttery. My tin was from '92 and it is way better than K&K's version. I could not detect much Périque, and I suspect some Virginia Cavendish has been added. As usual with Robert McConnell, the leaf is of outstanding quality, and does not hurt your tongue. I could use some more nicotine, but the mildness makes this a good morning smoke for me. Red Virgina has some similarities to Old Gowrie, and is a good quality plain VA. Goes very well with Earl Grey tea. Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark
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Bluebottle	02/05/2005	Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant
Very pleasant to look at - this is a bright Virginia tobacco and no mistake. Not difficult to pack due to its being semi-rubbed-out flake, but quite short. It therefore takes and holds a light quite well. It's loathe to bite, but can get the bowl of the pipe fairly warm. It has a nice room note, although enjoying that too much was what made me warm the thing - too much ferocious sucking! Not as nutty as many VAs, but not 'soapy' or floral. A reasonable daily smoke, but nothing special I'm afraid.
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Paddy	10/12/2004	Very Mild	Very Mild	Very Mild	Tolerable
In the tin this smells like a chocolate souffle, spiced with tobacco. It literally smells tastey enough for dessert. It is similar in all respects to some Astley tobaccos I have smoked. The smoke is a very mild, sweetened Virginia. I do not taste the perique nor the topping. Every once in a while, I will pull a tin out of the cellar just to see if aging has added anything. So far, nothing new. After I finish up the supply I have, I doubt I will buy any more. Meantime, this is not a bad smoke. It could be an all day smoke for some or an introduction to Virginias for others. It is worth a try, but do not expect that distinctive Virginia flavor nor the tang of perique. Reservedly recommended. Paddy.
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NEWMAN	10/06/2004	Mild	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This is another hand blend from Kohlhase & Kopp in Germany and quite typical of their work with toppings that enhance but don't dominate the smoke. The tin aroma was quite sweet but the taste more of natural tobacco but with a honeydew presence. I've been smoking some hi test blends recently, and I didn't sense the Perique influence. Packing, lighting, moisture content were fine and an even burn resulted in all bowl sizes. This blend was too mild for my taste as a regular but could certainly be enjoyed in the future.
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chperry	08/12/2004	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant
The tin aroma is very inviting. The tobacco packs and lights easily. Care must be taken while smoking this blend or it will bite. However, if you keep your pace slow you will be rewarded with nice tobacco flavor and the subtle sweetness associated with red virginias. The tobacco burned clean to the bottom. I would rate this tobacco somewhat higher if not for its tendency to bite when smoked inattentively.
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Noorrmm	07/24/2003	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This is not the original Red Va. of the 70's and 80's that I loved so well, but is still a formidable tobacco. The original did not have Perique, nor any topping, and was similar to Hal O' The Wynd of the same era. The new blend has a very light topping, which to my nose smells a bit like prunes, or dried apricots. (ACome to think of it, GLP Cumberland has a simiilar aroma, without topping). Quite pleasant, and does not interfere with the Virginia tobacco aroma. The blend is a short ribbon, almost enterely rubbed out from broken flake, showing a range of colors from blonde to black, but predominantly red. Packing is easy in any size bowl from a small group 3 to a large group 5. Lighting is very typical, neither too easy, nor too slow to burn. The first match wakes the flavor quickly, with the topping almost disappearing, while a tingle from the Perique mingles charmingly with the sweetness of the Virginias. A medium intensity of flavor is maintained throughout the bowl, with nice compexity and variations in flavor. The flavor changes slightly with puffing tempo, as a good Va. should. IMHO, this is a tobacco that can be enjoyed in a contemplative way, or when busy with other tasks. Not as dramatic as HOTW, or Marlin Flake, more on par with Old Gowrie
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Tantric	01/14/2003	Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
This is a subtle and graceful tobacco. Not at all aggressive, it is a refined, friendly, and to a certain extent delicate Virginia, rather easy to smoke. I do not know if McClelland had this tobacco in mind when they developed their Red Cake in bulk, but I detect a faint similarity in taste and aroma. Being both excellent tobaccos, RVS has perhaps a more consistent body, and IMO conveys a fuller, more emotional smoke. There is a certain wood like character that gives its simplicity depth, and, as it were, eloquence to its apparent plainness. This may be the result of that dash of Perique the blender purports in the tobacco's description. Non the less, RVS is a very mellow and smooth blend. Tin aroma is inviting. I believe it is one which a new pipe smoker may find mild enough to be attractive, yet sufficiently rich to be appreciated by a seasoned pipe smoker. I ignore what the topping in this tobacco is. Yet it is applied with utter care and prudence, so that it does not interfere with the natural taste of tobacco leaf, but subtly enhances it, underlining the tangy sweetness inherent in red Virginias. RVS comes slightly moist in the tin, so a bit of airing is advisable just before packing in. Lighting is quite simple and its burning rate is commendable. Without being a completely out of the ordinary smoke (personally, I can not think of this as a Perique containing blend) this Virginia is highly recommended as an enlivening change of pace, especially when in the mood for a slightly sweet natural smoke.
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provguy	12/27/2002	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant
I agree with some of the above descriptions. This is a good straight ahead virginia with a dash of perique and some ? top dressing that is mild. definitely shows some spiciness but not nearly as much as some other perique blends. The tobacco flavors come through very well. This is very good and tasty. Smooth without bite. Burns nicely and easy to load up again after being done. 4 stars
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Inquisitor	12/16/2002	Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
A straight-ahead red virginia by flavor. The Perique and topping would probably be missed by someone not knowing of their presence in advance. I found this tobacco to be a bit lacking in flavor. It also seemed to burn me a bit, in a chemical way, but as this may be my own chemistry, it won't affect my final review. The addition of Perique gives this tobacco some of the missing flavor and richness. Without Perique, I don't see myself smoking this when there are so many superior blends to smoke.
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pxi106	12/11/2002	Mild	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This isn't a tobacco that triggers deep thoughts on the first smoke. You don't think anything the second time you try it, either. As a matter of fact, this isn't a tobacco that will ever jump into your mind. Yet you will notice yourself reaching for it almost everytime you go to fill a pipe, almost unconsciously. An insidious tobacco. Extremely pleasant. The light flavoring agent really takes the bite out of the virginias, and you really won't find the perique a major player at all. Good, plain tobacco with a pleasant sweetness. An all day smoke if it had more strength--but if it had more strength it wouldn't be as pleasant.
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grimpeur	11/04/2002	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
If I could give stars for the quality of a blend, and not just the frequency that I choose it, beyond a doubt McConnell's Red Virginia would merit all four stars, with clusters to boot. A medium strength, and coloured, broken flake honeydew, it has been given a wonderful and subtle topping. Whoever formulated this blend in the bygone years truly merits recognition and accolades. I feel rather grateful that it is still available, no matter where it's from. It is not at all strong, so wouldn't be my first choice for a cold windy day. But neither is the tobacco meek, counting on mere additives to save the day. Rather it is subtle, sure of itself, and if I had to choose one word to describe it, "clear" would be it. I'm ashamed to admit that the perique doesn't jump out...has too much "Escudo" ruined me? It is not always my first pick, but whenever I light a bowl of this blend I think to myself: "this is why I smoke a pipe!"
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