Benson & Hedges Special (Mellow) Virginia

This is a mild Virginia, roughly rubbed out, with what I'm inclined to call a trite, unsubtle vanilla/caramel/malty topping. It used to be available as a flake, but I don't think this is still true (in the UK, at least). It's an easily-available supermarket/drugstore brand, mild, with not too much vitamin N, and quite a pleasant room note.

Several people that I've known over the years have adopted MV as an all-day smoke. It's certainly unassertive, and it won't weary you in the way that more robust and demanding tobaccos can. Like several other reviewers, I've noticed that MV tends to deteriorate in quality as you go down the bowl. DGT fails to deliver its customary reward, too: re-lit, MV comes across as hot, tasteless and ashy. Personally, I don't care much for the vanilla-type flavour, and the product as a whole leaves me with the impression of something a bit cheap and third-rate. My suspicion is that the topping is there to gussie up a somewhat low-grade leaf.

Let me try to rank MV in relation to other UK supermarket tobaccos, though. On the one hand, if it's a choice between MV and St Bruno or Three Nuns or Player's Whiskey, don't go for MV. On the other hand, MV is far, far superior to either of the Craven abominations; it has more character and body than the contemporary version of Gold Block; it smokes better than Clan (cooler, and without the mannerisms of flavour and room note); and it's nothing like as strong as the Condors. I don't notice that MV bites worse than most other Virginias will, either. The secret is not to rush, and not to smoke it when it's too dry.

As supermarket brands go, MV is all right, even if no more than all right. Availability is its strongest point. I'd give it two and a half stars if I could. Somewhat recommended: if you're stuck, it's a decent stopgap; MV is by no means a tobacco of distinction, but it's not bad for what it is.

I hated it at first, weird sour smell on pouch opening and unpleasant taste with excessive moisture, even though I generally use absorbing filters! It ended up in a jar being mixed with some Amphora Full Aroma and St. Bruno RR. After a couple of weeks in search for clear-your-palate smoke I grabbed some of it and to my surprise enjoyed a bowl very much. In my view, it's a rather boring smoke but may provide fairly neutral and versatile mixing ingredient.

It's weird, this stuff has been around for years and I've never got around to trying it. Well not properly anyway.

Put off by the fact that it is OTC I've been avoiding it. I was expecting it to be foul in some way, like a Borkam Riff or Condor blend.

It's isn't. It actually a good virginia, with no bite, no overwhelming flavours, just the taste of a mild virginia tobacco. Usually with these 'plain' blends they are totally tasteless, but in this case it is oddly satisfying every time I pick up the jar.

It's a staple and solid blend, yes, generic, but a great filler between aromatics or stronger English blends, of which I enjoy both.

The pouch aroma is again, surprisingly pleasant and takes me back to the 70's. the leaves themselves seem to be coarser than I remember from the last time I tried this, whether by design or due to the fact that the blasted spoilsport Government has decided that pipe tobacco has to be treated like cigarettes, if you follow me. Either way, the coarser cut makes loading easy and some of the strands, as someone noted earlier, resemble a broken flake, not unlike SG's wonderful Golden Glow.

There is no nasty aftertaste, and relights are few. there doesn't appear to be a room note.

the best thing about this tobacco is that it is actually available from supermarkets and even some corner shops (shows my age). I'll make sure I have this in stock as it's perfect when you just don't know what you want, won't foul your best briars and is perfect straight out of the pouch (although I chose to decant it into a jar).

A damned good blend and one of the best OTC's available.

I picked this up because I was stuck away from home and it was the only variety of tobacco I could find. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it because I've read so many indifferent reviews, but I found this a pleasant and quite enjoyable smoke. In the pouch it smells of apples and did have a fruity taste when smoked, though the taste didn't last down to the bottom of the bowl. At first I experienced some tongue bite but found this was less of a problem after a few bowls. It's one to be smoked gently rather than quickly and when the smoke is allowed to travel around the mouth the taste is rather special. It's not the best of the easily available brands but it's certainly not as bad as some are claiming.

Like a good few others I too smoked quite a bit of this about 10 to 15 years ago. I must admit that whenever I smoked Condor or St Bruno, I got given a load of grief from SWMBO...so taking the route of least resistance, I usually ended up with this.

As I remember it though, it wasn't half bad actually and like another reviewer I wonder if the recipe has been changed or the standard of tobacco diminished. For one thing the flavour seemed to last to the end of the bowl...which it doesn't appear to do today. Smoked gently, it starts off well enough and lasts maybe to the last third of the bowl and then goes a bit sour and ashey. I'm quite sure that it's the topping not lasting, and once it has gone, the cheap tobacco reveals itself.

Shame really: if Imperial/Gallaghers/Whoever took a bit of pride in what they produced and not just set out to make the cheapest crap that they can get away with, with the punters; this tobacco could become a nice little number again.

As it is, it's just about tolerable...well no...it's tolerable...but could be a lot better.

Easily available as a newsagent/supermarket/corner store product in the UK. Branded Benson & Hedges (a cigarette brand) and made by Gallagher I think.

For a 'high street' tobacco I find it OK. Pouch presentation is a coarse ready rubbed with a distinct caramel topping. First light is easy and I get a biscuity flavour over the tobacco. The tobacco itself does make itself known though - medium nicotine and some earthy Virginia flavours. Overall though, I am left with a slightly coarse, cheap impression. I suspect this isn't really high quality stuff. Popular with my (non-smoking) other half though.

For me, this is fine in small doses, but could not be a regular all-day smoke.

One of the most readily available 'ready-rubs' here in the UK. I would echo Tantric's review above, to the letter. For the novice its a reassuring blend, which adds confidence by lighting (and more importantly staying lit!) easily and offering no hint of harshness or the dreaded tongue-bite. But as your tastes develop I'm sure like me you will find this bland and uninspiring. Still if you're on the road and miles from your favourite pipe shop it's better than total abstinence.

As somebody who is relatively new to pipe smoking,i am about to write my first review.This was one of my very first tobaccos and it would be fair to say it did not leave any great impression on me.The pouch is very interesting as they always come with a picture and information on various pipes,shapes,country of origin etc, but for me thats about as interesting as it gets.The smell from the pouch is quite sweet...almost like a mixture of jam and some not so pleasant chemical of sorts, something akin to the smell of some hair dye that you will get from the bathroom when the fairer sex are sprucing themselves up for a night out.It loads very easy and stays alight quite well.The quality of the tobaccos is fine and it does have a not so bad mild aromatic aroma to it. I could never say though that i would be likely to buy again,it is what it is.A middle of the road tobacco,that will do the job,but for me...not one i will stock up on...in saying that i did think it allright..worth a try.

You know Mellow Virginia actually starts off pretty well. In fact the first quarter of the bowel is an extremely affable affair. The tobacco is of the rough cut variety. It handles well and lights easily enough. With the first few puffs you discover a sweet almost vanilla like flavour. There's a wonderful mildness about the tobacco and as you progress towards the high water mark of the smoke you begin to seriously consider this as your new all day companion.

It's the moment you pass the quarter mark that problems start and boy do they start with the rapidity of a peeved off tornado. Suddenly the delightfully sugary flavour evaporates and is replaced a bitterness which is stomach retching in its intensity. This lasts for the reminder of the bowel and gets its worst. Yes it is actually possible to go beyond gut retching. I suspect this foulness is because as this point in the smoke the casing is used up and the cheapness of the tobacco reveals itself. Nasty, nasty stuff.

All in all the last three quarters of bowel was without doubt the most horrendous smoke of my life. Even though this tobacco is readily available in most supermarkets in the UK and Ireland, my advice is to avoid unless your tongue delights in having a trowel load of hot ash plastered over it. I'll very reluctantly give this blend two stars but only because enjoyable start.