Sutliff Tobacco Company Matured Red Virginia 515 RC-1

Edit: 19 July, 2021 Having been around the block a few times since this initial review, I’m revisiting to knock this down to two stars. It’s a perfectly serviceable blending Virginia, but a little lacking on its own.

I hope to experiment some with blending in the next year or so. I expect I’ll be able to use this as a component and come up with something enjoyable. I’ll update further at that point.

But for now: two stars. It’s not good enough on its own (even after a few months of cellaring) to hold its own against what I’ve been smoking: Mostly a steady diet of Gawith Hoggarth flakes.

Original review: 13 March, 2021 Since discovering this magnificent red Sutliff Virginia, along with its sister product (Sutliff’s bulk stoved Virginia), they have become the standard by which I judge all other Virginias. Each stands on its own quite enjoyably, but are truly great when mixed together in various ratios.

But as to the big red in question, I have no memory of having experienced the late great McLelland reds that this blend is apparently modeled after, so I’m judging it entirely on its own merits. So here goes.

This beautiful, quality matured blend of red Virginia, a bulk offering of Sutliff, presents a rich, savory, inviting jar aroma. There’s an almost pungent vinegar aroma that will hit you right after opening. But give a few seconds to allow a little air flow, and that subsides enough to allow you to smell it for what it is.

That scent, to me, practically screams “smoke me.”

So I do. Again and again.

This tobacco literally makes my mouth water while smoking it. I can’t think of another tobacco that does this, other than Sutliff’s Crumble Kake Red Virginia tinned offering, which I suspect is made of essentially the same stock. I love that one too. But, honestly, it’s hard to beat the price of this Sutliff bulk stuff. So it’s my go-to every day, several times a day, tobacco. The red. The stoved. The red and the stoved. The stoved and the red.

Seriously: with those two, I can blend flavor combinations that meet or exceed pretty much everything else I’ve been trying in the Virginia and Virginia Flake department. Sometimes I throw in a dash of C&D bright bulk. But, honestly, I don’t miss it when it’s not there.

The bottom line: Sutliff matured red is an excellent bang for the buck. I have over a pound of it jarred up for aging, and intend to add to my stash soon, so that I can actually let it get some long-term aging. I go through this stuff pretty fast. I’m hopeful that aging will produce something truly ethereal, because it’s great as new stock.

Four stars, but only because I can’t give it more.

I smoked 5100 exactly once about a decade ago. It did not make much of an impression. This is quite similar in that it didn’t impress. The cold odor of this weed is less ketchup/bbq sauce than mcclellands. It is much more like somebody opened a bottle of household vinegar and gave the leaves a quick spritz before shipment. It has a syrupy sweet opening that is enhanced/magnified by using a wider bowl. There are some astringent notes akin to black Chinese Keemun tea, and these help to balance the sweetness. Not particularly tart or tangy. This was a blend that left me wanting something, feeling like something was missing every time I smoked it. No distinct bite, but can be a bit…”fatiguing” on the tongue. It’s not bad tobacco, just not something I am likely to go out of my way for again.