Wilke Pipe Tobacco Lizzie Blood Red Virginia

The grassy, tart and tangy citrusy, lightly tart lemony Virginia also has some earth, wood and a hint of tangy dark fruit as the lead component. The mildly spicy, raisiny, plumy, earthy perique is a secondary player with the plum peeking out a tad more than the other aspects of this varietal. The moderately applied, lightly tangy blood red orange topping synergistically works with the tobaccos to create a harmonious, mildly complex experience, and doesn’t sublimate the varietals very much. The strength and taste levels are a step past the center of mild to medium. The nic-hit is in the center of mild to medium. No chance of bite, harshness or rough edges. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable pace with a very consistent sweet and mildly spicy, rather smooth flavor from start to finish. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a short lived, pleasant after taste, and room note. A comfortable all day smoke.

-JimInks

After two weeks delay my order came in. One of my items was out of stock so I opted to wait. They did mail it to me two-day priority which was nice. A pipe club friend of mine PKT on this site introduced me to this Tobacconist from our club meetings. I had never really heard of them. My friend who lived in that area had been doing business with them for decades. I heard that they were having a 20 percent off sale so I ordered some to have something to look forward to as I am stuck at the ole homestead. I chose this one first to try. This blend has a really nice sweet mild (orange) aroma with predominately blonde ribbon with medium dark ribbon interspersed throughout. It is really moist as the ribbons clumped together like a small ball of worms. Nice analogy huh? I loaded it in my Claw Meerschaum and sort of let it dry in the bowl so to speak. It lit up nicely and smokes smooth with a fantastic mild topping that really in my opinion compliments the tobacco and gives it a more natural taste and smoke. This is mild in nicotine and flavoring but will be an excellent summer blend as the days get warmer. Personally, I do not smoke blends seasonally i.e. Latakia in the fall, winter; Virginia spring, summer but if you do then this is a great one to start out the spring.

An easy going Virginia with a touch of Perique and a orange flavoring. Smokes very well with limited complexity and a relatively mild taste. An excellent all day blend with that does what it does very well. John has added a very good blend to an impressive line up.

Appearance – Pretty varied in color from tans to browns with a few darker pieces (I’m assuming that this is the perique) mixed in here and there. The cut is somewhere between a shag (ribbon) and a confetti cut. Very easy to pack with.

Prep – This blend was a bit moist upon receiving so I dried it out a bit, but not crispy. I was afraid that the flavors and aroma would disappear completely if it dried out too much. I used the 3 pack method with this blend.

Smoke – The pre-light aroma reminded me of Rattray’s Exotic Orange (Exotic Passion) with a hint of sugary sweetness. The orange is there but not overly so. It is a pleasant aroma that is not overpowering whatsoever.

I was a little surprised at how quickly this lit up considering the dampness that I left it at. I found this to be a very pleasant smoke. For me the orange aroma didn’t stick around very long but it was nice when it was there. The blend settled into a great rhythm of typical Virginia goodness. I didn’t detect any of the perique but it may have been added to tone down some of the sweetness of the blend.

Once lit this blend goes and goes and goes. Very little fuss or relights required.

Summary – I really liked this blend. It was super easy to prep, pack and light. You can’t ask for better than that. It was a great blend to light and then dig into a good book with. I’ll be ordering some of this.

I love this one: rich sweet and grassy aromas from the Virginia leaves, citrusy from the Perique, a dark fruit hint, and a bit of sourness from each leaf. These authentic flavors, plus a beautifully dressed blend of lemon and blood red orange with a lustrous aroma! I really love it. I will definitely order this gem of a blend by the pound next time. A blend that guarantees "mouth full of happiness". Speaking of which, my smoking experience reminded me of The Virginia Cream by G.L. Pease. Maybe it's because I felt a hint of vanilla somewhere in there.

When traveling for business or personal pleasure for that matter, I am typically selective about the lodging that I frequent to cover my stays. Generally, I opt for the Marriott establishments as they tend to be respectable well-run facilities that extend the host of creature comforts to my personal liking. With that, I can only remember one occasion where I happened to make camp at one of those local Bed and Breakfast arrangements. Frankly I found the whole experience to be just too oddly unconventional and a bit awkward. A lot of folks on the other hand love the experience and find great satisfaction in these types of dwellings. As luck would have it, there is one such locale situated in Fall River, Massachusetts. It seems to draw a rather exclusive set of travelers for being recognized as “the” place to stay when in the area.

With the appeal of the 1890’s Victorian era, for less than $300/night one can enjoy ornately decorated accommodations, be entertained by a guided tour of the home’s unique history, dine on customary period fare, and finally comfortably slumber in the very room in which one of history’s most heinous murders took place. The obliging proprietors will be so kind to leave a complementary axe, or a creepy doll, (hopefully not Annabelle God help us), placed splendidly upon your pillow as a gracious gesture welcoming you to a relaxing holiday. Of course, the peculiar place that I am referencing is the infamous and historic Lizzie Borden House. Call me a raging chicken, but this arrangement seems a tad bit too morbid, at least for my preferences.

Of course, Fall River does offer enterprises that atone to what most would deem normal and less jilting in nature. In specific, just a few blocks to the north lies one of the oldest and most respected operating firms within the piping industry today, the illustrious Wilke Pipe & Tobacco Company. Playing off the chilling air of this Borden history, Wilke has smartly injected an ounce of themed branding with the adoption of its product offerings.

Marketed with kind consideration, emerges the blended departure of Lizzie Blood Red Virginia, a medium strength/medium intensity offering. Compelled by a need to understand the mystery of this woman, with an air of seated caution, I proceeded to embark upon a trial of Lizzie in hopes of coming to a full grip of her true nature. And so, let me now recount the conclusions of that unsettling adventure.

Gazing at the specimen of tobacco laid spread out before me, I can attest to the fact that Lizzie Blood Red Virginia did not pose herself as a ghastly specter in my mind’s eye. In fact, this amalgamation of vibrant Virginian strains and sleepy Acadian Perique seemed quite approachable despite some qualified frumpiness of appearance.

Particularly, rumpled strings of golden-copper Bright ribbon and matured slivers of pressed Red were heaped together forming the seemingly lawless bush of tobacco. Buried deep within this muddled mass, dissimilar fragments of obscure Perique peeked through with modest abandon. As my fingers dragged through this tangle of wispy strands, I felt the clammy moisture of the blood red orange flavoring that blanketed the native leaves with resulting prominence. With that discovery, it became apparent that the blend would need some extended space and time to find its optimum smoking state.

Filching a clumpy patch of Lizzie from her arrested state, my olfactive sense was immediately impaled with the bright perfume of fertile citrus. A stimulating burst mannered with sweet acerbic tartness came into form, as a bold orange enfolding sharp lemon and bitter herbaceous grapefruit undernotes wrapped tightly to comprise the body of this good-natured essence. What is more an honest sweet raisin sugariness revealing the Virginia played dominantly over some tangent detached grass and sour wood affluence. Lying deep and recessed from this forward aroma the mellow earthen pungency of dark fruity Perique completed the registration with some enlivening notice. Overall, Lizzie’s unique bouquet was suggestive of an invigorating flavor characterized by enhanced sweetness and natural fervent spice.

First and foremost, Lizzie is not a complex recipe given the limited ingredients. However, I will say there is some interesting features concerning this blend in general. Essentially, as constructed, Wilke has derived a mixture that is curiously distinctive. Extending mellow intonations, Lizzie celebrates a beautiful fusion of the native tobaccos with what should naturally be staunch and strong additive flavorings. The contextual quality of the blend’s standard taste profile, nevertheless, presented a stylish fair that is a well-balanced and smoothly synthesized.

The Virginian strains are clearly the showcased element in the general presentation and therefore beg for a weightier discussion. With that, one of the distinguishing facets of the mix was that these varietals project remarkable complexity, tendering very colorful in character. This experience proved to be captivating in its mood as their registration encircled a range of competing personas.

A high note of sour lemony tart provided consistent accompaniment to the steady tumbling of lower layered flavor. Mainly, the middle band showed a sweet tangy citrus grass entwining with robust aged wet hay, whereas a very dark wood nuance occupied the principal base. This fully seasoned grass/hay/wood exchange plays out evenly for most of the smoke. By the last ½ of the bowl, however, the Virginia becomes darker and deeper in character. Specifically, the rendering became a little more monochromatic by an emphasis of weathered woodiness while bringing along an accentuated element of sourness and heightened tart.

Of itself, the Perique is right there in the fore front of profile all be it extremely docile. Adding just a micro-dash of pepper spice, the Acadian softly rolled out with an earthy fruit essence. Imagine the ruddy ornamentation of potent raisins or stewed prunes as that personifies the embellishment of its contribution. Carefully metered so as not preempted the delicacy of the Virginia, Perique complements the overall experience with some wonderfully added depth.

Finally, a discussion of Lizzie’s character would not be complete without citation of the exceptionally unique top coating as it is, in fact, one of the blend’s key differentiators. Although this was my first encounter with Wilke’s Blood Red topping or any orange flavored additive, the impression created seemed all too familiar.

Initially the garnishment radiates dazzlingly with full tangy orange sweetness like that old General Foods instant drink. Riding primarily on the top end, this citrus note melds efficiently with the native varietals creating a concentrated accent that has the effect of softening and rounding out the finish of the collective flavor. With time, unfortunately, the intensity of its presence attenuates to a distant ghost of its initial splendor, yet while strong the savor is irrefutably superb.

With regards to the spent aroma, Lizzie unveiled a spirit of dense tangy spice, toasted wood, and a gathering of some minor pungency. The depth and fullness of this essence was impressive as it cascaded within the room’s interior swelling with an air of earnest importance. Overall, as smoked, the tobacco produces a thick gray-white cloud of persuasive smoke as if demanding attentiveness to its powerful influence.

As I previously alluded, this mixture is candidly moist straight out of the virgin pouch. If smoked less proper observance of the ample preparation, Lizzie struggles to keep a consistent flame, so do take heed. Once adequately primed, the tobacco really should be packed gingerly to assure optimally cool and stable burning characteristics. By doing so, I found the true Lizzie encounter to be generally manageable and pleasant. Incidentally the blend behaved much better with the extended geometry of a Canadian styled briar.

To my chagrin however, I discovered that Lizzie is a bit temperamental in her smoking cadence preferences. Namely, slow metered draws avert the blend’s mild tendency to build excessive heat and bite of the front of the tongue. Moreover, it does leave some minor astringent disturbance on the surface of the lips. Yet, I did find as the bowl progressed, using ideal smoking mechanics, these negative features became less of a nuisance.

Although charted within the VaPer genre, I found the mixture to be less representative of that class in being much more mild and decidedly sweeter than many other comparable entries. Wilke has undertaken a unique approach on this recipe, which is very original. However, I would be more inclined to place Lizzie within the general Virginia-based family considering comparative and standard features of the VaPer category, just an opinion.

The disturbing mystery has been solved! Lizzie Blood Red Virginia is neither horrific, heinous, nor even intimating in the least bit. What she truly is, a noteworthy and upright deviation of a traditional VaPer recipe that presents a wholesome experience of extended mellowing enjoyment.

Hanna Subjective Rating: 3.1 Objective Scoring (detailing standard genre attributes, mechanicals, and cost): 125/148 @ 84%

In a word, Excellent! Mild citrus, hay from the top drawer Virginia in this blend. The Perique is a secondary flavor with some spice and figgy notes. Not overbearing with Perique like some blends. The toppings of lemon and blood orange are deftly applied and do not take away from the tobacco but instead I believe they enhance it! Lizzies Blood Red Virginia deserves a shot from anyone who is seeking a rock star blend. A four here only because it is the top. Next order will most assuredly see a large quantity of this blend!

First things first: this blend does not smell good. I couldn't tell you what the room note is, as I typically smoke outside, but I will tell you that the smell of the unburnt tobacco in the bag, or the jar, or wherever you're keeping it, can only be described as sickly. While blends with perique in them can have a pungent, even off-putting note due to the presence of fermented tobacco, that isn't the case here. Instead, it's the topping that gives this blend its unpleasant aroma. Wilke have used a fresh, blood orange (as opposed to navel or Valencia oranges) flavouring in the production of LBRV which gives off a strong sweet and sour scent almost comparable to butyric acid. This smell intensifies once the tobacco is transferred from bag to jar and is given some time to breathe.

The smoke itself is far more delicate than the smell suggests. When the blend takes the flame, it transforms into a very 'natural' tobacco experience. The red and orange virginias are tart with a mild molasses sweetness. The perique is subdued but adds a little to the sourness of the blend and further provides warmth and pepper that tingles the nose on the retrohale. Expect flavour notes of spiced oranges, a dash of treacle, and some hay. Contrary to first impressions, the topping elevates the red and orange virginias rather than sublimating them. For this reason I would not classify the blend as an aromatic.

In terms of similar blends, the closest I can think of is Esoterica's Dorchester. Dorchester uses an apricot topping rather than LBRV's orange, but both use their toppings to accentuate the natural flavours of the constituent leaf, and both are surprisingly delicate and light Va/Pers compared to the aroma each first greets the palate with. Thus while the blends are not similar per se, they could be considered spiritually related, or distant cousins perhaps.

I would definitely recommend LBRV to Virginia and Va/Per smokers. I would not call it an all day smoke, but it is very enjoyable. It is best suited to a wide bowl in order to capture the greatest depth of its flavour.

This blend arrived with bright orange color and a strong odor. I presume it was a freshly made batch. Fortunately, the blend was double-bagged by Wilke to avoid tainting other blends that were also in the order. After a few months, the color and smell will mellow to appear like a typical VaPer. The smoke experience for Lizzie Blood Red is eerily similar to Elizabethan Mixture, another Virginia-Perique, except for the gentle topping flavor added. The leaf is of decent quality and a long ribbon cut. I like the Virginia and Perique aspects of this blend, more than Elizabethan. The flavoring isn't an improvement, though. Curiously, I only notice a faint bubble gum or mint flavor during retrohale. The flavoring makes it burn hotter and there are occasional rough edges. I'll gladly finish this order, but probably won't repurchase. Fortunately, I'm a big fan of many other Wilke blends. It's fun to try other blends in their catalog.