Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Warrior Plug

Murray Sons & Co. Ltd - Warrior Plug.

Note: an early review I thought could be improved.

Plugs often arrive at a varying consistency, some are practically a kake, some need only a firm hand to snap and rub, the tougher ones need a sharp blade, and there's a few that need an industrial grinder to prepare a bowls worth. The latter applies to this. The tobacco's presented as one block of tobacco, very dark, and wrapped in plastic. There's not much aroma from the solid plug but once I've ground the block and refilled the pouch I'm able to note a sort of sweet fruitiness.

The tough job of preparation is remunerated with one seriously good smoke. The smoke has a 'deep' flavour: lots of dark fruit, molasses-sweet, and rich nuttiness. The Virginia has a 'heavier' sort of taste, so it isn't a smoke that's fervent with sharp/fresh Virginia notes. It tastes this way until a quarter into a bowl, then I begin to get a very slight alcoholic note. It burns slowly, requiring hardly any relights, producing a cool, bite-free smoke.

Nicotine: very strong. Room-note: A bit harsh.

Warrior Plug? An exceedingly high quality plug. Highly recommended:

Four stars.

Take whatever Jiminks said and add brandy as the ever slight topnote and give it 4 stars ! I think the Red Coats don't send the good stuff to us cause we won the war 🙂 . I cut this real thin with a sharp pocket knife and break it up a bit . It takes a few lights and then youre good to go . The flavor is .. Heaven . fermented Virginia , mainly I guess , and that ever slight brandy top note . Rich , flavorful , full mouth feel ........ Man , I love this stuff ! If it were an OTC here , along with Ogdens Walnut [ which is Gods gift to man ] .. I'd be a happy Yankee from Georgia 🙂

As noted below by other pipers, this is very similar to Mick Mcquaid plug(and to be honest i can't discern any difference between the two when smoked side by side) Lovely stuff this is indeed, certainly high test and not for the meek or mild and if you dont have hair on you're chest prior to smoking this plug, you absolutely will afterwards. This is one of these blend i think everyone should try

It truely doesn't get much better than this. Sliced, rubbed and packed with a medium firmness in a smallish bowl (a prince is ideal) this is close to Nirvana. After several plugs I'm going to declair the flavor to be somewhat akin to what Germain uses for Stonehaven, though a bit less so and a tad less sweet. It suits the tobaccos perfectly. I can sip a small bowl of this for close to two hours without thinking about it much as I putter around my carving studio...one of its notable strong points. I don't find it harsh or overly strong at all, but very full and with a nearly perfect marriage of natural tobacco and enhanced flavor with the raisin/prune/molasass notes of what I've been told is termed "treacle" by the Brit bad boys that conjur these magic little plugs. Absolutely fine and to be savored. Burns half again more slowly than McQuaid and with a finer, sweeter flavor. Arguably the world's most lovely evil. A large bowl of this would be akin to a mug of scotch. Besr to savor it slowly in a smaller vessel that suits its strength and nature.

Comparisons with Mick McQuaid are spot on, two slight variants of the same tobacco. The key difference is that the almond flavouring is absent here, and I think it's probably better for it. I'm not a fan of plugs as I find them difficult to burn, but I'll put the effort in where it's worth it. Warrior plug is a case in point. Got mine as a sample from GQ Tobaccos, if bought packaged it might benefit from a bit of aging for a month or so.

As with its Danish made stablemates in this plug family, a mostly Red Va with some Burley, pressed to a solid block, likely with molasses or treacle. I cannot identify the additional flavourings; someone has said 'plum' and I can't argue with that.

To my tastes this definitely has some African fired leaf, adding a spiciness and another layer of complexity, and probably strength as well.

Great stuff and already well described. A classic and I hope they never stop making it.

Sit down to this with a very small pipe or warrior will knock you down. If you want a good strong tobacco without the added floral notes and casings, this is it.

Edited 5 years later, I still keep 4 or 5 plugs on hand, I don't find it as strong as I used too, probably because I'm getting used to stronger and more robust tobacco's. But still love it today as much as I did the first time I tried it, if not more so. You would never catch me without a few plugs, that's for sure.

Still a fine example of a matured virginia plug tobacco. While the manufacturer has changed, it is a solid performer. A deep "woodsy" taste and aroma, with a complexity associated with matured virginias.

Stronger than Yachtsman Plug, this has been a good smoke for me for many years. Now a bit more difficult to buy here in the US. I have always found the practice of preparing plug cuts to be a distinctive part of the art and science of pipe smoking, and I will take a plug tobacco over any other cut when its available.

This type tobacco ages well and done properly, will give a smoker a wonderful smoke. I have just finished a plug of this that I have aged 11 years. Truly, a real pleasure!

6/10/2012 I have upgraded this plug to 4 starts as I find it meets all my criteria for a first rate tobacco.

I smoke this in a group 5 size, straight billiard.

...a pipe is to be savored...

I find this to be perhaps one of the easiest virginia's to smoke - never had tongue bite ever - I usually smoke it in a Peterson system pipe. Certainly on par with SG's Full Virginia Flake and McClellands 5115.

I strongly recommend this for the delicate berry flavours on the palate, as well as a perhaps wheaty grainy taste. Altogether a very pleasant smoke. It is worth all the preparation! I usually chew on a small piece for a bit, spit it out, dry it, crumble it and smoke it. It's like a fine cigar, smokes very slowly, and has a wonderful room note.