Wessex Sovereign Curly Cut

I opened my tin and was happy to see sugar crystals all over the nicely cut discs of tobacco. The taste has a more maple syrup-ish flavor than the Orlik produced Three Nuns I bought while on vacation in Amsterdam, NL. Although this is not a review of the new Three Nuns, it is kind of difficult not to compare the two since they look so similar when held side by side. Additionally, I think this blend will be my daily smoker. On a side note, I've heard and read that there is supposed to be some Perique in the blend, yet I have not been able to single it out when smoking this tobacco. Of course, the only other Perique blend I've sampled is the fabled Escudo, which pours it on fairly heavily. Anyway, this is a great tobacco for a person who likes a good solid Virginia to smoke. It won't disappoint.

I ordered this because it was described as being similar to the Three Nuns that I have always wanted to try. Well, I finally opened an 11 year old tin of Three Nuns the other day and this is indeed very similar.

This review, however, is not about Three Nuns. Its about my absolute new favorite VaPer! WOW! I loved this. Only smoked one creamy bowl today in a nice, long Canadian which took the coins whole like a giant piggy bank. Very easy to light, no relights, and smoked clean to a nice white powdery ash.

The smell is comforting, almost like marshmallows but better. This will for sure become my new go to for VaPers. I will have to take it along this weekend for a duck hunt....will go great in the blind or by the fire in the evening.

Buy this and give it a few tries. Coins this small are pretty in the tin as well. Such a great smell!

When I asked for a recommendation from my tobacconist, since he knows my tastes run to aromatics less and less, and more to virginias and vapers, he pulled this one off the shelf. I like it. I was not disappointed in the perique content, as some reviewers were, but neither did it overwhelm the sweet virginia presence. Never smoked Three Nuns, so I can't offer any thoughts on that comparison, but I like this one. It's a little spendy...not sure it's THAT much better than some I can get in bulk...but it's a goooood smoke.

Review based on comparison of old 100 gram folding tin and newer 50 gram round tin. Dates not specific, but about five years' difference in age. Let's leave those three penguins out of this.

Small coins from excellently crafted twists of quality Virginia and genuine Perique. Older coins have darkened, but both tins retain their wonderful aromas. Full rub out to ribbon. Lights easily and stays lit. No bite. Newer version is a bit more peppery, but mellow mid bowl, older smokes sweet and spicy top to bottom.

No Nirvana (or Novena) here, just damn good parochial Va/Per cut rope and middle of the road smoke. No bite or head whacks with a yardstick from Sister Mary Elephant.

Sovereign Curly Cut is one of those tobaccos you keep on hand all of the time. Whether it is like the Three Nuns or not, i do not want to get into. I do love Three Nuns and I Love Sovereign Curly Cut, we'll leave it at that. Upon opening the tin, these small dark brown coins are staring right at you. That Virginia and Perique smells so good. The tin note is pungent with a sweet note. After breaking up the coins and stuffing into the pipe, the first few puffs are a bit bitey but quickly mellows out. If you smoke this tobacco slower and don't puff like a maniac, the flavor is out of this world. This tobacco is very rich in flavor, and is a somewhat peppery. Very highly recommended by me, i give it a very strong 4 stars....

This is a most convoluted review by my own admission.

I find this to be a much more powerful smoke than my preceeding colleagues. I reach for this with a purpose and it delivers. Nicotine hit is there most definitely although not overwhelming. While I feel that to classify this as strong or even medium to strong would be misleading I also feel that it is tangy/smooth and there is nothing mild about it. That tingly nose of the perique is evident but tame, and the VA's are of a complex and high quality and deliver plenty of flavor.

My preference is to rub out the coins and let it air a few minutes before filling and lighting. It is a most curious tobacco and very complex with visits to sweet, nutty, spicy, tangy and earthy.

It smokes cool and dry.

Now with reference to casing... I entered "none detected" but I did so as not to be misleading. This tobacco has a whiff of something - the tin suggests its flavoured with "traditional west country regimental cider". If this is accurate, it explains the tin aroma - a slightly acidit note with a faint wine-like nose and some of the mold that I have experienced in 2 separate tins. I would also suggest that it was the perfect choice to tie the flavors in this mixture together and in no way behaves as a flavouring would imply. This is why I stated "none detected" for if not for the writing on the can, I wouldn't really have determined there was a flavoring. It's not even as evident as the weakest whiff of rum in a traditional Navy Flake.

All in all the coins are a bit moist ... slight drying is required ... just a few extra moments when rubbing. If one is tempted to smoke the coins by folding, you're experienced enough of a pipe smoker to dry them a bit longer.

This is a fine tobacco. It has complexity and suitable strength in a classic merger of VA's and Perique. The room note surprisingly is very pleasant and doesn't hang. The packaging is awful ... it would be so much nicer if they just packaged it in a plastic bag cached within the tin. I remove the tightly packed wad of coins from the gold foil pouch and place it in a plastic bag (the non-ziplock type) folded closed and then refit it in the tin. It will keep quite well for a considerable amount of time even in the low humidity of Northern California.

Cheers, VC

Last time I had Three Nuns was in the early '90s, I believe. Well, this is as close to that as I have ever had since - yet it seems milder and smoother than Three Nuns. I love this stuff. A great after breakfast smoke - subtle with just the right amount of that "peppery" Perique top note. A keeper and a new regular addition to my arsenal. Highly recommended!

I have really come to enjoy this blend by Wessex(German version). If this is what Three Nuns was like, it gets my vote. The current version of Three Nuns is not to my liking. Sweet, flavorful, and definitely with Perique, but just enough to add to the wonderful Virginia. 4 stars.