Wessex Sovereign Curly Cut
(2.97)
2002 tin description: Naturally aromatic pipe tobacco flavoured with traditional West Country Regimental Cider.
Notes: Small, loose disks, similar to Three Nuns (tin version). Virginias and Perique. Originally sold in 100 grams hinge tins, and the tobacco was sealed inside a foil bag.
Details
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.97 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 13 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 20, 2013 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is sort of like the baby brother of the VaPer Three Nuns in that it's uninformed by comparison. It's sweeter, and conversely tartly sour at times. Some of the sweetness comes as much from the very tart apple cider topping as it does the Virginias, which are the lead component. They provide a fair amount of tart and tangy citrus, grass, bread, some sugar, sour lemon, vegetation, floralness, mild earth, wood, tangy darker tangy fruit, and light acidity. The description for this blend said there's no topping, which is untrue as the label mentions the apple cider, and I taste it. It detracts from the tobaccos a bit. The dull spice, plum and raisins from the earthy, woody perique play a secondary support role. The strength and nic-hit are a step past the center of mild to medium. The taste is a notch past that center. May nip the tongue or get harsh for a fast puffer, and has few rough edges. Burns cool at a slightly slow pace with a very consistent sweet and sour, fruity, spicy flavor that extends to short lived after taste. Requires a couple more than an average number of relights. Leaves little moisture in the bowl. Has a pleasant to tolerable room note. Not quite an all day smoke. Two and a half stars.
UPDATE 7-6-2022: The blend has been changed. The sweet and sour, tart apple cider topping was replaced by forest honey, which mildly tones down the tobaccos, meaning a step less than before. There’s a little more bright Va. than before, which makes it more floral, citrusy and sour from the higher lemon content. The acidic level is a tad lower. The darker fruit note is no longer evident. Much of the perique was replaced by tangy, earthy, woody, vegetative, spicy, mildly floral, herbal, barbecue-like dark fired Kentucky. The perique is a little more than a condiment now. The strength and nic-hit are currently on equal footing with the taste level, which is almost medium now. It is a cleaner smoke, moderately more floral, spicy, mildly sweeter, fruitier, and a tad more sour with the aforementioned DFK being the dominant component over the Virginias by a few slots. The room note is a bit stronger, too. All of the other previous notations remain the same. It can be an all day smoke, and is a three star blend. My current rating at TR reflects the new version.
-JimInks
UPDATE 7-6-2022: The blend has been changed. The sweet and sour, tart apple cider topping was replaced by forest honey, which mildly tones down the tobaccos, meaning a step less than before. There’s a little more bright Va. than before, which makes it more floral, citrusy and sour from the higher lemon content. The acidic level is a tad lower. The darker fruit note is no longer evident. Much of the perique was replaced by tangy, earthy, woody, vegetative, spicy, mildly floral, herbal, barbecue-like dark fired Kentucky. The perique is a little more than a condiment now. The strength and nic-hit are currently on equal footing with the taste level, which is almost medium now. It is a cleaner smoke, moderately more floral, spicy, mildly sweeter, fruitier, and a tad more sour with the aforementioned DFK being the dominant component over the Virginias by a few slots. The room note is a bit stronger, too. All of the other previous notations remain the same. It can be an all day smoke, and is a three star blend. My current rating at TR reflects the new version.
-JimInks
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 08, 2017 | Medium to Strong | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
Wessex - Sovereign Curly Cut (Brigade).
As this blend has a lot of diversity with the reviews, especially regarding the added flavour and strength of Perique, it just goes to prove just how subjective our tastes are!
Curly Cut and Roll Cake are often very uncertain descriptions, sometimes the blend's presented as neat coins yet on other occasions it's almost ribbons. This is quite neat: mostly small coins with very few ribbons. For immediate smoking my tin couldn't have been any better, but in all honesty I wouldn't trust it in the cellar for long; it looked a LITTLE too dry. I give the small coins a further rubbing, and they become coarse ribbons with only a delicate touch.
There seems to be a slight amount of acrimony regarding added flavour: it runs from None, to Medium to Strong, so this intrigued me. I can only identify a sort of sweetness, at first, but this transpires into a kind of dough/pastry-esc flavour. The other area that attracts rancour is the strength of Perique; I can clearly taste it, to my palate it's the stronger of the two leaves: dark fruit, lots of spice, and slightly sharp. The burn from Sovereign is good, but the smoke has a predilection to become too warm.
Again, I have to disagree with the common view on nicotine: I find it medium to strong, but I'll roll with the crowd on the room-note: pleasant.
This is a nice smoke, but falls just short of being highly recommended:
Three stars.
As this blend has a lot of diversity with the reviews, especially regarding the added flavour and strength of Perique, it just goes to prove just how subjective our tastes are!
Curly Cut and Roll Cake are often very uncertain descriptions, sometimes the blend's presented as neat coins yet on other occasions it's almost ribbons. This is quite neat: mostly small coins with very few ribbons. For immediate smoking my tin couldn't have been any better, but in all honesty I wouldn't trust it in the cellar for long; it looked a LITTLE too dry. I give the small coins a further rubbing, and they become coarse ribbons with only a delicate touch.
There seems to be a slight amount of acrimony regarding added flavour: it runs from None, to Medium to Strong, so this intrigued me. I can only identify a sort of sweetness, at first, but this transpires into a kind of dough/pastry-esc flavour. The other area that attracts rancour is the strength of Perique; I can clearly taste it, to my palate it's the stronger of the two leaves: dark fruit, lots of spice, and slightly sharp. The burn from Sovereign is good, but the smoke has a predilection to become too warm.
Again, I have to disagree with the common view on nicotine: I find it medium to strong, but I'll roll with the crowd on the room-note: pleasant.
This is a nice smoke, but falls just short of being highly recommended:
Three stars.
Pipe Used:
Fred Tranter Own Make
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
Age When Smoked:
Three Moths
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 09, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
This is a pretty good VaPer. Sweet hay and a hint of tang from the Virginias. Dark fruit and a fair amount of spice from the Perique. That seems to contradict some of the other reviews here and I'm thinking if you can't find the Perique in this, maybe you should try it in a cob or a different briar. I have no trouble at all, in fact, I'd say the two components have near equal influence. There is some added sweetness in a topping. Perhaps it's technically correct to say there is no casing. Casing? Topping? Meh, just semantics. I won't give this 4 stars as there are at least a half-dozen VaPers that I prefer, but I will give it a rock solid 3.
Mild to medium in body and taste. Added sweetness is mild. Burns very well.
Mild to medium in body and taste. Added sweetness is mild. Burns very well.
Pipe Used:
MM Marcus, Country Gentleman, Mark Twain
PurchasedFrom:
Mars cigars and pipes
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 09, 2015 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I smoked this after reviewing Peter Heinrich Special Curly, as they are very similar. I prefer to rub out the disks to a ribbon cut. The Virginias in Wessex Brigade Sovereign Curly Cut are a little darker and provide a deeper taste profile. This has a touch more perique and is a little fuller with less sweetness. This burns slightly cooler. Both are excellent, but I prefer the Heinrich Special Curly because it is mellower, milder and easy on the throat. This is closer to The Three Nuns of years past. Not the same, but an acceptable replacement for those who miss the original.
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes and Cigars
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 2021 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
this is an often overlooked blend from the Wessex Brigade series. its a disc Virgina, with a touch of perique. And aged with cider. One only notices the cider because of the softness of the overall taste. its cool and very pleasant. Not exactly profound and rather simple at times. I really think Wessex has some superb blends....Red Virginia Flake, Brown Virginia Flake, the dark brigade flake and Gold Slice....(in particular, which is the purest version...). But this is fine...just not quite as good as it should be.
PurchasedFrom:
cup o joes
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 14, 2018 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
Va/per coin cut means a must try blend!once the tin breaks a nice fresh aroma comes out.citruses,grass,spices and plums are combined with a cider topping.the blend is consisted of little coins mixed with broken coins and some virginia ribbons.the moisture is low and the blend can be packed as it is or rubbed out.i prefer it the way it is as lighting is not hard and burning is slower.while burning the flavours are decent natural and satisfying.virginias are grassy ,citrusy,sour and earthy.perique is in the backround offering some spices,figs and plums.the cider topping nullifies a bit the tobacco flavours and in my opinion sometimes ruins the experience.generally the combination is mostly balanced and pleasant.burns medium speed and if rubbed qick,medium to hot with a lot moisture being created at the end of the bowl and the filter not to perfect ash.the room note is pleasant and nicotine level medium.no chance of tongue bite.definitelly an all day smoke.aftertaste is pleasant.in conclusion this is a nice blend but not something unique.my opinion is that the cider ruins a bit the whole experience.
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 22, 2014 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
A friend gave me a very generous sample of this that was roughly 5 years aged. It was actually a blind taste test.
The little coins are very similar in size and shape to MB Roll Cake. That's about it as the colors are not the same and the smoke is a completely different world.
This tobacco packs very easily and the pancake method of stacking the little coinds seems to get great results. I never had any dottle left with this blend.
The flavor of the smoke is a nice clean tobacco taste. I don't think it's been topped or cased in any way even. The VA is sweet and the perique is more like a very light condiment. One reviewer made the comparison to a cider and I find that very appropriate. Reminiscent of a hot cider with some cinnamon and maybe the teeniest amount of paprika or chili powder just to give it a little zing.
This tin is a little pricy compared to some other Vapers; see Escudo. So I can see how people are less than thrilled with it. Perique fiends will probably find this boring but if you find some blends have too much of it, this is probably a good start. I would love to give this 2.5 stars but it the lack of perique doesn't make it a bad blend at all. It is a high quality easy to pack flavorful blend.
The little coins are very similar in size and shape to MB Roll Cake. That's about it as the colors are not the same and the smoke is a completely different world.
This tobacco packs very easily and the pancake method of stacking the little coinds seems to get great results. I never had any dottle left with this blend.
The flavor of the smoke is a nice clean tobacco taste. I don't think it's been topped or cased in any way even. The VA is sweet and the perique is more like a very light condiment. One reviewer made the comparison to a cider and I find that very appropriate. Reminiscent of a hot cider with some cinnamon and maybe the teeniest amount of paprika or chili powder just to give it a little zing.
This tin is a little pricy compared to some other Vapers; see Escudo. So I can see how people are less than thrilled with it. Perique fiends will probably find this boring but if you find some blends have too much of it, this is probably a good start. I would love to give this 2.5 stars but it the lack of perique doesn't make it a bad blend at all. It is a high quality easy to pack flavorful blend.
Pipe Used:
Cobs and briars
Age When Smoked:
>5 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 2013 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I really wanted to like this tobacco more, as it is nearly everything I like in a VaPer. A friend who is a VaPer fan that I shared some with used adjectives like 'delightful,' and 'smooth.' I found it a bit boring, on the other hand, and even a little bitey at times, but on the whole, a fairly solid if unexciting VaPer. Since I know there are many tobaccos out there I would rate a 4, the question arises would I rebuy this particular tobacco, assuming my tastes don't change much more. In this case, the answer is no.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 06, 2004 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Made in Germany by the same blender of Rattray?s, Astley?s and McConnell?s, this is a faintly sweet tobacco, manufactured with great attention to detail and outstanding craftsmanship. On opening the elegant silver tin (its one in Wessex?s Brigade Series) one is greeted by the naturally sweet aroma of golden Virginias, and a spicy whiff of Pèrique, all very delicate and sober. The tobacco itself is beautifully presented: light and reddish browns, and golden ribbons, intermingled with the slightly darker hues of penny-like discs. There is a reminiscence of the original Three Nuns, but because of the milder aroma of Curly Cut this would be more like the Three Novices. The general impression is of a blend of high quality, clean, fresh and inviting. The tobacco is easy to pack (you may wish to further rub out the tiny discs, but they can be packed inside the bowl as they are) and it lights gingerly. After an initial acidic and piquant tang the flavor settles down to deliver an elegant, tasty smoke, not unlike the taste of fresh pastry or biscuits, slightly sweet but not cloying. Mild in strength, and with a tendency to burn hot if carried away, it nevertheless burns evenly and joyfully. The Virginias predominate, while the Périque impishly lurks in the background, almost like a whisper. It reminds me of some of the Four Square renderings. It is a soft, consistent smoke that leaves a very nice room aroma but, unfortunately, a bit too mild for my taste. This could be a subdued version of PS Navy Cut, meaning that those weary of Pèrique?s aggressiveness need not be concerned, while Pèrique lovers will probably find this blend too soft and uneventful in that department. It may not be an extraordinary tobacco in terms of strength and flavor, but it certainly is a reliable, quality smoke, ideal for those who wish to get acquainted with both natural Virginias and Va/P mixtures, or as an early morning smoke before switching to a more powerful tobacco.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 05, 2022 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Always liked this, decided to let this one sit a while to see what happened. It still had decent moisture on opening and the coins had maintained their shape for the most part. The paper over the tobacco was deeply stained, the tobacco was very dark brown with some black flakes. Easy to light and stayed lit, the tobacco had mellowed so no tongue bite at all. The Virginia had a pastry like sweetness while the Perique was more prominent than on freshly opened tins. Doubt I would cellar this long again but interesting experiment. Have to admit, I will miss it when it's gone but Escudo is my go to in this category and this won't replace it.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Kinsale
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
12 years
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