Hearth & Home Virginia Spice

A very nice smoke. You get the sweetness of virginias. I can't detect any topping, just a clean smoke that shows off the tobacco. It has a creaminess to it, and a nice, but not overpowering cigar flavor. I don't know how to describe the cigar aspects, but it makes me imagine old books, maybe an empty wine barrel?

This seems to start off sweet and pretty mild, nice but mild. Toward the bottom half of the bowl, the flavor develops more and has a nice peppery spiciness to it (Perique?). Until the last half, I wasn't sure why they called this Virginia Spice.

Another thing I like about this, with cigars, the last inch or so gets real nasty, ammonia like. This blend lets you enjoy the smoke till ashes. I just always hate how with a cigar you waste so much.

EDIT: Forgot to add, not even a hint of tongue bite.

I trust the ingredients listing that there is some cigar leaf in this blend, but it must be mild. I really didn't specifically taste it. This is not unusual by any means as it pertains to cigar leaf in pipe tobacco.

Still this is a good Va Per in its own right as are many of the Va Pers coming out of H & H. The Virginias are very grassy to my tastes. I found the perique to be there for sure, but not overpowering in the least. Overall, with a blend containing both Perique and cigar leaf, my biggest disappointment was that it was not very potent in the nicotine department.

It is an enjoyable blend that is well done, just don't expect any cigar likeness and don't expect too much a departure from a typical VaPer.

A good friend wanted to introduce me to VaPers and this was his choice blend. This was also my introduction to Hearth and Home Blends. It is quite good but will nip you if taken too fast. Sweet and spicy as the name would indicate. This is an enjoyable sit down smoke... I tried taking it for a walk, not a good idea - a little too strong for a strolling tobacco. The cigar leaf does come out and give this mix a bit of a N kick, not huge but noticeable. Not quite smooth, but full. Burns well, the mixture was neither too moist or too dry from the tin - perfect actually and I don't find that too often. The room note was on the low pleasant side as the wife did not object, but did not rave either. It did fluctuate between a good full clouds of smoke to a bit thin in the cloud department, yet it finished well. I'm not sure if it will be in my regular rotation as cigar leaf, even a bit, does not appeal to me but this is worth a try for something a just a little off the beaten path. The quality of the tobacco and good moisture content packing will have me exploring other Hearth and Home blends.

While listed as a VaPer with some cigar leaf in it I would switch that around and state that it is more a cigar blend with some Virginia and Perique thrown in. It kind of falls in the category of VaPer-like, similar to Haddo's, but there is other stuff thrown in to alter the tastes a bit.

Regardless, this was a great blend to smoke and I would highly recommend it to anyone who may be burnt out on VaPers or someone who just wants to try something a little different.

The taste and aroma for this blend takes you on a rollercoaster ride. One minute it smells and tastes like a VaPer, the next it smells and tastes like your smoking a Macanudo Maduro. All in all, it's a tasty blend, burns well, no bite, and the price is good.

A nice blend. Pleasant and satisfying. Wish it had a touch more Perique.

Just what the world needs: another VaPer and another VaPer review.

The saving grace of this fine tobacco, however, is that it's not just a Vaper. It's a CiVaPer or a VaPerGar or a VaCiPer. For me lately it's been a PaCiFier.

The tobacco hits all of the right notes with its components--Virginia, Perique, cigar leaf. The Virginia provides bright, herbal/grassy aromas and a lingering sweetness. The Perique adds its signature dried fruit aromas and acidity and the cigar leaf fattens up the whole blend, giving body and richness. Every now and then, the integrity of the blend comes apart like a wanton braid, but the effect of this unraveling is genuinely pleasant.

The richness provided by the cigar leaf here might be too much for those who aren't particularly fond of cigars themselves, but pipers who also smoke cigars might like this very much. I've always been of the mind that when I want to smoke a pipe, I will; and when I want to smoke a cigar, I'll do that. But I don't want a cigar that tastes like a pipe or pipe tobacco that reminds me of a cigar. I still hold to that, but really the cigar-ness of this blend shows up as a series of flashes, not a sustained, gar-ish assault on the tender senses of most pipe smokers.

I guess I like this a whole bunch. I find I like this best late in the evening with a small black beer or a smaller brown Bourbon. And while reading Hemingway, lost among the Spanish and found among the bulls. Somehow he just completes this very good tobacco for me.

It took a few bowls for me to define the taste of this blend. My bag came at the right dryness level for a ready pack. It packs and lights nicely, and stays lit.

This tobacco burns cool. The taste is mildly sweet and spicey. However, the sweetness and after taste reminds me of artificial sugar like used in diet soda. I am more of a burley lover but like to switch to virginia blends for variety. For a Virginia based blend with all the goodies added, this is good tobacco. I've given it 3 stars because of the artificial sugar taste. It could be in my head. I don't know. It's just there for me.

I was recently gifted a few samples from the Hearth and Home series and this one is a keeper. I was impressed with them all really, but this is the one, along with Larry's Blend, that I'm definitely ordering more of.(dp) I should also say that I noticed a similar creaminess among all the blends that just might be from casing, though it's so light, it's hard to tell. . . Could be Russ' leaf. On to Virginia Spice. .

This is my first cigar blend. This is a very well rounded blend, flavor-wise. Nothing takes over. Each leaf plays well with others. It's sweet, yes, spicey, and has a depth from the cigar leaf that I really like! (No bite, either, but I won't smoke anything that does). Great taste from the perique, too; not just pepper, but a little of the old fermented plum. Virginias (tastey ones) are a great base.

My sample was quite dry, so lighting was no problem, but the burn rate was a little high. Therefore, I've got to hold off on all four stars 'till I get some with a bit more moisture. Nicotine content is just right for a relaxing smoke with a book or an in depth study of a spider's crawl across the ceiling. Of course, if you're so inclined, you could also try interacting with humans, but they may not enjoy the room note. I think it smells just fine;-}

I am a new Smoker of virginias and the first word that comes to mind when smoking the virginias of my main preference is sweet. Home and Hearth's Virginia spice is NOT that kind of virginia.. yet it is completely tasty in it's own way.

I liken this blend to black coffee. Some people like sweet flavorings or cream to mellow thier joe out. This is more like a naturally tasty coffee that tastes good with no sugar or cream added. At first light it might taste a bit too strong or heavy but mid bowl I've found this blend mellows to a nice dark rich flavor with a coffeeish flavor. Its not too tangy or sweet but it is rich and a treat in it's own right.

I wouldn't make it my daily smoke but it's a perfect bit of that something different, confident in it's own right. Might be perfect for the person who hates sweet but loves virginia.

One last word, the nicotene level (probably due to the perique) seems to be high. I enjoyed this. I had to set the bowl down to take a break at one point but this suited me just fine.