Details
| Brand | Wessex |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | Straight Virginia |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Plug |
| Packaging | 3. 5 ounce cellophane wrapper |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.09 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 2013 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Pretty innocuous. I mean, look at it.
Wessex Gold Brick is a bit more than a 2 X 2 inch, sort of grayish-brown block with specks of gold and black wrapped in a piece of cellophane. Wrapped like dates at the supermarket -- Not the most graceful presentation, to say the least. OK, lets slice this sucker open. {Sniff, sniff} ... smells like tobacco, maybe a bit of spice ... but where the hell is the coffee?
Oh man, maybe I made a mistake on this. It's expensive. It feels dry. Oh well, let's find a sharp enough knife to open this and peel a couple slices off this sucker. Hmm... slices easily enough, actually seems more moist than it looks. {Chop, chop} ... I like how it cube cuts too... Wow, there is actually are going to be quite a few slices from this 100 gram plug... OK, well now it feels too moist, so lets let it dry 10-15 minutes. La La La. There -- that's about right.
Time to load these cubes in this very pretty Astley Charatan Make quarter bent straight grain dublin panel (the conical bowl should make any cube cut virgina worth it's salt sing)! Packin' it in there tightly; sprinklin' the small crumbled remnants on top and it's time to light this stuff and get this show on the road!
Hmm ... puffs pre-light = still no coffee. But I do like the taste. Char light puffs up the cubes a bit, true light went well and this stuff is burning evenly. There's a little nuttiness (maybe a touch of quality burley?) that compliments the sweetness of the virginias nicely. Also a bit of cream (yes, cream without the coffee). It is burning evenly and cool, leaving a powdery white ash. No goop, no bite, and no complexity to peak of. Damn tasty though. Vitamin N, at the level I experience from most virginia leaves, is higher than expected, which is fine by me.
This Gold Brick (WGB) is burning very slowly -- this Astley is a solid Group 5, and any cube-cut virginia flake won't ever win a race to the bottom of the bowl, but still, this WGB is burning slower than most of my other virginia blends. Not a bad thing.
It's made in Germany, but reminds me of good old time USA virginia. Looks and reminds me a bit of Day's Work (do they still make that stuff?) but IIRC, Day's Work chew was much more moist. Must be the cellophane wrapper.
This stuff grows on you. Sort of like a plain girl you knew in high school that turned out to be interesting and fun to spend time with. Recommended. This could be an all day smoke.
But if someone finds the coffee, let me know what they did with it, OK?
Wessex Gold Brick is a bit more than a 2 X 2 inch, sort of grayish-brown block with specks of gold and black wrapped in a piece of cellophane. Wrapped like dates at the supermarket -- Not the most graceful presentation, to say the least. OK, lets slice this sucker open. {Sniff, sniff} ... smells like tobacco, maybe a bit of spice ... but where the hell is the coffee?
Oh man, maybe I made a mistake on this. It's expensive. It feels dry. Oh well, let's find a sharp enough knife to open this and peel a couple slices off this sucker. Hmm... slices easily enough, actually seems more moist than it looks. {Chop, chop} ... I like how it cube cuts too... Wow, there is actually are going to be quite a few slices from this 100 gram plug... OK, well now it feels too moist, so lets let it dry 10-15 minutes. La La La. There -- that's about right.
Time to load these cubes in this very pretty Astley Charatan Make quarter bent straight grain dublin panel (the conical bowl should make any cube cut virgina worth it's salt sing)! Packin' it in there tightly; sprinklin' the small crumbled remnants on top and it's time to light this stuff and get this show on the road!
Hmm ... puffs pre-light = still no coffee. But I do like the taste. Char light puffs up the cubes a bit, true light went well and this stuff is burning evenly. There's a little nuttiness (maybe a touch of quality burley?) that compliments the sweetness of the virginias nicely. Also a bit of cream (yes, cream without the coffee). It is burning evenly and cool, leaving a powdery white ash. No goop, no bite, and no complexity to peak of. Damn tasty though. Vitamin N, at the level I experience from most virginia leaves, is higher than expected, which is fine by me.
This Gold Brick (WGB) is burning very slowly -- this Astley is a solid Group 5, and any cube-cut virginia flake won't ever win a race to the bottom of the bowl, but still, this WGB is burning slower than most of my other virginia blends. Not a bad thing.
It's made in Germany, but reminds me of good old time USA virginia. Looks and reminds me a bit of Day's Work (do they still make that stuff?) but IIRC, Day's Work chew was much more moist. Must be the cellophane wrapper.
This stuff grows on you. Sort of like a plain girl you knew in high school that turned out to be interesting and fun to spend time with. Recommended. This could be an all day smoke.
But if someone finds the coffee, let me know what they did with it, OK?
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2008 | Very Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant |
As a matured Virginia Plug smoker for 45 years I was a bit hesitant to try this plug. However, I have been more than surprised by this rather plain, somewhat unassuming Virginia Plug.
The description is semi-accurate. "Rich" I don't taste but "old-fashioned" is "dead-on". There was a plug tobacco I smoked back in the early 60's from Europe that was very similar to this and was brought to me by a family friend who was there monthly for many years. I can't recall the name though... wish I could.
While this plug is not in the "matured Virginia" catagory, it does have a taste and aroma that bespeaks of simpler times and care-free puffing. Initailly, I found the plug straight-forward...but, with more time in smoking this, it has its own set of complex overtones that are very appealing; yet still straight-forward.
It is very "earthy"... I taste the subtleties, but don't have to get involved in considering complexities. Puff and enjoy at work and play. I especially enjoy this in the evening in a group 5 straight billiard with a single malt on the "smokey/peaty" side.
I highly recommend this plug!
...a pipe is to be savored.
The description is semi-accurate. "Rich" I don't taste but "old-fashioned" is "dead-on". There was a plug tobacco I smoked back in the early 60's from Europe that was very similar to this and was brought to me by a family friend who was there monthly for many years. I can't recall the name though... wish I could.
While this plug is not in the "matured Virginia" catagory, it does have a taste and aroma that bespeaks of simpler times and care-free puffing. Initailly, I found the plug straight-forward...but, with more time in smoking this, it has its own set of complex overtones that are very appealing; yet still straight-forward.
It is very "earthy"... I taste the subtleties, but don't have to get involved in considering complexities. Puff and enjoy at work and play. I especially enjoy this in the evening in a group 5 straight billiard with a single malt on the "smokey/peaty" side.
I highly recommend this plug!
...a pipe is to be savored.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 03, 2020 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Unnoticeable |
The tobacco store that I sometimes frequent had one of these left on sale and I bought it about three years ago, maybe even longer. Upon opening the cellophane, I observed a solid brick that reminded me of particle board in the way it looked. It is about 1 ¾ inch wide and 1 ½ inch thick. Has a nice sweet smell to it. The first day of smoking this I just peeled off a few layers and this smoked really mild and mellow. The second day of smoking I cut across the grain and was met with a more medium flavorful smoke. This has a consistent flavor throughout the smoke and it is a nice enjoyable VA. I had it on the porch with some ice tea and could not have a nicer summer afternoon. The reason I guess I waited so long on this one was the brick was so nice looking I hated to destroy it. 😊
Pipe Used:
Briar
Age When Smoked:
At least 3 years.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 12, 2012 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Wessex Gold Brick … A 100 Gram (brick) plug of tobacco, that must have been too moist, because straight from the package light-up was almost impossible, so for that reason I dried it out some and found the following smokes much less troublesome. As for handling the plug, I just sliced up a nice pile and put in an old tobacco tin and smoked it like any other broken flake, IMO it's well worth the extra effort.
They call this tobacco a Virginia plug, but it is unlike any so-called straight Va. I've tried before; I taste something more than straight Virginia, I would guess it probably has some burley and maybe some Orientals in its mix, at least to some degree. By the way, that is not a complaint; this stuff IMHO is quite good, smooth with little change from light-up to ashes, with no bite even at a increased puffing rate and very satisfying in the Nic. department. Kind of like a especially good Carter Hall, only a bowl of GB seems to last a lot longer.
GB has a pretty much an all tobacco taste, that is just mild enough that I can enjoy a bowl or three at any time of the day. GB should satisfy most of the non-aro smokers out there, that find enjoyment in old time American Virginia style smokes, and of all things it took a German company to produce it. If this sounds like your kind of smoke, I would highly recommend you give this blend a try. I'm hooked.
They call this tobacco a Virginia plug, but it is unlike any so-called straight Va. I've tried before; I taste something more than straight Virginia, I would guess it probably has some burley and maybe some Orientals in its mix, at least to some degree. By the way, that is not a complaint; this stuff IMHO is quite good, smooth with little change from light-up to ashes, with no bite even at a increased puffing rate and very satisfying in the Nic. department. Kind of like a especially good Carter Hall, only a bowl of GB seems to last a lot longer.
GB has a pretty much an all tobacco taste, that is just mild enough that I can enjoy a bowl or three at any time of the day. GB should satisfy most of the non-aro smokers out there, that find enjoyment in old time American Virginia style smokes, and of all things it took a German company to produce it. If this sounds like your kind of smoke, I would highly recommend you give this blend a try. I'm hooked.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 22, 2023 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Package note of tangy, grassy and pine. Tobacco is a plug of marbled tan, brown and dark brown. Moisture content is good. A few pipe smokers will want to dry it a bit. Burns slow with few relights. The strength is mild to medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is mild to medium and very consistent, with notes of lemon grass, floral, bready, wood, fermented sour vegetation, sweet hay, orange peel/zest, earth, spices, mild leather, mildly acidic, mildly savory, sugar, creamy, a tart and tangy stewed fruit background note, and a peppery retro. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is good.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Bard Rusticated 221 Fishtail
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
2 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 2019 | Very Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant |
It was highly respected in China a few years ago.
Old pipers say that aging for more than 6 years will become the best. (Too many years, so the new pipe is not bought)
It has been 5 years, I can't wait.
My approach is to cut from top to bottom, covering all floors. Cut into falke and make a ribbon with my fingers.
It is easy to burn. I was surprised that this is a very cool smoke. Very sweet and elegant. Nicotine is rare, I can smoke one all day.
It will be one of my favorite Virginia.
Very lucky, I have a lot of inventory.
Old pipers say that aging for more than 6 years will become the best. (Too many years, so the new pipe is not bought)
It has been 5 years, I can't wait.
My approach is to cut from top to bottom, covering all floors. Cut into falke and make a ribbon with my fingers.
It is easy to burn. I was surprised that this is a very cool smoke. Very sweet and elegant. Nicotine is rare, I can smoke one all day.
It will be one of my favorite Virginia.
Very lucky, I have a lot of inventory.
Pipe Used:
celius
Age When Smoked:
5 years old in lock&lock
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 11, 2018 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
The most smooth and most comfortable Virginia I ever taste, very sweet, very mild.
Four stars all day smoke.
As I said, it needs more breathing time. I cut it into thin flakes then put them into a mason jar for couple days. And it is not working if you put it on a paper airing for ten to twenty minutes or in a spare tin for eight to twelve hours, which just decrease the moisture condition, but the moisture condition is perfect from the new tin.
If you just cut the plug into flakes then rub carefully to smoke, you can only get a harsh and bold Virginia smoking experience.
Four stars all day smoke.
As I said, it needs more breathing time. I cut it into thin flakes then put them into a mason jar for couple days. And it is not working if you put it on a paper airing for ten to twenty minutes or in a spare tin for eight to twelve hours, which just decrease the moisture condition, but the moisture condition is perfect from the new tin.
If you just cut the plug into flakes then rub carefully to smoke, you can only get a harsh and bold Virginia smoking experience.
Pipe Used:
churchwarden
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 24, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is a very good "standard" blend. I can find no fault in it. It is not complex but it is far from one dimensional. I removed mine from the foil as soon as I received it. On opening I was rather disappointed, no aroma at all. I put it into a 16 oz. mason jar and after a year opened it. Wow! What a change, I get dark fruits and sweet tobacco upon smelling it. The flavor while simple had nuance. I got the dark dried fruits, a little earthiness, and hay (way in the background). No this is not the most complex VA I have ever tried but sometimes standard fair fits the bill. Nothing wrong with meat and potatoes instead of a rich French meal. Same here, this is a meat and potatoes tobacco that satisfies. It never tasted ashy or like cigarette and it never bit. I really enjoyed it as the weather is starting to cool but far from cold. It could find a way into a rotation in early Fall or later in the Spring for me. I am very glad I have another brick in the cellar.
Age When Smoked:
1 yr.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 24, 2006 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Wessex Gold Brick comes in the form of a 2 x 3 x 2" rectangular plug. It has a sweet woodsy aroma in the foil pouch
I happen to be the proud owner of an old fashioned cast iron tobacco plug cutter. I was able to easily cut the plug into thin slices not unlike the ones we buy commercially (Erinmore, Edgeworth etc...)
Once the cutting (A daunting task without a cutter or VERY sharp knife) is done, the tobacco rubs out and packs quite easily
One thorough light with a wooden match and a careful tamp or two, and this brown and golden brown flecked tobacco is on it's way. Perfect moisture level.
This tobacco delivers medium bodied sweet nutty smoke from beginning to end. If you cut the plug thick and rub it out into a "wide flakey" texture, it burns cool and smooth. Though it doesn't say so on the package, I believe a moderate amount of Burley is present evidenced by the sweet nutty undertones.
If you don't mind a little careful and involved preparation, this is a real treat. Sweet and nutty with a slightly bright tangy overtone typical of well matured Virginias.
I still like Wessex Burley Flake more than this, but Gold Brick is my second in command
I happen to be the proud owner of an old fashioned cast iron tobacco plug cutter. I was able to easily cut the plug into thin slices not unlike the ones we buy commercially (Erinmore, Edgeworth etc...)
Once the cutting (A daunting task without a cutter or VERY sharp knife) is done, the tobacco rubs out and packs quite easily
One thorough light with a wooden match and a careful tamp or two, and this brown and golden brown flecked tobacco is on it's way. Perfect moisture level.
This tobacco delivers medium bodied sweet nutty smoke from beginning to end. If you cut the plug thick and rub it out into a "wide flakey" texture, it burns cool and smooth. Though it doesn't say so on the package, I believe a moderate amount of Burley is present evidenced by the sweet nutty undertones.
If you don't mind a little careful and involved preparation, this is a real treat. Sweet and nutty with a slightly bright tangy overtone typical of well matured Virginias.
I still like Wessex Burley Flake more than this, but Gold Brick is my second in command
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