Ashton Gold Rush

I try to review each tobacco I encounter on its own merits without too much reference to other's points of view. But one can't help glancing through what lies beneath and in this case I have to say that there seem to have been some very harsh judgements.

First, why do so many insist that there is a casing/topping here? I certainly can't detect any, although perhaps the lightness and sweetness of this blend has led some astray.

Bear in mind good people of the US - for I believe you are in the majority here - that not all straight Virginias are either ketchup scented (US style), or dried hay (UK style). There are European blenders who do things just a little differently and I believe that K&K are true to the roots of this particular variant in what they have achieved.

And that is: light, grassy and - yes - lemony leaves which burn smoothly and easily. Nothing too complicated going on here, just a very steady dose of fine smoking goodness, done in a slightly different manner, but assuredly Virginia nonetheless.

So take it for what it is, don't decry it for what it isn't and enjoy it if you have a mind to.

Recommended.

I bought this tin when it was a new blend , whenever that was . I popped the tin when I first bought it and it had a lemony flavor [ top noteish ] along with the Virginia , which was very nice . It burned perfect and was a wonderful consistent smoke to the bottom .I'd have given it 3 stars . However , I let the 2nd half of the tin age in a jar for maybe 5 months .. it's even better ! The Lemony flavor toned down and it developed a near perique spice like flavor that I hadn't tasted when it was fresh . It still lit and burned perfect , of course , and I will be ordering more to cellar ! It's a 4 star blend all the way with not a whole lot of aging .. I love it Edit 7/20015 For anyone above who says they don't believe this is a pure Virginia blend .. it is . The tobacco it contains is all Virginia and it is mildly flavored with Lemon and honey . No , it isn't a " raw " Virginia [ what is , in reality ] and yes , it's has a mild aromatic flavoring

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just like it says in the description . Please , don't not try this blend because someone says it isn't Virginia . You'd be better off reading the tin description that reading TR it seem . They'll let anyone post here

This new Ashton blend tasted a bit "new." Not really a good thing for tobacco. Still, it certainly has the potential to age well in the tin.

If you enjoy a somewhat tangy, light and lemony Virginia, this will be a bell ringer. I found the flavor to be somewhat light and the nicotine content is low.

Caution: Smoke it slowly.

After Samuel Gawith's Full Virginia Flake introduced me to the world of straight Virginias, I seeked a companion that can be on the mild side, so I may consider it an all-day smoke (FVF is more of an evening smoke for me). Plus, Ashton makes good tobaccos and this one was next in line after their excellent Englishes.

Gold Rush presents itself in nuances of light and dark brown colors, which makes me believe there's more than one type of Virginia in this blend. The cut is more of a loose cut than a ribbon. You have ribbons, some chunky bits and pieces of broken flakes. The tin note? It smells like a Virginia. It's sweet, grassy, with a pretty noticeable honey odor, plus an almost fermented flagrance. Comes pretty moist in the tin, but not too bad. 30 minutes of drying time is more than enough.

Mechanically, if dried properly, shouldn't pose too many problems. Packs well, lights well, stays lit nicely and only required a handful of relights. Doesn't bite, smokes dry and pretty cool for a Virginia. However, there's one problem caused by the cut: it burns a little too fast. The pipe of choice has a decently sized bowl and filled should smoke for at least one and a half hour with a good ribbon; two hours or more with a flake or broken flake. This one was finished in about one hour.

Once you light it and get it under control, you can start enjoying the flavor. And this one has what you would expect from a straight VA: sweet, grassy, hay-ish, slight citrusy taste. I detect a faint hint of honey, though I'm not sure if that's the topping or if it comes from the natural sweetness of the Virginia leaf. But, overall, a sweet smoke and pretty even throughout the bowl, though it can turn a bit acrid/sour as you're getting close to the heel.

In the end, it's a pretty mild and a nice, pleasant, sweet smoke. It's a good offering from Ashton. Definitely an all-day smoke and can be a good initiation for someone who has never smoked a straight Virginia before, but I would also recommend it to Virginia lovers who want to smoke something mild. The cut didn't allow me to enjoy it longer, which is a pity, but I will still recommend it.

Ashton - Gold Rush.

Update, 25/07/18.

The blend's borderline broken flake. None of it requires a further rubbing but it's coarser than a standard ribbon cut. As you'd expect from a Virginia, the contents are medium brown with a few lighter flecks.

The smoke from it's high quality. There's a light fruity note, citrus, on top of sweet Virginias, with a touch of honey-sweetness. The Virginias don't have a sharp, grassy, flavour alone. As a bowl burns they develop more of a ripe, tangy, tartness, and become more satisfying. The smoke from it's medium in temperature, delivered from a consistent burn, and only bites when really pushed.

Nicotine: medium at a push. Room-note: pleasant.

Gold Rush? My original take wasn't that high, but I've retyped as I find it a good smoke. Recommended:

Three stars.

I'm giving this 4 stars, I could have said, "3". But I love a light VA without a heavy casing. To me it's a more refined MacB's No.1 Va. Less sugary and the cut is golden flakes as opposed to broken flake. It was quite dry from the tin, which is great to smoke but I wonder with such lack of moisture in the tin how well it might age. It has a wonderful fresh citrus lemon taste, and not sour at all, just a hint of the honey in the background. It's simplicity and gentleness is it's strength. I love my darker aged and stoved VA's, but this is wonderful for the morning or summer strolls. I think it is very unfair to call this an aromatic or even a semi-aro, I wish other blends where as honest as this. Young leaf with a hint of lemon. Try some it will put some spring in the air.

Expectation controls satisfaction. I was looking for a straight, fresh tasting, mild Virginia and Gold Rush completely fills the bill. Nothing fancy, just pure light ribbon cut Virginia. It lights easily and burns to a white ash with a consistent flavor. To really appreciate this tobacco I recommend using a clean Meerschaum pipe. Low nicotine and delicate taste.

For me the best way to describe this is with an analogy: If premium pipe tobaccos are like the craft beer of smoking, often having big bold complex flavors, then Ashton Gold Rush is like a craft brewed version of a classic, subtle, well-balanced pilsner.

It's not going to blow your mind with huge flavors and a complex journey for your palette but it certainly is a nice crisp, easy drinkin, well-crafted, all day kind of smoke.

For me that is what I really enjoy about this blend in particular is the simplicity of it that allows you to really enjoy the flavor of the Virginias on their own rather than a loud cacophony of countless different flavors all screaming for your attention.

It's a refreshing, light treat with some subtle notes of dried hay, lemon grass, and honey here and there but honestly the main star here is just a beautiful classic tobacco flavor. Maybe that sounds odd to say but I really enjoy just the good old baccy flavor in this.

An interesting aspect of this blend though are the smoking mechanics. My tin was fairly moist and I've smoked it as-is from the tin and other bowls after letting it dry out. This tobacco burns very well, even when moist surprisingly. If packed loosely it will burn VERY quick yet not very hot. if packed tightly it will burn slower but has a tendency to heat up. And this seems to be the case whether it's tin-moist or dried further. I actually like this aspect of it because I can pack it loose for a quick smoke or pack a little tighter for a long slow easy-puffing session. I've had 8 bowls of this so far and no matter the moisture level or packing method I've used it always seems well behaved and burns completely... just don't pack it tight and puff it hard.

I gave this a try as it sounded like something I could smoke all day without too much fuss. And it is. The tin note is of raisins, grassy Virginias with a very subtle Citrus topping. Ribbon cut. This is a delightful all day smoke. Moisture was about right out of the tin but a day or two in a jar really brings out the flavour. It's not a complex smoke, just a very pleasant, mild and delicious Virginia. Nice with a glass of lemonade. This is now my all day smoke. I get no bite, it stays lit very well, and burns right down to a nice dry ash. My latest batch seems to be a bit more towards raisins than citrus which is odd, but I can't detect much change in the taste. My only gripe is there seems to be a lot of 'twigs' in the mix and the price is a little on the high side for a fairly ordinary tobacco, but I really do enjoy it. Try it if you, like me, prefer light, mild tobacco.

Yes...Gold Rush is well done. It comes by as being a 100% Virginia mixture. There is no nuttiness or hint suggesting the use of Burley. If there is (and I am confident there is none), it is really no more than a small pinch; barely enough to fool me. Upon opening, I see lemon, bronze and probably what looks like a bit of red virginias as well. Mostly a ribbon cut, there is also pieces of flakes, darker in colour, suggesting stoved Virginias. I have no idea how old my tin was when I acquired it. However, it is labelled as of March 2016. Considering the tobacco was ready to smoke the day after opening, I suspect it has been tinned a few years prior. A. Strength: Strength refers to the intensity of the nicotine. Gold Rush is mild on the nicotine. B. Flavouring: The tin aroma does reveal some citrus and hay; but I cannot say I detect any honey. I would be surprised there is any added flavourings. If there are, they are subtle. C. Taste: Upon lighting up, nothing much happens at first. Past the first quarter, Gold Rush offers a very good quality, adequately aged Bronze and Lemon virginias taste: soft flavours of hay, citrus and, yes, maybe something very slightly sweet that reminds me of honey. It is never big ( which is perfectly normal, considering the type of Virginias used); thus, to get the best out of it, you must pay attention. If not, it will come by as being bland. D. Room Note: Gold Rush releases a soft and pleasant room note which is barely perceivable. E. Rating: Not only does it burn extremely well; but it is not harsh, it does not smoke hot and it does not bite. Taking into account my mitigated experiences with other Ashton offerings, Gold Rush has surprised me in a positive way. The best way I can describe it is that I find it refreshing and restful for my palate. And the quality of leaf used is irreproachable. I'm glad I bought it. And I will definitively be buying more. I assess that, starting at 5 to 7 years (and more), it will be a very pleasant smoke for my pipes. 3 stars.