Sutliff Tobacco Company 507C Virginia Slices

This is a good Virginia when fresh but definitely needs some age to really shine. When its fresh it tastes a little green and immature. Has some decent sweetness and hay flavors. Very earthy for a bright straight Virginia. I usually let mine sit for a few months before I am really able to fully enjoy it. After 2+ years it is exceptional. Retains the bright flavors but deepens in flavor and complexity.

This was my first experience with a full Virginia. It was a little underwhelming at first but after reading some of this other reviews about this blend I believe I will let it get some age. I smoked it with the cold and stuff method and found it to be extremely light but did leave some heat on my tongue, no bite though which was nice. On a very hot day I would definitely smoke this again.

Presentation: Comes in long flakes. I cut them in half and put them in a mylar bag. Slightly dense and moist. A nice color of gold and brown.

Palette: Tin note is citrus, orange and light grapefruit, a touch of honey, hay, light toast. Upon light up, it offers all the same flavors as the tin note. The blend doesn't change too much as the bowl progresses but it does become a little sweeter as the components caramelize. Don't expect much complexity.

Performance: Burns well. Decent pace with a few relights. Mild nicotine. Some moisture in the heel. Can run hot if chased and a little tongue bite.

Conclusion: This is basic as basic comes. What Sutliff lacks in this blend is complexity is made up for the price point and a really simple, no hassle straight VA flake that can keep you company for the years to come. I can't say what this tastes like aged, but I can only imagine that with like all pure Va flakes, age will do wonders and only solidify the flavors more deeply. Not my favorite VA flake but you really can't lose with this considering is ease of use and bulk pricing. A no nonsense blend and certainly don't need to think too hard while smoking.

It comes in beautiful flakes cut into long and wide strips, similar to Reiner's famous Blend 71. When cold, they have a pleasant aroma of Virginia tobacco, with just enough humidity to load directly from their container. It burns very well.

The flavor is typical of bright virginia hay, soft and light, with acid and citrus touches, quite spicy, more on the dry side than on the sweet side, although a slight sweetness is also sometimes appreciated. I have recently acquired it and although it is a young tobacco, I am already enjoying it. It reminds a bit of the yellow Capstan, although I like this 507 better.

I'll let it age about six months, as recommended around here, and will check it again. Then I will see if I raise another star or keep the three with which I rate it now.

Update 09/05/2021: the people here were right and seven months later this tobacco has gotten tastier. I leave pending the possible rise of a star for when the tin ends.

Nice mild Va and very much like other Navy flakes and similar Va flake that I have smoked. One night I finally tasted some citrus notes. Not sure why it took me smoking this on and off for over a month for that to happen. I started thinking about 7-up soda and was like wait a sec that is what I am tasting, especially on the retro! Came in a nice wrapped block of flakes. The flakes are loose and come apart rather easily. I had to cut them in half in order to fit into mason jars of my size choosing. The price is perfect. Between this and P.S. Luxury Navy Flake, I shall be buying as much of this as I possibly can and storing it just in case of a government caused tobaccopocalypse scenario where you can no longer order tobacco online. I can always buy tins of name brand stuff at local B&M for top taxed dollar but this could literally be your bread and butter and honestly it's pretty much just as good. I hear they age nicely. Bonus!

I smoke outside and this thing makes me choose a room note so I had to put something. My wife complains that I smell like cigarettes after I smoke Va and she's an ex cig smoker so it figures the better the pipe tobacco the worse the reaction from the peanut gallery.

Many moons ago my favourite straight Virginias were Rattray's Old Gowrie and Dunhill's Light Flake. New versions of both are readily available but, as it happens, they are not quite the same (some would argue, not even close).

I was positively surprised when, by chance, I tied Sutliff's Virginia Slices. Not because they purport to be a match to either of the illustrious aforementioned blends but because, in their own right, they are --in my view--within the same flavour range, as well as having similar strength and combustion rate.

None of the ketchup/vinegar undertones in Virginia Slices. Quite the contrary: the taste is superb, naturally sweet, akin to molasses and dried raisins. They're blended in such a way they won't bite, unless if puffed too hard. Similar to Opening Night, but with more flavour and intensity, as well as to Union Square, but with a more defined tobacco structure and greater strength.

Generally speaking I'm not a big fan of Sutliff blends, but these Virginia Slices are something else. Chapeau! Highly recommended to established Virginia flake smokers, as well as to those beginning to experiment with straight Virginias but wish to avoid tongue bite or the acidity of vinegar and ketchup.

Sutliff Virginia Slices is top quality, relaxing, consistent tobacco that really benefits from slow, steady-as-she-goes sipping. At least medium strength with a light Virginia flavour profile and a soft, underlying sweetness. Comes into its own loosely packed in a chimney or stack bowl. As a delicate, fall apart flake I tend to take mine rubbed out.

Natural flavor, easy rubbing and burning. Not a complex, but a pleasing, taste. Very surprisingly sweet and mild. These slices are thin and lengthy, and it's not really even necessary to rub them out at all. They could just be stuffed into the pipe right out of the bag.

A tasty, on the medium side of mild, pure Virginia. Just fold and stuff lightly. Slightly tangy and oh so grassy. As others have said this is rather monolithic — a simple straight shot of pretty good VA.

I don’t find it … amazing. Not quite ‘comforting.’ I love Virginias and fit them in my very informal rotation as a palate cleanser between the English and Balkans and Orientals and Aromatics and the xyz blends.

I’m glad this blend exists.