Dan Tobacco Hamborger Veermaster

Nice notes of various fruits with a grassy tang. Mildly sweet and spicy. The spice and tang get a little stronger as the bowl progresses. Has an extremely mild sweet topping. Fairly well rounded, could use a little more help at the deep end of the spectrum. Maintains it's flavor very well throughout the bowl. Has a nice smoothness under the tang and spice. A very pleasurable smoke.

Mild to medium in body. Flavoring is extremely mild. Taste is medium. Burns very well.

Typical sweet aroma of virgina after opening sample hit your nose. Very sweet and mellow smoke with hint of spicy taste (no idea where it comes from) Sometimes I have feeling the sweetness comes from topping. Burns well, no many relights needed. I did not notice any of moisture.

Overall very gentle smoke with mild to medium nic hint. One of the better VA out there.

I agree with some other reviewers that there maybe a touch of Perique added to the Virginias. I get mostly a touch of pepper on top of bread and hay. On some puffs I taste a little citrus and on others a slight chocolate flavor. Puff slowly on this and the flavor opens up.

The burn was fantastic. I was in the mood for something that didn’t need babysitting and this fit the bill. I usually smoke stronger blends, but I really liked this one and will smoke again.

A few weeks ago, I received a free sample of Hamburger Veermaster after ordering a package from Dan Pipe, and decided to try it out with my spare corncob pipe.

The aroma had a pleasant, honey-like scent, with hay and grass undertones. It required quite a few relights, since I was too lazy to dry it out from the plastic free sample bag. It had tolerable room note and burns rather slowly.

My first impression of Veermaster’s was a distinct spice coming from the Red Virginia’s, but I can swear there is some Perique added in somewhere. The spiciness is then followed by a balancing sweetness from the Dark Virginias with a slight honey and fruit taste. It can definitely be an all-day smoke, the spiciness of the Red Virginia’s waking you up in the morning, with the Dark Virginia’s putting you to bed for the night.

Overall, a nice blend and I appreciate the free sample they gave me. I am not sure if it will make it into my regular rotation, but I am looking forward to a few other Dan Tobacco blends in the near future.

Now this was a nice surprise. Dan Tobacco blends has been a bit of a hit and miss thing for me in the past, but I'm glad I eventually got around to trying this one.

Tin note is really nice - I'm pretty sure there's something added here, and not necessarily something completely natural; it's a little hard to describe, but it makes me think of the vanilla sugar you can find on some store bought pastries, with hints of raisin, something citrusy and something a little bit like tinned apricot, if that makes sense.

The flakes themselves are uniformly cut with a little more width than what I've previously seen from DT flakes. Quite dry and actually just about right for packing and get going straight away.

The tin note is also carried over a bit into the smoke itself, which is mild, but still sweet and tasty. It's also very gentle on the tongue with absolutely no bite.

The sugary vanilla component is also a little more evident in the smoke, but I find myself liking it quite a bit, the way it intermingles with the grassy VA notes is really quite nice. It finishes with a tiny bit of spice at the heel of the pipe, but otherwise it's very consistent as far as the taste goes. No real surprises or much complexity to be found here, but you know what, sometimes that's not a bad thing.

Indeed, like someone before me suggested, this is a good blend for doing mindless work, or just mucking about - which is exactly what I found myself doing for the last hour or so before I figured I would sit down and write this review.

The room note seems quite nice to me and I imagine it wouldn't offend anyone all that much.

If there's anything negative to be said, it's that it is a little bit too mild for me. It's got the flavour, but I wouldn't have minded a bit more nicotine. But I suppose that's just fine for some people.

Overall this is just great. Consistent and easy going, sweet and pleasant, behaves well in the pipe and with a rather cool burn. Rubbed out or just stuffed really doesn't matter, it's good no matter how you prefer to do it. So my advice would be to go ahead and try a tin, I don't think you'll be disappointed. I think it will appeal to those who simply want something uncomplicated and tasty, perhaps also as an introduction to flakes if you're not quite sure where to start.

As for similar blends... not sure, really. Slightly similar to Mac Baren's Navy Flake, perhaps, but a little stronger and without the blisters and rabid pitbulls chewing on your tongue.

Age: not more than a month old

First 10 mins: Grass, Hay, light citrus, wood and bread. It does leave some vinegar notes on the palate Retrohale: mild to medium pepper

10-25 mins: citrus notes are more profound combined with earthy woody notes. Mild acidic/vinegary taste persists on the palate Retrohale: medium pepper with slight vinegar

25+ mins: citrus notes, more acidic with persistent woody notes Retrohale: Retrohale: medium pepper with slight vinegar

Burns slow and cool. Left a little bit of moisture and dottle for me.

Will definitely improve with age. Current rating 3.0/4

I bought a can of this tobacco by mistake and when I first smoked it I discovered that it had actually been a success. A smooth Virginia, ideal to be smoked as the first pipe of the day, perhaps in the morning, but tasty enough to be smoked with pleasure the rest of the day as well. In my ignorance, I would compare it to a Tordenskjold Virginia Slices devoid of Perique, with the same touch that is vaguely reminiscent of a hint of chocolate. It comes in stacked flakes and with a level of humidity that allows it to smoke immediately after removing it from the can and rubbing it, although it can also be left to dry a little.

An interesting tobacco for a novice to start with Virginias...

A much more well-rounded blend than I expected. This, at least to my palate, was not a light baccy, it has plenty of body and a great toasty taste to it, slightly sharp. The flakes are generous, relatively easy to light, and last a long time. I really enjoyed sipping this one. Another good flake.

Keep on piping!

A pure Virginia usually isn't my type of tobacco I prefer. Even tho I like the taste, they are always a bit "flat" tastewise to me. I guess I'm just more the Kentucky and Perique type.

But wow, this is a damn good smoke. Very natural and gentle sweetness. A bit citrusish, hay-like aroma. Very refined taste. Just a honest and simple Virginia. Presentation is lovely and appetizing.

3+/4 Stars - even tho I'm not really a fan of straight Virginias, I'd buy this again. Perfect companion if youre looking for a smooth, uncomplicated and honest smoke that doesn't require that much of attention.