Dan Tobacco Hamborger Veermaster

This blend is just too easy, and I can't think of a better recommendation for the first time VA flake smoker. Pack and burn are a complete no-brainer. Poor technique can cause any VA to nip at the tongue, but you would practically have to try to make this one bite. It looks dark and fairly imposing in the tin, but it's as smooth and carefree a flake as I can think of, marred only by an occasional hashness towards the end. The taste is a model of pure Virginia tocacco, if not particularly complex, sort of along the lines of an Old Gowrie- straight, simple, and proper. Nothing huge or ornery here. It is only modestly sweet, and completely devoid of the excessive tang that accompanies so many other flakes.

Some may find this boring, and I can't rightly argue the point. Still, whenever I revisit this blend I am reminded of how satisfying a smooth, natural smoke can be.

Until Hamborger Veermaster, I have never enjoyed any tobacco with a sailing ship on the label. But having been fortified by the reliable delights of this smoke, I am ready to tackle more ship-, airplane-, and even dog-tobaccos.

More seriously, I agree with the esteemed Eulenberg and the other reviewers concerning the excellence of this offering. It is fast becoming a go-to smoke for me and is particularly good in the summer heat.

Thanks to Joshua Rosenblatt for his recommendation.

This is a thick cut flake composed of medium brown color with some black strips and a very little bit of bright yellow birdseye. I keep it on the moist side in the tin. I break off what I need and let it dry out before smoking it. The tin aroma is definitely pressed Virginia with its typical citrus overtones. This is similar to Orlick Golden Sliced. The latter being a thinner, longer, and more yellow flake with a brighter and stronger citrus aroma. On any given day, I may prefer one over the other

This can be smoked rolled or rubbed out. I prefer to rub it out. It can be rubbed out to a coarse cut all the way down to a cigarette cut. Smoking flavor is a medium Virgina with a mild but sweet lemon flavor with just a bit of peppery moments. If careful, easy puffing will avoid tongue bite. Even if rushed, the bite is minimal as compared to other Virginias. There is nothing extra ordinary during the smoke, but a good straight forward tobacco. Nicotine content is medium. There is no zing when blown out through the nose. Taste is consistent throughout the bowl gaining a bit of strength near the end. If kept on the dry side, it burns clean to the bottom of the bowl, with no dottle, to a whitish gray ash. Room aroma is cigarette like. It is part of my regular tobacco rotation. I would turn to it more often if there was a bit of Perique in it. Still, I plan to always have some on hand.

This is a winner from the sweet aroma that greets you when opening the tin thru the last puff. One of the naturally sweeter straight VAs that I enjoy and can smoke all day smoke without loosing interest or scorching my tongue. Smooth, cool and consistent taste without any hint of bite. Give it a try.

I have been smoking Hamborger Veermaster for many years. I have enjoyed it so much that it is well stocked on the shelves of my cellar. I love the tin art of the clipper ship, but I should probably say something about the what's inside the tin. The tobacco is a medium brown in color, cut into flakes that break up easily into smaller pieces for packing into the pipe. I am not sure what to say about the aroma, but there is an almost licorice sent to it. The moisture level is just a tad more than I like as I prefer my tobacco dry. At this amount of moisture most smokers would probably say it is just right. It lights easily and stays lit pretty well. The first draw has a nice mild flavor. It is sweet, but not overly sweet. The taste is what I consider to be a true Virginia. No extra fruity topping, but the taste of tobacco. The flavor gets better as you go so that by mid bowl the taste is very nice. It finishes with still a nice sweetness without any bitterness. This blend is in the light Virginia category such as Orlik Golden Sliced. HV is just a bit smoother, a little more refined than the Orlik that I consider a fine blend.

Lovely dark brown flakes of Virginia mottled with other shades of brown. A zesty bready Virginia with a slight spice,this is supposed to be a straight Virginia but I am sure I can taste a slight perique taste in the background. A very good all day smoke and will last quite a while especially using the fold and stuff method. I will choose this above fvf by samuel gawith. Highly recommended. The flakes are not too wet but i prefer to dry them out just a tad.

Veermaster is a mild Virginia with hints of natural sweetness and citrus. No bite, delicious sweet citrus retrohale, and great flake for beginners and experience alike. What I like is that it is mild yet still has good flavor representing a fine Virginia leaf.