Tobaccos Fribourg & Treyer - Cut Virginia Plug

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-10-22		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Flat tinned, light brown-to-golden virginia flake - thin flakes that are easy to rub out or fold. Nice wheaty tin aroma with a hint of sweet casing, a cross between citrus and vanilla. Easy to load and easy to keep lit.

Excellent example of a golden VA. It is a sweet flake, but not overly so and has quite a bit of spiciness as well. The citrus is not overblown as it is in OGS but is present in just the right amount, just to the light side of Dunhill Light Flake. This is a soft smoke, gentle on the palate but with no attendant loss of flavor. And I taste something beside the citrus in here as well, a sort of vanilla creme or hazelnut. It's very light but very present, all down the bowl. Reminds me faintly of a more lightly cased Tordenskold VA. I like that one because it's different but this one is different still, and more to my taste. More of a natural smoke but with some creaminess (a word I don't think I've ever used to describe a VA flake). It's almost an Orange Julius taste but leaning more toward the citrus and less to the cream. Quite enticing. Add to this mix the lightly toasted wheat bread flavor and this is one tasty smoke!

While I was smoking this one, I wasn't focused on its complexity (on the lighter side of that scale) or nicotine content (ditto) or anything other than its flavor, which was nothing short of excellent. This is golden VA at its best - subtly citrusy rather than tasting like it was marinated in lemon/orange sauce. The creaminess was done to perfection. I can hardly wait to crack one of my tins of Cut Blended Plug! This one is a keeper and a simple recommendation to anyone who enjoy straight virginia, with a twist. As someone who strongly favors darker flavors, this blend shows me what can be accomplished on the lighter side of things. Impressive!

36 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3047)	2016-03-10		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

The dark flue cured Virginia provides some some tangy dark fruit sweetness, earth, wood, bread, and vegetation along with a minor sugary stewed fruitiness, and small spice and floral notes as the lead component. The flue cured gold Virginia offers some tart and tangy citrus, bread, sugar, vegetative grass, mild floralness, light sour lemon, and a pinch of spice as a supporting player. The vanilla topping is very mild, mostly underscoring the blend with a creamy sweet texture. The mild fruit topping is apricot which has a nice richness that doesn’t drown out the tobaccos. The nic-hit is a shade below medium. The strength and taste levels are a step below the medium mark. The flakes are not overly wet, and I saw no need to dry them. They break apart very easily to suit your preference. Burns slow, cool, and clean with a very consistent sweet, earthy, woody flavor as the toppings do not lose strength. It’s fairly smooth with a little creaminess, and a very slight rough edge from the dark Virginia that well compliments the quality of the experience. No dull or harsh spots to be found, even if you’re a fast puffer. Won't bite. It requires some relights, but fewer than I normally expect from a flake with a little moisture. Burns to ash with little problem, and leaves just a little dampness in the bowl. Has a lightly lingering very pleasant after taste and room note. Can easily be an all day smoke for both experienced and novice smokers. Four stars.

UPDATE: 7-6-2022. There has been a change. There’s a little more flue cured pressed dark, bright Virginia in the composition of the blend now. The dark red Virginia is now a dark orange Virginia and offers secondary, not full support. Before, it was the lead component. The mild apricot topping is a tad stronger now, and a noticeable, sweet honey has replaced the very light vanilla as they currently reduce the effect of the tobacco. The strength, nic-hit and taste levels are about a notch and half lower now as a result of the change of varietals and toppings. The flavors that stand out now are tart and tangy citrus, sour lemon, a little more floralness, bread, sugar, with light acidity and a syrup note. The tangy dark fruit, earth and wood are a rung ahead of the condiment line. The cream note in the previous version is slightly evident. The after taste lasts just a little longer, and the room note is a touch stronger than before. All the other aspects still apply. I deduct a star because of the heightened sour and acidic qualities which causes me to give this production three stars instead of four. My TR rating reflects the current version. Should age well.

-JimInks

26 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SteelCowboy (685)	2014-01-18		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I generally prefer brown Virginias over light Virginias, but I have to say this fine F&T flake fits nicely in my Virginia rotation. This review is based on a well-aged tin. As usual with F&T, the flakes are cut and laid out very evenly in the tin. The scent is heavenly. I have smoked this fully rubbed out, folded and stuffed, and broken into small cubes. I prefer the latter. This blend is sweet, and now aged, it’s very sweet with a reduction in spice. There is a sweet, somewhat citrus like topping, but I find the citrus component very mild. As a point of reference, CVP isn’t close IMO to Orlik Golden Slices in terms of amount of added citrus. To me, this is a much better flake. It doesn’t bite and the flavor builds throughout the bowl, but never becomes strong. The “hay” like flavor seems to become a bit muted with the age of the blend. My only negative with this blend, and its minor, is that it is almost too sweet when aged. For me, that’s saying something because I love the sweetness that comes from aged Virginias.

Age When Smoked: 7 years

24 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cakeanddottle (105)	2013-10-07		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

For me this one is the pinnacle of continental flakes. The very best you'll find outside of England and America.

Broken down, this is an excellent golden Va flake. I rate the tobacco here right up there with SG MVF and Butera Golden Cake. It's a great example of golden Va, full of sunny sweet notes and grassy tobacco goodness.

Like Dan Hamborger Veermaster and Dunhill Flake, this one is cased with citrus. It has much less of the citrus sauce than the other two, which allows it to be much more about the tobacco while still having that great citrus body. Because of the added citrus this one holds up during the cold months, where it wouldn't without it. I can smoke this one year round.

For me this is not only the pinnacle of continental flakes, it's the finest example of a citrus cased Va in existence. A superior, delicious tobacco, one of my top five.

17 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2001-10-10		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Having enjoyed this in the past, I recently openned a tin that I had been cellaring for some time now (perhaps about a year).

This is a beautiful tobacco-- light, red and dark Virginias intermingle in the thin sliced flake. Mine has darkened slightly with age (I assume it has picked up some sweetness along with it, but I don't remember well enough to say definitively).

The tin aroma is very pleasant. Natural sweetness combined with a fresh mown grass-type smell reminds me of summers outdoors wiht that slight hint of honey suckle in the air-- I love this smell!

The tin description claims that it's full bodied-- it seems pretty mild to me. The blend smokes cleanly and coolly and gently. This would be a fantastic all-day or early morning smoke for the lover of straight Virginias. For me, it is a fantastic change of pace from stronger, richer tobaccos. I wouldn't say that this is particularly complex, but it is very pleasant. It is sweet, but definitely not overwhelmingly so and has a wonderfully 'clean' flavor.

I highly recommend this to almost any smoker-- it's easy to light and keep lit for the newcomer to Virginia flakes, a fantastic mild Virginia in its own right and a superb change of pace tobacco for the lover of stronger Virginias, Va/Perique blends and Latakia blend.

I have but one complaint-- I only cellared one tin...

15 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tantric (321)	2002-12-20		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

A very nice and simple Virginia, mild but tasty, with a very subdued tanginess and a bit of a creamy and toasted flavour. Uncomplicated, smooth, this is a smoke that requires little to no attention at all. A nice companion to work with, I would define this as polite a tobaco as Orlik Golden Sliced, albeit without the Burley edge. But they could be brothers. It is also quite similar to Stokkebye's Navy Cut, without the Perique and much milder.

This may be one of the best introudctions to straight Virginias. It lacks the natural sweetness I have tried in other blends (Bjarne´s Flake de Luxe or Dunhill´s Light Flake), but its toasty and wheaty undertones would surely attract a cigarrette smoker. It is made from quality leaf and it is extremely simple to pack and light. A very good option when in a rush, or to smoke it at work. Nobody seems to mind!

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2016-03-25		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Bold, dark and naturally sweet, this has to be one of the finest Virginia tobaccos that I've ever put in my pipe. I cannot describe how gallantly the leaf performs at the match, and the best part of all is the way the leaf morphs into an indescribable richness as the tobacco is consumed from the mid-way point to the bottom. If you can find a tin or two of this old classic, grab it!

Pipestud

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	O'Confrère (40)	2013-02-04		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Opening a tin of this flake (from Kohlhase & Kopp) is always a joy. Word is that it is identical with the Ilsted Plug but, as the name says, cut into very attractive, mottled (light, brown and dark brown) slices; the Virginias from Brasil, India and Africa. The strength and room note are on the lighter side of medium.

The tin aroma is enticing with a light fruitiness, most probably from the casing. If it is a top flavoring it has been applied skillfully with a light hand and is more apparent in the tin than on the tongue. It is not an 'aromatic.'

The flakes are a treat to behold, pliable and seem to be a bit moist until one begins to work with them. Rubbing them out, they take to air like a pressed sponge to water, expanding and blooming into a surprising amount of springy and easily workable ribbon. In this form they lend themselves to smoking in larger pipes (as do most of K&K's offerings). However, and herein lies the rub, they respond very well if they are folded once, rubbed/rolled slightly keeping the fibers parallel then placed carefully into the bowl as vertically as possible. CVP seems to respond very differently to the various methods of handling and packing and to the size of pipe chosen. Many will be sympathetic with lustra's contradictory experiences (see below). I certainly am. Still, this works well for me both fully rubbed out in a medium to larger pipe and, less rubbed-out in smaller pipes, and I tend to prefer the latter.

CVP takes to the match and burns very, very well. Keeping the temperature in the pipe low yields an alluring, flavorful and invigorating smoke, leaving a clean and fruity aftertaste with a hint of toasted oats. While this is not a nicotine powerhouse, there is enough to be noticed. It is a great summer pipe, shows its stuff best out of the wind or indoors, and would be a good all-day flake for many a Va. smoker.

If you like Va. flakes, this is definitely one to try. It is also one for the 'cellar'. The tin reviewed is from 2008. CVP ages well.

As this is my first review here, I really want to thank all of the contributors. This site has been a great help over the years. Thank you!

UPDATE 06/09/16

Am still struck by the presentation, perfectly cut flakes very neatly stacked in a smaller rectangular tin. This last tin was produced in September, 2008. Moisture level upon opening: ca. 19%. And although it smokes well right out of the tin, it does profit from drying to about 14%, or after remaining in the unsealed tin for a couple of days. The color of the flake has deepened and darkened considerably in the last eight years, as has the aroma.

Fine smell of fermentation, sour and yeastily sweet. Still don’t pick up on the addition of vanilla, if there is any, which I doubt, but besides the orangey citrus notes, it is reminiscent of sweet woodruff with an almost cinnamon-like spiciness as the bowl progresses. Accompanying the cinnamon seem to be hints of clove, nutmeg, basil and bay leaf. Maybe eugenol was used as part of the casing? A pleasant, toasty and tobacco-y tarriness emerges in the second third of the bowl which provides backbone and an axis for the other flavors to revolve around, which are, as a whole, surprisingly smooth and creamy. As the bowl continues, depth and earthiness develop without eclipsing the enticing sweetness and invigorating and almost salty citrus (orange or tangerine) tang which have been there from the first light.

This is really a unique and wonderful smoke and one (IMHO) every smoker (especially Virginia devotees) should try.

Four undisputed stars. Highly recommended!

Pipe Used: Several. All reserved for Virginias w/out topping.

Age When Smoked: 4-5 years.

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Noorrmm (192)	2005-04-07		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Appearance: Beautifully cut small flakes, mostly medium brown in color

Aroma: The aroma is well matured Virginia, with a trace of top dressing. Overall, the bouquet reminds me of Capstan Medium Navy Flake.

Packing: Very easy in almos any size pipe. Either a partial rub out, or a ?roll up? worked well, depending on the burn rate desired

Lighting: Not the quickest lighting flake I can recall, but fairly easy A one match light is possible.

Initial flavor: The initial flavor is sweet medium strength Vrginia, quite beguiling and gentle.

Mid-bowl: The tobacco burns cooler than expected unless puffed too quickly. There is a full range of medium to high notes that keep you interested, but don?t stress the tongue or palate.

Finish: Even at the finish, there is no harshness. The ash is medium gray and quite fine.

Summary: This is to me, an excellent all day tobacco that can be smoked either casually or contemplatively. It is rewarding either way.

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2081)	2017-07-30		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Fribourg & Treyer - Cut Virginia Plug.

A little darker than medium brown, the moisture amount makes for imminent smoking from the fresh tin, and it gives a slight citrus tin-note. I normally fully rub out my flakes, but find this smokes every bit as well if folded/stuffed. If not better.

The vanilla's been applied more discreetly than the fruit, which is also fairly light, but easily the stronger of the two. The pair work well together, giving a subtle citrus-zestiness with a gentle custard/cream trait from the vanilla. The Virginia has a ripe sweetness, and little natural sharpness. Cut Virginia Plug burns cool, giving a lightweight smoke, that doesn't bite any.

Nicotine: mild. Room-note: very pleasant.

Highly recommended, happily:

Four stars.

Pipe Used: Various

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Liquid360 (10)	2017-06-14		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

In a forum, I asked for members to name the sweetest straight Virginias they'd ever had. This blend was named numerous times. As is often the case with the best tobacco, finding even a single tin was difficult. After months I located a few tins. This blend deserves to be among the hardest to locate. I buy as many as I can every time I find it. It is simply an extra fine, super sweet tobacco of the highest order. I could smoke this leaf exclusively and never tire of it. If you're a lover of straight Virginia leaf, spend some time to locate it. It will not be time wasted.

Pipe Used: Dunhill Billiard

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Country Squire

Similar Blends: Dunhill Flake.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2003-09-02		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Having mastered at least a modicum of smoking technique, I tend to reach for full bodied, full flavored blends that can still provide pleasure when sipped very slowly. So it comes as quite a surprise that I enjoy this blend as much as I do, as it is extremely mild and light.

F&T's CVP is a dead ringer for Capstan Navy Cut Medium, an old guilty pleasure no longer available here. The tin aroma appears identical, and although it lacks the overt sweetness of the Capstan, it does have a lovely sweetness of its own, one that is mild yet persistent. It's cool, clean, and as easy to smoke as any flake.

The word that always come to mind while smoking this blend is "delightful."

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Xeneize (275)	2010-08-10		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Definitely one of the top Virginias in the market, along with Old Gowrie, FVF, and a couple more. Sweet, complex, hayish... Everything you expect from a great Virginia, and then some.

Came to stay in my regular rotation.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Beer (345)	2007-10-30		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable

A great Virginia flake, very rich in taste, smooth and never bitey.

It burns well (either rubbed out or in larger chunks), slow and regular and requiring few relightings.

It has all the flavour you can wish from a flake: dried plums, apricots, a wonderful sweetness with some tart notes here and there. Never too strong, or getting bitter towards the bottom of the bowl.

Excellent.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	steppx (186)	2018-05-18		Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

superb. Just superb. Its an interesting blend because while there is a bit of casing....it is very very very mild and adds just the right amount of added depth. Its perfectly blended. F&T are underrated I think. Vintage flake is similar but without any casing. The added flavor is likely apricot and something else...citrus perhaps. It might remind some of Royal yacht in that sense. Its close, though, to Special Brown flake only apricot and not rum. Its absolutely a joy to smoke. Cool,slow, no bite ever.

Purchased From: 4 noggins

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	samcoffeeman (33)	2016-07-25		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

I originally had this firmly planted in my rotation/cellar list. I was able to acquire a 10 year old tin to do a test vs my tins are now two years aged. I also asked some of my friends to participate in this test. 3 of is, including myself, actually preferred the fresher tin. It was during this testing thatI really discovered that the topping is so evident and not preferable to yours truly. The aged tin topping tasted a bit like a rotten orange. The fresher tin had the orange and possibly vanilla topping slightly more pleasant tasting. I ended up trading all of my tins away as I just didn't enjoy this tobacco anymore after figuring out it wasn't as pure as I first thought. I just prefer more natural tobacco flavors. This is a good Virginia flake for someone who is transferring from aromatics to more straight tobacco's, but it is far from straight.

Age When Smoked: Fresh, 2 years, 10 years

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Big Train (118)	2016-04-05		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

If I was on a remote island with plenty of pipes but could only take one tobacco , this would be the one . This is usually my first smoke of the day . The folded flake is easy to pack and burns well down to a white ash . The tin note leaves one aroused for the smoke to follow . The taste is pure Virginia with really slight overtones of a light topping . I don't find it at all spicy . Although F & T's Vintage runs it a close second this is still the one . I also enjoy the cut blended plug but never as much . This is best smoked in a small , group 3 sized pipe . It needs to b lit only once and should be puffed slowly to enjoy the subtle treat within .

Similar Blends: F & T Vintage.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Big (321)	2014-05-17		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

There are two toppings that I really dislike and this has one , "Vanilla". I love vanilla ice cream, cake, candy but not on my tobacco ( I should have read the header under flavoring closer). It smells great to others but it's cloying to me, even in small quantities like in this blend.

The quality of the Virginia is very nice , but I'm so distracted by the Vanilla I can't even give a fair evaluation. If you don't mind Vanilla you should like this , but it's not for me.

Oh, the other topping I hate......" Lakeland Floral"

Pipe Used: cob

Age When Smoked: 1 month

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2016-09-18		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

A fairly strong orange-like citrus note, some of which is topping, and a mild note of hay. Some sweetness and spice. The vanilla in the topping adds more creaminess than vanilla flavor. Some bread notes in the second half of the bowl. A very nice smoke, but you need to mind your cadence or it can burn hot and the flavor will disappear.

Mild to medium in body and taste. Flavoring is very mild. Burns very well, perhaps a little too well.

Pipe Used: MM Dagner Poker, Country Gentleman, Marcus

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	fr_tom (393)	2016-03-26		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This has been a very enjoyable smoke. In the interests of full disclosure, my tin was a gift and was dated 2008, so I am smoking some well-aged Virginia.

I mostly rubbed this out and a flake is just a little too much for the various pot variants I used to smoke it. I decided it worked well in a Savinelli 121, and so almost half the tin has been smoking in this particular pipe. Hydration from the tin was very good for me, and I just smoked it with no time to dry.

The gold Virginias are a delicate hay with some citrus. The topping may add to the citrus, but it tastes fairly natural to me - just bumped up a little. The red Virginias provide some depth and a stewed fruit. I get a tart when puffed. As one of those curious things, I know the description says there is vanilla in the topping, but I don't taste it - even when I "look" for it.

The rating here is a tough one for me. This was very good, but so are the Capstan Original and Gold. I gave them threes. Cut Virginia Plug comes at a better price point. If you are looking for a really good Virginia flake, this is one to get. It does not rise to the 4 - everyone should try.

Age When Smoked: 8 years

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SiChange (45)	2017-10-21		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Very Pleasant

CVP is a delicious Virginia flake, a reference standard for leaf and smoking qualities among flakes with a bright flavor profile. From the tin note and taste I am not sure that the evident citrus and subtle fruit notes are not wholly from the leaf varieties selected. I’ve never perceived vanilla in the tin note, the mouth, or room note. This flake ages well, which is a good thing as it is nearly as hard to source as Esoterica mixtures. Too, it is relatively expensive, but worth every penny.

Age When Smoked: 5 years

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	William H. Hardy (95)	2016-04-22		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is probably the best Virginia flake that I've ever smoked and I've had a few. Grassy, light, sweet, and flavorful, this blend is a marvel. It does have a sweet topping, but it is very light and really just highlights the sweetness of the Virginias used. Is it Vanilla? I dunno, maybe. It's sweet, but most of this is natural sweetness and not the cloying sweetness of other tobaccos.

I have seen that others have said that citrus flavor is a topping, but I feel that citrus overtones are just a characteristic of the light Virginias present. From my experience, light Virginias have a grassy, hay-ish, and citrusy flavor to them and this one definitely fits the criteria in that way. I used the fold and stuff method almost exclusively when smoking this, as I find that fold and stuff burns cooler and produces a more flavorful smoke. Usually, something like this would be to mild for my tastes, but when I'm in the mood for a Virginia, this is the one.

With summer fast approaching, I think I'll buy a couple more tins in preparation, as I think this will be an excellent choice for warm-weather piping. This could just be the one summer flake that I'll want. Don't get me wrong, I'll still have the Blackwoods Flake around for the Mississippi summer heat, but this one will definitely be a staple.

Pipe Used: Tinderbox Christmas Pot-Shape

Age When Smoked: Unknown

Purchased From: Pipesandcigars.com

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipepundit (168)	2006-12-16		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I had last smoked this some six years ago while on a fellowship in Oxford, and had liked it immensely. It, along with Balkan Sobranie, was consolation during a bitterly cold and solitary winter. CVP used to come in a tin roughly the size of a MacBaren Navy Flake tin. The new tin is squarer and thinner, and the tobacco is not anymore made in the UK but in Germany. Since transplanting of manufacturing proccesses does not always succeed I opened the tin with some apprehension.

Well, I was very pleasantly surprised. Memories of taste and smell give more than the usual hostages to fortune, but I am convinced that the present incarnation is even better than the original! It ranks with Old Gowrie and Light Flake as among the finest. Now that the latter is reported to be discontinued, there is even more reason to search for stockists of Cut Virginia Plug.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RCUSElder (244)	2005-02-01		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

02-01-2005 A great classic Flake!

Appearance and Tin Aroma: Beautiful presentation! The flakes are stacked neatly and have a beautiful mixture of browns, yellows, and birdseye. It smells like rich hay, similar to Marlin Flake. I stared at the flakes and smelled them for a long time before packing my pipe, such was the quality of this flake.

Packing and Lighting: I prefered to rub out the flakes due to them being a little moist and oily upon opening the tin. Stayed lit well after 2-3 lights.

Initial Flavor: Aaahhh! This is going to be an enjoyable experience. This is a fine Va flake. Very similar to the afore mentioned MF, but not as spicy.

Mid-Bowl: Delicious flavor! Round, mellow, some natural carmel notes. This blend works very well in my Castleford stacked billiard that I have dedicated to Va. blends.

Bottom of Bowl: Please don't end! Alas, it does and all that is left is a fine grey ash. There was a slight build up of strength and a little increase in the spicyness, but never became harsh. It did leave a lot of moisture in the shank though, but nothing a pipe cleaner couldn't handle.

Overall: This is a fine blend. In my rotation, it is right behind MF and ahead of Blackwoods Flake. I wish I had tried this blend a couple of years ago so I could have layed some tins for aging, but this blend is delicious fresh anyway. Due to the flavor richness, I never found myself overpuffing, and becuase of that, tongue-bite was never a problem. Even though I am still primarily a English/Balkan smoker, this blend still satifies. I heartily recommend it!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 points. Enjoy!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2003-07-08		Extremely Mild	None Detected	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

Pouch Aroma: OK, this is nice. It's simple, understated and ever-so-slightly sweet. It's slightly herbal smelling, like walking through a meadow in early fall, and promises to be a subtle smoke.

Appearance: This is pretty! Seven flakes stacked on top of one another in a roughly 1-1/4" by 3" pile. The colors vary from bright yellow (20%), orange-red (60%), dark brown (10%) and black (10%), and the flakes are well-pressed and the colors evenly distributed.

Packing and Lighting: I've picked out an Upshall Lovat, a big ol' stacked pipe with lots of wood that always delivers a cool smoke. Rubbing a couple of flakes out fills the bowl almost to the rim. The first light is VERY smooth and lightly sweet and the smoke is creamy and rich with just a hint of spiciness on my tongue. A relight isn't really necessary as the whole top lit on the first try, but out of habit I tamped lightly to smooth the ash and made a quick pass with the flame.

Exposition: Once the burn is settled in, I'm realizing what I like most about this tobacco - both the flavor and aroma are pure tobacco. I get nothing fruity, nor overtly spicy or exotic; it's a very simple Virginia taste, woody, slightly sweet and very well balanced. It vaguely reminds me of many different smokes I've had, but seems to be lacking a bit in complexity. I like the flavor, I just hope it picks up some more interesting nuances as the bowl progresses...

The Story: I stopped to make lunch for myself and my little one and laid the pipe aside for a half hour or so, and the relight flavor is almost identical to what it was before. Odd indeed. Ok, the sweetness has dropped a notch, but that's it. It's still a pleasant smoke, but I'd be more likely to enjoy it at work where I'm busy helping customers than I am now when I'm searching for subtleties that just aren't there.

A little further along, and about the 2/3 mark, the flavor is picking up some spicy pepper flavors and the sweetness is peeking back out, reminding me of dried figs and dark honey. The aroma is still pure tobacco with a slightly sweet woodsy essence, and a nutty but leathery aroma coming off of the bowl. That's more like it! I still don't find it to be all that compelling, but it most certainly isn't BAD. One thing I can't fault is the burning properties: it lit easily and is burning evenly with very little moisture and very fluffy ashes that show complete combustion.

Denouement: Down at the very bottom of the bowl the flavor is still mostly unchanged. It's gotten a little bit spicy and the sweetness has become darker and richer but that's all. It still tastes good even in the bottom of a tall narrow bowl, which is quite a feat. It doesn't stay lit quite as easily as before, but that's understandable in a bowl this deep.

Pros: It's one of the easiest flakes I've ever smoked and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a beginner as it has a lot of the typical VA flavors without being as difficult to smoke as many others are. It tastes and smells quite natural with no top dressings or added flavors that I can detect and would also be a good all-day smoke.

Cons: It's quite a bit too mild and straightforward for my taste; I like my tobacco to be heavy, complex or both and this, unfortunately, is neither.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PipeTobaccoReviewer (12)	2020-02-19		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Sweet. Really sweet. Golden citrus VA with a touch of some darker VA. The vanilla topping in a fresh tin is fairly pronounced, almost pushing this into aromatic territory for me, but not quite. I can't imagine how sweet this must be with 5+ years on it if this is how intense it is fresh. Fairly smooth for a fresh VA, it burns well and consistently.

This is a relatively HTF tobacco these days. Not Penzance or SH level, but more along the lines of Sobranie. Almost always tin capped if you can find it, but relatively inexpensive; I think I paid $10~ for my tin. Worth it imo.

Generally I prefer my VA flakes without much topping, if any at all, but this is working as an ultra sweet condimental smoke. Since it's not readily available, it falls into the buy it when I can find it category for me. I think I'll let future tins get real age on them before popping.

A Recommended blend that wouldn't be anywhere near more than a once or twice a month smoke for me. It's good, but the topping and the sweetness isn't something I will reach for more than that. If you're looking for a transitional blend from aromatics to VA flakes and can find this one, it would be a prime contender in my opinion. Likewise, if you crave a very sweet flake, this would be among your top spots.

Pipe Used: Sav 702

Age When Smoked: Fresh

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Virginia lover (218)	2019-07-22		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A quality golden Virginia that deserves the praises by so many pipe smokers. Nice smell off the tin, an easy to smoke and flavorful Virginia flake.

The hay flavor nicely intertwines with the very light citrus/vanilla topping from the beginning and as the smoke progresses, becomes slightly earthy with light dark fruit accents.

The only downside is that it's hard to get on the North American continent.

Virginia lover

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pryhosm (248)	2019-02-10		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I am sorry I took so long to discover F&T, I am sure if I found it sooner I'd be waiting to find them, seem to be in short supply in the US. This may soon become a go to morning VA. I tend to smoke VA and VAPers with coffee in the morning, Burley's sneak in sometimes and an occasional English to start the day. I will say up front that if you are looking for a replacement for McClelland Staved Aged Virginia 33, this may be the closest you will get. Tin note is straight VA and some vanilla. The Vanilla top note is light but noticeable and really supports the tobacco as opposed to drowning it out or masking it. The flavor is toasted bread, caramel, citrus and some earthy tones. I get a dry woodiness every now and again and an Oriental sour note, but only on the relights. Finally I noticed some spice as the bowl burns down past the half way mark, like light white pepper. I really like this stuff and plan to hoard it as this tin barely made it a week.

Pipe Used: Briar’s and cob’s

Similar Blends: McClelland Stave Aged VA 33.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	The Sunday Evening Pipe Smoker (54)	2016-07-24		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

UPDATE 07/2022:

Having had the chance to learn more about straight Virginia's this now falls to my #3 behind Gawith's FVF and Capstan Blue.

------

I tried this particular tobacco after reading reviews of it which described it as "brown sugar" and "sweet potato pie." When I opened it, I was greeted by a very nice tin note. I'd compare it to the tin note of Rattray's Marlin Flake (though MF actually smells a bit sweeter in the tin, whereas F&T CVP is a bit more on the brown sugar and molasses side of things).

Like most flakes, the tobacco has a nice moist character out of tin - but not too moist of course. Rubbed out, you can smoke it immediately if you wish, or you could let it dry out if you prefer (so far, I don't.)

F&T CVP smokes very well. It was a cool and dry smoke and it didn't need re-ilghting.

Taste wise there is a definite natural sweetness to it that is very pleasing. Room note wise, while it's difficult to tell a room note while you are smoking a tobacco, you could certainly tell the tobacco had a certain aromatic-like quality to it (even though this is not an aromatic).

I've recently tried Marlin Flake but I'd put F&T CVP way ahead of it for certain, as popular as MF is.

Let me put it this way: To date I've had a single "keeper" tobacco, David's Blend Executive. F&T CVP is now the second "keeper" I have found.

UPDATE: I've put this down to 3 stars, but only because I had another blend I put at 4 and I think I need something to differentiate them since I'd give it an edge over the CVP. that said, I would say this is 3.5 on a scale of 4 if I could rate it that way.

Age When Smoked: Mason jarred for a month

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	moniker (220)	2013-07-07		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

For openers, the leaf here is first rate, as are preparation, presentation, smoking qualities, aroma and taste. In a freshly opened tin, the scent is sweetened, fermented, bright VAs, with a little just-starting-to-rot hay, along with very faint, sweet vanilla, and a breath of citrus. I like to fold, roll and gently stuff the beautiful flakes "vertically". Then it lights right away and smokes right down to nothing. There is sugar on my lips at first, and some citrus over the (darkened), bright leaf. It takes on a more concentrated, smoky and sour taste down the bowl, which serves this blend like high acidity serves a fine wine. Like a Grand Cru Burgundy in a large glass, the last few sips are the best, as it somehow "opens up", yet with no loss of concentration. The taste is not all over the place, but it is mighty good, with a wonderful aftertaste, and I find it very satisfying, perhaps even worthy of a dedicated pipe, given the "delicacy" of its nuances. I think this might be a hit with light Aro smokers transitioning to "straight" VAs. Strength is more mild than medium, tastes likewise. Room note is pleasant. Aftertaste is good IF time is taken with the smoke. One important caveat tempers my enthusiasm: IMO, this blend declines once it's tin has been opened, even if it's stored in a "sealed" Mason jar. This is not just a matter of hydration; rather, the delicate, tasty additives delineate over time, becoming "separated" from the tobacco, to the point where they actually take away from it. Since I give it 4 stars fresh from the tin, I recommend smoking CVP as soon as possible after it's opened.

For me, in rating the whole experience, CVP gets as close to 4 stars as possible while still getting 3.

Pipe Used: various briars

Age When Smoked: 2 years (tins) to 5 years (jars)

Purchased From: Liberty Tobacco

Similar Blends: Not so different from Astley's 109, but CVP has more in the way of toppings, which are highlighted as time passes. CVP is less rich and has less pure tobacco tastes than F&Ts Vintage.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	UncleGar (110)	2004-10-21		Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I had given up on this as an underflavored biter when I happened to grab it to break in a new small bowled pipe. It found its voice. Dios Mio, it downright distracted me with sweetness and flavor never noticed before, right there on the front of my toungue. I put down my work and enjoyed the next half hour slowly puffing and marveling at my oversight. I've been smoking burleys and scottish blends; straight virginias just haven't worked for me... until now.

I listed a flavoring only because I can't believe it can be this tasty unaided. I'd prefer to think it is just pure virginias singing. Those of you with leathery tongues from are-we-not-men harrrr! more latakia and perique! smoking habits will likely miss it. A shame. This is like a lambic ale.

My lesson: before you give up on a tobacco, try a fresh pipe. I've ordered a half dozen cheap factory seconds for this purpose. Looks like cleaning time for the rest.

This is wonderful, sweet! and yes, delightful smoke for the first thing in the morning for me. The small pipe allows a half hour of indulgence, no more, and I'm on my way.

It will likely become a regular and I will update accordingly.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Slow Triathlete (62)	2021-12-21		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Very Pleasant

Appearance – Small, thin flakes that are pretty much the same size and shape as the MacBaren flakes. Occasionally you will get a tin where the flakes have been broken up a bit.

Prep – This one I always cube cut with scissors. Gravity feed while tapping the bowl to settle everything. That’s it. Easy peasy.

Smoke – Ahhhhhh, sweet Virginia goodness. There are all of the Virginia players with this blend but the sweetness is what stands out to me. I’m not sure if it is a topping or something added to the blend to up the sugar. Don’t know….don’t care. I love it. With that said, it is not an artificial sweetness flavor that I am talking about but more of an aged Virginia sweetness.

Summary – This is one of my favorite blends of all time!

Pipe Used: Various, mostly Radice Apples

Age When Smoked: New and also up to 2 years old

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TexasLeaguer (5)	2021-11-04		Mild	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This pipe tobacco is a great example of a straight viriginia flake which has been handled and produced in a delicate and thoughtful way. It is bright and citrusy, with some flavors that also remind me of a good sweet vermouth (red fruit, herbs, acidity) with a fair amount of creaminess, and an ever-so-slight vanilla flavor (likely a casing rather than simply a naturally occuring flavor). It smokes clean, relatively dry, and is pleasant for those around you. It is a great option for the virginia smoker who wants something a bit lighter and sweeter and pleasing to their companions without sacrificing anything in terms of quality or flavor.

Pipe Used: Ryan Alden Dublin

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Briar Shoppe (Houston)

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	HabaneroHardy (403)	2021-02-23		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Unnoticeable

I was given a nice size sample of this to try out and I have finally gotten around to it this afternoon. The strips (flakes) were about a half-inch in width and the usual brown tobacco. My first bowl I took three flakes and crumbled them up and placed them in my Altinay Poker Meerschaum which I only smoke Virginia type or dark fired blends in. This was almost too much tobacco as I had to pack it kind of tight but it still lit up nicely and after I got it going, I detected a sweetness to this blend. This is described as a Straight Virginia with Fruit/Citrus, Vanilla flavoring. Would I have known what the sweetness was? No. Only after reading the description did I know what the flavoring was. I believe this blend is a cased tobacco which brings me to a side topic. I always get casing and topping intertwined. I watched an excellent video while smoking this about the subject by Jeremy Reeves, from C&D and to paraphrase. Casing is done before the blending process and is usually a neutral flavor such as sugar, honey, molasses, etc. Topping is done after the blending process and is usually of a more pronounced flavor. My second bowl, I did the fold and stuff and as the previous bowl smoked it down to the bottom. This is good tobacco but I do not care for the flavor profile of this one. I do not find this sweetness offensive but just does not appeal to me. Okay, now I am in the Twilight Zone. No one has posted any reviews in the last two days except me? Creepy.

Pipe Used: Altinay Poker Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Gift

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BingCrosby (162)	2011-01-21		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A lovely virginia flake with a mild flavoring.. what is the flavoring? hard to say.. it is a creamy smoke.. with almost a slight soapiness to it (not quite lakeland strength soap) and possibly something oriental in there as well.. Mellow is the key word for this smoke. I prefer a slightly more pronounced virginia flavor, but really there is nothing to dislike about this flake. It does have a nice progression down the bowl.. gets sweeter at times.. Often compared to capstan.. I wish capstan was available in the US to try them side by side.. A great change of pace from other virginias.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	mo (81)	2008-04-09		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

This is an excellent example of a Virginia blend. This has moved into my top 5 and I will alternate this with Old Gowrie as my morning smoke.

It has that creamy taste that I associate with Virginia blends. It is something I look forward to when cracking open the tin of a new blend and more often than not I am disappointed.

I was really looking forward to trying it and am very happy to report that I am a very satisfied piper. I filled my pipe for the first time and, not expecting much, lit this wonderful weed and smoked the first few puffs while going over some documents. The wonderful taste caught me offguard and I put the paperwork down for a moment and savoured the toe curling, creamy, smooth deliciousness coming from the mouthpiece of my beloved briar.

In no particular order, HOTW, OG, LGF, CVP. These are the reasons I am a piper for life.

Mo, South Africa

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	flaminbill' (57)	2007-12-24		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I used this to break in a "new" 1992 Savinelli POY. I don't know if that was a good idea or not. This has a top dressing that reminds me of licorice of which I am not a fan of.

I have tried it folded and fully rubbed, and I think that I prefer it rubbed out.

My only substantial complaint is that it tastes so good the first half of the bowl but gets quite bitter toward the end. It does burn well, but a nice slow smoking pace is required to get the best from this tobacco.

It is presented well in the tin and does require some drying time.

The tin I smoked was 8 months old. I have one more tin that I will let age for a few more months and see if it mellows out a tad. I will try it in the same pipe because in all fairness, the pipe is not fully broken in as I only smoked 16 bowls through it.

I will report back if the results change.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Eulenburg (193)	2003-07-12		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

These F & T virginia flakes have grown on me: I liked them originally, I have come to like them a lot. They are all similar, with gradations of intensity that are not always apparent to my senescent boomer palate, yet their clean-taste smoothness and well-balanced finish are continually good for the soul: these are just about the most civilised "new" [to me] blends I have tried in a while. This one in particular looks especially pretty in the tin. Try them all!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	½ bowl (103)	2017-07-24		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Unnoticeable

CVP is a basic, grassy Virginia flake with a dark side sweetness that I'd put in the date and prune family -- perhaps even approaching anise. It produces lots of caramel overtones and has an ever-so-slight sharpness that suggests spice. I can't recall ever smoking a Virginia flake that produced sweet tastes in a part of the spectrum that is this dark. It is well worth investigating for its uniqueness and distinctive character -- let alone its wonderful taste.

It has medium strength; full body (character); full flavor; and good balance among these traits. There is no bite, and it delivers a dry, invigorating smoke right down to the bottom of the bowl. This is a "must try" for those who appreciate a smooth, high quality Virginia flake.

Similar Blends: Reminds me of Tordenskjold Virginia Slices.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-11-07		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

I just finished off a four year old tin so this might not correspond to a fresher tin. However, I have smoked CVP for many years and it is very tasty, smooth, and delightful. It is a really wonderful flake at all stages of the aging process. With age, however, this tobacco really sings, as does all aged VAs. When properly aged the flavor is so much more rich. It is really light on the nicotine front and soft enough to smoke all day. A perfect VA!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pseudo Nim (129)	2010-04-09		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

A very good sliced plug, not as strong and rich as F&T's Cut Blended Plug, but very good all the same.

A very well behaved tobacco, easy to rub out and easy to light, burns down to a nice grey ash with no waste. Unfortunately no longer available in England and has to be procured from overseas. Therefore I tend to smoke it sparingly as a treat.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kilmarnock Piper (251)	2010-03-20		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

This is only the second F&T blend I have tried, after Negrohead (Blackjack), which I loved. The first bowl did not impress me. It seemed to burn unevenly and smoke airily. I tried a different pipe the next time, and it was much better. Now, as I type this review, I am smoking it fully rubbed out in a small-bowled churchwarden, and am finally becoming aware of this Virginia's merits. The size and color of the flake is like OGS, but the taste is fuller, the flavors more complex. Even though my tin is young, and just opened, I am getting different notes from different smoking rates, a good sign. I think this flake will continue to develop with age. I also have found the results for me are best in this little churchwarden, as it seems to concentrate the "bouquet." Speaking of bouquet, this one is good in (and out of) the nose! Flavor? A solid Virginia flavor. Nothing exotic. Perhaps in ten years...

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Steden (100)	2010-02-13		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

First of all thank to Clarkus who has kindly gifted me this excellent tobacco. CVP is an elegant and smooth Virginia with sweet and subtle grassy-nutty notes, light in nicotine and enjoyable all the day. With CVP the keyword is delicacy: If you need the full flavor and strength avoid this one, conversely, if you can appreciate a caressing smoke CVP is for you.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	kg0mz (54)	2009-02-26		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

A robust tobacco aroma in the tin. The flakes are precisely formed, uniform and thin with a tweedy, variegated color. Not too moist, and easily rubbed out. Once lit it was a steady long burn. Impressive. A tad oily at first, a plus. Hearty, not as sweet as FVF. Not at all sugary, but more of a tamarind subdued sweetness. Woody, dry smoldering burn. Natural and pure tobacco. Should perform nicely when folded. I gravitate toward big, bold flavors, peaty scotch, well-hopped ales, Lakeland flavors, but this straight VA hits the spot for me.

07/27/09 UPDATE: I am revising some of my reviews. I have given out more 4 star ratings than anything else. That practice is probably not helping. So, I am reducing CVP to 3 stars, not because I like it less than I did before, but because I am limiting 4 stars to fewer than 25% of all my reviews. One day I may use the 4 star rating to designate my top five.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Scottgun (11)	2008-04-01		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

This blend made me a confirmed pipe smoker. After abandoning aromatics in search of more flavor, I tried several underwhelming blends and I was beginning to despair and wonder if pipe smoking was for me at all. I thought I would try one more time with a straight Virginia. After reading the positive reviews of it here, and the fact that I was fascinated by flakes and the classy-looking tin, I decided to give Cut Virginia Plug a try.

This was the first tin I'd ever finished except for the four or five bowls I gave to a veteran pipe smoker who loved it. It never bit me and only got hot if I deliberately huffed. You can fold, spindle, or mutilate the flakes or even cram them in like a miniball in a muzzle-loader and still get a decent smoke. I think my most favored packing technique was to roll a section of flake lengthwise, stuff it in and then thoroughly rub out some more and put it on top as kindling.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Satc001 (67)	2006-08-20		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

After thoroughly enjoying its sister blend, Blackjack, I wanted to give this blend a try. I may never go back to Blackjack.

This is a simply great blend. I love the packaging and flake presentation. Simple, handy, and beautiful. I took about half a flake and rubbed it out to a broken flake consistency and loaded up my pipe. This blend has a great flavor. It is a nice sweet-wood virginia flavor with the occasional fruit and pepper accents. It flavor is clean and refeshing, leaving a delightful finish on the palate. The aroma is a neutral, tobacco aroma. Unoffensive, but may not be appreciated by all. A treasure to try for any Virginia smoker. Get it before I start stockpiling it!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PeterD (91)	2006-04-20		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This excellent Virginia is a solid favorite... not complex yet a very rich and satisfying smoke. I won't belabor the points already made by previous reviewers as many are right on target.

I do think that this cut plug can serve as an all day, anytime of the day smoke and will smoke well in almost any type and size pipe. I think for me this is one of those few tobaccos that is simply... versatile.

I've smoked this in too many pipes to mention how many and what size and type. Great for the beginning Virginia smoker and for the experienced smoker.

Highly Recommended!

Regards, Peter .........a pipe is to be savored.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2006-03-23		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Absolutely superb--sometimes. In a good pipe, smoked slowly, this tobacco is as good as it gets--sometimes.

At the beginning, sometimes, it is mild and fruity, like a nice Chablis. Other times, it is such a slow starter, so light and subtle--and tasteless--that it will make you crazy.

Later on, almost always, it's sweet, tangy, and loaded with flavor--like eating BBQ shrimp at the Jazz Kitchen in Austin, Texas. Smooth, cool, and delicious. But sometimes not. Sometimes it's just a sort of dull medium Virginia of no particular distinction.

In short, this is generally a charming smoke. Occasionally, it can blow your doors off. I've smoked a full tin in a wide variety of pipes--clays, meerschaums, briars of various sizes--and I've experimented a great deal with rubbing it out, and I still haven't found exactly what it is that makes this tobacco work so well when it does. Like a beautiful woman, it has its mysteries.

CVP is a dense tobacco, and it burns slowly for a LONG time. I have gone to smaller bowls when I smoke this blend, simply to avoid smoking the same tobacco for two to three hours.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ranger (79)	2005-01-24		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Outstanding taste, texture and aroma. Beautiful flakes cut to perfection. I could smoke this anytime, anywhere. Definitely one of my top five Virginias. Too bad it costs a little more than most, or I would have this stocked for the ages.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Dottle (162)	2005-01-04		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

It's been said. This a a good tobacco, indeed, but there are many other VAs that I and my tastebuds like better.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SopwithCamel (255)	2004-12-29		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I won't add too much, other than to say this is an excellent middle weight Virginia Flake. Highly recommended!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	OSR (78)	2004-10-01		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

WOW!

This reminds me of the old Imperial Tobacco Capstan Full.

If you want to try a good, hearty, full virginia flake then look no further. Even better than Sam Gawith FVF, this is wonderful tobacco and should age excellently.

I didn't think that virginia flake like this existed anymore.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	mainspring (27)	2004-07-21		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Upon opening the tin, a beautiful flake tobacco with a great aroma greets you. I was hoping this would taste as good as it smelled. So often I get my hopes up with a tobacco that "smells" promising but get let down once I begin smoking it. Well guess what? This tobacco delivers! It's a very nice Virginia tobak with a great flavor and aroma - almost a dreamy smoke! If you are a fast puffer, it can get a bit warm but does not bite. There is a nice complexity to it. It lights and burns easily all the way down the bowl. Even the aftertaste is nice. Towards the bottom of the bowl it builds up to a darker and slightly stronger flavor (of course). I enjoyed this tobak until I drew a bit of ash into my mouth! It's a shame this is not available in bulk as it's a bit pricey in the tin. I will be purchasing more of this one. Highly Recommended!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Paddy (127)	2003-05-26		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

This tobacco comes in very thin, pliable flakes, easy to rub out into a sort of chopped ribbon cut. The tobacco ranges in color from dark and red Virginia with flashes of bright. It has a very light topping, reminiscent of cooking spices along the lines of Light Flake. Although lighter in appearance than Astley's #44, the smoke is very similar. The smoke is lightly sweetened with a very subdued Virginia taste. This is good quality tobacco and burns smoothly without much tending. There is no bite that I can detect. This is a nice smoke, but I prefer more Virginia flavor and a little less sweetener. This may be a great choice for someone just becoming acqainted with Virginias. This would also be a good smoke if your hands are busy and you want a smooth sweet smoke that will not capture your attention. Not bad. Not great. Paddy. I fear I have been a bit harsh. The more I smoke this the better I like it. I now am careful to smoke it earlier in the day before I have smoked stronger tobaccos. The F&T cut plugs are excellent for a morning smoke or immediately after dinner. Good Virginia flavor, but very subdued.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	NEWMAN (305)	2002-04-24		Very Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

If I could find this in bulk, it would be one of my regular, all day, straight VA smokes. It is comparitively mild and not too complex, but that is my ideal in an all day smoke. Nicely prepared flakes range from yellow thru red/brown to black. This VA is easy to pack, light and smoke. Burns cool and evenly from start to finish and relights with ease and without any major change in flavor. You can enjoy the experience and not have to worry about packing technique, pipe choice or puffing speed. Sweet flavor from the quality VAs are creamy and smooth. If you enjoy mild, VA flakes, give it a try.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2002-01-16		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

This is a very light tobacco to me . I enjoy it when I want something light to smoke during the day that is easy to put down and will still taste good on relighting after sitting . I sometimes get busy during the day and have to set my pipe down while it's lit and may not return to it for an hour or so .This tobacco responds well to these situations . The flavor is well rounded . The flakes break up easily for packing . The tin aroma is a little spicy . It's certainly a tobacco to try for VA fans .

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2001-08-13		Mild	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant

I chose my favorite virginia-only pipe, a Hardcastle prince that hits the zone so well with Christmas Cheer and other straight virginia's.

Upon opening the small 50g tin, the tobacco is true to its plug form, looking like a dense brick of tobacco. A little coaxing yields a three-inch flake, the cutting of the plug was executed very well. I pinched off a few 1/4" pieces for the bottom of the bowl, followed by a barely rubbed-out middle, and finally a finely rubbed out topping to help the charring light.

The first light was tangy and slightly astringent, but without bite. Nothing too eventful until the second light. Holey-Smoley-Canoley! This tobacco is everything a straight virginia should be. There was a musty sweetness kind of like a freshly opened package of graham crackers, with a lingering flavor of white raisins. I hit the zone on this bowl and stayed with it for a long time. There were brief flashes of different flavors that I can not name yet, but it kept me interested all the way to the bottom of the bowl.

Afterwards, my palatte tasted clean and dry, no bad lingering flavors. In fact, I immediately wanted another bowl! This is a really fine virginia, I am stocking up like a madman on this one, I can not wait to see how a few years will improve this blend.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Rustedrailsmokes (293)	2021-06-07		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This one was quite the happy surprise. I picked up a tin to hit the free shipping (who hasn't done that?) and found a winner.

With it getting warmer quickly here in Georgia, I'm trying to get my summer rotation in place. One of the spots is for a golden VA. Last summer I was working through Veermaster and the summer before Golden Sliced. This blend to me fits right into those same shoes.

I realized after reading some of the reviews that part of the citrus I was getting was from a topping. That's fine, its well done where you can still pick up the natural flavors of the tobacco underneath it. I didn't get much or any of the vanilla except very slightly in an aftertaste.

The flakes have a nice size and moisture which makes them easy to either fold and stuff in my authors or break up into chunks in my taller bowls. The light fairly easily and burn with minimal relights to my normal smoking rhythm. The nic level is enough to tell you are smoking but not enough that I can't have a 2nd bowl if I want it.

I found this pairs really nicely with lighter beers and even a Cuba Libre or Mojito.

I'm looking forward to finishing this tin and will look for this one to add to my summer cellar.

Pipe Used: authors, dublins, canadians

Age When Smoked: 2020 tin

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-11-08		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I have to agree with DK, and others that rate this tobacco at 4 stars. A great, tasty smoke....rich, smooth taste, with no bite. IMHO, the finest straight Virginia flake to be had. And, apparently quite pleasing to the nose, as my wife said it "smells GREAT." Will be adding a couple of tins to my next order.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-01-15		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

This is one of the great virginias. But it is a basic virginia with a twist. At first I thought it was ghosting from my pipe, but after switching it to several pipes. When first lit there is a very slight taste of english. By mid-bowl it is hard to taste but it is there all the same.

This brings a nice nuance to what could have been an also-ran virginia blend. It takes it to a new place that makes it a must smoke. The flavors of this virginia are subtle and delicate. Tip top taste buds turn this into a great smoking experience.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-04-07		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Best if aged a bit after opening. Open the tin and close it back up; let it set about 2 months, making sure it does not dry out, as the moisture level is good out of the can and this will dry out quick if not taken care of. This can be a harsh VA straight after opening - allowing it to breath makes a huge difference. It's a great smoke if handled properly. I don't rub this one out much; folding the flakes and places some loose on top for burning makes this a delightful smoke.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-02-25		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Great virginia tobacco. One of my favorite straight VA's. Just pure, sweet va. flake. Is it at good as Hal-O-Wind, Full Va Flake, Best Brown and Blackwoods(my other favorite straight VA's)....maybe? They all are a bit different, but all excellent, non-bite-ing and delicious. My advice to the new pipe smoker: sit back, dont rush it, dry out just enough tobacco to fill a bowl (let a flake sit out for 20-45 minutes), rub it out and enjoy. Here is where the novice makes a mistake...they form an opinion after a bowl or two of tobacco. My personal advice is to finish at least a full tin of tobacco prior to moving on. In other words, finish the tin you started prior to trying a new tobacco, smoke 10-20- bowls of the same tobacco prior to subjecting your pallet to a different blend. I used to smoke several blends in a given week...now I concentrate on one blend at a time, it takes a bit longer to experience the hundreds of blends out there, but is is well worth it. Try GL Pease Cumberland exactly that way....probably the best blend on the planet earth without exception.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2008-07-19		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a quality flake tobacco, looks beautiful in the tin. Creamy, pure virginia taste. Nevertheless only 2 stars because there are other Virginia flakes (e.g. from SG, McClelland, Orlik Golden Sliced) which are at least equally good, but much cheaper.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2008-05-13		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

A good, solid, medium Virginia flake but not one that stands out in a crowded field. I agree with the comparisons to Capstan. If you can't find Capstan in the US, try this and you'll get the idea. I had a bowl of each today to see, and perhaps this one is a bit milder but very similar. I also find a very faint soapiness in mid-bowl with Cut Virginia Plug?not disagreeable, but I would prefer it wasn't there.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2008-04-23		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

Having been on a search and destroy mission through the wonderful world of Virginias, I have gone through at least 25 within the last 4 months. Most I have liked.....several I have loved. This one I love. This one has by far the best tin presentation. These frail flakes are a work of art. They are perfectly formed, and perfectly packed. The tin aroma is just sweet Virginia tobacco. I have smoked this blend folded, and well rubbed out. Makes no difference. This blend lights easy, burns great, smokes cool,no re-lights to the bottom of the bowl.The taste........mild, sweet, natural. Just what I have been looking for! My only regret is that I have not found CVP in bulk, but I guess for something this good I will bight the bullit and pony up the cash to stock my cellar. I can't imagine not having this around. It may become a "go to" blend. At least a

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2008-02-27		Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

This is a sweetly scented flake of gold VA and black cavendish tobaccos. Like so many european products, this is a "luxury" blend with top-notch processing and presentation.

The taste is of light and pure gold virginia which is sweetly cased and a top dressed with scenting common to Three Castles cigarettes. There are a few, odd flecks of black cavendish which lend a slightly exaggerated and creamy sweetness.

Cut VA Plug has many virtues: an excellent cut, clean burning properties, and top- quality, unaffected bright VAs. It is "proper" in a non-pejorative sense: elegant, comfortable, and conservative. It worked best in a narrow to medium gauge chamber.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2007-07-22		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Cut Virginia Plug is a quality, nicely presented Virginia Flake.

Although I enjoy the spiciness of a good VA/Per, the particular spicy flavors of this straight virginia don't sit well on my palate. The spiciness seems artificial and i agree with wosbald that this is topped with something.

Finding the right Virginia is a highly personal pursuit. I can see why others might enjoy this one but it just doesn't float my boat.

I'll gladly finish the tin but see no reason to pay a premium price for this.

1/2

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2006-09-26		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

This is pure sweet virginia plug. I find it a bit moist but dries out quickly. It will bite if smoked to fast.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2005-10-20		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

F&T hit one WAY out of the park with this offering. The perfect tobacco strength in a Virginia, The sweetness of this Virginia is perfectly subtle and natural, making this one of the great tasting straight Virginia's. I highly recommend 'cut va. plug'.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2005-04-03		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable

Very good flake! Beautiful out of the tin, perfect pieces of uniform flakes a joy to look at out of the box. Smokes great in any size pipe. I usually just rub it out ever so slightly and put a flake in the pipe, that works real well! Can also be fully rubbed out for smaller bowl pipes. Great natural virginia taste and recommended. would age great!

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-12-06		Very Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

I have alot of praise for all blenders that produce tobaccos that ooze quality in their natural state. VA cut plug is dense brick of natural flake, that emits aromas reminiscent of prunes and brown sugar. I love the fact that upon opening of the tin I was able to see that this tobacco was topping and scent free. I have smoked this blend in both a very large Nording and a Peterson rusticated 80s. In both pipes the tobacco preforms like a true VA champ. This sliced flakes are easily rubbed out and, though the tobacco is a bit moist- there is no problem keeping this one lit. I only had to relight twice while using my Nording and the Peterson did not require one at all. The only thing that I have to say about this tobacco in a negative sense is the fact that it is a bit too mild for my taste, in both overall flavor and nicotine. I have become much more partial to tobaccos of the stronger variety. The subtleness of this VA reminds me of an oaky chardonnay, a bit sweet yet dissapears from the palet almost immediately. I like to smoke this tobacco for a change of pace, when I want to have something other than Dark Kentucky or some heavy English blend. If you know someone who wants to get into the world of pipe smoking then this one would be a wonderful choice. Great taste and will never bite.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-07-22		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Very Pleasant

An outstanding Golden Virginia Flake of the highest quality. This is yummy! The flakes are not so pressed together that I can't get them apart. They rub out well,and light easy. I too am reminded of Capstan Blue with this flake tobacco. The sweetness of the leaf,and round whole taste of the Virginia makes this pipe tobacco a real winner.Most highly recomended.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-07-06		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Note that above it should read: "One of my favorites, I would smoke this regularly if I could". CVP is, alas, not available in my home country, nor through my regular online store, Dan Pipe.

I have so far discovered three excellent virginia flakes: Dunhill Flake, Peterson's University Flake and Hamborger Veermaster. Cut Virginia Plug is even better than they are. It's smooth but never dull, its delicious sweetness is natural, not achieved through chemical additives or casings, and this tobaccos behaves very well at all times: no bite, and a consistent burn.

If I had access to this stuff constantly it would be one of my most smoked tobaccos.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-06-30		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

My first F&T blend. I really like this stuff. Not too comples but has some complexity. Lovely taste and gets a little spicy toward the end. Comes in sheets that are very easily rubbed out. Took 2 lights and I was off. I will keep coming back to this. Next I will try Negrohead(blackjack here in North America). Also an F&T blend. 41/2 stars

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pounder 5000 (178)	2004-06-13		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Tolerable

Although I agree that this is indeed similiar to Capstan Medium, I feel it is inferior due to the lack of consistency. At best it is a nice enough medium VA flake. At its worse it is a bowlful of molten steel. I could really find no rhyme nor reason for this and don't plan on exploring the issue further.

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