Fribourg & Treyer Cut Virginia Plug

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"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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