Robert McConnell Red Virginia
(3.01)
One of the original blends from 1848. Rich chestnut coloured leaf from Carolina combine with Virginia brights tobaccos to produce a mild but satisfying blend. A touch of perique gives a taste of elegance and quality. No latakia is added.
Notes: Flavoring according to K&K Website: Chocolate.
Details
| Brand | Robert McConnell |
| Blended By | Kohlhase, Kopp und Co. KG |
| Manufactured By | Kohlhase & Kopp |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Perique |
| Contents | Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Cocoa / Chocolate |
| Cut | Ready Rubbed |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.01 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 81 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 2019 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
In the post McClelland world of tobacco this was a real treat. I really enjoyed smoking this one for the pure taste of the blend. As Jiminks points out, it is a bit of a misnomer in calling it Red Virginia as it does contain other things that are detectable in the taste; however, I do find that the Red Virginia is the key flavor in this as it is more earthy/tangy than citrus/hay sweet. The latter being more characteristic of the bright leaf that accompanies the former in this blend.
Also present is a touch of perique. It does add a bit of complexity to the blend. As I tend to enjoy VaPers a touch more than straight Vas on average, this does not bother me in the least. In the flavoring notes above, it says it contains cocoa, idk where that would come from. I really couldn't detect a topping at all, but if one exists, I would expect it to be simple sugar or maybe honey, nothing as rich and intrusive as Chocolate or cocoa. It really presents to me as an untopped blend.
So although this has more than Red Va within it, it still primarily presents as a Red Va to my tastes and it tastes great. I am giving this a four star rating, but will honestly say this is mostly due to the vacuum left in the world of Red Virginia offerings since McClelland departed the market.
I have seen people ask in many forums for recommendations of a good red Virginia blend and I see a general lack of response to the question. When McClelland was produced, it was easy to answer and the answer was always McClelland or blends produced for other by McClelland (i.e. McCrainies, Peretti, Watch City, et al.). I have seen this question stump many people who have tried much more tobacco than I and it has also stumped me. Now I have an answer, and this is it.
Also present is a touch of perique. It does add a bit of complexity to the blend. As I tend to enjoy VaPers a touch more than straight Vas on average, this does not bother me in the least. In the flavoring notes above, it says it contains cocoa, idk where that would come from. I really couldn't detect a topping at all, but if one exists, I would expect it to be simple sugar or maybe honey, nothing as rich and intrusive as Chocolate or cocoa. It really presents to me as an untopped blend.
So although this has more than Red Va within it, it still primarily presents as a Red Va to my tastes and it tastes great. I am giving this a four star rating, but will honestly say this is mostly due to the vacuum left in the world of Red Virginia offerings since McClelland departed the market.
I have seen people ask in many forums for recommendations of a good red Virginia blend and I see a general lack of response to the question. When McClelland was produced, it was easy to answer and the answer was always McClelland or blends produced for other by McClelland (i.e. McCrainies, Peretti, Watch City, et al.). I have seen this question stump many people who have tried much more tobacco than I and it has also stumped me. Now I have an answer, and this is it.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
This is a Danish style aromatic tobacco, but I am not bothered by this fact. For one thing the taste is somewhat similar to the tin note and it does not seem to bite at all. I know this might sound bizarre, but this baccy smells just like Playdough. It reminds me of those pick-and-mix strawberry sweets you buy loose for your kids in most sweet shops, and this is something that quite shows in your smoke. I thought I wouldn't, but funny though it is, I am enjoying this. The moist content is borderline being just too wet, but it seems to smoke perfectly fine after airing for a few hours, so I am not sure I'd smoke this tobacco as dry. As for the quality of the Virginia leaf, surprisingly enough, it seems to be really good. It is not infrequent to find bad quality tobaccos being masked by all the added casings, but this does not seem to be case in this particular instance. Not a nicotine bomb by any stretch of the imagination, but who cares for a morning blend you can smoke anytime to break the day. And it evolves quite nicely the more you progress with your smoke. I am surprised I am enjoying this, but I am, so I am going to give it 3 stars.
24-06-2017 Edit: I have come to fully appreciate this tobacco for what it is, so I am upgrading it from 3 to 4 stars. The Virginia/perique combination is quite balanced, it evolves beautifully in your bowl and, as a mild aromatic the casing is something more of a compliment that the main feature underscoring this blend. When I first tried it I knew it was something worth taking your time to fully appreciate it, and as a matter of fact I have found myself reaching more and more for this tobacco. One of my favs now, this baccy is.
24-06-2017 Edit: I have come to fully appreciate this tobacco for what it is, so I am upgrading it from 3 to 4 stars. The Virginia/perique combination is quite balanced, it evolves beautifully in your bowl and, as a mild aromatic the casing is something more of a compliment that the main feature underscoring this blend. When I first tried it I knew it was something worth taking your time to fully appreciate it, and as a matter of fact I have found myself reaching more and more for this tobacco. One of my favs now, this baccy is.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 06, 2012 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Red Virginias with some Perique and a chocolate topping, this is what is described on the official website of Kohlhase, Kopp und Co in German. Considered a Scottish mixture the name is: The original Red Virginia pipe tobacco.
This tobacco is great for aromatic smokers that would want to dabble in Virginias without sacrificing too much of the flavoring. I do find that the chocolate flavor takes over most of the time. The Perique is weakly applied and adds nothing to the mixture. In conclusion, another average mixture for me. Even if the tobacco is of quality, the blending is a waste of inspiration and resources. A semi-aromatic at best or a light aromatic at worst.
Virginia lover
This tobacco is great for aromatic smokers that would want to dabble in Virginias without sacrificing too much of the flavoring. I do find that the chocolate flavor takes over most of the time. The Perique is weakly applied and adds nothing to the mixture. In conclusion, another average mixture for me. Even if the tobacco is of quality, the blending is a waste of inspiration and resources. A semi-aromatic at best or a light aromatic at worst.
Virginia lover
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 21, 2018 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I don't mean to throw out another 4 star review but what a lovely surprise here. A lovely Virginia with a hint of perique. I like strong va/per blends but I also love tasteful subtle ones like this... every bit as good as Scottish cake in my opinion... slightly sweet maybe a little bready and tangy. I don't really notice the topping much... maybe sweetens the room note slightly, but completely natural smoke... it's delightful.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 07, 2009 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Not so many times in the past I have visited The Original Red Virginia. Among the MacConnell's blends, I thought that it was the most prone to bite and the less "yielding" (the quantity of the tobacco in the tin is visibly less than one expects even being an almost fine ready rubbed, plus it smokes quite fast...).
During the time I have managed to smoke Virginias properly, and have to say that RV tends to smoke hot if rushed, but hardly bites.
As per the K&K site RV is given to be a medium strenght blend of Virginias with a pinch of Perique and a hint of aromatization (chocolate !). I frankly don't smell any chocolate both in the tin aroma and the smoke, I smell a very light berry topping, which hardly affects the smoke. The strenght does not exceed the mild/to/medium mark.
Regarding me RV is pleasantly not-so-sweet-not-so-fruity smoke, which can be experienced both contemplatively or absent mindedly. The good character of this blend is taken to light with the calmest sipping, the largest bores being the optimum.
The Perique, declaredly a pinch, does its job giving very faint notes of stewed fruits without any sourish effect.
During the time I have managed to smoke Virginias properly, and have to say that RV tends to smoke hot if rushed, but hardly bites.
As per the K&K site RV is given to be a medium strenght blend of Virginias with a pinch of Perique and a hint of aromatization (chocolate !). I frankly don't smell any chocolate both in the tin aroma and the smoke, I smell a very light berry topping, which hardly affects the smoke. The strenght does not exceed the mild/to/medium mark.
Regarding me RV is pleasantly not-so-sweet-not-so-fruity smoke, which can be experienced both contemplatively or absent mindedly. The good character of this blend is taken to light with the calmest sipping, the largest bores being the optimum.
The Perique, declaredly a pinch, does its job giving very faint notes of stewed fruits without any sourish effect.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 2017 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
The smell is very natural, deep, like grass or hay. Flakes rubbed with various shades of brown. The humidity is optimal, no need to re-ignite. The virginia manifests itself from the beginning of the smoke, semi-sweet and the perique is present showing a slight itch in the nose and mouth. The taste is maintained until the end. A very pleasant experience with virginia. Depending on the type of bowl leaves some moisture at the end. The ash is gray and fine.
Pipe Used:
Stanwell
PurchasedFrom:
Tobacco shop from Barcelona
Age When Smoked:
New from new tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 16, 2016 | Strong | Mild to Medium | Medium | Tolerable |
I don't believe for an instant that a British tobacco from the early 19th Century would have had a plum flavouring, and of course perique didn't even exist back then. So, so much for honesty in marketing.
This is a mostly mid brown short ribbon tobacco with a plum or similar flavouring. I haven't smoked this alongside Royal Yacht but these are, to my mind, very similar tobaccos. Interestingly RY doesn't claim to contain perique but I thought it was there. I honestly think both tobaccos have a small amount; just enough to give some fruity profiles and some added strength. Where I think this tobacco differs from RY is that it is a tad milder in all regards.
This tobacco smokes well, is rich and creamy with fruit and spice notes all the way through. It is a light, in terms of flavour additives, aromatic. Veers towards the strong side nicotine wise.
This is a mostly mid brown short ribbon tobacco with a plum or similar flavouring. I haven't smoked this alongside Royal Yacht but these are, to my mind, very similar tobaccos. Interestingly RY doesn't claim to contain perique but I thought it was there. I honestly think both tobaccos have a small amount; just enough to give some fruity profiles and some added strength. Where I think this tobacco differs from RY is that it is a tad milder in all regards.
This tobacco smokes well, is rich and creamy with fruit and spice notes all the way through. It is a light, in terms of flavour additives, aromatic. Veers towards the strong side nicotine wise.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
This is a very nice smoke. I can barely taste any topping and it seems to be there more to enhance the room note than for any other reason. The Virginias are bready with notes of tangy fruit. The Perique is lightly applied, but there are mild notes of darker fruit and spice from it. All in all a nice tasting blend with enough strength to satisfy. A solid 3.
Mild to medium in body. Medium in taste. Flavoring is extremely mild. Burns very well.
Mild to medium in body. Medium in taste. Flavoring is extremely mild. Burns very well.
Pipe Used:
MM Little Devil Cutty, Little Devil Acorn, Marcus
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 08, 2023 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I got this for what it was described to me as a Virginia blend with a touch of Perique. Not a true VaPer, but a blend with a light touch of Perique. A light casing is applied to bring out the Red Virginia’s natural sweetness without being over done. The tin smell is enticing and the flavors during the smoke are a blend nutty flavor with a slight sweet finish. A cool smoking Virginia and very well rounded. Kohlhase, Kopp und Co. KG States the Aroma is chocolate - well maybe.
Pipe Used:
Rattray’s Butcher Boy
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 03, 2018 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Heavenly tin note, intense, very tangy and sweetly fruity, it smells like a fruit liqueur with notes of chocolate. It’s a tangy and juicy smoke which I find quite nice. It is darkly sweet and this sweetness is balanced beautifully by the tanginess and some bitter and sour citrucy fruit element. However the topping which smells so nice does taste a little chemical and metallic to me.
Still not a bad smoke, but not as good as Robert McConnell’s Mature which is also topped but with a much more natural tasting flavor. Not to mention the superb Scottish Cake... And if you are looking for a pure red Virginia tobacco better look elsewhere, for this is not it. 2.5 stars.
Still not a bad smoke, but not as good as Robert McConnell’s Mature which is also topped but with a much more natural tasting flavor. Not to mention the superb Scottish Cake... And if you are looking for a pure red Virginia tobacco better look elsewhere, for this is not it. 2.5 stars.
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