Robert McConnell Red Virginia

"a dash of Perique" is absolutely right. I hardly tasted it at all. The only hint of Perique that I got was when I happened to smell it rolling out of the bowl.

Overall to me, this was an average Virginia. It bit if smoked to fast but the taste was just okay. I enjoy Gawith's Full Virginia and Best Brown to this one.

My first McConnell. A fair but not outstanding VA/P blend. The taste is primarily red VA, but I do find that the perique definitely makes itself known by its peppery effects on my tongue, in the room note, and a certain nicotine kick I identify with perique. If there is indeed a topping, it has eluded me outside the tin.

The VA is not very sweet, and I agree with Tantric that the blend has a "wood like character". This gives it something of an 'earthy'tinge, which can be pleasant in terms of complexity, but also makes it a little rougher in flavor. It also makes me wonder how aged is the VA component.

The broken flakes smell delicious, and pack easily. Moisture level is about right. The blend smokes well and evenly after the charring light. The perique is prominent for the first third and then recedes in the latter half, as does the roughness mentioned above, and the VA sweetens just slightly. Overall, the flavor is fairly consistent (monotonous?). There is only a little moisture, and it burns down to a fine ash.

Certainly it is well-blended in terms of balance, but by the same token it simply seems to lack enough distinction to draw me to buy another tin. I'd rather go to Marlin Flakes for a VA, or Esoterica's Dunbar or Dorchester for a VA/P blend.

This is another hand blend from Kohlhase & Kopp in Germany and quite typical of their work with toppings that enhance but don't dominate the smoke. The tin aroma was quite sweet but the taste more of natural tobacco but with a honeydew presence. I've been smoking some hi test blends recently, and I didn't sense the Perique influence. Packing, lighting, moisture content were fine and an even burn resulted in all bowl sizes. This blend was too mild for my taste as a regular but could certainly be enjoyed in the future.

I love Red Virginias, But this wasn't all that great. Moist or dry, The flavor was just ok, and I found it a bit nippy. There are far better choices out there..... Just my .02

Another McConell only available in bulk, so once more, under all reserve until I buy the tin version.

Thing is, the impression of the bulk doesn't incitate me to try the tin.

A rather small ready rubbed leaf combined with broken flake, red and dark brown, but as if somebody sweeped the floor to pick up the bits of bakkie that were not selected for the tin. Sad to say, but that was my impression.

Easy to light up-figures! but, because of the so broken format, had a tendancy to overheat and thus, bite.

Smoked kind of dry till the end, but I neber bothered finishing the pouch, I quit about half way.

Very pleasant to look at - this is a bright Virginia tobacco and no mistake.

Not difficult to pack due to its being semi-rubbed-out flake, but quite short. It therefore takes and holds a light quite well.

It's loathe to bite, but can get the bowl of the pipe fairly warm. It has a nice room note, although enjoying that too much was what made me warm the thing - too much ferocious sucking!

Not as nutty as many VAs, but not 'soapy' or floral. A reasonable daily smoke, but nothing special I'm afraid.

A straight-ahead red virginia by flavor. The Perique and topping would probably be missed by someone not knowing of their presence in advance.

I found this tobacco to be a bit lacking in flavor. It also seemed to burn me a bit, in a chemical way, but as this may be my own chemistry, it won't affect my final review.

The addition of Perique gives this tobacco some of the missing flavor and richness. Without Perique, I don't see myself smoking this when there are so many superior blends to smoke.