Tobaccos Hearth & Home - Virginia Spice (Signature Series)

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3046)	2012-12-14		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

The Virginias are grassy with some citrus and tangy stewed dark fruit and earth. The bright and red Virginias are present in equal proportions. They form the base for the blend, and are the dominant components. The mild Connecticut cigar leaf continually plays in the background for a light smokey sweet nuance that you may not always recognize explicitly, but it adds a slight body and depth to the proceedings. The perique offer plum, raisin, and a slightly more than mild pepper as a supporting ingredient. This blend seems to have an extremely mild sweet topping, but whatever it may be, it doesn't intrude in any way, and at times, I'm not entirely certain it has one, but it may account for a light fruitiness. The nic-hit is a shade above mild. Burns at a moderate pace with clean, cool, fairly smooth and buttery consistent flavor, sporting no dull or harsh spots. Doesn’t need many relights, and easily burns to ash with no bite. Leaves very little moisture in the bowl. The pleasant after taste lingers just a little. The room note won’t chase your pets or spouse away. Has just enough strength to suit the experienced VaPer aficionado while being mild enough for those entering this genre for the first time. An all day smoke if you so choose.

-JimInks

35 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2011-04-03		Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

This blend is nothing short of outstanding! I have not smoked many of Russ Ouellette's blends but I've never had one that didn't float my boat. Virginia Spice has strength (yippee!) and a subtle sweetness that truly enhanced the natural Virginia flavor. The Perique was expertly added and did not intrude. And while not a condiment expert; I can safely say the spice in this blend was a joyful addition. Just an outstanding compilation!

25 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrumsAndBeer (217)	2014-08-30		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Not only is this an excellent mixture, it's also an excellent value. The primary flavor is semi sweet and toasty and there's just enough perique to provide a nice spicy tingle with a perfectly balanced twang. When sipped I get quite a variety of delicate flavors as well as a few satisfying complexities amidst a wonderful interplay of sweet and sour.

The sweetness builds as the bowl progresses as does the strength and the spice of the perique. Nasal exhales give me that perfect tingle with absolutely zero irritation or throat harshness. Cigar leaf? I got just a hint of it as an aftertaste but overall its purpose seems to be purely synergistic.

Virginia Spice is proof that a superbly executed simplistic mixture can be affordable and provide hours of top notch smoking pleasure. It smokes awesome in a cob and stands up perfectly to briar.

The pleasure of smoking this reminded me of something that my Italian uncle once told me. He insisted that if you want to know if an Italian restaurant is any good, order the eggplant parmesan. And what a chef does with the simplest of ingredients is all you need to know about the rest of the menu. I suppose the same concept can be applied to tobacco blending. That said, in my books, Mr. Ouellette probably makes one hell of an eggplant parm. Now onto the rest of the menu.

Pipe Used: briar & cob

Age When Smoked: 3

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SteelCowboy (685)	2011-03-31		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Virginia Spice in my opinion is one of the best, but often overlooked blends from Russ Ouellette and Pipes and Cigars. I haven't tried many blends that I can compare this blend to in that it is a Vaper, but not really. Its a cigar blend, but again, not really. It does come across to me as somewhat similar, stripped down, less complex version of Stogie made by the same folks. The tobacco smells of very sweet and tangy Virginias and for the most part that's the flavor profile, but the cigar leaf adds a whole other dimension. It arrives a bit moist and after a few minutes of drying, one can expect large billows of smoke and a blast of intense flavor. I tend to like my Vapers on the sweet side but Virginia Spice would actullly be too sweet for me however there is enough cigar leaf to balance things out and add a richness to the blend. If tobacco could be described in terms of sounds, I would call this blend "loud." It may be too much of a good thing for some Vaper smokers that like a more nuanced blend that's not quite so "in your face." Highly Recommended.

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PhillyB (70)	2013-08-11		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I have difficulty trying to add anything that the tin hasn't already said. Dead on for once! Spice and sweet accompanied by a little richness, and maybe just a little citrus tang to it. I do taste the cigar a little but some people might struggle to find it over the other flavors. It comes at the correct moisture straight from the tin and stays lit well to the finish, but I would recommend letting it dry out little more than standard. The room note is mostly Perique but lighter than some more Perique heavy blends. It has a dessert like quality that I enjoy but probably won't keep it on hand. Does tend to imbue the pipe with a slight cigar taste for the next few bowls of another tobacco.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-07-07		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A very nice smoke. You get the sweetness of virginias. I can't detect any topping, just a clean smoke that shows off the tobacco. It has a creaminess to it, and a nice, but not overpowering cigar flavor. I don't know how to describe the cigar aspects, but it makes me imagine old books, maybe an empty wine barrel?

This seems to start off sweet and pretty mild, nice but mild. Toward the bottom half of the bowl, the flavor develops more and has a nice peppery spiciness to it (Perique?). Until the last half, I wasn't sure why they called this Virginia Spice.

Another thing I like about this, with cigars, the last inch or so gets real nasty, ammonia like. This blend lets you enjoy the smoke till ashes. I just always hate how with a cigar you waste so much.

EDIT: Forgot to add, not even a hint of tongue bite.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TallPuffO'Burley (633)	2015-09-08		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

I trust the ingredients listing that there is some cigar leaf in this blend, but it must be mild. I really didn't specifically taste it. This is not unusual by any means as it pertains to cigar leaf in pipe tobacco.

Still this is a good Va Per in its own right as are many of the Va Pers coming out of H & H. The Virginias are very grassy to my tastes. I found the perique to be there for sure, but not overpowering in the least. Overall, with a blend containing both Perique and cigar leaf, my biggest disappointment was that it was not very potent in the nicotine department.

It is an enjoyable blend that is well done, just don't expect any cigar likeness and don't expect too much a departure from a typical VaPer.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	The Right Reverend (36)	2013-10-13		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

A good friend wanted to introduce me to VaPers and this was his choice blend. This was also my introduction to Hearth and Home Blends. It is quite good but will nip you if taken too fast. Sweet and spicy as the name would indicate. This is an enjoyable sit down smoke... I tried taking it for a walk, not a good idea - a little too strong for a strolling tobacco. The cigar leaf does come out and give this mix a bit of a N kick, not huge but noticeable. Not quite smooth, but full. Burns well, the mixture was neither too moist or too dry from the tin - perfect actually and I don't find that too often. The room note was on the low pleasant side as the wife did not object, but did not rave either. It did fluctuate between a good full clouds of smoke to a bit thin in the cloud department, yet it finished well. I'm not sure if it will be in my regular rotation as cigar leaf, even a bit, does not appeal to me but this is worth a try for something a just a little off the beaten path. The quality of the tobacco and good moisture content packing will have me exploring other Hearth and Home blends.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	turfprince (4)	2013-01-15		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I just reviewed this tobacco on pipesandcigars website. I've only had one pipefull, and so I feel foolish in raving about Virginia Spice. The new tin is too moist for me, but I packed up anyway. I like strong tobacco, and this is if you aren't careful with it. I like to inhale through my nose, and with this tobacco, that is a true pleasure. I immediately noticed the Perique; a nice peppery/spicy note. It is not dominant; mostly, I simply had the Perique sensation, more than actually tasting it. The Virginias keep this tobacco bright and clean and are always present. It wasn't until I was over half way through the smoke that the cigar leaf would flit in and out. It was delicious; as I told Bobby and Russ at the store, it was a lip-smacking sensation. I have been smoking for 50 years, and I truly cannot remember a better stand alone, all day, go to smoke. I love Nightcap and Frog Morton's cellar, but the former is a bit tough for all day, and the latter a bit cloying. Virginia Spice is my new go-to smoke. Russ didn't create a fine tobacco only; this is a masterpiece. UPDATE 2/3/2012: I love this tobacco, but it doesn't love me. For some reason, it makes me cough very badly when I inhale. It is probably just me, but I thought that I should mention it. If I just puff, everything is fine.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	musicman (131)	2014-01-16		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Once again I hate to be the party pooper but here it is. I have the utmost respect for Mr. Ouillette, and have smoked some wonderful tobaccos he has blended, but I just cant seem to appreciate this signature series. I in no way consider this to be bad tobacco, but it does not stick out for me in any way.

Virginia spice is said to be blended with maduro leaf to give it a round smooth taste. Maybe, but I couldn't pick any of that up. Just a normal Vaper for me. This blend seemed to get a little darker and flavorful the second half of the bowl, but overall, kinda blah for me.

Pipe Used: Savinelli 320 Trevi

Age When Smoked: purchased in 2008

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-12-14		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Im on a quest to try all the cigar blends that I can find, and was very happy to find this as it doesnt have any Latakia in it, which is rather unusual in cigar blends.

I actually cant detect the cigar leaf, but the taste is that of an excellent VaPer with a very unique extra "spice" to it. Its both full and bright, if you know what I mean. The Perique level is good, low enough not to make it taste like lingonberries (I hate that!) or even noticing it. Love the cut which makes filling easy and burning cool and even. Looks good too.

Great taste all the way down, never gets boring. Could wish for more fullness, but its silly of me really.

This is one of the best blends I have tried, looking forward to smoke this on a nice summers day by the lake. For me this is a an uncomplicated chill out blend, at the same time absolutely unique. Top notch!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-01-21		Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I try to avoid "blend inflation" and rarely give four stars.

Russ makes great VAPer blends, and this one, with cigar leaf, is no exception. I think it's my favorite Hearth & Home VAPer, and that's saying a lot!

It has a lot of richness, while being smooth, spicy, and sweet, all at the same time.

Very well behaved in the pipe, too!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	strongirish (249)	2009-11-17		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

From the description of this blend on the Pipesandcigars website, I was expecting a hearty blend that would be in my face because of the added cigar leaf. Boy, was I wrong! This stuff is mild, smooth and creamy right out of the pouch! I did taste the cigar leaf wafting in and out but the main player here is the VaPer base. It does have a spicy flavor and is very Va sweet, but the perique really behaves itself, never burning the back of my throat or nose, but it does give it's wonderful flavor presence to the blend. I have smoked this several times in a tall Caminetti stack, and it never smoked too full or strong, nor lost it's taste. It never bit me one bit and simply tasted delicious.

It is a rough cut semi ribbon cut, is mostly a brown blend but with some darker leaf mixed in. It has a pouch aroma that is tangy and rich and just a little sour smelling. It came to me the perfect moisture content and loaded very easily into my pipe. It stays lit very well and burns down to a dark grey ash and no moisture at the bottom of the bowl. This is the perfect smoke to go with a cold ale or stout beer. The room note to me is dominated by the perique but I do pick up notes of maduro cigar in it but it smells wonderful to me. It does have a slightly stale cigar aroma about a half hour after finishing, so not a wife pleaser really. I only bought a sample of this but I will buy pounds of it to cellar, as I really like it and I highly recommend it.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Slow Triathlete (62)	2008-04-29		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

While listed as a VaPer with some cigar leaf in it I would switch that around and state that it is more a cigar blend with some Virginia and Perique thrown in. It kind of falls in the category of VaPer-like, similar to Haddo's, but there is other stuff thrown in to alter the tastes a bit.

Regardless, this was a great blend to smoke and I would highly recommend it to anyone who may be burnt out on VaPers or someone who just wants to try something a little different.

The taste and aroma for this blend takes you on a rollercoaster ride. One minute it smells and tastes like a VaPer, the next it smells and tastes like your smoking a Macanudo Maduro. All in all, it's a tasty blend, burns well, no bite, and the price is good.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ducksbreath (125)	2006-03-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Now this H&H blend hit a home run with me. It is like Redwood a little but with some cigar leaf added, yet better still. The VAs more complex and sweeter, the perique quieter but assertive and piquant, and a deft touch of cigar leaf. Not that much cigar leaf, so there's just enough to add body. Tastes like a rather sweet, light bodied type of cigar leaf, like a Dominican.

Anyway, this is really a unique VA/P at a very nice price. How good this blend really is will have to wait until some aging. I can't say it is any better or worse than Haddos, they're very different. And I don't smoke VA/Ps all that often, mostly Englishes and burley, but I think this is one I'll keep around. I do prefer American VA/P, they are usually more interesting than the European blended ones (Escudo, etc.).

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DeathMetal.org (231)	2018-08-02		Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium	Pleasant

Summary: a Virginia blend which uses Cigar Leaf to tame its sweetness and Perique to give it a round, mellow taste under a sugary spice topping.

For starters, most will taste the topping, which seems to be a mix of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, and ginger with a sugar syrup. Something like that, anyway; it's hard to tell because the underlying tobacco steals the show. Layers of Virginias provide a sweet background, onto which Cigar Leaf adds a warmer more molasses-like flavor before the Perique rounds it out with a brief, fruity and almost smoky flavor. This blend burns easily, although maybe a bit less topping would be nice, and delivers the "spice" flavor which melds into the choice of leaf. You could smoke this all day without bite or tongue burn and still receive a moderate nicotine experience.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	easterngray (11)	2016-05-22		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

To reiterate what another reviewer said, if there was ever an all day Va/Per, this is it! The addition of cigar leaf has a wonderful smoothing effect on the overall smoke; the sweetness of the Virginias is perfectly balanced with the spice and plum of the perique. A rich, delicious blend. No tongue bite, able to withstand some hearty puffing, yet shines best when sipped; yet another great mixture from one of the master blenders of our day. This is a full flavored, easy going blend that asks only to be enjoyed. Highly recommended .

Pipe Used: Billiards mostly

Age When Smoked: Fresh from tin

Purchased From: P&C

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jevverrett (106)	2015-11-07		Medium	None Detected	Mild	Tolerable

Another selection from my bombing.

The tin note on this is spicy, almost like cinnamon. I don't detect any of the cigar note listed. I do notice plum from the perique. The cut is nice ribbons and some smaller pieces. Packs and lights well. Did take some re-lights for me. On the relights the cigar leaf starts to shine through. The perique is present throughout if you're accustomed to it. It does have some pepper to it that most likely plays in well with cigar. There is a sweetness that stays with the smoke between the Virginias and the fruitiness of the perique. It's a very well blended mixture.

Overall, I would somewhat recommend this. Newer smokers might not appreciate the interplay between the leaves in this and pass it over as run of the mill. Solid smoke with decent strength and interesting flavor for more experienced pipers.

Pipe Used: IMP meer

Age When Smoked: Not sure

Purchased From: BoB bombing gift

Similar Blends: MM country gentleman a bit.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SmokeKing David (134)	2014-04-11		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

Some blends by Russ Oulette are clear winners, but unfortunately this is not one that I enjoy. I find this rather straight-forward and bland; nothing really stands out to me. My friend ordered some last year and gave some to me recently. He was rather bored with this blend, and I agree. While the blend appears to be made up of decent leaf, and it is not offensive, it just doesn't do anything for me.

Age When Smoked: 1 yr old

Purchased From: pipes and cigars online

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2013-10-30		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

A nice blend. Pleasant and satisfying. Wish it had a touch more Perique.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-02-09		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Just finished another bowl of this great blend. This offering has been one of my primary blends for the last few months. I choose to classify this as a cigar blend, although it could fall into the category of a Virginia/ perique blend as well. I haven't tried a lot of va-pers, as I prefer English blends, but those that I have tried haven't contained cigar leaf as this blend does & I believe that's what really makes this blend stand out. As other reviewers have indicated, the sweetness of the Virginias comes through nicely, with the cigar leaf adding it's own sweetness & fullness to the smoke. The perique comes through nicely in this blend as well which I usually look for in an English. This is one of at least a couple mixtures by Pipes & Cigars that contains cigar leaf with no mention of

that ingredient in the current description as listed on their website, which I thought was odd (Strike Force being another example). This makes the third tobacco I've tried from them, and I've been pleased with all 3. A very solid 4 stars as this would make for a primary blend/all-day smoke.

Update on 6-24-13. Am downgrading this blend to 2 stars. As many of our reviewers may know, in April Pipes & Cigars was acquired by Cigars International & moved from it's home in Albany N.Y. to Bethlehem Pa. I placed an order for more of this blend after the transaction & was quite disappointed. It looks the same, smells the same, but definitely doesn't smoke the same. Given my disappointment with the tobacco order, plus the fact that nearly 2 1/ 2 months since the acquisition they STILL don't have a bottle of pipe sweetener in stock, I think I'll once again be giving my business to Iwan Ries in Chicago. One other item concerning this blend-it is loaded with PG, a fact that up until now I had been willing to overlook. For some time, I have found great gobs of the stuff in every bag I ordered.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	babysinister (55)	2010-08-24		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I could smoke Hearth&Home's Virginia Spice all day, as it is a perfect all day smoke for me.

Surprisingly for a VaPer with cigar leaf, it's mild to my palate, and the draw and intake are smooth and very flavorful. Virginia Spice fills the bowl easily, smokes cool and provides a smooth draw, particularly out of a medium sized or larger bowl. The cigar leaf melds seamlessly with the other tobacco components. Highly recommended.

Similar Blends: Habana Daydream.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	beaupipe (102)	2009-04-06		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Just what the world needs: another VaPer and another VaPer review.

The saving grace of this fine tobacco, however, is that it's not just a Vaper. It's a CiVaPer or a VaPerGar or a VaCiPer. For me lately it's been a PaCiFier.

The tobacco hits all of the right notes with its components--Virginia, Perique, cigar leaf. The Virginia provides bright, herbal/grassy aromas and a lingering sweetness. The Perique adds its signature dried fruit aromas and acidity and the cigar leaf fattens up the whole blend, giving body and richness. Every now and then, the integrity of the blend comes apart like a wanton braid, but the effect of this unraveling is genuinely pleasant.

The richness provided by the cigar leaf here might be too much for those who aren't particularly fond of cigars themselves, but pipers who also smoke cigars might like this very much. I've always been of the mind that when I want to smoke a pipe, I will; and when I want to smoke a cigar, I'll do that. But I don't want a cigar that tastes like a pipe or pipe tobacco that reminds me of a cigar. I still hold to that, but really the cigar-ness of this blend shows up as a series of flashes, not a sustained, gar-ish assault on the tender senses of most pipe smokers.

I guess I like this a whole bunch. I find I like this best late in the evening with a small black beer or a smaller brown Bourbon. And while reading Hemingway, lost among the Spanish and found among the bulls. Somehow he just completes this very good tobacco for me.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JLong (36)	2009-03-26		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

It took a few bowls for me to define the taste of this blend. My bag came at the right dryness level for a ready pack. It packs and lights nicely, and stays lit.

This tobacco burns cool. The taste is mildly sweet and spicey. However, the sweetness and after taste reminds me of artificial sugar like used in diet soda. I am more of a burley lover but like to switch to virginia blends for variety. For a Virginia based blend with all the goodies added, this is good tobacco. I've given it 3 stars because of the artificial sugar taste. It could be in my head. I don't know. It's just there for me.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-02-23		Medium	Extremely Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I was recently gifted a few samples from the Hearth and Home series and this one is a keeper. I was impressed with them all really, but this is the one, along with Larry's Blend, that I'm definitely ordering more of.(dp) I should also say that I noticed a similar creaminess among all the blends that just might be from casing, though it's so light, it's hard to tell. . . Could be Russ' leaf. On to Virginia Spice. .

This is my first cigar blend. This is a very well rounded blend, flavor-wise. Nothing takes over. Each leaf plays well with others. It's sweet, yes, spicey, and has a depth from the cigar leaf that I really like! (No bite, either, but I won't smoke anything that does). Great taste from the perique, too; not just pepper, but a little of the old fermented plum. Virginias (tastey ones) are a great base.

My sample was quite dry, so lighting was no problem, but the burn rate was a little high. Therefore, I've got to hold off on all four stars 'till I get some with a bit more moisture. Nicotine content is just right for a relaxing smoke with a book or an in depth study of a spider's crawl across the ceiling. Of course, if you're so inclined, you could also try interacting with humans, but they may not enjoy the room note. I think it smells just fine;-}

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	bent-1 (39)	2006-10-31		Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Delicious. The sweet VA's, peppery Perique, & cigar leaf intermingle nicely. The individual components are not lost, yet complement nicely to make for a satisfying, full flavor. Sorta like a wave of flavors as the draft is drawn. The progression of each draw, first the sweet VA is tasted, then the slightly fruit peppery Perique steps in, rounded out by the fullness of the cigar. I think the cut has a lot to do with this. Example, the cigar leaf seems large in comparison to the VA & Perique, but it is very thin and burns in proportion to the rest of this blend's ingredients. The blend was smoked in a Tinderbox Grecian Briar Prince shape.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LV9 (85)	2006-10-24		Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Very good stuff, there's a little smell of ketchup in it but none of it as you smoke it, the perique content is just right.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-09-02		Medium	Mild	Full	Pleasant

Have been working a 2oz I got of Virginia spice....After several smokes in many pipes I can say with certainty that I love this stuff. IMHO best in a bulldog or Rhode, The bag smell is an exotic spiced virgina. Sweet and the spice reminds my of mulled cider. The smoke is very full on the mouth, yet finishes clean and the ashed pipe leaves one satisfied. Nicotine was just right for me. Taste, Room, strength- Russ hit a home run on this one. Ordering more in about 5 mins.....

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-04-04		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

I am a new Smoker of virginias and the first word that comes to mind when smoking the virginias of my main preference is sweet. Home and Hearth's Virginia spice is NOT that kind of virginia.. yet it is completely tasty in it's own way.

I liken this blend to black coffee. Some people like sweet flavorings or cream to mellow thier joe out. This is more like a naturally tasty coffee that tastes good with no sugar or cream added. At first light it might taste a bit too strong or heavy but mid bowl I've found this blend mellows to a nice dark rich flavor with a coffeeish flavor. Its not too tangy or sweet but it is rich and a treat in it's own right.

I wouldn't make it my daily smoke but it's a perfect bit of that something different, confident in it's own right. Might be perfect for the person who hates sweet but loves virginia.

One last word, the nicotene level (probably due to the perique) seems to be high. I enjoyed this. I had to set the bowl down to take a break at one point but this suited me just fine.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	huffnpuff (53)	2006-03-02		Medium	Medium	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This blend is another hit for me I really enjoy virginia /perique blend the cigar leaf made the smoke a little robust and rounded.WOW! I think the pouch aroma was different and the presentation of the tobacco with all the yellows ,reds and browns made me a bit interested in the blend to begin with but I will be buying more in the near future. Wished they tried the maduro leaf .

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JB (44)	2006-03-01		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Virginia Spice stepped up to the plate and hit a homerun with me. What I enjoyed about it is that it is NOT the typical Virginia-Perique mixture. In fact, the Perique is really quite subdued and subtle in this mixture. I greatly enjoyed the layers of flavor present in this blend, and the small amount of cigar leaf only deeped the already rich, full taste and aroma. This blend won't appeal to everybody, but I liked it a lot.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-02-13		Strong	None Detected	Overwhelming	Tolerable

A friend of mine who regularly reviews here firmly believes that if there are certain types of tobacco or blending styles you don't like or that are not your taste, i.e., latakia, perique, krumble kake, etc., you shouldn't review them. I tend to agree with that opinion. The same can apply to food. If you don't like steak or Baked Alaska, don't pan a steakhouse for serving them! After all, if you really hate a certain type of tobacco, why bother reviewing, let alone trying it in the first place? In any case, the only reason I am reviewing Virginia Spice is to affirm to myself once and for all as well as to others the following: if you have an allergic reaction to Virginia/Perique blends, DO NOT smoke this! If this tobacco did anything, it proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that I should not be smoking VA/PQs, and that my other unpleasant experiences with Elizabethan and Haddo's Delight were not just my imagination. This and Canadian Plug literally make me gag and choke while causing my eyes to water. This is probably quality stuff for people who can handle it, but if you can't, stay away! I think there might be some McClelland rubbed out matured Virginia flake based on the intial sweetness just prior to gagging. Too bad I can't smoke this, as I absolutely love Mr. Ouelette's wonderful Old Tartan and Count Pulaski, now part of my staple rotation.

One of five very teary-eyed, highly subjective stars

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-02-09		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I do not like Virginia,Perique,or Cigar blends! I really do however like "Virginia Spice". This is the best Va/P blend i think I have ever tasted.It is as complex as Haddo's Delight but without all the confusion associated with that blend. Upon opening the bag,one is greeted by a natural sweet tobacco aroma unlike any other.The cigar cannot be detected by the nose at all. At first light ,it is pure Virginia. It is actually a little astringent.After about 1 minute of gentle puffing the blend settles down into a really unique smoking experience. I believe there is a portion of lightly cased black cavendish here that gives this a little extra sweetness.The Perique is applied with a very gentle hand as is the cigar leaf. All three components seem to blend together in forming a slightly rough yet creamy smoke. The taste of all the components meld into a raisin - like plum pudding flavor. This will be appreciated by fans of Kingfisher or Haddo's Delight. This is not a blend for the Three Nuns or Elizabethan crowd. This is a wonderful change of pace for both aromatic and English smokers. I think this is one of those blends like Old Tartan that everyone should try. Please do not compare it to an English or aromatic tabac. It has a taste entirely unto itself. When you order from P&C get an ounce.I think you'll enjoy it.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-11-15		Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is one of the better Virginia/Perique blends I've smoked.

The medium matured Virginias dominate the smoke but do not overwhelm the other tobaccos. Perique has been applied lightly and is noticeable but never overshadows the sweetness of the Virginias. The cigar leaf is also applied lightly and is noticed more in the taste than in the aroma, but it adds a richness and reinforces the creaminess of the Virginias. I detected no toppings.

It's easily my favorite of Russ Ouellette's blends, although I like several.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-09-15		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Virginia Spice consists of light, red and brown Virginias, dark Perique and flakes of cigar leaf. Pretty mixture. Smells naturally sweet. The ribbon cut is easy to pack in the pipe. I've tried this in 5 different pipes with similar results.

At first I usually taste/smell the sweet Virginias. This smoke offers some high notes and nice medium Virginia taste. Quickly there are notes of the cigar leaf the provide fullness and smokiness. About mid-bowl, I notice the Perique - sort of raisin or fig which blends so nicely. There is a rush of flavors - very full taste with the spicy components. The last third of the bowl it all melds together into a rich, satisfying smoke.

This blend smokes dry and I noticed no bite at all.

Grade = A- (most enjoyable and one to stock up on. I feel certain that this will age very well).

4 stars. 9-15-05

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2021-05-03		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I opened a tin from 2006. First this tin is not ribbons. Far from it. Many, many years ago on a trip to Germany I ended up in Munich and visited two of what i would call the best tobacco blenders ever. I purchased several tins from each and continued to travel. Once home and smoking these several blends, several which included syrian, I learned several things. First, back then, they were some of the best. Yes dunhill was up there. But back to this blend. It is something different. First, there are no crystal sugar stars. Next, it is , at least in this 2006 blend, not ribbons. What I learned from the Munich tobacco was the term-torn leaves or torn tobacco. This 2006 blend is beautiful torn leaves. Perfume. Wonderful smoke. Great taste. Really can’t describe it. I don’t know what the current version is like. But let’s just say “I met her one night and I will always remember that night”. There will be others but not that night.” So. This is not syrian, not current production, etc. but my tins are not ribbons. Far from it. And if you haven’t had a torn tobacco I think you have missed something.👍👍👍 As to cigar. I think it is not here

in this 2006 there is no cigar. Not that I can discern and I am a pretty good discerner. I love some of the cigar blends, specialty the warped. In those you can in some certainly smell, taste the cigar. I can’t distinguish any cigar at all in this 2006 blend.

Pipe Used: Several

Age When Smoked: 15

Purchased From: Don’t know

Similar Blends: Nothing.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2081)	2019-11-10		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Hearth & Home - Virginia Spice.

On Sundays I usually enjoy an aromatic or a lighter blend. Going from the name, Virginia Spice, I assumed this was either a Va or aromatic. But, the write up here has it categorized as Cigar Leaf Based. This would often deter me, however in VS the smoke isn't governed by dry, bitter and obdurate cigars; each leaf has it's say.

The blend's constructed of all manner of ribbons; from some tiny pieces, to bigger, leafier ones. The bigger pieces are a lighter shade yet the small ones are extremely dark. I ordered from bulk and although the moisture's good if you order a tin it might differ!

The smoke? Maybe not for the 'Faint Hearted'! The Cigar Leaf has more capacity for the initial quarter bowl. But, once the Perique joins in the smoke becomes more buoyant; spicy, peppery, sharp. I get a good strength of flavour from the Virginias: fruity, sweet, red VA, and fresh, sprightly, bright Va. I see no problems mechanically, it burns steady and doesn't bite.

Nicotine: above medium. Room-note: a 'low' point.

Virginia Spice? It's made a nice change, to my usual Sunday aromatics. Also, for my fellow UK smokers, I've enjoyed it immensely outside in the cold winter air! I think this, easily, deserves four stars:

Highly recommended.

Pipe Used: Erik Nording

Age When Smoked: 2 weeks.

Purchased From: Tobaccopipes.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ATW (110)	2018-10-17		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

My 2 oz. sample is at the perfect moisture content. Not really much for bag aroma other then a slight sweetness. The flavors are a semi sweet nuttiness in the first half. Unfortunately the second half is pretty flat with almost all the flavors dying out. Doesn't burn hot or give tongue bite. Its not going to be one i will get again after my sample is gone.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	FP Stew (25)	2016-08-15		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

One of the finest tobaccos that I have smoked to-date! (Probably about 500 blends so far).

This has been my “Go-To” and "All Day" tobacco for the past year and half. I’m always satisfied with this one. The VA is sweet and non-biting even when pushed hard. The Perique is subtle yet adds a very gentle balance of fig and pepper and the cigar leaf is faint yet adds rich depth to the balance.

The room not is pleasant to all including my wife (who as a child was frequently trapped with parents who both chain smoked cigarettes in the car on long road trips so she is not fond of vary many tobaccos) .. this one she enjoyed today and stayed down wind for the entire bowl.

If I were to name this one, I’d call it “Old Faithful” … Happy Smoke Trails to you if you give this one a try based on my review!

Pipe Used: Many sizes and types

Age When Smoked: Fresh to 2 years old

Purchased From: Pipes & Tobacco

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DavidP (25)	2015-04-02		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I'm sadly almost through my tin. I'm really enjoying this VaPer because I can clearly taste the harmonious combination of sweet spring grass and tartness. With other blends of this type I mostly get a dry vegetal thing. My only knock is that this stuff was very wet in the tin and needed a week with the lid ajar to get to a smokable moisture level.

Pipe Used: MM Cobs

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: SP.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DylanG12 (2)	2015-02-08		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I'm pretty new to pipe smoking, but so far I love it. I ordered the Virginia sampler which I recommend, and the H&H Virginia Spice was included in it. The smell of it straight out of the tin is magnificent you get the normal Virginia smell, but the cigar leaves and perique doesn't hurt it at all.

The first light and puff had a nice mild flavor and was consistent through the whole bowl. I could taste the perique and the cigar leaves but was not over powering. If you're looking for something smooth and flavorful this is for you. This is a great blend and I look forward to smoking it again.

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Geronimo Von Klaus (76)	2014-09-09		Medium to Strong	Mild	Medium	Tolerable

What an odd smoke, but a very good one.

Who would have thought to put cigar leaf in with a VA blend???

It really works though. It is really spicy, but whereas some of these blends tend to taste like hay and burn hot if you aren't very patient and they haven't been aged well, this one has a forcefield around the heat due to the cigar, and its not a heavy cigar either, so its very clever in that you full hard and get the absolute best from the spicy and tangy VA's, but then the cigar adds that creamy richness and it combines into a very nice smoke.

The smoke it easy, dripping with flavor, aroma-rich, and inviting.

It warms up and develops as it goes, my only drawback is its a little mono, and I expected more to keep happening as the bowl went on, but it didn't change much.

If you want to take this into the stratosphere, soak a wood stave in Johnnie Walker 10 year for week and fasten it into a mason jar with the Virginia Spice. The result will blow your mind.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-04-10		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Alone, sometimes I get a little too much cigar, but the Virginia-Perique taste is very nice. This one may change every time you load a bowl, as it's a very heavily mixed tobacco, seemingly with different types just sort of tossed together. That's okay of course, that's how you blend tobaccos, but I prefer one that's been pressed or flaked, as the different tobaccos have a chance to mix better, to sort of flavor each other. The way this is, sometimes it tastes like a cigar, sometimes like a chocolate cherry, sometimes like grass. One word of caution, I was smoking this stuff one day and it made me a bit woozy, so something in there is strong, but I'm not sure what. It's good but not that good for the price, which I think should be a little lower for what you get, not that it's bad at all.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	NEWMAN (305)	2007-01-09		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I ordered this blend based on the cut indicated above and there was no detail in this respect @ pipesandcigars.com. What arrived was clearly labeled as this blend and even had pieces of the cigar leaf visible. However, in my view this blend consists of wide ribbon cut yellow to brown VAs with some Perique and cigar leaf added. This difference impacts the burning rate which is much too fast for my habits compared to my normal true flake preferences. Although it smoked dry and without bite I felt that the cigar influence on the taste was greater than I would choose although I didn't detect it in the room aroma.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dubbelbarrel (5)	2021-09-10		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I found this blend to be pleasant enough, a good flavor and smoke altogether. I will definitely be smoking more of this. I was slightly disappointed with how little I could pick out the cigar leaf in the blend. But then again, maybe I’ll notice it more the more I smoke it and the more it ages.

Pipe Used: MM Let Freedom Ring Rob Roy

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bel007 (4)	2019-02-13		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Creamy, mellow, slightly sweet base smoke performs the bed for a nice addition of Perique lending a healthy note of spice as well as dark, plummy fruit aroma like berries hidden in dark chocolate. Not heavy handed in any component. Well balanced. Very enjoyable for a VaPer smoker. Whatever is added by the cigar leaf, which I can’t pick out specifically, must be part of that mellow creamy base that provides the foundation this blend is built upon. 3.25 stars.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Knightsmoker (218)	2018-04-16		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The VA's definitly lead the way in this blend. They are sweet and tangy. The reds have that dark fruit note that I love and are slightly earthy at times. The brights are a little grassy with citrus notes here and there. The CT cigar leaf is present. It remains a constant in the background throughout the bowl as a mild smokey note. The perique was added with a light hand. It comes in and out and I pick up a plum note and a very mild faint spice that moves in and out. There is a mild fruity topping here as well. It is light and sweet and stays on in the finish for a long while. I think it is a little on the heavy side personally. The nic hit is mild to med. the overall tobacco strength is at the bottom end of med. Nothing really wrong with this blend I enjoyed it initially but I found myself growing bored with it as I progressed throughout this 2 oz. sample. There are just other blends that hold my interested better.

Nobody has rated this review yet.