Tobaccos D & R Tobacco - TAPS VIP

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3047)	2015-02-09		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

The light and brown Virginias are tart and tangy citrus sweet with a hint of butter, bread and grass, some wood, tangy dark fruit and earth. The smell of the tobacco from an open tin is fruity: apricots, figs and raisins, and much of that is mildly evident in the smoke. The perique is more stewed fruity (figs, raisins, plums, and dates) than peppery, but the latter is an important part of the experience. The toppings are a light German honey bourbon and a small touch of anisette, and they moderately tone down the tobaccos. It's A.P. Rimboche with toppings. The strength is a couple of steps past the center of mild to medium, while the taste almost reaches the medium mark. The nic-hit is a slot behind the strength level. No chance of bite or harshness, and has almost no rough notes. The tobacco is a tad dry out of the tin, so you may prefer to lightly hydrate it. I usually don’t. Well balanced, it burns cool, clean and slightly fast with a very consistent, fairly smooth and complex, sweet and spicy flavor that translates to the pleasantly lightly lingering after taste and room notes. The sweet taste never wanes or gets boring. Hardly leaves any moisture in the bowl, and requires few relights. It may not have enough strength satisfy hardcore VaPer smokers, but for those who aren't - and perhaps for those are who are - whether or not you are looking for an aromatic VaPer, it's a four star blend.

-JimInks

22 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipeclimber (2)	2015-06-08		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

This is a wonderful Va/Per. Upon lighting you get this very sweet and peppery taste with a nice almost florally finish. While I'm not very good at piecing up room notes while I smoke, my girlfriend seems to like the smell of it. Overall, I would say this is a very nice and relaxing smoke; perfect for sitting out on the patio and enjoying a nice summer afternoon.

Pipe Used: Cassano Canadian Shape

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2015-02-19		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

A straight forward VirginiaPerique blend with Bright and Dark Virginia that combines to give a strength to the blend that may be over the top for some, but perfect for others (like me). I was only given an ounce to review, and it went quickly. I really like this blend!

Pipestud

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Fletch (11)	2018-10-19		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I was searching to replace an out of production tobacco called Caledonian. I specifically liked the fig newton qualities of this delicious 20yr old flake tobacco. TAPS VIP didn't quite meet the exact replacement (ribbon, not flake), but the tin and room note was pretty close. Flavor/Taste profile - I don't have a deep cellar of VaPers, but this is unlike every other VaPer I have tried. The Virginias certainly bring their characteristic sweetness to the tobacco, but the real player here is the perique. It comes in with a spice, but don't think pepper. This is more of a sweet cinnamon spice that comes from the honey/bourbon flavoring, but it is not overwhelming. Room note - delightful and very pleasant sweet smell. Strength - this is a light/mild tobacco with a mild (almost indiscernible nicotine profile).

Pipe Used: Various cobs and briars

Age When Smoked: Smoked when I ordered

Purchased From: SmokingPipes.com

Similar Blends: A & C Petersen - Caledonian Virginia Flake, Cornell & Diehl - Bluegrass (Appalachian Trail).

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2081)	2019-08-02		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

D & R Tobacco - TAPS VIP.

Firstly, as this has received mainly high recommendations up to now take my review with a pinch of salt. I'd hate to sound pugnacious, but I really don't care for TAPS'.

In the tin it's far too dry. Mine's virtually crunchy. The ribbons are quite coarse, and mostly light and medium browns. The tin-note's one of a VaPer, but ever so slightly aromatic.

Of course, being dry it ignites easily. Then, to be fair, the tobaccos don't taste 'that' bad. I get more of the fruity/tangy Perique, than I do the Virginias. The Virginias are notable, giving a sweet-breadiness, just not so headstrong. It's the toppings which ruin the flavour; for me. The anisette and bourbon collaborate to cause a sour, bitter, taste. There isn't enough honey to counteract this; some more honey would have placated the acidulous casing. It burns fast, too warm, and bites.

Nicotine: medium. Room-note: unpleasant.

TAPS VIP? Sorry to say I won't recommend it:

One star.

Pipe Used: Altinok Lee Van Cleef Replica

Age When Smoked: 3/19/19

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stinkypipe (155)	2017-01-13		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Full	Tolerable

Got as a gift for Christmas. Was a bit worried about the strength. Nice room note lots of different aromas. Trouble I had was the taste. Started off kind of sweet with rum highlights. Once it got going I got a light hint of pepper with flavor. But as I went along the pepper got stronger and stronger. I rarely ever throw out a bowl before finishing but I had to with this blend. Just not a huge fan of heavy pepper and this has it in spades. Just not my cup of tea. If you like the flavor and taste of pepper this will be a favorite for you.

Pipe Used: Peterson P-lip

Age When Smoked: Gift unknown

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Snappo's Pipe (23)	2016-12-26		Medium to Strong	Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Daughters & Ryan TAPS VIP... love this one - ordered some tins!!! The Virginias and Perique in the D&R blends are phenomenal... SPICY and sweet! If chasing flavor and trying to guess if it's there is not your thing, try this one and other D&R's... FANTASTIC!

Another Top 10 desert island dream blend... Thanks again jiminks - BULLSEYE!!!

Pipe Used: Cob

Age When Smoked: Gifted, so unknown...

Purchased From: Gift

Similar Blends: No other VaPer....

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2017-05-08		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

A very good and sweet VaPer. The VaPer portion would be a quality smoke by itself. Very fruity with a fair amount of spice. Add the topping and this hits 4 star level easily. I get a sweet bourbon flavor with just a touch of anisette. Very tasty, very satisfying and a lovely smoke all way around.

Mild to medium in body. Medium in taste. Flavoring is very mild. Burns very well.

Pipe Used: MM Little Devil Cutty, Little Devil Acorn, Marcus

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LannarkGent (145)	2016-12-17		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

This VA Per mange to be unique and wonderfully satisfying. The marriage of the tobaccos provided a tick and grassy favor as well as the musky earthiness of some Red Virginias. This is a delightful blend and a standout in a crowed tobacco genre.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TallPuffO'Burley (633)	2016-04-15		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I must say that this one kind of surprised me as I hadn't thus far been too impressed with the D & R blends that I have tried. Unfortunately, my sample of this was quite small. I only ended up smoking about two and a half bowls of this.

My general impression was that this was a pretty good VaPer. Nice Virginia sweetness and a very light spice touch from the perique. It was good, but the perique was a little light for my personal tastes as my favorite VaPers tend to be a little heavier in Perique.

Remember that this is based on two and a half bowls. I am putting this at 3 stars as I liked what I tried, but I can't give it a fourth star as of yet. I will be buying another tin or two and will probably do so in a few weeks at the Chicago Show since they are always there. I will be revisiting this review after I have had a chance to smoke a tin.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DoubledPawns (1)	2016-02-20		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I highly recommend this blend! One of my favorite VaPers out there. Take care to smoke slow and cool, you'll be highly rewarded. The tin note is fantastic, almost a black licorice combined smell and it smokes very fruity and sweet. I instantly want to smoke another bowl as soon as I finish one.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	zwolanek (21)	2012-03-09		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

This is a limited production blend, and I was lucky to get two tins at the 2011 Chicago Pipe Show. I wish I had bought more. If I can find it, I will.

This is a classic VaPer. I rank this at or above Haddo's Delight. Yes, it's that good.

The tobacco is the highest quality. The cut borders on shag and it burns perfectly, leaving no dottle at all. The flavor is exceedingly sweet with a strong, classic, figgy Perique aroma. Obviously D&R took care to find the highest quality ingredients

As with all Virginia based tobaccos, this can burn hot, so watch out. But if you can find it, buy it.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Old German puffer (106)	2015-09-19		Mild	Extremely Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant

Opened up a two ounce sample that I was given this morning. Brewed My coffee and got out my pipe for the first try. Sitting in my sun room the morning sun was just starting to peak through. Packed this with a palm roll. Tobacco just felt soft and like a sponge. Took 3 attempts to light before it got going. Taste is mild. Smoke is light. Bowl can get hot fast. Slowed this down and it settled in. It is a nice smoke but nothing to write home about. I think I would b use this as a daily if I did not want any thought in it.

Pipe Used: Kopp

Age When Smoked: Sample

Purchased From: Gifted from Pipe club LA

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cm1648 (108)	2020-10-11		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Prep: (received in a bag as a sample) On the dry side. I am told that is how it is tinned. Not enough to rehydrate

Very interesting Va/Per aro and certainly stands apart. The Virginias are grassy, tart, sweet, and oddly buttery. The perique carries the usual dark fruit character. It isn’t a heavy perique blend. The toppings are quite welcome and the bourbon and honey are most evident. I never had anisette so I couldn’t distinguish it. The flavor combinations recalls cinnamon/sugar toast. Burns dry (didn’t have to use pipe cleaner intra smoke).

We live in an age where it is hard for blends to stand apart, but VIP achieves this; at the very least in uniqueness if not flavor as well. I'll definitely be purchasing more. 8.5/10

1 person found this review helpful.