Virginia Tobacco » Longbottom Leaf Tobacco Reviews

A Decent Virginia Blend

 I am using my TRG White Ringed Volcano, as I have with all of the Middle-Earth Pipeweed Serise.  Since the samples are relatively small and I intend to smoke the sample all the way through and have as many bowls as possible in a great smoking pipe. So, naturally I choose my TRG; a most excellent and cherished rendering of the briar root. The samples, while large enough to decide if one should purchase more, are a bit on the smallish side. I must admit to being somewhat disappointed.

My first look at Longbottom Leaf in the saucer that I use to prepare my tobacco I notice that it looks very much like BCA only the pieces of tobacco are slightly smaller. Upon closer inspection it is definitely a ribbon cut with larger dark tobacco pieces and what looks like some broken pieces of the center of Luxury Bulls Eye Flake, but not many. Over all it is a little darker than Old Toby, and is medium moist. It doesn’t need any drying time before packing. Some of the ribbon cut are just a bit long for the bowl size but very little preparation is needed. It has packed very nicely. The pouch note is semi-sweet and very mild.

The char light is a total surprise! This is no joke; I taste the distinctive taste of popcorn. Everyone knows the unmistakable smell of popcorn at the theatre, that’s it exactly! The true light is pleasant, and totally different. It is pleasant and not dissimilar to 1Q only not as sweet with a very faint taste of vanilla. The War Department, when asked about the room note says: “It’s ok”. Not a ringing endorsement but acceptable.

As I smoke more of the bowl I notice the straight Virginia tobacco taste becomes stronger and stronger. As I near the end of the bowl it has a right toasty taste and I no longer detect any vanilla. Not too shabby for air cured Virginia. The nicotine content seems to moderate. It left a crunchy dark grey ash in the bottom of the bowl and it is dry.

The second bowl is almost exactly the same as the first. Upon the char light comes that buttery popcorn taste, only not as intense. It also seems to be less sweet than the first. While I do taste vanilla it again is very light. But, overall the straight Virginia taste is dominant. The toasty flavor continues and is leaning toward smoky. It is not smoking really cool but not hot either. It requires something cool to drink with it… for me un-sweetened iced tea is just fine.

To be honest this isn’t my favorite of the Middle Earth Series. I have enjoyed it, but I have to say that it doesn’t stand up to blends like GL Pease Haddo’s Delight or Rattry’s Hal O’ The Wynd. But, it does not have that essential pinch of Perique to really set it off. Don’t get me wrong this is good stuff but it doesn’t turn my crank like Old Toby so I have to award it three stars.

Longbottom Leaf probably won't end up in my cellar, maybe an ounce or two just for giggles.