D&R American Blends - Rowland, Rowland Light, Rowland Gold

[dz]

D&R's American Blends - Flavored Blends with Flue-cured, Burley and Oriental Tobaccos

• Rowland
  A quality tobacco blend, flavored to taste like Premium U.S. manufactured cigarettes. Especially developed for those who are looking for a conventional, American tasting cigarette.
  
  
• Rowland Light
  A quality tobacco, blended and flavored to taste like a premium U.S. factory manufactured light cigarette. A lighter bodied tobacco blend with muted Rowland top flavorings. Developed for those who prefer a light bodied, American tasting cigarette. No chemical flavorings or casings added.
  
  
• Rowland Gold
  A premium blend of flavored, flue-cured tobaccos that was inspired by Danish style Virginia cigarette tobaccos from the past. This American interpretation of a classic European style Virginia blend was created especially for those who desire the flavor and character of flue-cured tobacco, accented by complementary flavorings.

<topic Rowland Gold renamed, Blend introduction added above - original post below>

I just received my bag a few days ago, and while it wasnt love at first puff, its starting to grow on me. My question is, since I ve never had McCV, why does it taste so familiar? Is there another tobac this tastes like? Its got a familiar tang to it. Just curious, Slap I think I read that you ve been smoking this. I think I might have an idea but I d like some input if you all have any

[kl61]

is it like the Sagamore Virginia or something. I never seen any of the Sagamore offerings, they don't sell any of that around here that i know of

[dz]

I ve never had any Sagamore either but RG is flavored, so I doubt its that. I m thinking its very similiar to Bali Red but a little tangier. Again I ve never had McCV, so if this it what it tastes like, and cheaper than the Bali, I can see why people miss it. Its certainly not a direct comparison to BR, but its the closest I can think of. In any case, this is a really good mix, and PS type flavorings come to mind. By the way, I tried your Athey/ G.R. mix (from the SYO site, I think that was yours anyhow) and thats a really tasty one, really sweet and tangy. Thats a good topic, G.R. v S.J., but I dont see that in anyone elses stashes here.

[dz]

I ve now had this stuff for about a week and am getting a handle on it. Considering the bags almost half empty, I guess I like it. As a matter of fact, I cant stop, I got a bag of RB in the same order and have barely touched it, as good as it is. If this tastes like McCV, I can see why theres such a clamor about its demise. Since I ve never had McCV, I cant say whether or not thats the flavor, but to me the closest comparison is to Bali Red. Its got a twang to it thats absolutely delicious, and halfway through I want another. Funny though, for about the first 10 sticks, I thought it was just another good Va blender. At this point, I m smoking it mostly standalone, occasionally w/ a touch of Athey for some serious twang (a la KL's recommendation).Next I think I ll try it w/ some G.R., as I think they'd also compliment each other. D&R strikes again!

[kl61]

I ve now had this stuff for about a week and am getting a handle on it. Considering the bags almost half empty, I guess I like it. As a matter of fact, I cant stop, I got a bag of RB in the same order and have barely touched it, as good as it is. If this tastes like McCV, I can see why theres such a clamor about its demise. Since I ve never had McCV, I cant say whether or not thats the flavor, but to me the closest comparison is to Bali Red. Its got a twang to it thats absolutely delicious, and halfway through I want another. Funny though, for about the first 10 sticks, I thought it was just another good Va blender. At this point, I m smoking it mostly standalone, occasionally w/ a touch of Athey for some serious twang (a la KL's recommendation).Next I think I ll try it w/ some G.R., as I think they'd also compliment each other. D&R strikes again!

(let me know if I miss read your post)
Is RB ramback balkan ? I never heard anyone compare Ramback Balkan to McClintock Virginia, I'm sure they did, I just never read it. To my tasts it's the Rowland gold that is the closest to Mc V and the Three Sails is very much like the Bali Shag Red, The three castles and to a lesser degree PS Danish Export, they all share the same cut and are almost total Virginia blends (some are not total virginal (bail sh red) but it's hard to tell just by smoking it)
I still have about half a can of the old Mc V it seems when something is gone people think more of it than they did when it was here. It's like when the three castles was gone in 1988, what a big deal that was. I guess the MSA chased them off

[dz]

KL:

I never heard anyone compare Ramback Balkan to McClintock Virginia,

I guess I wasnt very clear. NO the RB is nothing like Bali Red. The RG is the forum title and I thought it redundant to repeat. But I see it wasnt clear. I ve never had McCV, so the closest comparison to RG that I ve had is Bali Red, though clearly different. I mentioned RB in this vein:

I got a bag of RB in the same order and have barely touched it, as good as it is

meaning, as good as RB is, I havent stopped smoking the RG long enough to get into it (RB)!
sidenote: again, although absolutely nothing like Bali Red, clearly a whole nother species, I ve now been smoking th RB and its fantastic too (like we ((KL and me)) discussed previously). But thats a different thread.

[kl61]

The RG is the forum title and I thought it redundant

Your right, it would have been. i was just talking to you about how to see all the new posts and I noticed a link up top that said "View New Posts" so I hit that and seen one of your new posts and shot striaght to that post never realizing the topic cause I went right to the bottom of that page so I guess I messed that one up by not knowing what the topic was. I know now how to navigate to the newest posts and know what the topic is stupid brown nodding head

[Slap Maxwell]

I think the Rowland Gold is as close as I've tasted, straight out of the bag, to the McC Virginia. It's a very close approximation, though not 100% (Maybe 85%). The McC Virginia was and remains my all-time favourite, but this has most certainly become runner-up.

[dz]

After having the opportunity to try the original and Rowland Gold and McCV side by side I find RG to hit the same basic flavors as McCV, but a little differently. A very close approximation, but not exact. To put a number on a comparison, I d have to agree with Slap that its about an 85% approximation. Thats not to say I prefer the McCV either, as I think the RG has a little more strength which I prefer. The McCV I had was at least a couple years old too, and from an orange can, not a green one FWIW.

I dont know if the aging made the McCV so smooth or if it came like that and although the RG is smooth, I dont think its quite as smooth. Again that might be that the RG was a freshly opened bag and the McCV was well aged......still a very close match though. Both being extra sweet Virginias. I think the description I read on SYO of "sticky sweet" is an apt one.

Although I like both of these tobaccos, I m finding I prefer Three Sails and Windsail Platinum preferable for a daily smoke. I can see why the McCV is missed though, as some people prefer an extra sweet smoke. I like a sweet Va too, but 3 Sails and WP have some other characters I prefer that I dont find in the McCV or the RG. That being said, thanks again Gobucks for the taste tester! Muchos apprecianados. ymmv

[db cooper]

I just got some Rowland a couple days ago and after 15 sticks or so my initial impression is that Rowland seems a bit too sweet for my liking, with an almost fruity taste, and a subtle hint of chocolate. I will give it some time to grow on me and see if I can do some interesting blends with it.