D&R Virginia Blends - Windsail, Windsail Silver/Platinum

[db]

Discussion topic for D&R's Virginia Blends - Made from the Finest Flue-cured, Gold Leaf Tobaccos.

• Windsail
  A medium bodied blend composed of 100% flue-cured Gold Leaf tobacco. You'll notice the lighter leaf color, savor the pleasant aroma, and enjoy the smooth taste. No chemical flavorings or casings added.
  
  
• Windsail Silver (Previously Light)
  A light bodied, yet flavorful and smooth blend. Carefully developed by special leaf selection, analysis, blending and tasting. This satisfying blend contains 100% flue-cured Gold Leaf tobaccos. No chemical flavorings or casings added.
  
  
• Windsail Platinum
  A premium, medium bodied Virginia Blend composed of the finest quality 100% flue-cured Gold Leaf tobaccos. Delight in the light yellow leaf color, savor the pleasant and distinctive aroma, and enjoy the smooth and satisfying taste. No chemical flavorings added.

[Slap Maxwell]

Windsail Platinum is the finest bright-leaf Virginia I've found so far. Oh, I enjoy a couple of others, but usually as a change-of-pace; I always come back to this one. The care and time that obviously goes into the leaf selection process really pays off in spades. At it's best (I've had a couple of bad bags over the years--but D&R have always responded quickly to assuage me) it's a unique tobacco...medium-mild with a robust nuttiness and the charachteristic sweetness bright-leaf Virginias are known for. At it's worse, the nuttiness can be less prominent and the sweetness a bit off; but even then, the WP tastes better than most any other bulk tobacco.

I always remove tobacco from the bag, pouch, tin or whatever it came in and spread it out to "breathe" for awhile...so that the flavourings, casings, toppings, chemicals, etc. have a chance to disipate a bit and to allow it to dry a bit. Doing this to most tobacco usually results in a minor taste change improvement compared to a straight-out-of-the-bag experience--if any change at all. The taste of Winsail Platinum, like that of a fine wine, really responds to this. The true flavour of the tobaccos become more pronounced and the sweeter, nuttier aspect comes through more clearly than when it is smoked moist.

If you enjoy smooth tobacco (meaning mild in tongue and throat sensation, not necessarily low in tar or nicotine content) with real taste, you really owe it to yourself to try Windsail Platinum. It's as close to bright-leaf perfection as there is.

[dz]

I agree with Slap, this is a great tobacco, smooth, full flavored and spicy, but always mild. WP is perfect as a stand alone and makes a great blender as well. I ve also had bags with a slightly sweeter taste and some not so much, all have been good though.

If I had to pick one tobacco, say a "marooned on a desert isle" scenario, this would be it (well this or Three Sails, and of course Wingate too). My wife, who only smokes lights, really took to this one too, being so smooth and mild (the tobacco that is). Since i first tried the Platinum, I ve always had some on hand. Do yourself a flavor, and give this one a try.

[PerfectStranger]

Is the 'Platinum' tag just a marketing thing? Windsail is going to be the next variety I try from D&R but I'm not quite sure which mix to go with.

Tks,
Matt

[PerfectStranger]

I've now tried a few sticks of Windsail and Windsail Platinum. Both are very mild with no harshness. The WP seems to have a little more 'body'...very abstract, don't ask me to define body. Both are great smoked as is. Windsail is a great base for blending.

Thanks for recommending it guys. I'm glad I picked some up.

Matt

[jwrightsr]

Does anyone know if the Windsail Platinum is available anywhere? I've heard good comments about this one, but can't seem to find it anywhere. Today is my first day in MYO and I started with Golden Harvest. So far, I'm loving it!

Thanks,
Jerry

Edit: Sorry guys, I posted this in the wrong topic. I just noticed the Windsail Platinum topic. Still quite new here.

[burge]

Wait till you have the good stuff

[Peter Paul]

Windsail is one of my regular tobaccos. It compares favorably with Original American Spirit, though not as sweet as OAS. I strongly recommend Windsail to anyone ordering from D&R. It's a good smoke by itself, and it blends well with Two Timer. A 50/50 blend of Windsail/Bali Halfzware or Windsail/Jester is a favorite of mine.

[db]

Jerry D&R is the only place I know of to get the Windsail Platinum although you won't find it (or several of the other newer blends) listed on their website. See the discussion topics here viewtopic.php?f=11&t=13 and more recently here viewtopic.php?f=11&t=322

[jwrightsr]

Thanks a lot db. D&R sounds like a great place to do business with! This is only my 2nd day with MYO, and my first good smokes since the Marlboros of the 60's.

Jerry