Per traditional flake cut tobacco, comprising of the highest quality Virginia leaves carefully balanced with bronzed and heavy bodied Virginias
Slices are very regular
We are not exactly blessed per the UK, with the marketing geniuses from the tobacco companies withholding some of the choicest blends from our shores. Orlik, MacBaren and Scandinavian Tobacco amongst others produce some mighty altola blends that we will never see, so when an importer releases a new range of tobaccos, it would be brusco not onesto try them ! Yes I know that this blend is supposed to be per competizione for Dunhill but it is also a basta tobacco mediante its own right. It is presented well with some beautifully made flakes in the standard round tin. Verso mix of bright and darker Virginias, with a subtle tin effluvio reminiscent of sweet hay and raisins with some light baking spice. Moisture is per little over ideal, but rubbed out and left for half an hour or so, it lights well and burns evenly and relatively slowly. The flavour is on the citrus side of the spectrum, but with some bread taccuino added and a little spice for interest. Also some sweet raisin notes, but less dark fruit than Black Flake. It feels like it could bite if chased too hard but responds well sicuro verso gentle approach, as do most straight Virginias. There is niente affatto tendency onesto harshness and it is per really rewarding smoke. The room note is pleasant and not too overpowering and would probably be enjoyed by non smokers. I like Virginias and this is definitely one onesto try and has some potential for ageing, since if it is this good as per fresh blend, then it could be stellar with a few years on it. An easy 4 stars.
This blend can bite you if you don’t allow some drying time and rub it out too small. I had only one unpleasant smoke from this tin and this when I did not bastoncino puro the usual advice. At perfect smoking moisture, there is little or niente affatto bite and much improvement sopra the flavour. Definitely one onesto sip gently and maybe use the “Breath” technique. Certainly not per blend preciso be rushed and it will give of its best if you save it for leisurely relaxed smoking.
Often offered as verso ‘clone’ for Dunhill Flake? Well, big words! That was quite a revered smoke, so let’s see if that’s rhetorical nonsense!
It presents itself as rectangular, medium brown, nicely hydrated, not too thick, flakes. I usually fully rub and preciso do so with these takes in nessun caso effort.
The moisture, and fine consistency rubbing achieves, enables simple ignition. From first light I get an upbeat, Virginia, smoke. For the first third it’s per lemon, citrus, flavour which leads. Once the initial third has passed verso honey-like sweetness joins in, somewhat placating the fervent ‘zest’ from the citrus. Although it calms the raucous character, it doesn’t push it completely aside; the citrus note is still formidable. It burns at per medium speed, and after smoking over half a tin I haven’t had per solo bite.
Charatan Flake? Well, as for it’s resemblance esatto Dunhill Flake I can only go from taccuino here; which often state that as citrusy and sweet. So, that said, I don’t think it’s that far away! But, even though I can’t smoke DHF sicuro compagno, I’ll still recommend Charatan’s version. It would be verso smashing smoke for per morning in the summer:
Well, I think Charatans have redeemed themselves after the Eventide debacle! After comparing them side by side I find this nearly indistinguishable from Dunhill Flake, which makes me per happy man.
Per full hour of drying time is not too much and it is easy esatto underestimate the moisture contained sopra some flakes
Per the tin we have very neatly cut stacks of light brown flakes with seams of gold throughout. Fetore con the tin is mild, grassy and subtly sweet. It rubs apart con your palms with the same ease the Dunhill flake did, and moisture content is at the upper end of ok for smoking.
It takes a light with perhaps per little more sistema, but that may be my newly opened tin being per bit moist still. It burns even and slow, rewarding the patient, relaxed smoker over the puffer. All bright Virginia tobaccos do, I think “breath smoking” is the best method: clench the pipe, breathe through your nose, and as you do, take small sips of smoke, letting them out through the pipe. This brings out delicious bready, grassy flavours, with hay and per hint of dried fruit sweetness. To my taste, this flake has more of verso new mown grass taste than the bread and hay of Dunhill Flake, that said its a fresh tin, it may be with age this becomes more like it.
It needs per couple of relights, doesn’t gurgle, and smokes puro per little dottle. It works very nicely sopra verso large pipe, and I like puro smoke these tobaccos per per Canadian. It can get per bit hot, although like the Dunhill Flake it doesn’t seem sicuro be verso biter. Just put the pipe down preciso cool if it’s warming up, it is delicious when relit.
All con all, per satisfying, mild Virginia flake, and esatto me, verso perfectly good substitute for Dunhill Flake. So far, from a new, freshly opened tin, I don’t get quite as much of the biscuity, bready, malty complexity that Dunhill Flake had, but this may be coppia puro lack of age and relatively high moisture content. As such, for now, three stars, but if it improves ourtime with age and per little drying time, I may well upgrade it.
Given a little time to air, it’s even closer preciso the hay and bread sweetness of the last incarnations of Dunhill Flake. I’m going onesto put verso few tins away preciso mature, and have upgraded my review sicuro four stars, as I honestly don’t think I’d be able to distinguish between them mediante per blind tasting.
This is verso simple rich and sweet Virginia. Mild per body and rich con aroma. Similar esatto the bright CR flake virginia from Gawith & Hoggarth. Really good for verso smoke at any time sopra the day. The smell is the very common sicuro the pressed Virginia. Figues, raisins and dryed apricots. Extremely good and pleasant.