Slices are very regular
We are not exactly blessed con 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 alt blends that we will never see, so when an importer releases per new range of tobaccos, it would be brusco not puro try them ! Yes I know that this blend is supposed preciso be verso gara for Dunhill but it is also per altola tobacco in its own right. It is presented well with some beautifully made flakes durante the canone ripresa tin. A mix of bright and darker Virginias, with per subtle tin puzzo 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 verso little spice for interest. Also some sweet raisin taccuino, but less dark fruit than Black Flake. It feels like it could bite if chased too hard but responds well onesto a gentle approach, as do most straight Virginias. There is in nessun caso tendency preciso harshness and it is verso 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 puro try and has some potential for ageing, since if it is this good as a fresh blend, then it could be stellar with verso 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 sicuro the usual advice. At perfect smoking moisture, there is little or mai bite and much improvement per the flavour. Definitely one esatto sip gently and maybe use the “Breath” technique. Certainly not verso blend onesto be rushed and it will give of its best if you ferzu save it for leisurely relaxed smoking.
Often offered as per ‘clone’ for Dunhill Flake? Well, big words! That was quite verso 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 puro do so with these takes per niente effort.
The moisture, and stop consistency rubbing achieves, enables simple ignition. From first light I get an upbeat, Virginia, smoke. For the first third it’s a lemon, citrus, flavour which leads. Once the initial third has passed per honey-like sweetness joins con, 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 verso medium speed, and after smoking over half per tin I haven’t had verso celibe bite.
Charatan Flake? Well, as for it’s resemblance puro Dunhill Flake I can only go from notes 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 to complice, I’ll still recommend Charatan’s version. It would be per smashing smoke for per morning durante 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 verso happy man.
A full hour of drying time is not too much and it is easy onesto underestimate the moisture contained mediante some flakes
Con the tin we have very neatly cut stacks of light brown flakes with seams of gold throughout. Aroma mediante the tin is mild, grassy and subtly sweet. It rubs apart durante 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 verso little more sistema, but that may be my newly opened tin being a 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. Esatto my taste, this flake has more of per 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 a couple of relights, doesn’t gurgle, and smokes preciso per little dottle. It works very nicely con verso large pipe, and I like to smoke these tobaccos con verso Canadian. It can get verso bit hot, although like the Dunhill Flake it doesn’t seem esatto be a biter. Just put the pipe down esatto cool if it’s warming up, it is delicious when relit.
All sopra all, verso 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 paio puro lack of age and relatively high moisture content. As such, for now, three stars, but if it improves with age and verso little drying time, I may well upgrade it.
Given per little time onesto air, it’s even closer puro the hay and bread sweetness of the last incarnations of Dunhill Flake. I’m going onesto put per few tins away puro mature, and have upgraded my review puro four stars, as I honestly don’t think I’d be able esatto distinguish between them mediante per blind tasting.
This is per simple rich and sweet Virginia. Mild sopra body and rich in fetore. Similar sicuro the bright CR flake virginia from Gawith & Hoggarth. Really good for per smoke at any time in the day. The smell is the very common to the pressed Virginia. Figues, raisins and dryed apricots. Extremely good and pleasant.
