Butera Blended Flake

Broken flake ranging in color from deep mahogany to strands of blonde, with a deep rich aroma unlike typical McClelland Virginias. Sort of a musty, sour aroma. Reminded me a bit of McC's #24 at first but direct comparisons showed me that they are quite different.

This is one of those unusual blends that struck me differently at different times. Certainly it always smoked like a VA/Oriental, but occasionally a type of burley flavor came through - almost like a less sweet Uhle's Blend 00. As there is no burley here, I'm unsure what to make of this. Sometimes the perique was noticeable, but not always - at least not in the flavor. Sometimes I got the nose tickle but not the taste of it and sometimes I could taste it well in the background. The sweet-sour interplay of the Virginias and the orientals was at times excellent and at times sort of mediocre. I guess that means this is a complex blend but it didn't hit me as such. However it started out is how each bowl ended - it's just that they often started out differently than each subsequent bowl. Odd indeed.

As I've had great success with both McClelland and Butera blends (go figure), I had high expectations for this one, and that may have been the reason I found this sort of blasé. It's a fine blend but it doesn't live up to the greatness those names invoke. Still I found it intriguing enough that I'm going to keep my other two tins and age them, just to see what the future holds. Try it if you're looking for a Virginia blend with a strong oriental presence that is very light on the perique.

To me, the list of ingredients is irresistable: McClelland Virginias, Perique, and Orientals. One of the few non-Latakia Oriental blends on the market. This will please McClelland Virginia lovers due to its loyalty to full-range flavors and a zesty top-tier. It will also appeal to those folks who find McClellands too "thin" or biting, because the Oriental and the Perique cool the smoke and widen the flavor spectrum. The component tobaccos are well-integrated, and there is nice complexity that urges you to stop analyzing it and just enjoy it. Age makes this even better.

Addendum: The Red Virginias provide the dominant flavor here, while the other leaf is beautifully combined. The tin aroma is classic McClelland, while the initial room aroma could almost be described as floral (in a cherry blossom sense, not a Lakeland sense). There is some bite threat along the sides of the tongue (odd). The Perique picks up at 1/4 bowl, adding a nice winey tone and some oomph. The floral tone backs off and transitions into a fragrant toastiness. As the zestiness and heat danger subsides, the strength increases, though not overwhelmingly by any means.

After a one-hour DGT at 1/3 bowl, the floral tone re-asserts itself very pleasantly, as well as a hint of cigar-like richness. (Well complemented by an IPA). The top range has just enough zest to give a sparkle and a touch of green tea bitterness (nice). The mid-range is solid and sweet with Virginias, with the toasty/marshmallow flavors for which McClelland Virginias are famous; as well as hints of exotic spice, orange peel, undefined herbal tones, and a tone/smoothness of chocolate without the actual chocolate flavor. This blend LIVES in the mid-range.

The bass range holds the cigar-like tone, and a spicy/licorice aspect rare for natural tobacco bass ranges. Baking cake sweetness is also present. As the pipe approaches the 2/3 mark, the complexity, integration of flavors and sweetness continue to rise, with the interplay of these very nice component tobaccos doing wonderful things at a smoulder.

A two-day DGT (not intentional) doesn't hurt this blend. The mid-range picks up a very mild peachy tone, the top range sweetness more than hints at caramelized sugars. A slightly musty, but good, tone stretches from the lower mid-range to the mid-bass range, probably in part due to the Perique. The borders between the ranges fade completely.

Rich, complex, but not heavy. This tobacco is one of those blends that is unlike any other. A must-try for those who like non-Lat Oriental/VA blends. Not as complex as Cairo, but a bit more flavorful.

The “vinegar” is mostly in the smell of the tobacco, and quickly disappears after you light up. The red Virginia is tangy, slightly earthy with a dark fruitiness. The flue-cured Virginia is citrusy with a very mild grass/hay, and melds well with the red Va. The perique is a supporting player, kind of spicy with some raisin and fig notes, though I don’t always notice it. The Oriental is also a supporting player, a little woody, and is responsible for the occasional dry, sour hits. It’s not as complex as it ought to be, and there is a little flavor inconsistency during the smoke. Has a mild nic-hit. Won't bite. Burns clean and slow and may need some dry time. Expect relights. Will leave some moisture in the bowl. Has a decent after taste. An all day smoke.

-JimInks

Even though, as many have remarked, you can tell McClellend blended this as soon as you pop the top, that did not carry over into the smoke for me. Instead, this seemed a very nicely balanced blend, neither the VAs, the Orientals, or the Perique stood out, but all were there. Overall, this is a very pleasant smoke, but nothing memorable about the taste. What is memorable, however is that while flakes tend to smoke more slowly than most other tobaccos, this was one of the slower burning flakes I've come across. Since I know there are many tobaccos out there I would rate a 4, the question arises would I rebuy this particular tobacco, assuming my tastes don't change much more. In this case, the answer is probably yes.

I have almost finished my first tin, and I can't say I am overly impressed by this tobacco. My tin has been aged for a couple of years after purchase, I must remark.

Many others have said what the components of this blend are, and their contribution to the taste, so I won't digress any longer as they are quite accurate.

What puzzles me a bit is that while the interplay of the different tobaccos is quite lively and you can feel the different kinds of leaf quite well, the overall result is underwhelming to my taste buds. Probably this means that the balance is superb, but I often find it too weak and dull, lacking in any oomph. Sure, there is a nice tangy red virginia sweetness, some perique sourness and the orientals have a nice character... but at times I also feel a slightly ashy, cigarettish taste.

Anyway, it burns smooth and extremely cool, which is a definite plus. The tin aroma is excellent (if you can stand the McClelland trademark smell...), very fruity and slightly "putrid" (in a nice way)... but the taste is not as lively or rich as some of my favorite offerings from this brand.

This is remarkable in every way.

Popping the tin makes my mouth water every time. There is a certain refined tanginess (not vinegar, but cooked fruit) and sweetness from the flue-cured leaf that compels a deep inhale.

The reward is subtle cocoa and spice fragrances, undertones from the Perique and Orientals. No Latakia here and it is not missed, even from one that is an English blend aficionado.

The tin reviewed here is eight years old according to the date on the tin itself from the McClelland folks.

The moisture level was perfect, drier than most of MCC's blends. The short, squat flakes are leathery and require some vigor to rub out. They defy being folded or lightly crumbled.

Once broken up, Blended Flake is easy to load, which is a bit firmer than I pack ribbons or even other flakes for that matter.

A thorough charring light, tamper and relight release clouds of incense to Heaven. With a little attention, this will smoke all the way down without relighting.

The burn is cool, dry, clean, and even to a whitish ash. Nary a bite for this sensitive tongue.

This is a true symphony. Each leaf brings distinct notes from the match. The score is complex ala Mozart; flavors migrating from the sweet, mature flue-cured to the ineffable Perique, and back to Turkish delight. This all just deepens as the bowl burns down.

How a blend can be this rich, aromatic, fullish flavored and tolerable to the constitution all at once is magical to me.

When this tobacco is burning, it reminds me of Carolina barbeque that is being smoked and basted with that tangy, smooth and non-cloying sauce I crave. Blended Flake belongs to the realm of the delicious and addictive category of tastes and aromas.

I am not aware of another blend that fits within this category. It has a place on my "top shelf" and ample space in the aging room.

This one is nice. The Virginias are lemony and tangy. Maybe a little over the top for my personal tastes for an all day smoke and there's a little bite if smoked at a fast pace. I'm sure that vanishes with age as this one has all the makings of a delightful aged blend.

If you are a fan of stoved Vrginia blends, you will like this one.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been going through my little stash of Butera blends and some have proved to be exceptional and others not my favorite. Blended Flake is a good example of a broken flake VaPer using excellent quality leaf as always provided by McClelland which is IMO almost a must for Perique blends since McClelland uses the real thing: St. James Perique, not that fake Arcadian Perique which as I understand it is Burley that's cured in the same manner as the real thing but to me does not taste the same. I have tried both on their own and the real thing is spicier and has more plum like qualities. BF has an almost perfect percentage of components resulting in a mild VaPer with added Orientals that can be smoked all day without tiring the palate. I much prefer St. James Woods since it has an ethereal Sweet and Sour sauce like flavor and amazing Perique finish, also I prefer my VaPer's to not contain any Orientals. BF did not bite me at all even with a hot bowl and had a mild to medium nicotine content. Although the signature McClelland tin note is present in BF, it is in no way overwhelming and I did not detect any sort of topping over the delicious tang of Perique. The room note was described as a classic Pipey aroma and was not detested so that's a plus. Another 2 and a half star blend for me but in this case I will round down to 2, this is a crowded field and although a tasty, well though out and high quality flake, I prefer other VaPers over it.

Smells like a McClelland. Tastes like a McClelland. In the first one quarter of the bowl the Virginias are right on the edge of biting. Calmed down after that and became very enjoyable. All the components are nicely balanced contributing equal amounts of flavor. Medium bodied, medium flavored. As much as I liked this I have to say that I prefer Low Country's Waccamaw for a VaPerOr. It's flavors are richer than these and it's also a bit cheaper. This is a good blend though and I'm glad I tried it.

Oriental/Virginia flakes are some of my favorite tobaccos. On the deeper tasting end you have McClellands Virginia No.24, on the higher sweet and tangy end you have the old Asfton Pebble Cut and Blended Flake. The virginias are sweet and tangy, and the orientals are rich and edgy. Sort of a tart razorblade for the tongue. If you like the type, it is a good, if somewhat strident iteration, not nearly as laid back as Mat.VA 24 or the Grand Oriental line, but interesting is you are wavering between tangy offerings.