| This one passed into my hands when I did a big tobacco swap with a friend from across the pond several years ago. Man, is this ever weird. It looks like anything but a broken Virginia Flake as described above. In fact, I'd call it a true shag cut. When you pop the tin and the aroma hits the nose, you know you've got a whole lot more on your hands than just tobacco. I think blueberry pancake syrup was sopped up by the leaf and then placed in the tin.
I am not sure how long this has been out of production, but the years of sitting in the tin has actually soured the taste somewhat. I struggled through half a bowl and dumped the rest. If you see this being sold on eBay, you might want to bid low, if at all.
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| Notes: Amongst some of my older tins, which I dip into from time to time. This one is no longer made, but you may see one for sale occasionally. I find it is pretty even in all sizes and shapes of pipes.
Appearance: Black and gold and brown extremely thin cut ribbon, almost a cigarette cut, rubbed out, shining with crystals.
Aroma: Ripe black cherries! Fig, grape juice, honey. A moderately cased blend.
Taste: Black cherries! Vanilla-cherry cream soda, fig, smoke, honey, stewed plums, baked bread, hints of sour-sweet flavor. A fairly monochromatic blend.
Comparisons: Lacks the complexity of Von Eicken's Three Stars, similar to Murray's Erinmore Flake, but much lighter. A bit like Imperial's St. Bruno sans the sour-smoky flavor.
Bottom Line: Not produced any more, of course. This blend is one for fans of cased and cavendished tobacco who seek a medium to full-bodied smoke. For those who enjoy Erinmore Flake, but want something a bit lighter-bodied.
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