It can be a bit of a job lighting up, and will burn rather steamy and overheat unless you let it dry out a while first- just rub as much as you need an hour before you want to smoke it, and let it air. The flavour is pleasant, nutty and chocolatey sweet, while retaining the characteristics of a strong, full, natural tobacco. While the room note is quite full, and purely of tobacco (I don't think this blend is cased), I have been complimented on it by non smokers. It burns very slow, and seemed a little like St Bruno might be if it was not scented. I found that the flavour got a little dull after half an hour, and in the big pipes I usually enjoy VA flakes in this can burn for up to two hours. Perhaps I would enjoy it better in the autumn or winter, But summer is well on its way, and I prefer sweeter, brighter flakes such as Best Brown.

On the whole, well worth trying, I imagine a lot of people could really get on with this as an all day smoke, if strong flakes are to their tastes.