This flake not only contains VAs, it also has some DFK that I love so much, because it always gives backbone to mixtures.

A nice discovery on this fine Sunday, that made me forget the disappointments of Dan Tobacco's Hamborger Veermaster & McClelland St - James Woods.

Cheers, lads!

UPDATE 3-23-12: I just received my Highland Sliced today (sticker says made in Denmark) and I will say that the Carey version I spoke about above IS indeed HS and not IrF. Other than the size of the flakes, HS are very similar in taste and smoking properties to IrF. I am hard pressed to tell any difference with the exception that HS is not as harsh. While paying careful attention to each during the smoke, IrF is perhaps a tad sweeter as well. Overall, the taste is identical, but I do not get any harshness as I occasionally do with IrF. Very interesting. I am sure the recipes are similar if not the same. I've also noticed a decline with K&K's IrF in not only appearance in the tin - sometimes very messy and more crumbly than in the smaller tins, lighter in color, and sometimes tightly pressed as in the smaller tins. A quality control issue? Without paying careful attention while smoking, I would be stretching my imagination if I thought they were different. By the way, I do get a mild hint of licorice when I smell an opened pouch of HS that is not present with IrF. IrF is one of my top favorites and HS, along with IrF, is a stellar blend worthy of 4 stars!

The direct fullness of this tobacco's flavour and aroma, when experienced for the first time, is quite revelatory. It is rich, it is warm, it is oaky, it is above all DEFINITE - you cannot in any way miss it. Apart from anything else, you will also immediately realise that this is a high quality tobacco, and wonder about the quality of an awful lot of 'not so definite' baccy you've been stuffing in your pipe all these years. Your respect for John Sinclair goes through the roof - all this, and you've only had your first puff or two of Highland Sliced!

As others have stated, it smokes cool and slow. No bite.

This is one of the best tobaccos I have ever smoked. I'd love to smoke it all day, but it is too strong for that, as my throat attests. However, I only get the throat effect a while after smoking. I find that the effect will fade away again within a few hours.

Update, 6th December 2011: Mein Gott, this stuff is strong. Just too strong for my throat, unfortunately. I will buy it in future, but only very occasionally. Anyone with an iron throat will enjoy the challenge, however.

I'm with Pseudo Nim on this one. It's very monotone and cetainly did not make me think of cosy Scottish hunting lodges. It made me think of burning tyres or a scrapyard fire. I could not detect any of the floral casing or sweetness described in earlier reviews.

I should have taken more notice of the description "for experienced smokers": My olfactory nerve endings have not net been rendered crusty enough not to be stung by this overpowering blend. I'm glad I couldn't buy a 50g pouch.

I'm sure some people like it though.

Sold in 25g pouches, the flakes are longer and shorter than Irish flakes but with the same colouring and density.

This doesn't have the sweetness of Irish flake replacing it with a malty, astringent peatiness that intensifies as you progress down the bowl. It reminds me of an Islay malt with Laphroaig's medicinal (almost TCP-like) saltiness.

Ageing may knock some of the sharp corners off this flake, but as these are what give the blend it's character I'm not sure it's a good idea.

If you like peaty malt whisky, Irish flake or fuller flavoured smokes then you'll love Highland sliced.

Highland Sliced isn't very far away from Condor in terms of strength and smoking qualities, but it doesn't have the distinctive "floral" or "soapy" taste that Condor has and that so many people mention with dislike. In this sense, it has all the strengths of Condor and none of the weaknesses. It reminds me too of an old and long- departed tobacco called Warhorse. It's a bit too strong to be an all-day smoke, maybe, and too strong ever to be a real favourite of mine; but if you like a strong, dark flake, you’ll enjoy this.

Edit (15 September, 2010): having smoked quite a bit more of this since my original review, I'm inclined to 'promote' it from three stars to four. If you smoke it in circumstances where you can just relax, take your time and smoke very slowly, it really is a delicious tobacco. The deep richness of the flavour comes across more and more as you become accustomed to it, and it's one of the coolest tobaccos I've ever come across. Puff hard and the nicotine will flatten you; sip, and all the nuances of flavour and fragrance will make themselves felt. On more mature reflection, then: not for the novice, but, for the discreet and experienced smoker, first rate - highly recommended.

(Availability is patchy, though. It's worth bearing in mind that E.A. Carey's No. 7 Flake, available by mail order, is very similar to Highland Sliced; you'd have to have a very sophisticated palate to tell the difference blind.)

HS has a pronounced topping which can sometimes get bitter.

It's a fine flake nonetheless and one I wish I had reliable access to. :(

It's akin to some of Peterson's strong flakes, and I suspect that there's a good dose of Burley lurking under that Virginia, providing a rich body and smokiness. However, that's offset with a delicate toasted, sugary sweetness and if you take a moment to sniff the bowl, you'll instantly recognise something akin to malted wheat. It's just enough to knock the bitterness out of the blend, but you'll never once think it unnatural, or mistake this for an aromatic. Only at the base of the bowl does it ever show signs of floral soapiness. Sup up to your heart's content - it never bites.

Think log fires in a Scottish lodge. Indeed, it has all the qualities of a very good traditional English blend, but with something decidedly Scottish in its execution. It's hearty and warming and would be well coupled with a peaty island malt whisky, like a Jura, and never a bourbon as substitute.

By all accounts this should be more commercially available than it actually is; a rarity, even in the UK, and I'm only surprised that I've gone so long without coming across it before. At only 25g, it won't break the bank and you wont need to worry about committing to it. It's got many more expensive blends absolutely licked, and yet I wouldn't want to smoke this every day. Mind you, you wouldn't enjoy your prized reserve malt if you knocked that back every day, would you?

A superb respite from aromatics, a great bridging tobacco and standalone, and fully deserving of the maximum quota of stars.

Strength is pleasing and the flavour reminds me somewhat of another recent discovery, Revor Plug. However, this flake is sweeter, less 'meaty' and has more of the british floral thing going on. This said, for me at least it does not cross the line into being 'soapy', which is something I do not enjoy.

Ready to smoke straight from the pack with only minimal drying time it behaves impeccably in the pipe. I am in the habit of running a cleaner through every so often as I smoke, and it is coming out dry and clean every time. Zero bite. Smooth and tasty. I rate the room-note as pleasant because I enjoy it, but I've yet to hear a comment from a non-piper.

This is a very solid baccy. If it continues to please me to this level I shall be making another visit to that little tobacconist's shop for a couple more packs before I return home.

Edit on 28th May 2011: Many moons later and I just cracked another new packet of this tobacco from the same little tobacconist. It still rocks. Irish Flake wishes it was this tobacco!

Rich dark flakes, moist but smokeable straight form the packet with a bit of rubbing needed...ZERO bite. This is blended by Orlik, amazing that they can blend in an British style so well....beats anything they put their own name too. There really is only one major problem with this superb flake...it's only sold in the UK in 25g packets, which is about 8 slices....and...UK taxes are crazy!

This is a 5 star blend...it is what is pretends to be when so many do not! This flake is why I smoke a pipe. This is my benchmark. Perfection.

It is a very moist flake, cheap, and following Paddy's contention, it does have that very peculiar Murray's denouement: somewhere in between Erinmore and University Flake. Just add about 10 notches strength wise.

Puff for puff it is every bit as good as Murray's Irish Slices. Dark, strong, smokey, woodsey with an incredible old-timey taste and aroma. It does have the charactaristic nicotine hit though, so smoke in a small bowl after a good meal. If you like Gawith & Hoggarth Dark Flake, Murray's Irish Slices or G&H/S. Gawith Black Rope you'll like this one even more! my compliments to the lads at John Sinclair for a stunner. It is unfortunately not imported to North America