Update: Second chance. And I m not out of Dunhill flake, I just opened the container today (too bad it does not come in a can)and smelt something different, like a stronger smell of prunes. I still think this tobacco is not consistent through the bowl but here and there the flavor comes and I am really enjoying my stanwell poker filled with it. I might even finish the container!

Summing up, it would be unfair not to give it an extra star!

I opened the tin and saw what I was hoping for, those lovely crystals we call bloom. The tobacco still had the McClelland Ketchupy tin note. It was also somewhat moist, so some drying time was in order after I rubbed the tobacco out.

I commenced loading my pipe using the threes method and headed to the deck. I did the charring light and then the relight. The first 1/4 of the bowl had that terrible McClelland yuck. But, after that you are in for quite a treat. It was a mild to medium VA taste with tons of sweetness. There was nothing complex about this flake, you got honest to goodness VA Flake! The ashes stuck in clumps to the side of the bowl, so I knew my pipe was going to need more then a normal cleaning. The tobacco burned all the way down and left the tiniest of dottles.

I would of given this flake 4**** except for that terrible ketchup taste. I am going to buy this to cellar and also to smoke now. It never hurts to do a little comparison.

Update : Towards the end of the tin, as the tobacco got a little more dry, surprisingly, the bite faded away.

Typical McClelland (smells and taste)...

To me, this is Capstan Gold Navy Flake with McClelland ketchup, and I find it much more enjoyable.

This is simply top-quality gold VA, exceedingly smooth and with evanescently fragrant with toast, peanut and hazelnut notes.

The finest of golden virginia blends, Golden Cake is simply sublime and a must for all disciplined enthusiasts of the most rarified virginia blends. This goes best in narrow gauge chambers.

Upon first light, tanginess and sweetness arises. However, this is soon replaced with a generally dry and hot experience. Not bitey per se, but 'arid' is the word that comes to mind. The VA flavors are there in the backgroud, a little sweetness hovering, with a few low notes detectable, but overall this never develops into full flavors, even toward the bottom of the bowl. On the plus side, after smoking a bowl there lingers a warm and toasty aroma in the room.

I had bought this tin several months ago and then recently rediscovered the opened tin in my cache. I couldn't recall why I hadn't finished the tin back then. After a few bowls, I now remember that there was simply nothing compelling about this blend.

With all the good VAs out there, I simply don't find this one worth spending the time on.

Nothing particular to say in addition to my reviews of the McClelland products: while not as spectacular as some of their best (#27 and Blackwoods Flake), this is as good as some of their ordinary range product. Nothing spectacular or original, but quality stuff.

The tin aroma is very tangy with a naturally sweet, bread-like undertone. The aroma is strong in the acidic dimension but enjoyably so. Golden cake is composed of a high quality long leaf Virginia tobacco. The color of this tobacco is of a lighter caramel/gold and has strips of yellow throughout. A generous amount of sugar crystals are present on this tobacco.

Butera?s Golden Cake is layered and aged in cakes then cut into large and thick flakes. The flakes are softer than many other similar flake tobaccos and they rub out averagely well. The blend also packs well. The flakes have a medium high initial moisture level but eliminating the moisture does not tend to alter any of the tobacco?s smoking characteristics.

Golden Cake lights readily and evenly, and when considered relatively to other flake tobaccos, it does so wonderfully. The blend burns and spreads nicely and does not require over drawing to keep the tobacco burning. The ash is soft and without any dottle. The room note is medium in strength and has an enjoyable tartness.

The flavor of Golden Cake is tangy but has a definite sweet dimension with a true warm Virginia tobacco taste. Golden Cake is not stoved and because of this has little dark spiciness but instead has interplay between the sweet and the sour. Golden Cake smokes best with full steady draws, which yields the best taste from the tobacco and the least amount of tongue bite. This blend does not smoke overly hot considering its components. The smoke produced is medium.

Butera?s Royal Vintage Golden Cake is a great example of a bright Virginia Flake tobacco. The blend has wonderfully distinct yet well-proportioned flavors, a welcome contrast to the equally enjoyable deep stoved blends.

Appearance: Thin partially rubbed flake, dark brown and black with yellow speckles.

Loading: I just squished some of the flakes into a Tsuge Kaga.

Lighting: Needs a fairly heavy char but then lights easily enough.

Taste: Fairly stong aged Virginia. Tangy and mildy sweet.

Smoking: Burns a bit hot for me, so I remind myself to slow down.

Conclusion: This is a good aged Virginia Flake. I'm not quite sure how much I like this class of tobacco. I think I prefer natural and stoved Virginias better. For those who like aged Virginias I think you'll find this satisfying.

If you want your tongue in a sling, here you go.