Yes, it has the texture of Royal Yacht, but not the same flavor. The flavor is more akin to Elizabethan in my book! But it is a stronger, bolder flavor, as Elizabethan, with a little perique, was mild to medium to me.

Full Virginia flavor, some tang, extra body, and a semi-sweet taste. Cool and steady burning.

Recommended as a cross bewteen RY and Elizabethan.

A sweet virginia background that is not over-powering enters about half way through the bowl and it burns to a dry white ash as you would expect from a well matured virginia - no doddle and a dry pipe at the end of the smoke. I found it smoked extreamely cool all the way - no smarting of the tongue. The nicotine hit is not so much a punch but definetly a slap in the face - this is not one for the beginner but will readily reward those who like a rich, satisfying straight virginia with memorable strength and enough 'N' to rate it half way up the richter scale.

Update

I must go to 4 stars on this: it just gets better and better and a very cool smoke that packs a punch in a very subtle way.

On opening the tin I find a coarse cut / broken flake, think of McConnell's Scottish Cake. I tend not to sniff the tobacco as I always get it wrong and in some cases, it can be downright awful.

I was still in the shop where I bought it and was encouraged by the owner to open it as he'd never had it on sale before and was interested.... even to the point of allowing me to light up. Amazing.

We came to the conclusion I was sampling a new tobacco, even though I had paid for it. It was therefore legal for me to do so. Even here in England, land of the overtaxed and nanny state.

So there I am, loaded the pipe and lit with a single match, straight from the tin. I was hoping for a rich sweet virginia with the strength of a lion, I was soon dissapointed, I got a barely medium virginia with the claws of a mouse.

However, it did behave, and taking into account that for me, it's still a little too cold here to be playing with virginia's that are not leaning more to the robust, it was still a very pleasant if undemanding and perhaps monochromatic smoke.

I have since smoked several pipes of this, each burning down to a nice white ash. DGT's without issue, therefore no casings, and if a topping has been added it is most discreet.

Although this will not for the moment, enter my rotation, I can see the possibility of this blend coming to the forefront later in the year as the temprature rises, that and for me, it's easy availability, I will most likely buy more.

If your looking for a mild to medium virgina, with no bad habits, uncomplicated taste and reasonable strength, quality tobacco and bite free. Then by all means, this is worth a try, and who knows, later in the year, at least for moi, it may become a regular.

UPDATE

Decided to upgrde this to 4 stars as it's proving to be quite tasty without being overpowering. As it's easily obtainable for me, I wn't be stickpiling, but one tin open and another to the side, will be the norm for me.