Wessex - Brigade Campaign Dark Flake pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 29 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >
DK	05/30/2013	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Deep, dark flake with a pungent aroma of great virginia leaf, plus a whiff of some type of topping. Sweet and rich - and wet! I experimented with drying times and settled on 4 hours, to the point where the leaf was dry but not crispy. Too crispy and that rich molasses flavor was leeched out. Too wet and it burned poorly plus had a little too much topping flavor present. I recently smoked Wessex' futile attempt at a VaPer and commented that it tasted like a Mac Baren roll cake with a bit too heavy a hand on the cavendish and honey. I was surprised to find a bit of that flavor here as well. Not nearly as much as the Curly Cut, which was smothered with Danish flavoring, but this had enough to notice. Kept it from a 4th star. But I don't want to make too much of that - this is still a very worthy blend. Just a bit too sweetened for my regular rotation. Still, it's worth a try for any virginia lover. Clearly, other reviewers like this one better than I do. Well, there are no foreseen new blends in my future, although I do tend to get a lot of samples from folks. But reviews will be much reduced from here on out, as I focus on my favorites. This six year run of trying as many new blends as possible has taught me a lot, such as the value of a good blender of oriental tobacco (which I enjoy more than latakia), that flavoring is a sticky wicket... if I like it, flavoring is good. If I don't, it's bad! :) And much more. It's been fun. But after spending a few days with Stonehaven and a few of my favorites, the search for Tobacco Nirvana is over.
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musicman	11/30/2012	Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I debated on whether I should write a review on this one. It is a bunch of reviews like this that caused the disappearance of blends like stonehaven, penzance, and Full Virginia Flake. If word of this stuff gets out too much, you can kiss finding it goodbye. This is the logic that causes me to suffer greatly from DCD or deep cellar disorder. Like a doomsday prepper I have this stuff stockpiled for years in advance waiting for the cat to come out of the bag and everyone to swarm the shelves of tobacconists and the sites of online stores. This stuff really is that good. Magicians never tell you how they do their tricks, hunters and fishermen never give away their prime spots, and a a true pipe smoker never gives away his sleeper blend. That's what this is for me, my sleeper blend. While the rest of the pipe world is staring at computer screens all night with bloodshot eyes waiting for Full Virginia Flake to come back in stock, I am sipping on a bowl full of campaign dark flake and loving life. You don't hear about this blend much, which is purely ridiculous. This stuff is fantastic. I have yet to enjoy a bowl of this that has not kept me smiling from packing to dottle. It never lets you down. As you know from my name here on tobacco reviews I am a musician, and so to explain this blend I will use a music analogy. If Orlik Golden Sliced is the trumpet of the tobacco world, then campaign dark flake is the bass trombone. It is a little more powerful, a little deeper, a little more complex, but every bit as enjoyable. There aren't many Virginia blends like this out there, definitely try some and you will see. Very highly recommended. Also, just to let you know, If I begin to see this sold out everywhere I plan to edit this review to say this stuff is horrid, and I suggest all the other reviewers who have lauded the virtues of this tobacco do the same.
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Blue Bayou	11/04/2012	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
Nutty, woodsy nose with a touch of pine needles. Very complex aromas. I find it delicious & it will be on the rotation.
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Hurrian	04/22/2012	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

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GlSal	03/14/2012	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

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Mr. Big	01/20/2012	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant
This is an excellent Virginia flake. Mature with a nice molasses sweetness, no bite, smooth and easy to smoke. I found this to be great on the relight as it doesn't get ashy. Sweeter than Samuel Gawith's Best brown and I will use this as a substitute for Solani Silver Flake depending on price
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Mustangcollector	11/02/2011	Mild	None detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
This is my first tin of Wessex, and I bought it based on the great reviews and recommendations on this site. It seems extremely mild to me, but perhaps I was expecting something more or I'm used to stronger Virginias...but I think it is excellent. I was eager to try it right out of the tin and in my haste I rubbed enough of the flake for a bowl without allowing any time to dry. It lit and stayed lit with no effort, and only a single relight. I definitely notice the taste of dried hay (who knew I liked hay so much?!) and grains, with a little sweetness that stayed on the lips. I haven't noticed the taste of any fruits or molasses like few others have, but this is my first bowl. I'll see after some more bowls...which are a guarantee. Looking forward to see any changes as it ages a bit. In my opinion this is a great tobacco for someone looking to try what I perceive as a mild Virginia, or anyone who hasn't tried Wessex. I do recommend it to others and I will be looking at reviews of some other Wessex tins that are reviewed as a little more complex, and with more flavor. You can't go wrong with this as an easy, cool, smooth smoke with zero tongue bite.
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WmZiggy	09/14/2011	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
This is a wonderful flake. In the tin it has the new mowed hay aroma consistent with aged Virginia. The tobacco is mottled with black, red and bright leaf. I let the tobacco dry for a day, finding it improves the smoke greatly. It burns well to a dry white ash, rubbed out or chunky. I really enjoyed this flake - It was smooth, sweet, cool and complex from top to bottom with a variety of wonderful flavors. This is a top shelf tobacco.
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nitekrawlr	08/25/2011	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
An excellent Virginia Flake from Wessex. The flakes themselves are dark, slightly moist, and are compressed together in the tin. Moisture content is perfect, and when the flakes are broken and packed in the bowl, lights easy, and smokes clean. This is a rich, full-flavored smoke, and should not be passed up by anyone who appreciates a good quality Virginia Flake.
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Tom Servo	03/29/2011	Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
The tin opens to a dense bundle of folded flakes. The aroma of a dusty hay loft and fig cookies wafts out, announcing the presence of good Virginia leaf - well chosen and well aged. Sweet grains, hot cereal, granola with raisins. Spicy notes, dry hay, dried fruit with a hint of unsweetened chocolate. Folding the flake when packing works very well, burns beautifully. A really nice medium Virginia flake. Sweet, toasted grains, grassy, malty - gets better and better as the bowl burns down. Sweetness gets more pronounced, develops flavors like baked bread, pancake batter, saddle soap, and even semi-sweet chocolate. This stuff is excellent - subtle, sweet and quite enjoyable. I usually like a fuller Virginia flake, but this stuff gets no complaints from me. Added this blend to the favorites list, and I just ordered a couple more tins.
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Fellow traveler	01/15/2011	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
You've tried the rest now try the best!!. Not much to add, if you like flakes you will love this. Bye Bye Sam Gawith.
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Unsal	11/25/2010	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Recommended
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JohnJelly	09/11/2010	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I really enjoy this tobacco. This is similar in style to many Va/ Va flakes I have tried and enjoyed minus different flavorings. This is also exceptionally smooth and without any tongue bite issues for me. I find the presentation in the tin to be unusual but fun. If I could rewrite my pipe smoking history I wish I would have found this particular tobacco as I was starting to try Va Flakes as when I started those I got some that were unpleasant or burned way too hot and I gave up on Va's for some time before coming back to them. 4 stars but maybe a bit underwhelming in strength for some.
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Kilmarnock Piper	07/02/2010	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
I can't get into this one, but once again have trouble giving a quality product two stars, and it is a quality blend, just not to my tastes. I must be affected more by the "molassesey" topping others do not seem to have noticed. To me, it is cloying and detracts from the natural "bite" (but not tongue bite!) that I like to have in a Virginia flake. I am struggling through my tin, and may have to blend it with something neutral to finish it. I get gurgle easily with this one as well. That's all I can say. Lots of folks seem to love this blend. The flakes are certainly attractive! Oh, and at Doc'spipe: I am the second reviewer to detect a flavoring, I guess. 3-21-2012 Been a year and a half or more in a jar. I like it better now, but there is still some gunk at the bottom of the bowl, wet and hard to finish.
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doc'spipe	05/20/2010	Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant
A medium bodied, brown Virginia flake. A long, wide (as flakes go) strip rolled around itself like a rolled and flattened belt with exquisite taste and character. Easy to peel, fold into the pipe and light (no re-lights required). Natural tasting tobacco with a lingering sweet after taste. Burns moderately hot as Virginias go, but without bite, just a pleasant Virginia spiciness and not over the top. In the same ball park as Wessex Brown Virginia Flake, but with more spice over sweet. Campaign is a nice, comfortable smoke, consistent from first puff to last. So far, I seem to be the only reviewer to not rate the flavoring as "None Detected." With careful puffing, I definitely notice the presence of molasses. A very tasty Virginia flake, good for those venturing into Virginia territory for the first time and well worth the price. A smooth, nice tasting Virginia. One is rewarded with a natural, spicy sweetness that only good quality Virginia can provide. Just exquisite with slow puffing. A solid recommendation. Gets better with some age on it as well. All things considered, I find Wessex Brigade CDF different than their Brown Virginia Flake. Between the two, where BVF is deliciously sweet, CDF takes the lead in that spicy sweetness I previously mentioned. Along with their BVF, a good smoke, but for me, edged out by BVF overall.
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Bluenoser	09/03/2009	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
I find this mixture to be very similar to Marlin Flake and in recognizing where it originates I know why this is. It, to me, is slightly stronger than Marlin and for that reason I enjoy it much more. This tobacco has that wonderful tin aroma that only comes from a high quality virginia when aged to perfection. I find BC dark to perfectly suit my sweet tooth in every puff from start to finish. The smoke is very creamy white, very smooth, gentle and inviting. I smoked it right out of the tin and dried out a second sample using a small table fan. I usually enjoy dry virginia over fresh out of the tin however in this case as with BC dark I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh smoke by a country mile. A wonderful mixture of the highest quality and most remarkable craftmanship. Buy some, you won't be disappointed. five solid stars to infinity and beyond.
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Xeneize	06/19/2009	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
Another excellent Virginia from Wessex, although not one of my favorites. This is a bit sweeter than Classic Virginia, but lacks its complexity. As one could expect from top notch tobacco, it burns cool and doesn't bite. Better than most Virginias in the market, but a step below FVF and HOTW.
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quantumboy	04/20/2009	Medium to Strong	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable
This is the only Wessex-branded tabac I've had, and possibly the best Virginia I've had to date. A very fruity nose in the tin, almost like pineapple. It's a medium-colored flake, so I'm not sure why it's called Dark Flake. The strips are folded over and stuffed in the can but they come apart and rub out easily. Mine burned perfectly right out of the tin. Quintessential VA flavoring as you "sip-n-ahhh." Or is that "sip-n-awe"? It really is delicious through the first 80% of the bowl. The last 20% is too, but it requires some TLC in my experience, to keep it cool and keep those sweet VA flavors rolling. Too hot at this point and it tastes like a cigar. A good cigar though. But maybe you'll like that! I would love to stash away 50 tins of this for a few years.
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tonyg	03/15/2009	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Pipestud, NEWMAN, and Tantric have said it all. Brigade Campaign Dark Flake is clearly the best (of all I've sampled thus far) from Wessex.
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SirLoirn	01/20/2009	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Tin: 1 1/2" wide strip of tobacco wrapped around itself, resulting in a rather unkempt block, rather frayed at the edges. Compared to Samuel Gawith's FVF, BCDF has a considerable amount of blonde in the dark brown flake, with a red hue. Nice, light oats, mildly sweet. In Omnia Paratus, Wessex Brigade, Kolhase & Kopp, Germany Packing & Lighting: Due to the long strip being wound around itself, it is incredibly difficult to unwind; the strip is stuck to the layer underneath it. The tobacco breaks apart as you try to unwind it. Taste & Aroma: At the start, vague oats, mildly sweet, the taste strengthing down the bowl into a deep oats; fairly tasty by the end of the bowl. Fresh out of the tin, undried, multiple bowls are a little destructive to the palate, bitey. Nicotine: mild-medium, closer to medium Room Note: mild VA hay Overall: Bland at the start, but developes a nice taste in the lower half of the bowl. Terribly difficult to manage the wadded up strip of tobacco, it is like it is thrown into the tin as an afterthought. Compared to SG's FVF, BCDF is considerably more tasty, in the bottom half of the bowl. 4 stars.
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 29 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >