One of the reasons for this is that I find Bracken Flake's flavor profile so elusive that I keep being drawn to it to try to plumb its depths. It's like no other flake I know. There's an added essence to it, to be sure, but it's so perfectly integrated with its dark tonality its hard to discern. I just know that it works. It's not sweet (at least not overtly), it's not bitter (at least not overtly), it's not musty, nor like decaying flowers (at least not overtly), it's just... dark, like some exquisite subtle liquour the essence of terra. (Is there a hint of talcum, as Beer astutely noticed?) Indeed, there's something elemental about this flake, redolent of the humus of a dank forest floor, that I find immensely compelling. But this essence never overwhelms: the tobacco flavor predominates.

Comparisons to 1792 are apt in my opinion. It's like 1792 minus the strong tonquin topping, then infused with this essence of earth. If flavors exist on some kind of continuum like colors do on an HSV scale, it's like the blenders changed the flavor lookup table of the base flake from sweet to dark. I don't know how else to explain it: details are much easier to see when colors are bright, whereas they must be hunted for in a dark composition.

The tobacco was too moist in all three tins. I found that drying it under a bright light for 15-45 minutes or so until it's a little stiff (but not brittle) brought it to life. (Don't microwave it, since that seems to compromise the fragile oils and alter the flavor characteristics.) And I definitely preferred folding to breaking it up.

The only reason I give it three stars instead of four is that I don't feel comfortable giving my highest recommendation to a weed that the average pipester may not enjoy: I definitely think it's worth a try, obviously, but the flavor may be too strong, too intense, and too dark for the casual smoker. However, for the discerning palette of experienced pipesters, especially those with a penchant for dark flakes, I unhesitatingly give it my highest recommendation. (And SteelCowboy is right, it's an absolute must try for Lakeland explorers...) It's not a flavor that all will enjoy, to be sure, but those who do will be glad they found it.

Update (a day later): No, I have to give it four stars. It deserves it: it's a masterpiece of the dark flake genre. It's tobaccos like this that (almost) make me feel sorry for non-smoking epicures who will shell out $110-an-ounce for a taste of winter black french truffles, but will never experience the exquisite flavors we come upon.

If you're into strong, dark flakes -- especially of the Lakeland variety -- try it; if you're not, approach with caution. I also recommend reading the other reviews for this blend. For some reason I've particularly enjoyed the welter of voices trying to pin this one down...

11/19 Update - I tried it again. In a small Stanwell. I broke it up into little pieces and although it was tolerable, I still didn't get a sense of rich flavorful tobac. I guess the experience is trending in the right direction though.

11/22 Update - I've never been called a quitter and I haven't quoted on the weed yet. I dried it out and it's still not 3 stars but its getting better. There is no appreciable room note. I think if you take this tobac very slow it pays off. It does have a considerable nicotine content.

12/22/12 Update I kind of like it now. Once you get it lite it's quite good. This turn of events might be due to the fact that its pretty dried out. As a matter of fact I'm sure that's the case. Still it is a pretty strong tobak.

Great tasting tobacco with repulsive aroma.

Soli Deo gloria!

As others have said, it does need a little drying to bring out the best.

This is REAL tobacco!! If you are a tobacco lover, GO for it!!

I mean: I like dark stoved Virginias, but only when they are smooth, leathery but still with a nice sweetness. In this blend, however (probably due to the Kentucky) the taste is pungent, earthy, woody, and somehow reminding me of the smell of cow dung.

It's absolutely the same approach of 1792 Flake, and while I understand that some may love it (especially those who like strong bodied cigars or Toscanos), it puts me off. It's not the kind of enjoyment I look forward in a pipe.

Actually, it may be slightly less intense than 1792 in the nicotine department: it IS strong, but in a small bowl it doesn't make me sweat or my heart race madly like 1792 did. Provided, of course, that I puff SLOWLY. Otherwise, it hits you with no forgiveness and becomes more acrid too. Luckily, the moisture and the thickness of the flake helps a lot to maintain a slow and cool combustion (although it may require some rubbing out otherwise it won't get lit at all).

Flavoring is attractive: not as sweet and tonquin dominated as 1792, but more "fresh" and "cool". Mint? Scented talcum powder? Cocoa? Liquorice? Whatever... Anyway, it's mostly in the scent, because the taste of the smoke is dominated by the tobacco (as it should be).

What else can I say? It simply isn't my cup of tea. It might have been many years ago, when I enjoyed Gitanes cigarettes (the ones with the black tobacco). Nowadays, my tastes have become subtler and more refined (which doesn't mean that this tobacco is gross and rustic: simply, it is stuff from another era...).

That said, if you like stout blends and enjoy other dark-fired offerings, this is a must-try.

There are considerable added flavorings. I'd compare it to 1792, just in terms of the amount of top-note. But rather than Tonquin, Bracken Flake brings it's own essences: chocolate, menthol, cedarwood, liquorish even? But none of these manages to be overpowering. Probably because the SG Kentucky and Dark Fired burleys are so overpowering on their own.

All that said, I'm not a big Lakeland fan. And this stuff is aggressively flavored.

So why 4 stars? Because Bracken Flake, when treated respectfully with a small chamber-size and some patience, is a one-of-a-kind experience. It's not something I reach for every day. But there are times when I want a strong, sipping smoke. In the right circumstances, with a bit of caution, Bracken satisfies like few blends can.

As someone else here as correctly stated "this is for lumberjacks". I can only recommend it to people looking for strong experiences with their pipes.

Update: as I slow sip'ed my last Bracken Flake this AM, it seduced me BIG-TIME, just placed an order for a pnd of this wonderful weed...suggest you snag a few tins before it goes MIA again

In the tin, this smells like Kendal Cream Flake; whether this is a similarity in the essences or in the constituent tobaccos I don't know.

This is a mixture of Virginias and Kentuckys, with dark fired leaf. It is very much like Gawith & Hoggarth's Dark Flake, with some sort of essence added.

The essence is a complete mystery to me. It is peppery and leathery, with an underlying sweetness. Its mouthfeel reminds me of smoking a cigar.

Anyway, it suits me just fine.

Perfectly balanced flue & dark fired tobaccos of the highest quality. Needs to let drying in the tin some long time for reaching optimal burning, but then it rewards you with wonderful plums of sweet/leathery smoke. The flavouring (a combination of essences of the like of bergamot, anise) is applied very coherently, the true tobacco base is never hidden. The strength builds gradually to the strong side, with plenty of body. Smokes very cool and as long as one hour in the smallest group 1 bowl which is pretty enough to satisfy the smoker…

Not my all-day smoke, but something worth having in normal rotation.

Flawless quality, four full stars.

I wanted a strong tobacco. I like Peterson's Irish Flake; that one's pretty strong. I bought a tin of this blend, not knowing what I had signed up for.

People in this forum have complained about various things with this blend. They are right. This stuff is too strong. It is too strongly flavoured. It is way too high in nicotine to be an all-day smoke.

Yet I love it. I can't fold it; it falls apart. I can only fill small bowls with basically broken flake at best. Some rubbing-out may enhance the experience. This stuff is... er... STRONG!!!

But enjoyably so. After most of my first tin (and more tins shall follow), I can make out the chocolate/aniseed flavouring. Don't ever attempt this blend before letting it dry out for a bit... but it's a beauty. Sorry... just smoked a bowl... may be a little light-headed...

Too start from the beginning, it is, like all Gawith flakes, of very nice high quality tobacco. It smokes like it has some perique, but none is noted anywhere. It is not as dark as 1792, but it is dark. I love it when Gawith tells you something is flavored with a "long used essence." A buddy of mine said it tasted like good tobacco and the best tasting shoe he had ever smoked. That is not far off. The tin odor is funky, in a pleasant way. It is tangy, and maybe has a little tonquin action going on, but again, none is noted. There is a sweet component to the smell, and that carries over to the smoke.

This one did not burn as readily for me as several of the other Gawith flakes. Even after drying out it took more effort to get it going, and it did not stay lit as long. I had no problem with it funking my pipe though, or leaving any goop in the bottom of the bowl.

The smoking experience is singular. It starts out very spicy, and stays that way throughout the bowl, albeit the second half mellows somewhat. Again, really smokes similar to a perique blend. There is a definite layer of sweetness which seems like virginias working, but also a dryer, "smokier" effect, ala latakia. Perhaps this has some orientals giving rise to this whisper underlying and playing off the sweetness? That long used essence is noticeable throughout the bowl. To me Ouzo and leather seems like the best way to describe it. It is probably moldy water from some dank part of Gawith's basement, but it still tastes pretty good.

A note about the strength. It may not be as strong as 1792, but I tried to smoke a good size bowl of this stuff and could not finish. I got loopy halfway through, and just could not take any more. With a smaller bowl this was not a problem, and the strength was noticeable, but enjoyable. I am no beginner, however, and it got to me, so be forewarned about the nicotine, and do not try to smoke this in a huge Autograph or Danish freehand, unless someone around you knows how to administer CPR.

Overall this is one odd blend. Everything about it is just different than most other blends. That is not a bad thing. I would not call it an everyday smoke by a long shot, but it is a very unique, flavorful, and strong smoking experience.

I will buy more of this as soon as I can. This tobacco is not for the novice for first time pipe smoker. One should have some experience before firing this one up.

I love the tin aroma. Very pungent and earthy. The flakes are of course unevenly cut, and quite coarse. Tobacco is very moist, you'll need to dry this out for a while. I dried out some flakes for about an hour and they were still on the moist side, but I couldn't resist any longer so rubbed out, and packed in.

This flake is STRONG. Even though I packed a 9mm pipe, the nicotine hit me almost instantly. Flavors are deep and bold, and quite yummy. This is one flake that needs to be smoked especially slow in my opinion, as if you're not used to the nicotine, it can really knock you on your ass as it almost did me.

Burns nice and evenly all the way down to the end of the bowl. I made the mistake of loading this in a Pipa Croci that has quite a big bowl.. there was no way I was going to finish it in one sitting. Smaller bowls and this tobacco really shines. Good nicotine hit, but way too much to be puffing on for over an hour.

Flavor is pretty one dimensional, but good overall. I just wasn't expecting this much nicotine. I love Balkan Flake, but the nicotine in this is far, far more than that, if a comparison is in order. This is probably the strongest tobacco I've ever smoked.

Good for what it is, but just a bit too much for me personally.