Let me first say this will not bite your tongue even a bit (unless you're ... um.... short-bus different).

It is a very pleasant smoke, though I find I prefer 109.

I've read of virginias that they tend to start out rather meaningless and grow more pleasant as you smoke through the bowl. That was definitely my experience with 109, and one of the reasons I loved it.... however 44 doesn't seem to change much throughout. That's not to say it's bad. I'm a fan actually. But is quite a bit stronger, and I would say stronger at the expense of flavor personally, I find the 109 to be more flavorful. But if it's strength, especially Lady St. Nic you're looking for ... 44 is the way to go.

VERY strong. I haven't been this buzzed on a pipe tobacco in.... ever. (But I don't smoke a lot of strong blends)

Highly recommended. This is confirming for me thus far that Astley's blends are really THE way to go if you're looking tins... I'm a huge fan of both of these.

Tin aroma: Appetizing, lightly fruity, hay and earthiness.

As all K&K mixtures, it burns very well.

At the match: bright elements, tangy (lemon grass?).

Settles quickly to a creamy nuttiness (Kentucky burley?) with some depth, yet still allowing a fruitiness in the nose/sidestream.

Mid-bowl develops more depth and a rich earthiness. A fine blend of quality tobaccoes... The slower the burn the richer the spectrum of flavors and the fuller the body.

Producing copius amounts of smoke, this is a mouthful, truly a rich dark virginia flake. Recommended!

The best way to describe this one to someone by comparing it to another tobacco is to say it's in the same zip code as Marlin Flake. Unlike MF this one is a straight Va, so you get no spicy/smoky notes. The sweetness here is also better to my palate, more natural and doesn't quite draw attention to itself but at the same time occurs more readily. It definitely has that oat-y honey to it. This one also has a first rate tobacco satisfaction quotient. The nicotine is adequate, but there is just something here that scratches the tobacco itch. Top notch tobacco with plenty of Va sugar, this one is one of my very favorite tobaccos.

The only Va's I would prefer over this one and it's cousin Marlin Flake are BBF and FVF. Really excellent tobacco.

The aroma is close to red wine. It smells like McConnel's Scottish Flake. The flakes are not dark by all means.

It smokes well and provides nice nicotine.

It is actually a lot more complex than that. Being no stranger to many VA/per flakes, this was the first "dark" one I had ever tried. Upon opening the tin, I found the moisture content to be a bit heavy. I let the tin sit on the rack for about a month, and then one day I realized I had a tobacco I had never tried.

I opened the tin once again, and wow what a difference. The aroma was not at all citrus that I got, but almost like a chocolate. Not an artificial candy bar type chocolate, but raw dark chocolate. Quite exquisite to tell you the truth.

The flakes are easy enough to manage, though not the easiest maybe for a novice to this style of pipe weed. Once I broke the flakes into the consistency I desired, I set out to a park bench to give this a good try. I loaded up an apple shaped Bjarne Viking, and cleared my mind as to give this an honest shake.

I had a little bit of trouble getting this blend going, but I do not think that was the fault of the tobacco per-say, but the fault of my loading technique. Once lit, this behaved very well.

Upon the first few puffs I was quite enthralled with this blend. Never had I tasted such a robust and full bodied Virginia without the addition of Perique. The bitter sweet flavour of raw chocolate seemed to carry over to the smoke and make an appearance every few minutes or so.

Not once did this bite, but I was also very careful with this blend dedicating about an hour and a half to this bowl. Moderate tamping and an occasional re-light were required, but neither took away from the enjoyment of this blend.

I smoked this leaf all the way down to a fine ash in my bowl, where at the end I was experiencing a little "chimney mouth" but no bite. I think the next time I smoke this it will be in a smaller bowl pipe, and I will not try to get the last speck of tobacco to burn to a white ember.

The strength was defiantly there, and I was able to leave my park bench feeling satisfied.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a hardy VA or a VA/Per smoker who might be looking to branch out just a bit.

This tobacco goes very well with a good cup of freshly brewed strong black coffee or espresso. I think this could easily pass for an after dinner smoke for a straight VA smoker as well. Maybe pair it with a cognac or an oatmeal stout, and you would be in paradise.

Since Rattray's MF seems to be the measuring stick around here, I'll say that this has significantly more flavor than MF, yet is congenial with an easy burn. Smokers of MF might find this a little robust, but it's actually of medium strength. This is a VA flake that must be sampled by anyone looking for the ultimate in the genre. This just might be it for you. I prefer Gawith's FVF personally but this is one that I plan to cellar a few tins for those times I want a tad more sweetness in my bowl. Excellent tobacco, and it makes me want to take a run through the rest of the Astley's line.

Four Stars without a doubt.

This is the best VA-flake I have ever tried! It is better than Marlin!

This classic contains everything I expect from quality VA: Depth, natural sweetness, complexity, stoved notes, nicotine etc. I cannot help myself feeling as one of the pipesmokers in the earlier days when tobacco had that all natural "tobacco" thing to it. I feel like an English gentleman when smoking this manna from heaven.

Even though Kohlhase & Kopp has taken over the production, adding propyleneglycol insted of water and therefore changing the texture and looks of the leaf, they have managed to preserve the original taste of good English Virginia.

Heavy with plumes of sweet non-blistering smoke, #44 tickles my nostrils and send me to another plane where I do not wish to leave.

The best thing that has happened to pipe smoking. #44 goes hand in hand with St. Bruno in my regular rotation.

Outstanding!

Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark

I rate this tobacco 5.0 out of 10.

This was an open tin that was given to me so I cannot really comment on my impression of the freshness, although the tobacco was not dry and packed well. The tobacco smoked very well with no harsness or tongue bite, I did detect a subtle hint of sweetness in the taste as the tobacco burned slowly to the bottom of the bowl.

The one impression I did receive from No. 44 that it left me satisfied like that of the first cup of a rich Columbian Coffee in the morning.

This will be added to my shelf of occasional tobaccos to smoke.

Unlike Astley's #109, which I found to be lacking in the flavor department, #44 is much richer and boasts a nicotine wallop worth seeking. Not as elegant as Hal O the Wynd, but still a gratifying smoke.

This is a dark Virginia, pressed with a bit of bright. No tangy smell or citrus flavor here. Just a straight forward tobacco taste. I am sure this blend will age beautifully. So, I will be making room for several tins in my cellar.