I don't find it to be a particularly strong 'baccy; I've experienced no kick from it, but that's fine with me. Despite being comprised of several different tobaccos, this is not a complex blend. All of the flavors play nicely together, making this just a simple, but rich, smoke. Recommended if you're in the mood for a softer VaPer, one that just settles on your tongue instead of stomping on it (don't be fooled however; it will bite *hard* if drawn from too quickly).

The dark colored flake is exceedingly moist in the tin and needs at least an hour’s drying time before smoking. Aromas on opening are in some respects familiarly VaPerish—a sweet grassiness from the mature Virginias overlaid with slightly sour, fig and date smells from the Perique. I also find a not altogether pleasant tomato leaf quality to St. James Flake which is most present in the tin and at first light.

St. James Flake rubs out easily, but also smokes nicely rolled into a plug or folded and stuffed. The burn is generally cool (assuming proper drying), smoke is copious, strength is modest, and the flavors of grass and dried fruit are very pleasant, though rather quiet. For the first several bowls, I found this too bland, but lately I find its subtle flavors genuinely appealing.

This is not likely to displace my preferred VaPers—all of which tend to greater flavor intensity—but I don’t at all regret that I have a few more tins squirreled away.

I came to this tobacco fairly inexperienced in the world of pipe tobaccos - aromatics were generally too cloying, while I didn't particularly care for the smokey latakia in most English blends. This packs a lot of intriguing flavor without being too much of anything.

I purchased this tin at the Columbus show, and cracked it open right away to smell it and see what it looked like. The flakes are long and semi-broken rather than in discrete, individual slices as I've found in other tins. This didn't surprise me, as SG's Balkan Flake is very similar. The pieces had the whitish cast of sugar on them, which made my briar bretheren drool! (Again, the Balkan Flake had the same sugar mottling on it). In the tin, however, I detected a strong smell of damp straw, and not much else. It was suggested that I put the tin up for a month or so to let nature take its course, so I left the tin alone for about a month and a half, closed but not sealed.

Upon returning to the tin, I found that the green straw smell had dissipated, leaving a fairly straightforward Virginia aroma.

I loaded it into a pipe fully-rubbed. I used a fairly large-bowl pipe, which is what I smoke most of my blends in. This may have been a mistake. I say that because while the flavor was very good, I quickly found out that the nicotine delivered a "POW! right in the kisser!" punch that had me sweating rather quickly. I had to put the bowl down and reapproach it several times.

The flavor is mild, but I still enjoyed the complexity of the various VAPER flavors with each puff.

Given the nicotine punch it packs, it may be a bit too much for me, but it's a good 'baccy that VAPER fans and nicotine hounds should favor.

Like my tin of FVF, SJF needed to be dried for 12-24 hours before smoking, because it was rather wet out of the tin. I also had better luck smoking it by fully rubbing it out.

*EDIT* After opening the tin I set some aside to for around 9 months. It's a much more enjoyable blend now.

All in all it's not bad, but it's nothing special either. I had somehow expected something more out of it. Perhaps that minty confectionary thing it has going on is an aquired taste.

I'm afraid I won't be in any particular rush to get more tins of this blend. Which bothers me a little, I want to like S.G, small blending houses are almost extinct these days, but somehow all their blends I've tried so far has been a little of a let-down. But if I know myself right, that won't stop me from checking out their other offerings.

Of course, some flakes give you delicious undertones and overtones... but just prefer good mixtures on ribbon cut. I preferred them 25 years ago, and I still do prefer.

St.James Flake is a decent combination of Virginia and Perique. Good taste, a little bit peppery... and nothing more.

I am not especially fond of Perique, so this is not a regular for me. Just a change of pace. With Perique, I prefer the style of Artisan`s Blend (because the other components are strong and tasty enough)

So finally, I think this can be recommended for fans of VAPers in the mild to medium side.

Rdx score: 85.90 (I regularly smoke tobaccos over 90)

Not a daily smoke but it is in may favorites list.

As usual, like the other many SG flakes, needs to be aired well enough and rubbed how you like. Even if the perique addition is high, the nice natural virginia sweetness of high quality SG flakes is considerable here. The only thing you have to do is to smoke this stuff when you are relaxed and with attention. The play of the perique and virginia is awesome.

And please do not offer this tobacco to a beginner!

KD