It seems that this is a tobacco I generally prefer not straight up, but in smaller doses. I have blended it mainly with other GH or SG flakes on the untopped side of things, and the best blend I have come up with, after much experimentation as to proportions, is the following:

40% GH Dark Flake U/S, 40% GH Brown Flake U/S, 7.5% GH Kendal Kentucky, 7.5% McClelland Blending Perique, and 5% C&D Pirate Kake (itself being 70% Latakia, and 30% "Turkish and Cavendish-cut Burley," according to C&Ds description).

The high Perique percentage is right up my alley, and the Kendal Kentucky adds some kick as well! The moderator here is that 5% Pirate Kake, really a very mellow Latakia cake, and one can hardly sense the Turkish and Burley in a 70% Latakia blend...

So, I will have to get some more just to make another batch of the above blend, which I think may be my best blend ever, as heady as it sounds. It is indeed pretty strong, yet mellow and not overpowering if taken slowly.

The same thing can be said of Dark Flake U/S itself. I'm slowly sipping this bowl in my quite ugly yet nicely-smoking Brebbia Whitehall (flawed second basket pipe) rusticated billiard, and enjoying it quite a bit. I love this blend, but again, just not an everyday thing.

Some seem to be able to detect those GH Lakeland toppings in this, but I really can't, probably due to my having smoked so much Ennerdale Flake, Kendal's Flake, Glengarry Flake, etc. I may therefore be somewhat jaded to Lakeland toppings, but I can certainly see how certain smokers not as used to such toppings as I am being able to taste them, perhaps simply from this blend having been in the same room as the tobaccos mentioned above! They probably added some sort of topping to this, despite the name "unscented," but I simply cannot sense any flavorings due to the dark-fired style of the flake.

Summing up, it will never be in my regular rotation, but since the occasional bowl is always very nice (especially when I'm in the mood for it, as I seem to be right now), and since at other times I have had such success with it as a blender, I will always keep some on hand, even though I will not be buying it by the pound.

The Tin-smell was dark and earthy with herbal notes. And it filled and lit well. The smoke was cool and it did not burn very hot. There was next to no tongue bite. The taste was very pleasing rich, full, and natural with a hint of coffe, spice and woodsmoke.

My only gripe with this blend is the rather large moist dottle left behind, rthis however can be dried out and resmoked with remarkably little loss of quailty.

I like this blend and and would recomend it as a fine natural smoke for those who like no topping on thier tobacco.

I personally smoke a bowl of it everyday. Burns very cool, with a great full smoky/pepper taste to it. The tobacco is also very strong, but not strong enough to ruin the smoke. Just the right amount of kick! Great blend that i would recommend to anyone who enjoys full taste of tobacco's. I would also recommend smoking after having something in your stomache! :)

It took some time before I could make my various combinations work, generally employing Dark Flake in small doses to toughen up a blend. In that regard, the blend is indispensable, and extends a sweetness that some of my other favorite mixers lack, Perique and sliced rope. Dark Flake works well with lighter Virginias, and generally I will add some Turkish leaf to a pure Virginia blend, which will dilute the strength, which is corrected by adding a bit of Dark Flake to boost it back up. The flake cut can be difficult to incorporate into ribbons, which makes it necessary to rub out the flakes in a manner that approximates the texture of the native leaf. I always keep a few ounces on hand for this purpose, and rarely I will smoke a straight bowl, preferring lighter Virginias with a higher sugar content.

Given the protracted unavailability of Samuel Gawith blends, G&H makes a perfect counterpart for one seeking that Lakeland fix, and it's a bit of fun to run through the catalog comparing their similar blends. The two companies have that Coke vs. Pepsi rivalry, very similar in many ways with legions of fans on both sides. G&H may be the underdog here, their offerings scrappy and more unconventional, their floral scented flakes offensive to many. I can't complain. Who doesn't like to see a good fight?

For those that have had the misfortune to sample Condor Long Cut and have had to put up with that pukesome 'Floral Fairy Liquid' monstrosity of a scent that accompanies it, then I have some news for you.

Dark Flake is a slightly stronger version of the aforementioned maligned gargantuan winged Andes namesake.

Dark savoury VA/BU with (as others have noted) a cigarish after taste. A perfect toke for staving off the hunger pangs as long as you don't mind laying down afterwards. Or a brilliant late night companion with accompanying salami sandwich and 1990's action film, as the latters projections flicker around your darkened living room.

Then tamp the ashes out at 0150hrs and bugger off to bed, passing through the blue savoury haze, fully sated.

Only reason it doesn't score a full house is because it burns my nose hair. Other than that, a perfect replacement (and in bulk) for Irish Flake.

Nice...

An achingly grandiose mix of fire-cured virginias and dark burleys, this is powerfully spicy and potent. The virginias contribute a certain natural sweetness, though the overall impression, when combined with the herbal bitterness and silky texture of the burley, is not particularly sweet.

Complex in a manner that eschews subtlety, variation, or nuance, Dark Flake Unscented is a prodigious smoke that, while narrowly avoiding stolidity and boorishness, maintains a sort of unrefined sophistication. This was best in narrow gauge chambers.

It's character is definitely a dark pressed Virginia with a Kentucky presence. As part of the Dark series(Plug, Flake and Shag) this one is the winner, for me. Easier to deal with than the plug, bolder, sweeter and more interesting than the shag. A slight liquorice taste. A bit cigarish.

A strong, smooth, dry and lovely smoke.

My wife says it smells very continental and I think I know what she means. Quite like a rich espresso.

Will keep some around.

Once smoked, a hint of sweetness can be detected with, as several reviewers have pointed out, a cigar-like flavor. However, I find that this is all I can detect which makes for a somewhat one dimensional smoking experience. I must add that I cannot detect any tongue bite which make this a pleasurable smoke.

Despite above description, a word to the wise, this tobacco is no slouch. It is loaded with nicotine and could knock you off your feet (or your stomach) if you are not prepared for it. I would not suggest this for the faint of heart, nor to someone who has not had a good meal. As one reviewer would put it, "treat it with respect."

Though this may sound one dimensional, overall, it is a good smoke. GH&C produces some of the best quality tobacco, and this is most certainly one of them.

I would still RECOMMEND this with a caveat to smoke this after a good meal. Three stars…

Yeah, it's not IF. After several failing bowls smoked confirming this point, I pushed on. It is a strongish blend, no doubt, but not in the same hug the toilet category as Five Bros.,Tambolaka, SG Black Irish XX, etc. I have smoked some big honking bowls of Dark Flake with nary a nicotine palpitation to mention. It can be creamy smooth...but not in a sweet cream or buttery sort of way. I see the word cigarlike used to describe it, and I concur...this may be the most straight forward cigar like blend I've smoked. Overall, an enjoyable bite free experience every light up. I wouldn't call it awesomeness in a bowl, but it's good...at least, good enough to get again. It's just I'm in no rush.

Three serviceable stars.

I am not well-versed in Virginias, and have only a small frame of reference.

It is, to begin with, dark-pressed Virginia. And it's strong stuff. It smells sweet and musty in the jar, qualities which softly evolve when a match brings this to life. The natural sweetness is complemented by something dark and earthy. Something in the pressing or the blending imparts surprising flavors, of incense, candle wax. Something about the treatment of the leaf gives a hint of smokiness.

This isn't for the faint of heart or empty of stomach. Treat it with respect, or it will smoke you.

And don't let the mellow flavor fool you.

Interesting, flavorful. Strongly recommended.

My palate finds this blend to issue a moderate to full tobacco taste, but admittedly monochromic. On my first light of Dark Flake three years ago I was immediately aware of the Lakeland essence that I found to be ‘interesting’. Now that Dark Flake is in my daily rotation, all of that has disappeared. Only on rare occasion do I taste a wisp of Lakeland and when I do, again I find it to be ‘interesting’ and welcomed.

Here’s a parfait you may want to try that incorporates the savory Dark Flake, a delightful experience of three equal parts of three robust tobaccos: Dark Birds Eye as the bottom layer, Perique in the middle, and Dark Flake dressing the top. Again, this seems to work best in a narrow chamber. (I drool as I write this) Bon Appétit!

Yes there is a whiff of Lakeland. But for the most part it is very slight, notably fades after the initial light, and any remaining essence is welcome to my tastes as it compliments the sourness well.

Of the 2 previous reviews I find Dogwood's more consistent with my thoughts about all G&H blends. All of our tastes vary. And I certainly understand that the whole Lakeland thing isn't for everyone.

But I struggle to understand how one could knock G&H in terms of quality. I've smoked a number of Sam G. and Esoteric blends and find G&G blends to be at least of equal superb quality.

G&H brings the added benefit of actually being available on a regular basis.

Stonehaven is in my mind without peer. But, frankly, I've grown weary of waiting for the stars to align and the whim to strike Sam G. and Esoterica to bless us with their product once in a blue moon.

In any event back on point. Dark Flake is a wonderful dark fired burley and semisweet VA flake. Certainly worthy of a try for any serious smoker.

It's stronger than Dark Fragrant. It has a light cigar smoke quality to it.

I don't think you can go wrong with any G&H blend. Their tobacco is the best quality. They have the history and experience to back up their blends.

I found it to be utterly lacking in depth and interest. It gives a kick, but there is no trick to that. I'd dispose of it in my leaf burner but the neighbors might call the EPA. Any one of us who has tasted the better blends from Sam Gawith or Esoterica would probably find Dark Flake to be rock bottom.

When the taste leaves my mouth in a few days, I hope to get back to my regular rotation.

A no nonsense, full Virginia smoke. Not as creamy or smooth as FVF, but a more in your face kinda deal with a STACK of nicotine. I personally don't get head rushes from vitamin N unless I inhale the smoke, which I try not to do.....I did say try! That said though, I had the prickly 'back of the throat' sensation almost straight away with this blend as the 'N' word made it's presence immediately known..

The similarities between this and Peterson's IF are there though. IF is a grade or two stronger than dark flake, but the taste and burn qualities are similar.

(DF definitely has more moisture than IF when first opened though.)

A good after meal smoke I would suggest..

The only other things I was thinking to include are that, to me, the flavour of this flake falls somewhere between Highland Sliced and Brown Twist, both of which I have also reviewed. When the sweeter notes come through (and they are not present in any great quantity) it is momentarily reminiscent of the twist, then it reverts to being more like Highland Sliced when the mild topping asserts itself. I am thinking that there could be some cloves in there, but I wouldn't want to put money on that!

And yes, it is really strong. I have been smoking stronger tobacs recently in the evenings and am quite happy to work my way through a couple of pipes of Brown Twist without any need to take a break from smoking aside from what comes naturally due to relights etc. I am currently enjoying a bowl of Dark Flake as a mid-afternoon smoke and it is hammering me. Consider yourselves warned!

I think I probably favour Highland Sliced overall, but I prefer the presentation of this one and like the fact that I can purchase in bulk. Also, Highland Sliced is not so easy to come by, especially stateside I believe, so with these factors in mind Dark Flake gets a firm recommendation.