Flavor is nice, it burns nice and no tongue bites today... It's not my favorite, but still it's very good tobacco.

Recommended.

I've been smoking Blackwoods Flake since soon after it first came on the market and this is what a Virginia flake should be. The flavor is clear and clean, the smoke is pleasantly rich and sweet and there is ample body--and all while maintaining a good balance. I have tried and continue to try other Virginia blends and flakes, but I always come back to this one. What else needs to be said?

Note: I think that it smokes better in a meerschaum.

I recommend not over rubbing this one. There seems to be a richer flavor with larger chunks. Enjoy!!!

packs very easy, I find that if it is still too moist one can pack it too tightly. Since I rub this out fully I typically use the frank method. A lot easier than Dark Star to light up and keep going. A bowl starts off bright and sweet for me. I like its zesty top note. Gives the tongue a bit of a zing that can be mistaken for bite. Yes it is a VA and will bite if pushed to hard. Mid bowl the flavor deepens and sweetens, giving a bit of a peppery character, stays very mellow in flavor from mid bowl on. A great mellow sweetness I associate with nearly all the fine McClleland VA blends, something slightly nutty in there as well.

I like to smoke this in a larger rather than smaller bowl for the factor that it seems to open up more on the palate.

I would love to taste this after a long period of aging, would probably mellow it out enough for me to give it one more star, the oldest tin I have smoked is a 2009 in 2011. My theory is that after the five year mark it is probably a four star smoke. Would love to see what ten years does to this.

UPDATE January 2013: Rubbed out and inverted pack with an airgap also gives great pleasure from this excellent blend. Long lasting enjoyment in a large bowl.

Update: Even at 0 degrees (AK)this tobacco was wonderful.

Initial light took about 4 matches, this flake was still a bit wet. Once lit, it produced a great, easy going smoking experience that did not even hint at biting. Notes of tangy Va with some sort of flavor I have never experienced in a McClelland flake, sorta a black pepper type flavor.

McClelland develops some great flakes, and this is no exception. If you have problems with tongue bite like I do, try this one.

Can burn a bit wet if not dried properly. Leaves a very clean taste on the palate that will last for a few hours.

This stuff rivals FVF in my opinion. I had this first, then FVF, and I love them both.

At first, the famous ketchup aroma - that will dissipate,than disappear after two weeks the tin is open, mixed with something similar to cloves and nutmeg.

Smoking this tobacco is pure joy.

Edit: This morning (7/20/2012) I smoked this again. This time I let it breathe for a little over an hour and packed it carefully. A much more interesting and satisfying smoke. I really enjoyed it and didn't want it to end!