My first bowl was a revelation of just how sublime some tobaccos can be. Every bowl that followed has confirmed my initial impression (but you never forget your first...). It's a finicky blend that requires just the right pipe to tease out its delicate mysteries. (For me it's a rusticated 1/4 bent apple now dedicated to Dark Star.)

Part of my obsession with this particular tobacco is that it's elusive: just when I think I've figured it out it shimmers to reveal some new facet -- it's veritably a cubist flavor. I didn't know tobacco could be like this: biteless, subtle, darkly sweet (like sulphur molasses), complex, full, spicy, lush, mysterious and even romantic, like a Berg string quartet. This blend for me enters the realm of high art.

Others cavil about how difficult the flake is to work with, but I haven't had any trouble -- I rub it out very thoroughly and have no trouble keeping it lit.

I can't get enough of this one. Honestly, I didn't expect that I could fall in love with a tobacco like I have with this one.

the hints of flavor i've been able to acquire while fighting with it have been decent, not good enough for me to put up with the hassle. I can't recommend this pain in the a$$ blend to anyone.

Dark Star is a decent Virginia blend, a classic from McClelland

Too much trouble all around. I don't want to have to "prep" my tobacco just so I can sit down and smoke it.

Save your money on this blend.

I've tried smoking this both rubbed out and dried, and with fresh folded flake. The folded flake has much more going on, that catsup odor comes through very prominently, but is quite difficult to keep lit as others here have noted. For some this constant struggle of lighting and re-lighting gets tiresome, and I have to agree. But please note, that when you dry this out you are losing some of those resins. My advice is to experiment and see what works out best for you and your tastes.

Rubbed out and dried, for me this tobacco really starts of wonderfully. I noticed some vanilla and other complex flavors that my meager palate couldn't quite identify right away. Maybe figs? I've never eaten a fig, but their smell seems to fit here. When I've dried it out the most time I've gotten to is about an hour or so. I think it would be in my best interest to try to dry it out a bit more, since Dark Star gets harsh for me toward the bottom of the bowl. But, please realize that it usually takes me about 2 to 3 hours to make my way through a large pipe of this stuff. By that time my taste buds seem tired out, and Dark Star has finished my smoking for the day.

Overall, I do like this blend, but it's been challenging for me to make my way through a whole bowl. I'm hoping that having the tin opened for a few weeks will assist.

The flavor has the depth of a top notch Maduro cigar with a touch of sweetness and pepper top note. A full, rich, complex flavor. I found Dark Star to be sweeter and less peppery than McClellands St. James Woods.

The room note is sweeter and lighter than one would expect from the full taste. It is quite pleasant and does not smell at all like a cigar. This is a prime rib of a tobacco.

When I did get it to burn, I found the flavor interesting, which is why I'm giving it two stars. I'd rather smoke 5100 or 2015, for sure, if I'm reaching for McClelland.

The flakes are almost black and oh so wet. After 24 hours with the lid cracked it was finally (barely) dry enough to take a flame. It is the very devil to rub out and simply will not light folded.

First smoke: I found it almost bland. I say almost because this tobacco whispers to you that is has a lot to say.

Second smoke: Bland again, more whispers of shadowy secrets.

Third and fourth: There was something sour, light and pleasant in the background.

Fifth smoke: This lady bit me and I cried no joy.

I give this one two stars only because I will finish the tin. I started mixing it with PS Bullseye Flake and they dance well together, so I have no doubt there is someone somewhere that knows how to get this blend to open up a full oratory... but it ain't me babe.

Packing & Lighting: Rubs out easily into small splinters. It is lightly packed. It takes two strong efforts to keep it lit, then DS smokes all the way to the bottom, with one relight.

Taste & Aroma: Mild, dark, oily taste and aroma--roasting chestnuts? Not much readily discernable flavor, which is not matched by the tin aroma. No unusual moisture problems; if necessary, just take the stem off once, mid-bowl,and blow it out. Not particularly sweet. If you want sweet, try Christmas Cheer.

Nicotine: medium

Room Note: mild to medium, like the aroma

Very definitely a tobacco that requires preparation. But, you get to personalize it to your taste. Upon cracking the tin, I found the dark flakes to be quite moist and pliable, too moist to smoke immediately IMO. And of course, there was the ketchup smell. So began a treatment that extended over three days of periodic rubbing, cutting, and drying out until I had what I felt to be the right moisture and texture for smoking. The tin aroma was now tantalizing: dried fruit, figs, raisin. The tobacco lit fairly easily, and burned cool and steady, delivering one of the tastiest virginia smokes I've ever had. It's delicious. After smoking about half of the tin, I've vowed to order more. This will be one of my go-to virginias.

If you're willing to put some effort into it, Dark Star definitely delivers the goods.

There seems to be a consensus that Dark Star is really just a better aged 2035, and from what I remember of the look and feel, I'd say that's about right. Dark Star is beautiful in the tin. The flakes are thicker than firewood and the tangy signature smell of McClelland Virginias is so pungent, I wanted to take a flake and eat it, just to see what it might taste like.

Dark Star will inevitably frustrate those of an impetuous nature. I've tried numerous technical exercises in breaking down the flakes, from chopping them with a Santoku knife to the oft suggested coffee grinder spin. You'll really have to experiment with what works best, but don't give up. The taste is worth the trouble.

Dark Star is sweet, slow burning, thick and buttery. I challenge anyone to name a Virginia that can do what Dark Star can. There is simply nothing like it.

I am puzzled why I hated 2035 and love Dark Star. Maybe I have grown a bit more patient and willing to see things out. Ok, that's an exaggeration, though I won't deny that opinions change.

Four "Dark" Stars.

Dark Star's claim to fame, in my opinion, is its distinctive dark, heavy sweetness. I've had sugary smokes, and molasses-y smokes, and aromatic smokes (both good and bad), but never a smoke quite like this. I like it very much. Behind the sweetness the taste is subtle, even light, and requires gentle smoking to emerge; most of the flavor is in the finish. Because Dark Star is a big smoke, this point is not obvious at first. It's not so wild and complex as Stonehaven, but there's stuff going on there; it's got character. Good for evenings in the warmer months.

"Dark Star crashes, pouring its light into ashes," say the Grateful Dead in the song which, I imagine, gave the blend its name. I think I see what they had in mind. And unlike what the Dead were smoking, this stuff is legal.

It is what I consider good for a tired pallate or a transition blend- my term for one I smoke in between my daytime and late evening smokes. Or when something out of the ordinary is desired. A good tobacco to enjoy in the house in the evening when you have the needed time to deal with this stuff. Can seem a little flat or go unnoticed at the wrong time.

Kind of hard to rub out. A grinder helps a lot. Not too bad to light but do light it gently. I think if I could not use a lighter on this I would get mad about the number of matches I had to use though. Good results using a low flame- Do not blast this with flame or you will regret it.

A sipping blend for sure. Solid and reliable. I don't smoke it by itself too much but something about knowing it is there for the moment the urge to smoke strikes I like.

It is a VERY good tobacco to add a touch of to other blends. I like a touch in my #27 mc va, sometimes. Can smooth out the edges on about anything that is va based. Tones down brightness and adds richness.

Not an all day or everyday smoke for me but very unique and good. Will keep a tin or two around.

You might just like it if you are not easily frustrated and have a little time to mess with it.

Update: 8/04/08 I have been smoking this more and really enjoy it. I find it to be so good out of my small peterson calabash. I grind it up in my tobac grinder and air it out about an hour prior to smoking. I just think it goes well in the small pipe. Will definitley keep some around. I love this blend's sweet raisin like taste. So naturally sweet.

In the tin are black shingles of stoved virginia flake tobacco. At first opening, I smell the McClelland acidic scent. It bit my nose, but after a few hours the bite of the tin aroma was gone. A little remained.

The flakes are moist like moist beef jerky. I had no problems rubbing the flakes. I place the rubbed out flake aside to dry a little, but no too dry. When they form a leathery crust, the rubbed tobacco is ready to smoke.

This is a heavy smoke, there is some body to this. There is a definite tang in the taste. The flavor is not a forever changing shades of subtle nuance. It is bold and straight forward. Some may find it bitter, but I find it deep and bittersweet. It similar to comparing a lager beer to an irish stout.

Yes, it does not burn readily; it will go out. But I had balkans blends burn just as poorly.

As for bite, it is not bitey; it is always better to smoke lightly and slowly. For me that means wait for the flavors of the last puff to completely fade, before taking another light puff.

I always have a tin open, I often get an appetite to something dark and stout.