Robert McConnell - Scottish Flake pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 58 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >
leafy	04/26/2013	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable
I have recently realized a simple technique for the preparation of pipe tobacco flakes which has recreated my (mainly 9mm filter) pipe smoking enjoyment to a notable degree. Many reviewers on site remark on the desirability of airing and even of drying out divers blends before smoking. This is, IMHO, an error. The friable condition of Scottish Flake, as received, and its subsequent further dehydration led me to what I now consider to be a masterstroke. Using a thin sponge to which a small quantity of mineral water is applied, the sponge not dripping but moist, the flakes are hydrated in situ, in the tin. The flakes may be turned in the stack before retiring and should be found to be evenly moistened on the following day. The product of this action is at once realized to be a boon. Previously, we regarded hydration of this sort as a therapy for dried up tobacco, for resuscitation, but now, by virtue of pre- hydration, the mollified tobacco is a consistent delight to smoke. Where formerly, the first half of the pipe was somewhat 'bread and bread' followed by more engagement with the smoking experience in the second and perhaps the enjoyment of a juicy heel, we now experience a gratifying smoke which quickly delivers taste and flavour without harshness or bite and which exhibits a satisfying and homogenous character throughout the smoke. At once, your pipe is more of a pal and you look forward confidently to more congenial flake smoking than previously known. After practicing this course for a month, I am now convinced of its value and would estimate my pipe smoking enjoyment to be 50% to 70% enhanced. I preclude any prospect of smoking a flake blend without this timely tip for treatment and strongly recommend smokers to try it. Here's why; Flake tobacco, as received, could be said to be in a torpid condition. The moisture present is locked up in the tar and oil of the tobacco. Prehydration of the flakes avoids the repeated tussle with that locked in moisture and opens the door to pipe smoking bliss. Experience it and you know that this is how the blend should perform. Hydrate!
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O'Confrère	03/08/2013	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable
There is nothing quite like rubbing out a K&K flake. The flakes are beautifully and evenly cut and inevitably expand to a surprising quantity of springy and easily workable ribbon. The moisture is such that one can smoke it as it comes, although it does profit from a small amount of drying. There are no humectants here so that if you're looking to smoke it occasionally you might want to put it in a container to keep it if from drying out. The German tin says Red Virginia, Carolina, Kentucky and a pinch of Turkish, cold pressed for several weeks, and includes the description 'robust and full-flavored (or spicy),' which hits the mark exactly. At the moment the K&K website says dark Virginias, Kentucky and a pinch of Perique, lightly flavored with rum. There is something about this straight forward, no-nonsense flake that is 'old- timey' to me. Whatever that means... Nothing else to add to the excellent reviews below, except to reiterate: A good blend with a friendly nudge of nicotine, SF is rich, full-bodied, bold tasting (as DK says) yet mild and cool; a pleasure, and as interesting as you want it to be. And, as mentioned often below, it definitely profits from time in the tin! Don't know what makes this Scottish, but this gets my vote. Three stars from a fresh tin, four when aged. Give this one a whirl!
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Tudorcfr90	02/08/2013	Medium	Extremely Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
Bought it today after finishing a tin of Oriental, also from McConnell. I haven't smoked a flake in a while now and, since University Flake wasn't available, I chose this (in fact it wasn't much of a choice, this being the only flake available in the respective tobacco shop). Upon opening the tin, the flakes were pretty dry and had the smell of freshly mowed grass with a hint of plums. The tobacco taste after the lighting was of pure Virginia with a small spicy taste from the Turkish. If this is made from an original Scottish recipe then I would say that the Scots prefer milder tobaccos than the Irish. I found this a little milder than University Flake and way milder than Irish Flake. But this is a good tobacco, great to smoke anytime and anywhere. My sincere congratulations to the blenders. This officially became my substitute when I cannot find University Flake.
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Wibblefishofdoom	01/03/2013	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I wasn't sure what to expect from this one as it was my first foray into the world of McConnell's tobaccos, however the wee tin gave me a slightly larger, if less cute, reminder of Holger Danske's Royal Navy Flake. The tin aroma, upon opening, is something similar to that fine virginia flake, if more mild. The packing and lighting on this are of supreme ease, probably the easiest for any flake I've tried so far, so hat's off there to Mr McConnell. The flavour of the smoke, not sure on this one, hints of toffee and lemon perhaps. This one can't help reminding me of Royal Navy Flake but not in the best way. The small tin, the tin aroma and the flavour seem to be too similar for comfort for me. Who came up with which tobacco first, I don't know. This is a good tobacco on it's own merit, don't get me wrong, but Royal Navy Flake would be my preference.
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Kilmarnock Piper	11/09/2011	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant
My tin was from 2000, and there was some fermentation and nice, browned crispy paper going on when I opened it. I smoked the tin pretty fast. Reminded me of Samuel Gawith, but one of those without any Lakeland flavorings. This was a great, mild (but not too mild) Virginia smoke, and I will look for more aged tins. The price of this brand and the fact that you can't get it in bulk keeps me from trying too many of them, but if all McConnells are like this, it still wouldn't be a waste of money. Flakes were moderately dark and fairly unbroken, though all my flakes end up broken before I smoke them; that's just me! The mouthfeel was pleasant with no bite, and it did well in all size pipes, though I found it best in a medium with a fairly narrow chamber. This is one of many tobaccos I could go to four stars on, but when I've only smoked one tin, and love it but don't find anything to really set it apart (like with FVF, where I smoked a whole pound and more and never got a less than excellent bowl) I always leave the rating at three stars just to be conservative. I really need newer production to compare this to, but still obviously it ages well in the tin (and I love these tiny, compact rectangular tins!) having developed that fine fermented flavor. Not sure what makes it Scottish, but it is at least a British Isles style flake, though devoid of any of those flowery scentings. At this age, it did have that mild, winey matured Virginia taste, but with just enough of a nip (not a bite, a nip!) to let one know it started as a red Virginia. I highly recommend it to lovers of this type of flake.
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TEO	10/07/2011	Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
I forgot a flake of this bomb out of the tin and I fell asleep...when i reached it this evening it was completely dried out...I feared it could be an evil weed...tplus I didn't want to rehidr it and ruin it...I smoked it as it was...and it is a great one friends...really fresh and herby, never a bite, with just a little care in puffing. All that floral bouquet and figs and raisins I can smell out of the tin doesn't disappear but stay in the background as this great Virginia grows up and fill my nose and mind. Recommended, no doubt!
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rintrah	03/24/2011	Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant
Good leaf. Recommend it.
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Virginia lover	03/02/2011	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable
Dark Virginia spiced up with Kentucky and a sprinkle of Perique with a very mild rum flavoring. The flakes are hard to remove from the tin without breaking them. Nice smell of figs and plums. Lighting the tobacco is easy and it burns slowly and constantly. I get a well rounded sweet, toasty and slightly spicy smoke with rum molasses in the background. It is much better than Old Gowrie in both strength and taste.
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SergentPepper	12/27/2010	Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant
Well, frankly speaking ? I'm in love with this tobacco... It's REAL tobacco. The base is Virginia, a bit spicy with Orientals (Turkish). Of course, if one is looking for a very aromatic blend, one can be disapointed. Then, let me ask you something: Why don't you try candies instead of smoking a pipe ;-). I could simply smell the openned tin for hours... Figs ? Yes ! I can smoke it all day (and night) long: just perfect. If you smoke cigarettes and like "english taste" (Dunhill, JPS, Benson & Hedge, Rothmans, Craven A), just give it a try and you'll quit smoking (cigarettes, of course !) as fast as the speed of light. I love it !
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pipealicious	11/21/2010	Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable
This blend was recommended to me as something comparable to teh musty-sweet damp hay flavors of Old Gowrie, which I like a lot. The tin contains nice small flakes and smells sour-sweet. It reminds me of dried figs. The flakes need some drying before smoking but smoke slowly and cool. The taste is quite sweet and retains this fig like undertone. It is somehow fresher and slighly sweeter than Old Gowrie, but very enjoyable as well. Something to come back to.
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jazzmoke	09/29/2010	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
A fine Scottish blend. Balanced and tasty. The only thing I didn't like was the "shape" of the flakes, it seemed more like loosened up and pressed again tobacco. There is no way of separating the flakes without braking them. It is highly similar to MacBarren Scotish Blend, but I tend to like this one more.
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Claudius Stradivarius	07/25/2010	Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable
Despite some inconsistencies from tin to tin, it still is worth the try. Again, the tin aroma and taste is similar to Astley's 44 and Hal O' The Wynd. Which is no surprise considering K&K is the manufacturer for all these tobacco houses. Almost overly sweet in some tins and dryer and harsher in others. And a good balance in others. I am not sure I will rebuy due to the inconsistencies. But the good tins were very pleasant.
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ynrozturk	07/06/2010	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong
Since I am a VA lover I just had to give this one a go. The flakes themselves are sliced very thin and are very handsome. Tin smell is grassy and natural. They've done a nice job with the packaging. So far, so good. I usually rub out my flakes these days. From my experience, I seem to draw more flavor out of them when partially rubbed. That's what I did with this tobacco, and it responded well to being rubbed out. Moisture levels out of the tin were spot on for me, being just a tad moist, but without having to air it out. I packed into a Peterson Rathbone and lit up. Holds to a flame well - one tamp and I was off. The taste is really quite hard to describe. It's VA for sure (obviously) but so much deeper, with a lot of small, subtle notes in the background. The figs are there for sure, but only a tiny percentage. One thing that fascinated me was that even though it doesn't say so on the tin, I could swear that there is Turkish tobacco in this. I know that taste and smell very, very well, and it's present during the entire smoke. Not a bad thing, really, as it gives some nice spice, but it does in a way remind me of cigarette smoke. Burns slow, burns cool, but it did gurgle on me a bit. It's bold, deep and creamy. I would say that it's more earthy and not as fresh as one would expect a VA to be. It's just a really good, satisfying smoke, with just the right amount of nicotine levels.
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ivycap	03/31/2010	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant
Fig/ straw-like and naturally sweet as a matured virginia should be. Very pleasant and interesting. Perfect, thinly sliced flakes in the tin. High in nicotine. Don't smoke on an empty stomach.
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shihan	03/24/2010	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Nice, dark, thin flakes. Packed easy, burned cool, good flavor. Gave a pleasant room note. A good Virginia flake.
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Alguhan	03/19/2010	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I feel bad that I did not try this great blend before. The flakes are dark in color, with a wonderful, pure, grassy sweet, soure fig like, Virginia smell. The flavors are just what I was searching for. The flakes have a high humidity level, so I aired the stuff. The airing settled also the flavors for sure. Flakes pack well. It burns well. Smokes cool. I personally didn't detect any casing. Beside the quality Virginia I enjoyed a spicy flavor which I think means a Turkish addition and somehow a perfectly balanced addition of Burley maybe. The overall smoking experience of this tobacco is great. Offers all the satisfaction of a true pipe tobacco. I highly recommend it.
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Skando	11/08/2009	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
In conclusion to the list of Virginia based blends by McConnell, here my review to Scottish Flake. The small rectangular tin contains something as a dozen of large & thin flakes. The tin aroma is deliciously of sweet fresh hay, green tea and a faint alcoholic topping. As per the K&K site description, we are talking of a medium strength flake composed of dark Virginias, Kentucky and a pinch of Perique, mildly topped with Rhum. I subscribe this being more accurate than the italian distributor's calling for a more complicate combination of Red Mottled Virginia + Carolina + Turkish Oriental + Havana + Kentucky ... I would appreciate the experienced reviewers in the TR community to comment over this. One flake has been loaded just folded ( a' la Mc Baren) into a narrow bowl of a straight Castello, lovat shape. The humidity seems just right, I have not faced any particular charring problem. The smoke is immediately smooth and very much refreshing. Unmistakably a Virginia flake in the best tradition, faintly fruity/sweet, with just hints of earthy/salty Kentucky and a very pleasant citrusy note. It burns cool and slow, not much volume, the pipe stays very cool. It pleasantly comes to the nostril woody and peppery. Perique and Rhum are used very sparingly, just to refine the blend. Reaching the mid-bowl mark, the blend starts displaying a wider and softer body, the smoke gets creamier and stronger. No gurgle, the ashes are very dry. The tongue is pleasantly tickled, the palate remains clean. A medium-small bowl like this means one hour - and even longer - experience, which I found very rewarding. As a comparison, I would think mainly to Rattray's HOTW but milder, or to a brother of Orlick's Golden Sliced just a bit "spicier". SF doesn't reach the four star rating, but goes near. I shall stock more tins.
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Boomer-Z	11/07/2009	Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This is a nice easy smoking tobacco. I have it in my regular rotation. Packs easily, burns well, and my significant other doesn't mind the smell. I would recommend trying it. It did seem a little pricey for the little tin, but overall I think it was worth it.
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Tallman	10/12/2009	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I still consider myself a new pipe smoker after a year...but, wanting to try things other than aromatics, and based on reviews here, I bought a tin of this. I'm happy I did! It rubbed out easily-using the Frank method for the first time, it packed and lit easily-and smoked like a dream. Sweet Virginia taste, lots of smoke, few re-lights, and an overall very pleasant smoke! I encourage you to try this one, it's a keeper!
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DK	08/25/2009	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
Very pleasant thinly sliced brown flake, sweet tasting and rich but mild. I always love when a tobacco smokes mild and cool but has a nice bold flavor. This one accomplishes that. This one did not bite my tongue unless I puffer fairly hard. A nice slow contemplative puffer will have no problems with sting. This is mildly sweet but not overly so. This is a fully serviceable smoke, and suffers only in relation to "superstar" VA flakes like FVF. It ages well, and I honestly would give 4 stars to my 15 year old tin but just three for a tin from 2008. Aging is recommended on this one, but even from a new tin, I wouldn't kick it outta my bowl.
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 58 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >