Peterson Signature Flake

I just finished up half a tin of this: The other half I jarred after opening the 100g tin. I was not too crazy about this, primarily because it is just a little too light/mild for my tastes. Otherwise this is a fine Virginia blend. It has some nice sweetness to it: hay and citrus.

This is one that should delight those who prefer Capstan Yellow to Capstan Blue. I am in the latter camp as I prefer my straight Vas to be fuller. The particular problem I have with these lighter Vas is I tend to pull on them harder to get more flavor (and probably nicotine) which tends to get them burning hot and thus killing the sweetness.

This does not happen all the time, so there were more than a couple of smokes where I could see exactly where some of the high rated reviews were coming from. It is good, but if you like you Virginias on the fuller side. FVF, Dunhill Flake, Capstan Blue . . . ., I would avoid this one.

A very pleasant bright Virginia flake with subtle topping in much the same vein as Dunhill Light Flake, Peterson Signature Flake will surely appeal to fans of that benchmark tobacco.

It is only supplied in 100g tins, and may be slightly more economical as a result (all baccy is expensive of course), the neatly cut flakes come in a row, half folded. I took them out and laid them in the tin in two stacks, to prevent them getting broken up, as one flake is just right for my pipe, providing a long, slow smoke of at least an hour (up to two!). Aroma in the tin is of hay, crusty white bread and a hint of citrus which I take to be a topping of some sort, but mild and well integrated with the tobacco. This isn't an aromatic or heavily scented tobacco. The tobacco is supplied rather moist, and benefits from half an hour or so rubbed out on a piece of paper before filling the pipe.

It takes an even light with two matches, and at lighting, a sharp citrus flavour is noted. This settles to a very mild Virginia flavour of bread and hay, with subtle malty sweetness. As the bowl progresses the flavour builds in intensity, but never gets heavy. There is a subtle spice and citrus flavour behind the bready, satisfying flavour. The bread character is foremost, like the kind of bread you'd have fresh from the wood fired oven in Brittany - lovely.

Like all Virginia tobaccos this is best enjoyed over a long, slow, lazy smoke, or sipped slowly while engaged in slow activities, it stays lit with minimal input. If puffed over enthusiastically it will get hot and can bite, and the subtleties will be lost. If it overheats, slow down or set it aside until the pipe has cooled down, it relights well. Eventually there will be a plug of dottle left which is resistant to smoking, this is a good time to call it a day.

It's nice accompanied by a cup of tea, Earl Grey without milk is ideal, but breakfast tea is great too. I've been enjoying this as a morning smoke, and to me it's a "spring and summer" tobacco, but I'm sure it could be an excellent all day, all year smoke. Overall, I'll heartily recommend this to Virginia fans, will buy it again, and will stash some away to see how it develops with age. I'm hoping the sweetness will be enhanced.

It really disappointed me, especially when Peterson spends a lot of propaganda on it and putting such a rip off in the founders choice collection. I compare it with Dunhill flake and I suppose it's a fare comparison. Really soapy taste and low flavor to my mouth. It isn't even of the full bodied Virginia you would count on it as a reference and I assure you there won't be any return to such a medium concept.

Beautifully presented with flakes of a generous size that easily seperate, and for me that's all there is to like about this flake, the more I smoke it the more I dislike it. Rum and maple are used as the flavouring ? I can't taste that at all, I just get a mild soapiness that lingers and gets a little stronger from time to time and I hate floral/soapy tobaccos. If you like a mildly floral tobacco, this is right up your street, it is otherwise a very nice easygoing steady burning tobacco, but what is the point if you don't like the taste and especially the aftertaste. Now this review is written after several plus bowls and I did want to like it, it is good quality weed, but the taste just doesn't go well with me. Would I recommend it to someone ? I would advise them of a possible floral taste they may get and suggest they try and buy a sample first as a 100 gram tin is a lot of money when you are only dissapointed. Therefore I feel that IMHO, 2 stars is being generous.

UPDATE 27 July 2018 In desperation, after reading so many positive reviews, I tried this in a clean clay, surprisingly the floral notes dissapeared and a decent smoke ensued, as I clean a clay (by burning) after every smoke, I find this to intensive in work for this to be a regular. Therefore I will stick to 2 stars I will finish the tin, eventually, but it's not one for my rotation.

This is the best pure Virginia flake I have on tap and I have a few. It has a light and I mean light fresh casing that doesn't effect the taste that I perceive.

I may have just gotten a super awesome batch, but it's very consistent in its pure Virginia taste. If you like Virginia you can't go wrong here. This one pops forward where others will seem somewhat muted by comparison. By others I mean Dunhill flake, Dunhill Dark Flake, and McClelland 40th.

Now 40th can reach a pinnacle of flavor above this one, but not consistently as the flake's may be mixed in different proportions. Also, Marlin Flake is as special as this but in a darker sweet way. This is just pure popping Virginia with no bite, every bowl.

I had to write this review after smoking Dunhill flake a few bowls for the first time recently. I figured with the accolades Dunhill would have a superior taste to me, but it doesn't yet. Maybe, just maybe the Dunhill needs some age and its in no way second rate, just this one pops on the taste buds with that Virginia taste a bit louder and without bite. There may be others I haven't tried, but this is an honest approximation from the one's I have, and I know which one stands better in my current rotation. Glad its made by Peterson because I don't think they are going anywhere and this is one I really don't want to do without.

Well, Peterson has made this Straight Virginia as a special one. And they were right. This is a typical Peterson blend. It is mentioned before: reserve for this tobacco a pipe you do use for your Va's. I've smoked in my rototation pipes and the taste was overwhelmed by the ghost of other tobaccos. Take your time with it and enjoy, relaxed puffing this no 1 tobacco

These are nicely prepared, thin, moist, pliable flakes that are easy to fold and pack. The mix of yellow, brown and darker VAs result in a balanced and sweet smoke and I didn't think that the topping had much influence. Burned evenly and cool without the need for relights. Enjoyable, but other straight VAs available at lower unit cost in bulk are just as good.

I'm just doing a side by side comparison of this which I was gifted here in the UK with Stokkebye's Luxury Navy Flake, after reading a previous review. Very interesting. The look alike, smell alike and taste alike. Now, this may be just my taste buds, but as the Peterson is listed as straight Virginia, and the Stokkebye is listed as a VaPer, I am somewhat confused. I would therefore be very interested to see other reviews of this blend.

Tin note of sour, sugar, and grass. Tobacco is a flake of yellowish marbled brown, tan and dark brown. Moisture content is great. Flakes rub out with little effort. Burns slow with few relights. The strength is mild to medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is mild to medium and very consistent, with notes of tart and tangy citrus, sugar, spices, hay, floral, wood, earth, sweet grass, fermented sour, bready, mildly acidic, orange peel/zest, mildly savory, a tangy stewed fruit background note, and a peppery retro. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great.