Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Erinmore Flake

This review is based on frequent smoking of both the more recent flat, square tins and the rectangular tins before them.

This tobacco was the only tinned blend available at my local B&M for a couple of years so I can review it with confidence. Unique presentation and tin note aside, I've always been left wanting more after smoking this. There's a sweetness of quality virginia leaf desperately trying to burst out but it feels subdued by the bizarre casing and bland burley.

The moisture out of the tin makes these little flakes almost flame retardant and ridiculously unfun to smoke without extensive drying time, once dried you still get the same mediocre smoke with a fair few relights required. All in all, a lot of effort required for little reward. The room note is good though and it's one of the few tobaccos I can smoke inside the house without the missus throwing a strop, so plus points for that.

I'd say try this tobacco once if you can purely for the novelty value (because there really is nothing else like it) but don't go out of your way to get it. As far as aromatic flakes go, University Flake has much more going for it.

My first introduction to flake tobacco. It's an OK smoke to me. I wouldn't smoke this over some of my favourite Peterson blends.

If given the choice between this or an English blend, I would choose this one. I'll finish my tin, but I can't see myself buying it again anytime soon.

I have never been a constant smoker or EF but did go through a couple of tins per year for quite a while. Maybe it's just me and I'm losing my taste for this blend but it sure doesn't taste as good as it used to. Erinmore always struck me before as a rich smoke but it just seems kind of thin or lean these days. It leaves me wanting something more after smoking a bowl. It's still a OK smoke but I don't know that I'll be buying anymore.

First of all i'm pretty new at pipe smoking. so don't take my opinion to seriously.

That beeing said, loved the flake cut (first time i've tried it) and the pretty cool and dry way it burns. Plus, it's really nice to have the chance of rubbing the tobacco accordingly to how slow you want to smoke it.

didn't like the toping that much, wich constantly reminds me of pineapple jellow and kind of gets over the taste.

Can't really say i've disliked it overall but it's not a blend i intend to keep in a rotation. i'm prety sure i'll find something more like dryed plums, grapes or nutty fruits flavour if i ever feel like smoke something more aromatic. i would apreciate any suggestions on that.

Licorice notes while rubbing. Blackwoods Flake leaves this in the dust!! Feh...

Erinmore Flake used to be pretty freely available in B&M shops, and wasn't regarded as all that classy. This hasn't been true for quite a while now - thanks, I assume, to the decline in pipe smoking. It still isn't a classy smoke, but, unlike so many old- time baccies, it doesn't seem to have suffered a significant decline in quality. I tried it first in the late 1970s, and it seems the same now as what I remember from back then. It still comes in a tin also, which is a plus point.

It's a strong(ish) and heavy flake with an attractive "plumcake" tin note. It'll give you a long and cool smoke if you don't drive it too hard, but it's a good idea to dry it a bit first: don't smoke it straight out of the tin, or you'll use a lot of matches and get a lot of heat and steam; also, don't rush it or it'll get hot and acrid. Personally, I don't care all that much for the fruity flavouring (though its a far cry from Erinmore Mixture, which I positively dislike); but if you like heftily cased flakes, this'll suit you. It's what I think of as a "winter" smoke. I enjoy it very much when I'm in the mood, but the casing can cloy if you smoke it too often, I find.

Somewhat recommended, from a personal standpoint - but people who like aromatics and semi-aromatics will think more highly of it than I do. It isn't really an aromatic, but the casing is very perceptible, and not to everyone's taste.

Pretty good rubbed out, quite a strong taste, reasonably pleasant smoke. Hard to keep lit. Don't buy more.

I was expecting too much more from this.

Erinmore Flake is quite an inoffensive VaB cased with a fruity aroma, so mild that I couldn't even say it is natural or chemical.

Yes, it has meat and it's well behaved . Those half-shaped flakes are beautiful and easy to ply and stuff (two flakes a hour or more into a group 4 bowl). The bowl burns smooth his way, but nothing builds as I would expect, to the point that I would prefer some more flavouring… EF has nothing to do with FVF, or Capstan. Even the Golden Sliced has something more to offer.

It's just boring me, that't the the fact…

I ordered this tobacco do to reports of its strength. I like to have several choices of rather stout blends when social engagements won't allow for one's extended absence from the host. Royal Yacht is of this ilk- strong and assertive. I suspect Erinmore is fully cased and topped with such things as licorice, tonquin, cocoa and all or some of those elements from early days in the tobacco industry. Yes, even some fruit essence is there yet there is never a singular note I can identify. When I smoke Erinmore I continue to taste the casing and topping melange forever, unfortunately. Maybe if you suffered from advanced gum disease that could be an advantage, but not for me. I've been smoking pounds of Hal o' the Wynd and love it, and yet, it could be a little stronger. H.O.T.W never grows old on the tongue, whereas, Erinmore Flake's flavor is tiresome. If it had more nicotine it might be useful and bearable. By the way, the pineapple is the symbol of hospitality.