Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation 2012 Anniversary Blend

Erik Stokkebye - 4th Generation 2012 Anniversary Blend.

A nice accompaniment for today's afternoon walk, albeit, this would be better suited to a warm summer's day in the garden!

Two rows of flakes that are medium brown with a light flecks. There's a very delicate touch of pear to the aroma but nothing too suggestive. They break apart with just a gentle touch.

Igniting a bowl goes without a hitch, just a quick touch of the flame sets up a decent smoke. The Virginias are both ripe and sharp; there's a fruitiness yet also plenty of fresh hay/grass. The topping seems more like pear cider, Perry, than just pears; quite sharp, making it a good partner to the lively portion of the Virginias. It burns nicely, from start to finish, giving a smoke which only bites when put under strain.

Nicotine: just below medium. Room-note: not great; a little sour.

2012 Anniversary? A nice blend, but I'll refrain from giving it a full house as the topping becomes 'bitter' after a while. Three stars:

Recommended.

I had high hopes for this one when I read the description and I think it exceeded my expectations. I don't really pick up much pear in the tin more of a sweet smell somewhat typical of virginia flakes from Europe. However once lit everything changed. To me it's like Dunhill flake with the most natural essence of pear. I taste somewhat typical, but excellent mature virginia flavors with dark fruit and bread and a little spice but what I love is how the natural pear essence creeps into my nose so I'm smelling it more than tasting it. Just great stuff. I find it pretty much medium all the way around and very pleasant in the morning. I found smoking this very slowly and letting the smoke drift upwards brought out all of the flavors. Curious what happens to it over time, not that I feel it needs any. Four stars.

The Virginias offer plenty of tart and tangy citrus, grass/hay, sour lemon, bread, sugar, vegetation, floralness, light dark fruit, earth, wood, a couple pinches of spice, and a touch of acidity. The pear topping mildly tones down the tobaccos, and works well to create a harmonious, very consistent sweet and moderately sour Virginia flavor. The strength and nic-hit are just past the center of mild to medium. The taste is notch past that mark. No chance of bite or harshness, and has few rough edges. The flakes easily break apart to suit your preference. Burns cool and clean, and a tad slow. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires some relights. Has a lightly lingering, pleasant after taste, and room note. Can be an all day smoke. Three and a half stars out of four.

-JimInks

As much as I wanted to love this blend, I’d liken every experience I’ve had with it to a bad romantic encounter. While there is definitely a palatable flavor under the hood with quality components (“she’s a nice girl with some quirks”), the 2012 flake has consistently been wet, hot, and uncomfortable and extremely prone to bite me at every humidity and in every pipe I’ve smoked it in. This is strange for a Virginia flake, I usually smoke Capstan, MB Navy Flake, & 4th Gen evening flake and have never been bitten this badly.

If you’re going to smoke this stuff, let it dry down for an extended amount of time, and don’t pack it very tightly at all. Maybe you’ll have better luck than I did.

I didn't got the reason why we must buy this limited edition pipe tobacco. It is a good blend, but there is no typical image for me. The beginning is more like Capstan Gold, but the later period is familiar with Peterson White Flake.

Smoking now:

Aroma of hay, fermented citrus smells, typical Virginia flake smell. Well formed flakes that are light in color and broke apart easily.

Mellow, with a light and easy Virginia flake body. Some sharpness that’s associated with Virginias. The sharpness dissipates as the bowl progressed. A more bready, yeasty, fermented Virginia with a lighter grassy hay flavor. The topping might add some bright citrus fruit notes but they are not overt. Natural sweetness but not what I would call a sweet flake. Probably just right for a natural straight Virginia flake. Left no after taste in my mouth or mouth tingle or tongue bite. Burned slow but hot. A welcome Virginia on a warm summer day.

I will start by saying I smoked this fresh and after sitting in the jar for roughly a year. Although I'd love to see this in bulk form since it doesn't seem like rarified tobaccos, it is definitely worth what I paid for it. I'd agree with another user that compared this to Capstan Gold as to the bright and airy Virginia citrus notes. After a year the topping has only enhanced the bright lemony flavors of the Virginia. Burning qualities are perfect out of the tin. Slow sipping yields tasty results. My wife and I are both pipe and cigar smokers, so we like the room notes of natural tobaccos. Not alot of nicotine, not alot of nuance. Just tasty bright Virginia flavors.

Tin note of grass, spices and sugar. Tobacco is a flake of yellowish tan, light brown and brown. Moisture content is great. Rubs out with a little effort. Burns slow with a few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. Flavoring is mild, with notes of Pear. The flavoring starts and remains in the background. Taste is medium and very consistent, with notes of tart and tangy citrus, mild pear, spices, floral, peaty vegetation, wood, bread, earth, sugar, fermented sour fruit, savory, bitter orange peel, sweet hay, acidic, a semi-sweet lemon grass background note, and a peppery retro. Virginias are leading with Flavoring supporting. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great.