Dan Tobacco Tordenskjold Virginia Slices

Extremely similar to Reiner's Long Golden Flake. More sweetness from the Virginia in this one and less Perique punch. I think it would have been more of a run of the mill VaPer had it not been for the exceptional (although lighter than I usually appreciate) Virginia (Red and Bright).

Pipestud

Golden brown thin flakes that beg to be rubbed out, at least somewhat. I sort of folded the flakes in half and they disintegrated to a broken flake. It performed best in this manner for me, smoking a bit cooler and slower but still with excellent flavor. Did not need much drying time - was ready to go almost from the tin.

I did not smell or taste chocolate but there was a mild casing that was still quite noticeable, both in the tin aroma and the taste. It was lightly sweet, beyond the normal capacity for virginia tobacco. The perique was barely noticeable and if I did not know this contained perique, I would have guessed it didn't. There was no fruity spiciness that I associate with that condiment. This one worked as a lightly cased straight VA, and it performed admirably. Snorking really brought out the range of flavors this blend possesses. All the tastes were sweet and they ranged from corn syrup to vanilla to brown sugar, but with that natural VA haylike quality.

This blend makes my rotation due to its simplicity and excellent taste but also because it provided me with one of those rare moments where the stars align properly and the smoking experience transcends the typical and jumps into the sublime. A lot of excellent smokes in my tin, and one perfect one. Highly recommended for fans of light VA's with a subtle casing that highlights rather than overpowers the tobacco.

The very grassy, hay-like, tart and lightly tangy citrusy, honeyish, floral, lightly bready, acidic Virginia is the major player. There’s a hint of tangy dark fruit, sugar, wood and earth from a slightly darker Virginia. The raisiny, figgy, spicy, plum, earthy perique is a condiment, and the spice isn’t as noticeable as the other attributes. It also recedes further in the background as you go along, and the sweetness (which reminds me a little of honey graham crackers) gathers a little strength at the same time the perique subsides. Not sure what this is topped with, but it’s sweet and very mildly applied. The strength level is just past mild while the taste is a step more potent than that as it falls short of being mild to medium. The nic-hit is fairly mild. Won’t bite or get harsh, but has no exciting moments. There are a few rough edges as well. Burns cool clean, and a little slow with a mostly consistent, sweet, acidic, grassy flavor. Leaves just a little moisture in the bowl, and requires some relights. Has a pleasant, short lived after taste and room note. An all day Virginia forward smoke that benefits from some age. Two and a half stars.

-JimInks

I had this in the cellar for years. Basically I forgot about it until I was looking for a change of pace from the last few months of almost all English and Balkan blends. Tin note is of fermented prunes and figs, with a slight sour (but pleasant) note. Flakes are a bit drier than I am used to, but near perfect smoking condition. Rubs out quite easily, packs nice and lights with ease. The first few bowls seemed to be prevalent with Perique, but subsequent bowls it was more muted. The Virginias are superb, and balance quite well with the Perique. They get sweeter as the bowl progresses, as long as you aren't an aggressive smoker. I'm not sure if I am detecting a casing, or if it is a natural occurring flavor from the aging process. Either way, it is unique.

I can see how this could bite if provoked, but for the most part, it was pretty easy on my tongue. Definitely not the cheapest and most affordable flake, but one definitely worth spending the few extra dollars.

Edit: I am almost 100% positive this is the base tobacco of Dan's Blue Note. It has the same Va aroma, and behaves the same way in the pipe.

The tin note is absolutely gorgeous-sort of raisins and figs with a hint of vanilla. The moist content, on the other hand, seems to be about right, but I had my tin open for a while to have a breather before I decided to finally load my bowl and light up. I find the room note very pleasing, but it feels kind of soapy at times. The flakes have a leathery consistency, comprise brown and gold leaf, look sugary and sticky, and will crumble easily. Packing is easy too even if you opt for breaking the flakes instead of rubbing it all out. I can detect some casing, but it is not overpowering. This is a very slow burning tobacco. I did not know it had any perique in it and, for most of the time, it is the virginia I detect in my smoke, which is sweet and mellow. Also, it builds up in strength and flavour the more you smoke, but I'd say it is rather medium throughout. I am missing the nutty dimension in my palate so characteristic in most virginia tobaccos despite the fact I can detect it in the room note, but this is a good smoke anyway. By the end of it, it gets zesty or citrusy, which is something that would indicate the presence of perique, but I am still wondering whether there is any in it at all. All in all, I have thoroughly enjoyed this mixture, so I will give it three stars.

Edit1: What I did not enjoy about this tobacco is all down to the casing. This is the reason why I would reject most Danish blends, for they tend to abuse it. Because of this, I have decided to downgrade this to two stars.

The slices are a mix of gold and brown. They are easily broken or rubbed out for packing. Moisture content is medium so the tobacco lights easily. The aroma is sweet tobacco. The flavor at the first light is pleasant and develops into a very tangy citrus like taste. It is not overly sweet and very much the taste of a natural Virginia. Perique is in the blend for character, but it is not noticeable in the flavor. In other words, it is there but I really don't taste it. I like this tobacco any time of day, but especially in the morning with a good cup of coffee. TVS is an excellent summer smoke because of its full flavor without the heaviness that English blends have when the temperature is hot. TVS is up at the front with another half dozen of my favorite Virginia blends.

I bought this on a whim at a local B&M. Like the rest of their tins, this one has some indeterminate age on it (probably around four years).

I'm relatively new to Virginias but have begun to appreciate their multifaceted complexity. That said, this one exhibits an uncharacteristic natural sweetness I haven't encountered before (my experience being mostly limited to McC bulk VAs and Brown Clunee).

The flakes are loose and medium-dark in color. They rub out easily or smoke fairly well as-is. Tin aroma hints at the sweetness to come.

At the match, TVS releases vast plumes of smoke exhibiting a room note hinted at by the tin. It lights easily although I found it to require relights depending on the pipe it is smoked in.

TVS burns down to a fine, light gray ash. The flavor deepens as the bowl progresses all the while maintaining its pleasant demeanor. The perique provides a bit of backbone throughout the bowl but is surprisingly subdued in character. Unlike some of my esteemed fellow reviewers, I didn't find this particularly strong, and I'm prone to notice such things -- strong blends send me into orbit!

I've purchased a tin of more recent vintage. Once I pop it, I'll revisit this review if the differences warrant it. Highly recommended, indeed.

Tordenskjold Virginia Slices. The tin contains two rows of thin, medium brown, slightly mottled, perfectly moist, flakes. I like to fully rub my flake tobaccos and these do so with brilliant ease. Tin-note is slightly plummy/fruity.

The smoke is a lighter kind of VaPer. The Virginia accounts for a much higher proportion of the flavour, and the smoke's delicately seasoned with Perique; so, it isn't vinegary, sharp, or a spice-bomb. Subtle plums, and dark fruit, rather than a caustic addition. The star of the show's the Virginia, being more of a fresh-hay flavour, than stickily over-ripe. The burn can't be criticized, nor can the temperature.

Nicotine: medium. Room-note: very pleasant. A four star VaPer:

Highly recommended.

I ordered this as a sample. Dan Pipe sends most Flake-Tobacco samples as "sliced-Flakes". So I was pretty confused, when I saw the "Virginia Slices" are SLICES and not SLICED. Either way the tobacco looks really appetizing.

The tin aroma is fresh and sparkling. A tasty potpourri of fruit, citrusy hay and a slight hint of (milk-)chocolate, if you take a deep sniff.

As I got this as sliced Flakes, I enjoy smoking it that way and will slice the flake slices of the next tin, too. Handling is uncomplicated: Pack a bowl, light it - ENJOY! No worries here and the tobacco is just of right moisture level for my taste.

The taste isn't complex, yet honest and palatable in it's simplicity. No peaks to be found - but also no dull spots. The tobacco tastes excellent from the first lighting to the last crumbles of ash. The Virginias shine with a very fine taste of freshly mown grass and/or hay. A bit of citrus makes it fresh and sparkling.A slight piquant note in the back that's enhanced by the natural tanginess and tingling mouth-feel of the Perique. The Perique (which is more in the back, but deinetly noticeable!) adds a slight fruit note, that supplements the grassy, citrusy Virginias perfectly and create a ejoyable harmony in the taste. A restrained sweetness is always present and in perfect proportion to the spice of this blend.

Somehow me and a lot of other smokers can't help but notice the (milk-)chocolate taste that's lurking. Is it a casing? Is there Burley hiding in the mixture? It doensnt raelly matter, because either way I find it very pleasant and for me it adds that certain something. EDIT: Somehow it has lost it's "milk-chocolate-charme", I guess this was maybe coming from another blend produced in the same factory? Sadly this aroma is gone now, and leaves behing a tasteful - but average Va/Per, which is still enjoyable.

I'm pretty sure if there wasn't this chocolate-note in this blend, I'd give it 3/4 Stars and i would hesitate if I should by a tin of it (EDIT: See above...it lost this choco-note, so I'll downrate to 3/4 stars). But like this there's no doubts left - 4/4 stars for a unique, well-balanced and interesting blend. Definetly a All-Day-Smoke.

I was recently gifted this one. I hadn't heard of it prior to receiving it so had no idea what to expect from it.

The tobacco itself I found a strange shape, more like some new age leatherwork bracelet than a sample of the naughty leaf. The rubbing out, packing and lighting are easy enough. The flavour itself is of something sweet and citrus with small hints of something earthy. It's medium strength and is a slow smoker.

This is a cracking tobacco that is good for those moments when you want to sit back and take a good while over your smoke. It nicely balances the virginia with the perique. To be honest, I don't know what to compare it to as I've come across no other tobacco quite like it. That's a shame really as it seems to be unavailable here in the UK. I guess I'll have to keep a sharp eye out for it on the off chance of that changing.