Reiner Blend 71: Long Golden Flake

I received a healthy sample of this from a friend. It was mostly long flakes with some of them broken. Moisture level was good. The pouch note is hay and a whiff of citrus. I don't get any perique in the pouch note.

I mostly rubbed this out, but some of the intact flakes I folded and made a cannonball - rolling it in my fingers before stuffing. The smoke was cool and tasty - it was sweet and hay with a little burley for body. There was a slight citrus in the flavor which brought out some tart in the Virginia. The perique is a condiment. You get just a little spice when puffed, but it is a light presence.

This reminded me of OGS in a different flake format. OGS has a little more of the citrus and is slightly sweeter. They are both great smokes.

Another great R. L. Will blend! and one that is accessible to a wide range of smokers. Being a fan of solani 633 and solani aged burley flake, I gave long golden flake a chance - and I am glad I did. This is an extremely well rounded smoke.. The first thing you notice about it is the care of the presentation. It looks amazing.. then you smell it and you know you are indeed in for something special. the smoke itself is mainly about the virginias.. although there is a little perique and some burley influence.. but you just taste the finest natural tobacco flavors in a beautiful flake form.. I think it is cased. but not much.. very natural tasting.. the quality of the smoke makes me wonder if there is some aging going on before it is packaged and sent off.. very smooth even and even elegant smoke. edit:

Having just recently tried orlick golden sliced it was interesting how closely related these two tobaccos seemed to be. Whatever flavoring is added (be it discreetly) is nearly the same! LGF has the addition of perique which adds a little complexity.. but both blended flakes are quite good and in the same profile as far as I am concerned.. I guess the novelty of the reiner presentation along with the perique give it a very slight edge.

I smoke a bowl of Long Golden Flake each day. It comes in wide, rolled flakes as has been described above. A neutral sweetener has been added which does not interfere with the taste of the tobacco. It rubs out easily and is best a little on the moist side, unusual for Virginia's according to my taste. It packs easily. Try as I might, I cannot detect the burley. The Perique is evident, but very restrained, a perfect treatment of Perique in combination with the overall effect of this blend. The flavor is primarily a sweetened Virginia, and I would agree that the operative word is "delicious." I do not mean delicious in the sense of the heavily cased PG blends, but as the word to describe the taste and after taste of Virgina and Perique. Should the tobacco become a little dry in the tin after opening, the addition of one drop of water directly to the bottom center of the tin will bring the tobacco back to perfect smoking condition in a day. Recommended. Paddy.

I sit on the fence with this one.

It is of course made of high quality leaf. It smokes smooth, cool, and doesn't bite. It is fragrant and has a fruity essence to it.

But being a lover of full-flavored blends (like latakia), I find this too sweet and light. If it were a beer, it would be like Budweiser, and not Guinness.

If you like light and sweet VA blends, then you will love Reiner Blend 71: LGF.

Pretty good Va/Per blend. Occasionally a get a hint of the citrus/orange flavoring, but it's very mild. Sweet, and slightly spicy. Can burn hot, and is a little harsh at times (careful of tongue bite). I've put half of this in mason jars for cellaring, so I'll be looking forward to trying this more after a couple of years. Still enjoyable right out of the tin though. It comes in a unique tin that is more like a small paint can, but I've been told this tin will help keep it fresher longer. Quite expensive, but I believe is over 3oz rather than the typical 2oz. If you enjoy VaPer's, give this a try.

Not much to add to what's already been said about this classic blend. It smokes very cool for the most part if you don't overpuff. One thing I noted that I didn't see from the other reviewers is that if it ever needed a relight, it became harsh for the first few puffs. That smacks of the burley rather than the virginia. The perique is noticeable but not overpowering; just enough to add some additional spice.

Smokes beautifully in briars, meerschaums, clays and cobs. Very complex if you sit and contemplate the smoke, simple if you don't. Not a perfect tobacco but close. This is going into my regular rotation and I'm also going to buy some extra to age in my cellar. GREAT tobacco - destined to become a classic if it isn't there already.

A nice mild, sweet VA to sit down too, some bright flavors but not overall bitey like many brighter VA's! I only got a small sample of this, but so far I'm only detecting a slight note of perique, and a bit of burley that seems to bring an excellent balance to the VA's. Overall nice stuff I'd say!

This is a very nice VA flake. If it was available bulk or tin at under $5 an ounce it would be 4 star.

The taste is of a medium bodied VA with enough burly and perique to mellow, smooth, and add body to the VA taste. Good quality tobacco.

Unlike many VA/Per blends there is not enough perique to evoke that "plummy" tin aroma or a nose tingling sensation, but enough to compliment the Va flavor. Descriptions of licorice flavoring and aroma are very puzzling to me, unless the perique is being mistaken for a topping.

I smoke 2-3 tins a year (cost), aged 5+ years.

I finally took the plunge and ordered some Reiner LGF and I am happy I did. First let me address the issue of price, which some have complained about. A bit less than $20 for 100gm is very competetive with the normal fair of high-end tobaccos in 50gm amounts going from $9-$12 (Orlik Golden Slice is one of the exceptions to this for such a fine flake). I paid $9.92 for a 50gm tin of Marlin Flake with the same order, so we're in the same ball park.

Now for the review. Upon opening the tin I found a nicely coiled belt of tobacco of a predominantly golden color with darker flecks throughout. Its tin aroma immediately reminded me of Orlik's Golden Slice but was more orange-forward. The hint of OGS's lemon was present, retaining its Bergamot character - just not as stong. I detected no traditional aroma associated with Perique. The moisture content was just right for smoking. A small piece of flake broke off one end and came apart quite readily. Tearing off a wad and packing without rubbing out is how I usually smoke this as I prefer not top rub out my flakes. Lighting was easy and I required one re-light after the initial two lights to start. The taste, for me, was similar to Orlik GS, but a bit stronger and fuller in character all around. I attribute this to the fine Burley used. As I am not a Perique fan, with Reiner's LGF I found the Perique wasn't as over the top as with some blends, nor was it musty. It added a very enjoyable spice-like presence (which good Virginia leaf can do on its own). The additional spiciness is all that set the two apart. Reiner's never smoked hot, nor did it produce any bite or moisture. With slow smoking, I also detected the presence of licorice. The aftertaste is a pleasant, honey/orange.

A very well put together flake. Final note: very much like Orlik's Golden Slice but not quite Virginia forward (but close), as the toppings can mute the Virginias for me. As some reviewers have noted a medicinal-like taste, I think what they are experiencing is the licorice in this (not off-putting for me, personally). It may serve as an everyday smoke for some, but I feel Orlik's Golden Slice edges LGF out in this regard. As I am not a huge fan of Perique, I would have to say that with LGF it is just the right amount to add that nice spiciness to the smoke, and not over the top. If I didn't know it was there, I can't honestly say I would have been able to detect it. Although I reach for OGS more regularly, LGF is still a superb tobacco.

UPDATE 3-11-12: I just finished off an 18 month old tin. This noticeably improves with age. I have another unopened tin from 8-1-11 that I will let sit until it reaches at least one year before opening.