Tavern Tobacco Co. Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge

The Virginias are slightly grassy and earthy, with a bit of tangy dried fruit. The light smokey, woodsy Cyprian latakia plays a support role in a way that's always noticeable, but never taking a lead. The rum topping is light and smooth. May need a little dry time, but I never recommend completely drying out flakes because you lose flavor when you do. I recommend packing it a little gently. Has very little nicotine and won't bite. Slow burning with a consistent flavor. Requires some relights, and leaves a little moisture in the bowl. Not quite an all day smoke, but it has enough strength to hold your interest for repeat performances.

-JimInks

I liked BQAR a lot!! the Sweet Virginias just complement the Latakia that is enough for me. The rum topping is light and just peaks in and out. This a lot like G&H Bobs Chocolat Flake. It's full flavor and smokyness are a true delight!! It does need a little drying out prior to packing! I rubbed my out totally and packed it very loose. It burned down to a light grey ash, very cool smoking tobacco. I usually smoke VAPER's this is going to be a nice change of pace for me. This is a must try! Just like Laural Flake is a must try. Cheers all.

I found some of this in a jar at the back of my cupboard, another one I'd acquired in a trade years ago but never got round to trying. I wish I'd tried it earlier as I quite like this one. It reminds me of G&H Rum Flake with the addition of latakia, which gives it a nice smokiness without overpowering it (I'd previously been put off latakia after trying English blends like EMP and Nightcap). A little low in vitamin N for my liking, but has enough to satisfy. It has a lovely aftertaste as well, just like Rum Flake. I think I probably have a little under an ounce left, so I'll have to ration it carefully.

This is one of my new favorites. It has a pleasant room note, kind of musky. Lights well and stays lit. Nice taste and cool with no bite.

To my palate, the rum comes through loud and clear throughout a bowlful. But it never overshadows the rich flavors of the flake. The result, while a bit unusual, is quite satisfying. This is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for when I want an aromatic (and I'm not an aromatic fan) -- just a touch of additional flavor added to fine leaf.

Brethren of the briar;go forth and get ye some of this !Go get it with briarean frenzy.Age it ,or right out of the tin ! The rum comes in very subtle at all the right places! I will even be so bold as to say I like it as much and sometimes better than Penzance;the rum comes in very subtle at all the right places! Get some VP

BQAR isn't anything at all what I expected other than it is a nice looking Virginia flake. When they say a "dash of rum", I think they mean it must have dashed away. I think the Latakia must have joined hand in hand with the rum in that dash. This isn't really a bad flue cured Virginia flake, but it is lacking the complexity I expect from something like Marlin Flake. It starts out flat and boring, turns mildly pleasant at mid-bowl, but finishes...well...like mid-bowl. That's not a result to complain about, but I never get much of the pleasure I derive from Latakia. It is in the background to some slightly sweet Virginias. Not bad, but there are others that fill this in my cravings. It certainly is not a strong and powerful Virginia, Burley, and Rum blend like Mac Baren's Plumcake. Perhaps that is good. Because I can expect to get through this stuff without tongue bite. But, there isn't the rum taste that I expect. I probably wouldn't buy this again, but would recommend it to anybody who is looking for a mild rendition of a Navy type blend. Who knows? You might like it. I think I can find a better choice in my search for that sort of thing. Maybe the addition of a little Burley would amplify the qualities that I feel would give BQAR more pronounced claim as a Navy Flake.

As with most of the flakes from Tavern Tobacco, these 6"x1"x1/16" nicely prepared cuts are very moist on arrival. Since I couldn't wait to try this blend and did not let it dry out, difficult lighting and numerous relights initially occurred. However, I didn't rub out the tobacco and just folded the very pliable pieces into the bowls. After drying, much better results were obtained and a cool, creamy smoke resulted. However, I missed the advertised rum add in pouch and room aroma and taste. This resulted in a similar taste to their McCraigan's Flake with the Latakia toned down even further. Since Latakia blends are not in my steady diet, when I choose to smoke one, I prefer more of an influence.

Allow me to express a radically different opinion... I don't like this tobacco at all, it is bland and boring. It's just a Samuel Gawith stoved virginia flake (and not the most flavorful one!) with a very light Latakia touch and an even lighter rum flavoring!

I find the smoke insipid, not delicate. Sure, it is smooth (I often accidentally inhale it), but even with slow puffing I have a hell of a time getting some acceptable flavor out of it. It has hints of caramel sweetness, toastiness, and some slight smokiness from the latakia... but it's all so subdued that I grow quickly bored.

The flakes in the tin are way too moist and pliable, so I recommend letting them dry for a LONG while before attempting to smoke them: if you won't do so, you'll get moisture, a watery taste, and several relights will be needed.

There's nothing offensive about this tobacco... I just can't find any reason of interest in it other than its cool and slow burning rate... but I'd rather have a shorter smoke with more taste (actually, with SOME taste) than another bowl of this!

UPDATE: A sustained drying of the flakes and a complete rubbing out produced a slightly increased flavor. Weird, since usually I find flakes are tasty if NOT rubbed and smoked whole... Anyway the taste is slightly sweet, caramelized, slightly smoky: a sorto of toned down and duller version of the old Winter's Tale.

I tried this, having been very pleased with some of the other offerings from Tavern Tobbaco, with my last order. I was pleasantly surprised. I figured, with the rum top dressing, that I would be in dire need of first aid for my tounge after smoking this. I was wrong. The rum is restrained, as is the latakia. They only peak out at just the right moments, like when it was begining to get boring. I for one am not a proponant of stoved va's. I do agree, however, that it does need to be aired out for quite a while, as the moisture content is VERY high. I smoked one flake right out of the tin and had a hard time keeping it lit at first. After about 2 weeks with the tin opended, it was ready to smoke. Smokes best in a large briar or even better in a large meer, surely needs to be well rubbed out and broken up. it burns slow and cool and is great for the outdoorsman, or somone who is an absentminded smoker. Once you get it going it stays well lit. Over all 3 out of 4 stars.