Astley's No.109 Medium Flake

New Tin- initial impression- Tin note has the scent of figs with a single long loose flake of medium dark Virginia . Very easy to rub out or break off and will require some drying. The initial flavor and scent is unremarkable with a slight spice, good N ( I find it more than acceptable), not hay or grass like, more English in flavor with high sweet notes and maybe some bitter base notes. One of those blends that's nice while smoking it, but a year later, after my memory fades, I'll be asking, "that was good but I don't remember why !!!" Now fast forward !

Tin Open One Week-scent and flavor starting to develop, you have to French inhale in "small wisps" to find it.

Tin Open One Month- The subtle scent further develops. The blend now has a very smooth sweet flavor, but the real interest is the scent. You have to allow the smoke to drift up the nose or "French Inhale", the fragrance is sweet , reminds me as if there was some "Samsun Oriental "in this blend ? But there is something else ???? Wait for it, wait for it..... have you ever smelled "Kiwi shoe polish"?, it's totally intriguing. Ok, maybe it's an "anise" as reviewer , " Virginia lover 2014-06-18" described it, but nothing as overpowering as in Ramsgate or Blackpool , I love it and I'll be buying more.

"Sometimes I have to just laugh at my reviews." I recommend you read reviewers, "DK 2011-11-17" & "Virginia Lover 2014-06-18 ", & "Moniker 2013-07-14" for "well written" reviews.

Update 4/25/17- The newer two tins I tried have a much stronger Vanilla taste. I'm not a fan, I find it cloying and I'm removing a star.

Very nice VA. Pleasing aroma (bread, yeast, caramel) from the tin. All those same aromas transfer well to the smoke. A nice dark profile, as I said, caramelized sugar and a nice slightly spicy and sweet smokiness. Great inhalation when breathed through the nose...little tingle. This was moderate in flavor and body and a delight in which to indulge. This will be stored and broken out later for inspection. I feel this will mellow some with time. A good VA and quite filling after one bowl. This is a nice offering indeed. MJCKYAYFF

I was looking at Hagen's review, and he said something about K&K having added caramel and vanilla when they did the blend. My tin is from 2005. Somehow, I think this is that blend. There does seem to be a caramelly topping that is not quite my cup of tea (or pipe of tobacco), but I don't think it ruins it. However, the tobacco might be better without it. I like it alright, just prefer more natural tobacco usually. I can't speak to what the tobacco was like when blended in England, or at the present time, since my tin is 2005. I will smoke it; indeed, I am getting to the bottom of it, and have a sealed tin in reserve, which I will cellar a while. The Virginias are of good quality. This goes well with the apple cider I am drinking right now. I have gotten the best results from thoroughly drying, and from small to medium bowled pipes. Actually, smoking the present bowl in a larger bowled Brebbia (but not huge) and not completely dried out. Still, it opened up midbowl, and I am getting some nice flavors. They are not pure tobacco flavors, but that's ok.

update: going through my reviews here, i find that i'll have to downgrade a good deal of the praise i've given so many blends. 4 stars should, i feel, be reserved for the blends i find truly exceptional. so, this is downgraded a bit. end update.

now this was a pleasant surprise. i used to smoke it a lot when it was made by, i think, macconnell (or perhaps astley's themselves?). it came as small golden flakes, and it was sharp and a bit winey. then the production was transferred to k&k, and that was a catastrophe. they added vanilla and caramel, completely destroying my beloved #109.

today, 15 years later, i grabbed a tin at the fine tobacconist at ströget in copenhagen, thinking that the reviews here on t.r. pointed to another change in this blend. and yes, it is now once again a fine tobacco, though nowhere near the ancient #109: dark brown with discreet sweetness, in a style reminding me somewhat of "bright cr flake" (but without the hint of flavouring, or perhaps a different one). a quite pure virginia, and a very pleasant clean smoke. nothing sensational, just the deep, slightly fruity/spicy notes i love so much in a well aged va.. infinitely much better than, say, orlik's "golden sliced".

delightful when new, but may become absolutely wonderful if stored for 5 years.

A superb early morning smoke in the hotter weather, I originally bought three tins while the weather was still warm, for some time now, the cold has made it's presence felt, still, I have two more tins for the summer.

A light and easy tobacco to pack and smoke usual superb astley quality, no bite just pure virginia, an excellent smoke if you want to be aroused very slowly but soon to be discarded for more stronger tobacco's thereafter. Certainly not (IMHO) for the English winter nights or morns (where we are currently experiencing -7c) such as they are, at present I am looking more for a SG Skiff, at least or SG Squadron Leader to start the day.

A Mild & Mellow Flake. Just like the tin description and most definitely an all day smoke.

In the early Fall I find myself moving from Virginias toward the Latakia laced Balkans and English mixtures, but #109 is an exception. It provides year round appeal with its rich dark brown-sugar tin aroma, with hints of honey and toasted nuts. Pecans, not mine, thank you Rev. Jackson. Arrives in the tin almost at perfect moisture, but some drying does help. I prefer it shagged out over the fold and stuff method. I wouldn't mind a good shagging out myself. Fill your bowl lightly with this one or you will soon regret not doing so. It can be tough to keep lit otherwise. It's a sipper, so take it easy.

Reveals a rainbow of flavors as it meanders down the bowl, with the molasses-brown sugar elements staying in the foreground. There's hints of dark cocoa, licorice, cookies and freshly baked bread. Aged a few years in the tin, it starts to develop little nooks and crannies of flavors difficult to describe other than damn tasty.

If you're looking for a Vitamin N delivery system that will knock your undies off, this ain't no panty dropper. Mild in all the good ways, but packed with flavor.

I finally got to this one, so here goes:

Appearance and Tin Aroma: This smells like a Va that has had a delicate touch of some sort of Chocolate essence. The flakes are neatly folded and appear to be stoved as well.

Packing and Lighting: Just rub out slightly and pack. 2-3 lights max.

Initial Flavor: Smooth, mellow VA, the casing is sweet, but not cloying.

Mid-Bowl: This blend gets into the zone easily, the room note is pleasing to non-smokers. No tongue-bite.

Bottom of Bowl: Not much increase of strength, ash is grey and dry. This could be an all day blend.

Overall: This is a high quality blend that is a perfect intro to Va Blends. It is only slightly cased and it never gets bitter. It burns cooly and does not "gunkify" your pipe. It is not something that I will smoke regularly, but will always have on hand. I preferred it in group 3-4 sized pipes. Give it a go! Pip! Pip!, Cheerio!

I find this tobacco to have a singular ability to evolve in the pipe. The first ten minutes or so are totally underwhelming, leaving one to consider if it was worth purchasing. Ho hum. After puffing away for a time, it begins to grow in both body and flavor until I find myself completely immersed in the experience. By bowl's end, I'm pining for more. Lush without flamboyance, round without bloat, No. 109 has a long, lingering finish worthy of a Pauillac. I place it at the very top of a short list of the finest Va flakes available.

I would never consider it for a quick, short smoke, but whenever I have the time to give it its due, it's mighty hard to beat. This blend is to Virgina flake what GLP is to English mixtures.

*********Addendum, 10/04- A man once paid a visit to the famed gourmet Brillat-Savarin, and was advised by servants that he was busy enjoying his dinner. The man waited patiently, noting that it was 7:00PM. He found this odd, as it was common knowledge that the great epicure would dine religiously at 4:00. When finally greeted by his host, he could not help but make mention of this, whereupon Brillat-Savarin responded that he had, indeed, eaten at 4:00, but, as correctly pointed out by his staff, was "enjoying" his meal.

As I write, I am enjoying a bowl of 109, consumed approximately three hours ago.

Well, another "Winner" from Astley's. With so many descriptions of the tobacco, I'll keep my remarks to the actual experience.

The taste runs consistent the length of the bowl. I find this Virginian to be a great Summer smoke. The subtle natural sweetness combined with the citrus note is just a delight on a hot day in particular.

It burns down to a grey/white ash with very little dottle. I find with tamping the run of the bowl, I do not need a single relight.