Astley's No.109 Medium Flake

September 2004

No. 109 is a very mild Virginia blend, and I did like the touch of sweetness that I haven't seen in a lot of other Virginias. However, it simply did not pack enough punch for me. Give me some Perique with my Virginia flake, please! The "Mild and Mellow" descriptor on the tin is definitely accurate. I did like the sweet and sour tin aroma, and the flake cut was beautiful.

I love the smell of Number 109 on opening a fresh tin. Although Dark Star is my favorite Virginia flake, this one smell a hundred times better. It looks a heck of a lot better to boot! The top note and half way through the bowl aren't what I'd call outstanding, but it does get a grip on you after working your way down the bowl. The taste improves significantly in the second half. It's never over sweet, just a pleasant relaxing smoke. I find this tobacco easy to use, especially compared to some other Virginia flakes. If you crumble a load and let it dry out for a day or two, there is no trouble getting the charring light or any wetness. This is one Virginia where little or no pipe cleaner use is necessary. Although I prefer a little Perique mixed in with my Virginias, for a straight air cured version this can't be beat. I'm finding myself smoking this blend more and more as a day's starter, and think it might be a great Summer smoke to relax outside with. Astley's Number 109 wouldn't work in the evening for me because I'm a constant wanderer through a fog of English/Balkans when the sun sets. I like smaller Canadians for this one because I want to get to that second half where the flavor jumps out. Still there is no hurry to finish this great tobacco, and a second bowl is always welcome! Great stuff from K&K, as usual!

I purchased this based upon the reviews and it's not bad but I had a hard time keeping it lit. It also stayed moist for the longest time without any help. The tin aroma has almost a fermented grape like essence and the flavor does have a Lea and Perrins note. Another thing you'll notice when smoking 109 is a beefy/meaty taste really nice.

I finally got it to work one time and it was great but these moments are far and few. Maybe my tin was too young, I have another one aging and will update this review when I pop that one open.

Another good broken Virginia flake, ruined by too much casing. Opening the tin the tobacco looks like Marlin Flake,but smells like a candy factory. The tobacco isn't bad by no means,it's actually good,but not what I expected it to be. The casing I expect to be Licorice,and something else,not sure. My taste buds didn't like this one.I'll give it another chance and report back down the road.

I ran out of my other Virginia flake, so I bought a tin of this, and I'm glad I did. Tobacco comes moist, as most do from K&K, and the flakes are folded into 5" slices, no problem, I pulled one off and let it air out out. The tobacco has that nice natural smell, and packing was like most rubbed out flakes. Charring light took two matches probably still a tad moist, and we went along, a tasty Virginia with no bite, unless you smoke like a freight train. This stuff is great, I haven't been this exicted about a Va flake since I tried FVF. I wanted another bowl after I finished my first, which is what I did. Good Stuff.

I'm not sure if I got a bad tin or what, but I had problems with tongue bite. I let the tin dry out thoroughly before smoking it, and still it had some nip. I had to really watch my smoking technique to enjoy this, and I smoke VA flakes all the time! That said, this is a pleasant flake with some complexity to it. It did remind me of Marlin Flake in a muted sort of way. Personally I like a little more taste in my Virginia. Oh well, to each his own. For the price I doubt I'll buy another tin, although I just might if the "bad batch" theory seems to carry any merit. In the meantime I will stick with Marlin, or No. 27.

Forgive me if I steal from the above reviewers.

"Upon opening the tin, I found a rich, dark Virginia flake in folded strips. There was also the tangy smell of uncased Virginia leaf, but only distantly, and the tang never showed itself at the match."

(It looks similar) ..."to RATTRAY's Marlin Flake, which it resembles closely, although this is less peaty (by which I mean those bittersweet edges found in whiskey that has been filtered in charcoal) smoother."

Similar= texture and folded strips. The 109 that I have been smoking is darker (brindel brown) where as, Marlin is a olive-copper hue.

109 is richer and smokier in taste then Marlin but still smooth. I've been smoking it quite regular lately and it could become a favorite. As Marlin already is.

A very good Virginia!

In the tin: Pretty, dark brown flakes. Pleasant slightly acrid smell of fermented Virginias.

Packing and Lighting: I rubbed mine out to a fairly coarse texture and it packed, lit, and stayed lit just fine.

The Taste: Yuck. Strong tobacco taste admittedly. but harsh and lacking in the sweetness I would expect from a Virginia blend. Towards the end of the bowl, intrepid explorer that I was, the "taste" just became stronger and more noxious.

I can't recommend this to anyone. Maybe it's the flake form. I've never met a flake that I liked. I'm very much in the minority here and haven't been pipe-smoking that long. Perhaps I don't know how to rub out a flake satisfactorily yet.

Well, after all the good reviews and being a lover of virginia flakes, I grabbed a couple of tins from my tobacconist, and started puffing in a small Dunhill Root #3. Not bad at first I thought. Then in a larger Dunhill Root # 4. A bit strong? Then in a larger yet Ardor Om Paul. Overpowered with the dark virginia in my opinion.

I normally don't review a blend I don't care for, but it did smoke somewhat better in a small pipe but nowhere near as good as I was promised it would. And it was aweful in a larger pipe, which size I prefer. Not terribly hot while smoking but just plain explosive with flavor at times.

It is like Marlin Flake a bit in strength, but sweeter and maybe fuller. If you like really strong tobacco and you are in to mixtures with darker flakes maybe the sweetness in this will grab you. But, after smoking one tin, I returned the other for Paul Olsen 111 flake (also on the strong side but no match for #109). Sorry.