Astley's No.44 Dark Virginia Flake
(3.26)
A dark Virginia flake that is full of flavor, but easy on the tongue. Citrus notes are detectable.
Notes: Originally blended in England.
Details
| Brand | Astley's |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | Kohlhase & Kopp |
| Blend Type | Straight Virginia |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | Other / Misc |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.26 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2021 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
When I first had this, 9 years or so, I fell head over heals in love. At first sight of the small flakes that was agrigated into a plug I knew I was in for a treat. The charring light was enough to get the perfectly moist baccy ablaze. I was treated to a sweet, bready, and creamy taste sprinkled w a spattering of hay. The bowl maintained flavor the way through. I called my tobacconist and tried to get more, then I was heart broken when he told me how difficult it is to find. I managed to get 3 tins in the last 8 years. 4 stars!!!
Untill yesterday.
It's blended by someone else now, and not very well, Upon opening the tin my heart sank. The small flakes were no more. We now have large dunhill style flakes. A bit darker than DH And not brownish like i remember. "Well here goes nothing" I muttered as I lit up. And I was right, nothing. Nothing I remember at least. No sweet bready molasses creamy smoke. Just hot hay w a bad after taste. "It must be this pipe" I nervously said to no one. I learned long ago that baccy taste diff w almost every pipe. So I loaded up the falcon which I enjoyed w no.44 before on more than a few occasions. Que sad trumpet " whaaa whaaa whaaa" theses guys and gals at K and K took gold and made dog poop out of it. And I got 4 tins to deal w. I'll trade 3 and let my open one think long and hard what it wants to do w it's life in solitary confinement. Maybe that will straighten it's ass out.
Untill yesterday.
It's blended by someone else now, and not very well, Upon opening the tin my heart sank. The small flakes were no more. We now have large dunhill style flakes. A bit darker than DH And not brownish like i remember. "Well here goes nothing" I muttered as I lit up. And I was right, nothing. Nothing I remember at least. No sweet bready molasses creamy smoke. Just hot hay w a bad after taste. "It must be this pipe" I nervously said to no one. I learned long ago that baccy taste diff w almost every pipe. So I loaded up the falcon which I enjoyed w no.44 before on more than a few occasions. Que sad trumpet " whaaa whaaa whaaa" theses guys and gals at K and K took gold and made dog poop out of it. And I got 4 tins to deal w. I'll trade 3 and let my open one think long and hard what it wants to do w it's life in solitary confinement. Maybe that will straighten it's ass out.
Pipe Used:
Falcon, wally frank beagle, Peterson 307
PurchasedFrom:
Yester year tobacconist
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 17, 2019 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Unnoticeable |
It was the relative scarcity of this tobacco along with the favorable reviews that sparked my interest in this tobacco. I finally managed to secure a couple of tins last year so I was naturally expecting something special. Not sure if the previous reviews were for the current K&K version of this tobacco, but I must say I was underwhelmed to say the least.
Upon lighting up, I found the base virginias to be quite bready/yeasty (which I like), however there was no real sweetness to be found and a distinctly bitter aftertaste persisted throughout the bowl, which was off-putting. I could not identify any flavorings or toppings, other than this awful bitterness. After several months in a jar, the situation has not improved. Strength and taste are about medium with nicotine in the mild-medium range.
Otherwise, I cannot fault the quality of the base tobaccos or the presentation. It's just the bitterness that put me off this particular tobacco, so I will not be buying any more.
Upon lighting up, I found the base virginias to be quite bready/yeasty (which I like), however there was no real sweetness to be found and a distinctly bitter aftertaste persisted throughout the bowl, which was off-putting. I could not identify any flavorings or toppings, other than this awful bitterness. After several months in a jar, the situation has not improved. Strength and taste are about medium with nicotine in the mild-medium range.
Otherwise, I cannot fault the quality of the base tobaccos or the presentation. It's just the bitterness that put me off this particular tobacco, so I will not be buying any more.
PurchasedFrom:
4Noggins
Age When Smoked:
about 1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 12, 2004 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This proved to be a great smoke for the first two-thirds of the bowl. But towards the bottom third of the bowl, in many different pipes, this tobacco grew hot, to everyone?s dislike, and spicy, to my dislike. Perique overload? Perique is supposedly not an ingredient in this blend. Also, it will bite if not careful. I am no stranger to VA blends but this blend just didn?t do it for me: each bowl was very rewarding at first only to ?slap me in the face? later. I have to be negative because of this characteristic; I won?t be trying it again. As regards Astley?s blends, #109 blend doesn?t treat me this badly and, as such, I like it much better.
I rate this tobacco 5.0 out of 10.
I rate this tobacco 5.0 out of 10.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 22, 2023 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
The tin note was kind of a sweet vanilla like aroma. I smoked about a half dozen bowls and couldn't get myself to like it. Normally I like dark virginia flake tobaccos, but this one had kind of an odd sweet flavor. Not what I was expecting. In the end I wound up tossing it.
Pipe Used:
briar
Age When Smoked:
Fresh out of the tin upon delivery
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