Astley's No.55 Elizabethan

I could taste this on the charring light, nice, very nice. A smooth easy going smoke, creamy and a decent flavour. I bought three tins of this and 109, based on the reviews, and I haven't been dissapointed K&K have done a good job of this one and number 55 will be added to the collection, if not permenant rotation.

The tin states "Slightly Rubbed out Flake", if this is slightly rubbed out, I dread to think of what there interpritation of "Rubbed Out" might be, the tobacco in the tin had the consistency of cigarette tobacco, (I can think of no greater insult) however, the smoke was superb, mild, light but with enough taste to keep one interested. This can be smoked from the first pipe through to late afternoon, or for that matter, whenever a change is required.

A fine quality tobacco, four stars

a delightful tobacco! i had not smoked it for many years, and feared the worst, but #55 seems to have survived being blended by kohlhase & kopp (whereas #2 is now an aromatic tobacco). the same enticing tin aroma and clean virginia taste as 20 years ago.

as others have noticed, there may be a little bit of perique added to it, but it may just be the yellow virginia's fruity and citrusy notes that come through. i notice a very slight dryness to the taste, too, and upon closer inspection, there seems to be a little yellow-green oriental leaf in it.

all in all, a must for the lover of (almost) pure (albeit mild) virginia. kohlhase & kopp are certainly very competent at recreating the flavour profiles of most of the once-glorious english brands (and i certainly don't feel that the "citrusy" astley's are similar to the "malty" rattray's). where k&k miss the mark is in the more powerful and darker blends, none of which are as strong or well aged as they were 20 years ago. and of course, some of the blends (like astley's #2 or old gowrie) are now aromatics...

This Virginia has a pleasant aroma in the tin. It is easy to fill in the pipe and lights without a problem. The taste is similar to the NO.2, but without perique. It is a slightly sweet taste, a little bit tart, but a satisfying flavor that is not overly sweet like so many Virginias. I will place this tobacco fairly high up on my list of preferred Virginias. It makes for a nice change of pace for the smoker (me) who prefers latakia blends. Astley does it again.

What a magnificent tobacco! This is a straight Virginia, slightly sweet and tangy in that natural Va. way, with notes of dried raisins and nuts, slow burning and with no tongue bite. Its ribbon cut, with some broken flake thrown in, of reddish, light and mid brown hues.

Its structure is similar to some of the best Rattrays (after all, it is blended by the same German house). As reference I would say it is somewhere in between the graceful elegance of Old Gowrie, but with more body and flavour, and the richness of Hal O? the Wynd, only slightly mellower. At the beginning the tobacco is a bit austere and dry, but as one progresses further down the bowl the different layers of tangy sweetness and spicy piquancy make themselves evident. It has a wonderful denouement, palatably nutty and rich, and it burns clean to a white ash.

Maybe this is what the other Elizabethan (Dunhill?s) would taste like if the Périque in that blend was subtracted. In any case Astley?s is an excellent Virginia, neither dry nor moist, with enough body to be taken seriously, yet smooth and temperate enough to be enjoyed leisurely. Highly recommended.

Enough has been said here about this tobacco, so let me just wrap up: a mild and satisfying all day smoke with uncomplicated (in the best sense of this word) Virginia flavour. This is a smoke you can enjoy working or reading, it is unobtrusive, simple and pleasant.

Adding to my review: I smoked it now in a corn cob and it was delightful. Mild and without tongue bite. If you look for nicotine Ilsted’s Own Golden Flake will give you more than this blend.

Tin notes of raisin and hay. That addictive smell you get when a bit of cognac evaporates overnight in a glass, imagine it deeper and fruitier.

The cut is not "slightly rubbed out flake", it might have been a while ago, but no longer. The packaging was left untouched as the distribution rights moved from one manufacturer to the next.

It takes a conscious effort to smoke No. 55 slowly. If you don't pay attention, your bowl will evaporate before your eyes and you will be left with thin ashes. When you do take your time, the smoke has a clean and honest flavor that develops sweeter and more complex. That deeper flavor is always fleeting, so be patient, it's like taming a wild horse. After a lesson in self-control, some retro-inhaling and perhaps a few burns, you might truly enjoy that tobacco.

The lingering smell in my mustache is enjoyable, it's grassy and clean. It seems like a great smoke for a sunny day, watching nature or people, a few weeks away from summer.

This is the second Astley's blend that I've tried (#109 being the first) and I find I've come across another very nice VA tobak. Upon opening the tin you're greeted w/a very pleasant and subtle sweetness that is of a light, musty fruit aroma which I'll credit to the fermentation. The tin is packed full of multi-colored ribbons that range from light blond to chocolate brown. For me the moisture level is near spot-on. Packs nicely and the usual lighting ritual is all that's required. At the get-go you taste a nice citrusy sweet flavor that reminds me of lemon/orange zest w/a VERY LIGHT hint of a brown sugar/cinnamon note hiding in the background. Just enough to say "I'm here". There is no casing mentioned, so I'll say it's the fermentation of these particular VAs. that gives this wonderful flavor. The citrusy flavor remains consistent throughout the bowl but varies slightly in degrees of strength, and the spiciness is subtle and tingles just a wee bit, with the taste of good VA tobacco the main player. Bit of a gurgle near mid-bowl, but this is just a one pipe-cleaner job, no worries. This gets somewhat richer as you smoke down, and there is an earthy/woodsy taste that steps in w/the hint of sweetness still present, but no harshness or ashiness. Mostly mid-range and high notes, there is some bottom to it but it's not overly pronounced. Burns well, very even (musta packed it right this time ;o]) and clean all the way down to a dry, fluffy gray ash. There is no Perique mentioned either, but the smoke tastes like there could be a very small amount in the blend. This could be an all-day smoke for most any VA. fancier, but some may want a little more "Oomph" in their pipe, at least nearing the evening times. I enjoy it and I believe I'll hafta keep some of this around. I think it would age very nicely. A very good VA tobacco, very lively and refreshing. I think I just may prefer it to #109. Works for me.

Tin note of slightly sour tart dry hay. Tobacco is a Ribbon cut of yellow and orange. Moisture content is ok, some may want to dry it out a bit. Burns moderately with few relights. The strength is mild and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is mild to medium and very consistent, with notes of woody, spices, lemon bready, very earthy, floral, grassy, dry hay, stewed sour fruit, orange peel/zest, a tangy sweet and savory citrus background note, and a peppery retro. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is good.