Peter Stokkebye Luxury Bullseye Flake (No. 403)

There are several Stokkebye offerings that I enjoy, but none as much as this one. With so many good Va/pers available, I'm a little surprised that I enjoy LBF almost to the exclusion of others. The 1.5 lb box looks like a tray of poker chips. The coins rub out easily and the smoke is sublime...more natural than Luxury Twist Flake, less harsh that Luxury Navy Flake and stronger than the now defunct Luxury Curly Cut. LBF and I have become fast friends........

Addendum: They Stokkebye website recommends rubbing out this flake and packing it lightly in the pipe. I have tried a variety of pipes and packing methods, and I have to agree that their recommendation provides the best result.

This is a great blend for a great price to boot. The presentation is wonderful and proves to be a nice conversation piece whenever anyone sees you playing with the discs to prepare to smoke. As for how I smoke it. I simply rub it out and enjoy.

I actually prefer this to Escudo, but I like my tobaccos a little sweet. This is by no means an aromatic, but it is smoother to my tastes than most VaPers.

I love this stuff, in fact I love most of the Stokkebye VA offerings.

This is the type of stuff that real experienced pipe smokers enjoy. There are no fancy packages here, just great quality at a great price. These little round beauties offer the same quality as their counterparts that come in nice tins, for a greatly reduced price.

I am a Virginia lover at heart and so I really like this blend. It kind of reminds me of Orlik Golden sliced with the high citrus notes toned down a little. There is a nice balance of perique here too, just enough to give a good flavor and a little tingle in the nose. I am not really sure if the black Cavendish adds much to this blend in terms of flavor, but it sure does make those little round coins look very handsome.

One of the real advantages of these Stokkebye blends is their superior agebility. This blend is nice fresh, but it is outstanding with a couple years on it, and the bulk pricing allows you to stock up and wait for the magic to happen. Get some, it is good.

Highly recommended.

I almost didn't try this because of the "center of cavendish" -- which isn't my cup of tea. I like the Virginias, the vapers. Serendipitously I ignored my prejudices and ordered 4oz. of this beauty. It gets points just for presentation -- swirled disks that look like, well, yes, bull's-eyes. The cavendish center is exactly enough to give a flavor tint without it becoming a cavendish -- just a slight modulation to the normal vaper taste. What a beauty. Careful -- its light flavor disguises a healthy nicotine kick if you're not ready for it.

I've already developed a working technique for it -- fold a disk in half and rub it into the bowl. Okay, two of them if it's a big bowl. Lights exceptionally well, doesn't require huffing to keep it puffing, and gives a satisfying, tasty, clean, and dry smoke to the bottom. Well done, Mr. Stokkeybye!

I have been looking forward to this blend since I began my pipe dream two years ago, based primarily on your reviews.

So the baggie note is fresh, hayish, and sweet, as in black Cav sweet. Its appearance is more....natural if you will then say Escudo. Rough spun edges, less density in construction. Kind of akin to comparing a machine made Petit Corona to a Backwoods Twist.

These descriptives aren't meant to deter from this review, as the flavor profile correlates to these 'raw' descriptives. What it may lack in refinement LBF more than makes up for in bright, fresh flavor.

The Vas gave absolutely no bite at all, albeit at the expense of the vitamin nicotine.

The perique, which is to me unusually spicy even for a perique, benefits from the smooth interaction of the black cavendish. I tried these coins shredded, but that density of sweet smoothness was lost to me when not stuffed whole.

Cobs and billiards did best for me, nice slow burn. Now take into account the value of LBF, and it makes it that much more desirable.

So for me this is a 4 star blend: I will begin cellaring jars of this, not being concerned that it would overtake Escudo's role, rather it will provide me with a different taste in VaPer coins.

Highly Recommended..to everyone, including aro lovers, as an all day smoke. Wish I would have tried this sooner.

I have tried countless Virginia flake tobaccos, many of which were excellent, in search of a tobacco that might approach the original, noble Escudo. While Luxury Bullseye seems a tad sweeter, probably because it has a little less Perique than Escudo, it fits the bill and, in fact, were the original Escudo still available, I think I would stick with the Bullseye. It is deliciously smooth yet maintains a satisfying fullness throughout the smoke, and never sours toward the end of the bowlful. The more I smoke it, the better I like it although I trade off with Penzance during the smoking day which makes each blend taste better, given the difference. After first trying Luxury Bullseye, I then tried Peter Stokebbye's Luxury Navy Flake, which I liked a lot, but not as much as the Bullseye. I have found my Virginia flake!

I'll try not to be to way over the top with this. This is a meat and potatoes type blend for me. Pretty basic, but it's just complex enough to be interesting. The sweet hay taste of VAs is prevalent and then the little bit of Cavendish adds a little more sweetness for a slightly sweet rather basic, straightforward smoke. Highly affordable. Highly enjoyable.

I very much admire most of Peter Stokkebye's blends, and I especially like Luxury Navy Flake. The type of matured (probably flu cured) Viriginias used are palatable, non-biting, smooth, and elegant. Périque is there but not in an obstrusive way. Rather than overwhelming the other components, it is used sparingly, just to add a piquant touch.

Well, Bullseye Flake is exactly that with the added Cavendish centre. It is not entirely black-sweetened-cavendish (as in Captain Black), but rather a mild, slightly sweet brown cavendish, which indeed "rounds" the taste and makes this flake smoother, creamier and diverse.

Though similar, this flake is not as pungent and sharp as Escudo (which I also love) or Dunhill's De Luxe Navy Rolls. If anything it's closer to Davidoff's Flake Medallions. Equally elegant, savory and smooth....but at half the price!

I highly recommend this tobacco to any VaPer or straight Virginia lover (Périque enthusiasts might be disappointed). It is a very nice smoke, delivering a fine taste. Truly first class

Make no mistake, this is a natural blend. The cavendish is non-existent in the taste. This is a VA blend with a dash of perique. The presentation is excellent with its round, mottled medallions and it is worth keeping in the cellar for this alone. It tastes like semi-sweet VA with perique building only when you hit the zone. Smoke this is your VA pipe, not your multi-use or aromatic pipe, and you will be rewarded with a full tobacco taste and no more than a usual virginia nippiness.

You can use a single medallion for a small bowl and it smokes fine. A couple or more medallions in a larger bowl is just as well, and will build wonderfully. It has its share of nicotine, so it satisfies. This is an everyday, all day sort of blend that burns to a grey-white ash with little more than a single light.

Given the lovely presentation and it's level of satisfaction, this is my VaPer for now. All the tins in my cellar remain sealed as I enjoy this superb bulk. I am leaving several ounces to cellar in masons-- I am sure it will properly ripen further.

The recommendation is only for advanced smokers with a penchant for true tobacco flavour and body. Get some and enjoy it. I sure do.

Update 02-08-08

After aging for some time, here's my update. For those that like Escudo or Three Nuns or Capstan, this is comparable after some settling in a jar for a while. Defitinitely an all day VaPer blend with lovely prensentation. Rub the rounds and stuff into the bowl with air-pocket technique for the reward. Yes, it is not a deep VA blend, but most pleasant for those who like brighter, tangy VA flavours-- not hot, but certainly spicy & citrusy. Confirming my 4 star rating.