Peterson Irish Flake

I was attracted to IF because of my enjoyment of University Flake, also by Peterson. I would describe this as a bit stronger than University Flake and less sweet. After smoking my first full tin, I promptly bought a sleeve. However, after another couple of tins, I found myself growing bored with it and getting more of a medicine taste from the topping. I enjoy the strength of Irish Flake and the tobacco is of high quality, but on the occasion that I choose a powerhouse flake, I'm looking for a little more pure tobacco taste and less topping.

Prep: Was a bit on the wet side like most flakes, but required little drying.

The Kentucky is obvious, with its bbq, smoky, character. The burley pops in with its nutty, molasses notes. The virginas are evident, adding sweetness, but are in the backseat. This is a full flavored blend, staying consistent throughout the smoke.

Flavor wise, this is a wonderful blend. However..... Granted I am a weakling when it comes to nicotine, but boy this was heavy in that category. A dizziness and headache hit me mid-bowl. I enjoy a nic punch but this is simply too strong for enjoyment.

If you are a nicotine chaser, grab a tin; you'll be quite satisfied. If you arent or you are new to the heavier nic blends, tip toe around this blend. Flavor profile alone 8/10. But personally 5.5/10

When Murray's in Belfast closed their doors, we all shed tears for the demise of the Irish tradition of tobacco production. The tobacco blends that were created in Belfast included Erinmore Flake, Peterson's tobacco products, and many Dunhill blends. I really miss those old blends, though I still have plenty of the Belfast made Erinmore Flake in my cellar, and I'm finishing up the last of a tin of Murray produced University Flake.

And so, once Murray's was closed, Peterson had to find another blender for their tobaccos. I do not know where they are made now, but they certainly are not of the quality they once were. So when Peterson introduced this new flake a couple years ago, I was a bit surprised. To call something "Irish Flake" when it wasn't even ever at any time made in Ireland takes some gumption. But, at least people wouldn't be comparing it to the old stuff, since there was no "old stuff" to compare it with.

Apparently, Irish Flake has become legendary in its own time. I have heard tell that it's strength is remarkable. People have positively swooned over it, and their claims to its powerful nicotine levels finally swayed me to try it. Irish Flake, you have been weighed and found wanting. When measured against the true Irish flakes, Erinmore and the old University, this tobacco is truly lacking in strength and character. When compared to such heavyweights as Gawith & Hogarth's Dark Flake or Consiston Plug, it may as well be corn flakes.

In the tin, the stuff looks like you'd expect. Dark brown in color, narrow stirps. Tin aroma slightly smokey, traces of va. sweetness and dark fired tobacco spiciness. I have a fairly acute sense of smell, and I still had to get down within about two inches of the open tin to pick up the aromas. So it's fairly weak in aroma strength. Tobacco was perfect moisture for smoking, and so immediate loading into a Peterson 05 was called for. First light was a little difficult to get it going.

Once I got the tobacco going good, the flavors began to peek through. I think I can see where people believe that this is strong stuff, because it has a definite cigar-like quality to it. It was mildly sweet, with the merest hint of spice. The smokey dark fired leaf was ever present, but it was weak. I really expected to be bowled over by this stuff. But, I've gotten a better nicotine buzz from University Flake (the Murray). And this stuff comes nowhere near the strength of the old Erinmore Flake. I kept waiting for the nicotine fairies, but they never came to visit.

From the beginning, the tobacco flavors were a little strange, just a bit 'off'. It actually seemed to me like this stuff is cased with a tobacco flavoring to help boost the otherwise wimpy character. I know that doesn't make sense to do, but I swear that this stuff tastes like it's artificially enhanced with some kind of tobacco flavored stuff. Midway through the bowl, the tobacco began to just taste kind of skunky and wet. I just don't get it. I suppose if someone were coming from heavily cased cavendish aromatics, they might find this a strong tobacco. But, as for tobacco flavor, I've gotten more out of MacBaren's Stockton.

Everybody out there who is smoking this stuff had convinced themselves that it's a potent smoke. Well, whatever makes them happy. But, if you really are interested in smoking something that will ring your bell, this ain't it. Despite its name, this is most definitely not an Irish flake. "Recommended for the experienced pipe smoker." Maybe I'm just not experienced enough to for the nicotine to have its effect.

Irish Flake is a scented flake in the tradition of Lakeland flakes. Upon opening the tin the first whiff reminded me of Erinmore Flake, though the scent was much less aggressive. In the pipe the most prominent note is of roses, though there are other notes as well. It is strong in nicotine.

On first light the flake produces a lovely crown. It smokes cool to the bottom of the bowl and is very well behaved. Leaves you sated.

The problem with recommending a scented flake is that reactions to particular scents are even more subjective than to tobacco tastes. I can smoke 1792 Flake with pleasure every now and then, but not Coniston Cut Plug or Bosun Cut Plug. Since Irish Flake seems to have some familial resemblance to Coniston scenting I do not think I will revisit this in any great hurry. Still, minus the scenting, the basic tobaccos are of good quality and strength, even if better options are available.

Tough dark flakes with sprinkle of lighter leaf. It rubs out to a coarse mix that burns easily.

The tin note is promising, sharing some of the flavour profile of powerhouses such as Revor and Happy Bogie. Wood, leather, linoleum. There is also a clear sweet note, perhaps indicative of a topping.

This promise does not transfer to the bowl. This is, I think, a rather nondescript VaBur blend to which has been added some not very distinguished fire cured leaf. There is very little structure here despite the insistent and unsubtle character of the dark fired.

The nicotine can be very strong and has a tendency to creep up on you in the last third of the bowl.

It was just ok. Nothing really stood out for me. Nothing I could sink my teeth into.

Excellent flavor. Very few blends I've tried are this tasty. I only have two issues: the nic hit is killer and the flake is a pain to get right. It's a bit too thick and moist, so drying can take hours, and it does not fold well. If you don't mind a nic kick in the balls and you're good with your flakes, this is not to be missed!

Before i smoked this i was told it was powerful so i was ready ! Upon opening the tin it smelled just like copenhagen snuff !! Very strong . It burns very well a little nutty and chocolate cocoa nuts like a dark beer . It is pretty bland IMO . It taste the same from start to finish . Too strong for my taste but others may be able to handle it I’m sure . Instead of tossing it or aging i mixed it in proportion with a local chocolate blend and i will smoke it only occasionally. Not for me anyway.

Peterson Irish Flake offers a manly tobacco which will appeal to a segment of pipe smokers but will likely leave a significant coterie of others unimpressed. Female pipe smokers should beware: this pipe tobacco will grow hair on your chest.

Open the tin and you find dark brown flakes mottled with lighter brown. The actual components are air cured burley, Kentucky (also burley, but fired), and Virginia. The tin aroma is unexceptional. It just smells like pipe tobacco, with a somewhat woody undertone.

The flakes are quite moist. If you crumble it up completely as it is the tobacco will light and stay lit satisfactorily. If you prefer to fold and stuff flake tobaccos you had best give Irish Flake some drying time. (The fold and stuff method with flakes provides a cooler smoke, but it also creates some difficulty in getting an evenly satisfactory light which does not require frequent relights.)

Once lit, the tobacco offers a strongish although creamy flavor. The burley and the Kentucky dominate, although the sweeter Virginia also comes through. Unless puffed quite vigorously Irish Flake presents no problem with tongue bite.

The room note offers nothing exceptional. It is basically a strong natural tobacco smell, but it will elicit no "that smells good" from non smokers in the room. The nicotine blast is hefty, although I think some reviewers overdo that aspect of Irish Flake. Smokers who are nicotine sensitive, however, will do well to load only a half bowl. This tobacco burns dry and leaves a light grey ash.

Unlike Peterson University Flake, I detect no obvious added flavoring to Irish Flake, but I do suspect one or more of the component tobaccos has a little casing of licorice or anise. If you do enjoy Irish Flake, the chances are that you will like MacBaren's HH Old Dark Fired better.

Pipe smokers who dote on burley or burley/Kentucky blends should rate this a highly satisfactory smoke. Of the remainder of pipe smokers, most will not find it obnoxious, but a rather blah (although strong) blend. Personally for me this is a three star blend, but in reckoning its appeal to the totality of pipesters I rate it only a two star Somewhat Recommended.

You do not have to be particular of the pipes used for Irish Flake as it does not ghost a bowl. Many puffers, however, do find their best results with burley forward tobaccos when smoked in a cob.