Dan Tobacco St. Bernard Flake

(3.50)
A medium to full strength blend of finest selected sweet Virginia leaf with a pinch of mature Louisiana perique for a pleasant rich aroma processed in accordance with classic English tobacco traditions.

Details

Brand Dan Tobacco
Blended By  
Manufactured By Dan Tobacco
Blend Type Virginia/Perique
Contents Perique, Virginia
Flavoring
Cut Flake
Packaging 50 grams tin, 250 grams bag
Country Germany
Production Currently available

Profile

Strength
Medium to Strong
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Full
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

3.50 / 4
15

9

2

0

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 26 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 27, 2014 Medium to Strong Very Mild Full Tolerable
The Virginias are grassy with a bit of bold earthiness, a little tart and tangy citrus, light bread and floralness, and a lot of tangy dried dark fruit as the lead components. The perique is strong, offering some plums, figs and raisins with a sharp spiciness in every puff. There's a prevalent musty, leathery, bitter quality that, depending on your personal preferences, either clash with or compliment the very consistent, deeply rich sweet and sour flavor. Despite all of that, you'll notice a creaminess from the topping that keeps this from becoming harsh, though I suspect a pinch or two of dark cavendish is present. In some ways, it's a bolder, sweeter, spicier, rougher version of Dunhill Navy Rolls with some different flavor hits. The nic-hit is medium, and the strength and taste are a little past that level. Won't bite or get harsh, and has no dull moments. Burns clean, cool, and slow, and needs a little dry time. Leaves a little moisture in the bowl, and requires some relights. Has a pleasantly lingering after taste and room note. Made for the experienced smoker, and is not an all day smoke.

-JimInks
19 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 17, 2008 Medium to Strong None Detected Full Pleasant to Tolerable
a "deep" tin aroma. quite a bit of perique, with its sour/sweet notes.

dark brown flake cut with lighter and even yellow streaks. packs and lights easily.

this is a fine tobacco indeed, with a very "clean" taste. the virginia is only semi sweet and with deep flavours akin to the fine lakeland virginias; it also makes me think of the kind of virginia used for will's medium capstan. or is it rather a bit like the ancient cut blended plug? medium/medium-strong. the perique gives it the typical stoved fruit taste and flavour. it burns slowly, as will all quality flakes, and it dgt's beautifully. i will certainly get hold of a lot more of this, for smoking as well as for aging.

a bonus is the kinda old fashioned tin; the same size, i think, as cope's escudo. very charming

ps: i should add that in spite of the fine flavours, it could probably do with a couple of months more in the tin, as there's a kind of rough edge to it. a bit of aging will no doubt even out that edge.
12 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 29, 2013 Medium None Detected Medium to Full Pleasant to Tolerable
My Girlfriend got this for me for Christmas last year and the tin was empty 2 weeks later. Another 2 weeks after that, I'd opened and half-smoked my 2nd tin...

I'm lucky enough to have quite a few very good tobacconists in the area that all have DTM tobaccos (I'm in Germany...), so this is easy to get for me and also relatively affordable. Let's say it's good value for money.

The tin note upon opening is very very sour and slightly sweet. The sourness coming from the Perique and assumingly partially the very dark virginias as well. It smells almost rotten, but in a good way, if that makes any sense at all... When I open a tin of this, my mouth immediately starts to salivate. The flakes themselves are also of a delicious dark brown chocolate or black coffee color with few lighter strips in between. They're loosely pressed, so they almost fall apart, hence making them perfect for fold and stuff after drying out for about an hour.

First light reveals a sweet, earthy, musty, creamy and slightly plum-like aroma. As the bowl progresses, it gets spicier and sweeter, but also slightly bitter and I like that. I prefer sipping this in short puffs, as that really gets out all the great flavors to be had here...

This is so so so delicious, I'm going to go have a bowl right now!
8 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 19, 2015 Medium None Detected Medium Tolerable to Strong
I just finished a nice sized sample of this a friend sent me. I can see why he smokes this blend so much. It is a very well balanced VaPer and gives you everything you would expect from such a blend. By well balanced I mean that the blend has the perfect amount of Virginia sweetness combined with the perfect amount of Perique spice. It makes for a fantastic smoking experience at least as my tastes and expectations are concerned.

If I had to pick a negative it would be that judging upon my wife's expression after I finished my bowl, it must have a horrible room note. This would stand to reason as burning or even unburnt Perique are both pretty repulsive smelling and the perfect amount of perique to me is probably a little higher than what the average piper would prefer. I would put this right there with Escudo and would have trouble picking a favorite. As such it is four stars for me and I will be buying more for certain.
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 21, 2019 Medium to Strong None Detected Full Pleasant to Tolerable
Really nice, full tin aroma. It's sweet, sour and grassy, with a good amount of stewed fruits. Plenty of Perique, both in smell and taste.

Some drying time required but not a lot. Packs and lights easily; burns at a slow pace.

At first, you get a lot of sweetness with hints of fruity perique (figs, raisins, roasted plums) and some spiciness. Then, the tobacco gets a little stronger, but also develops a nice, well rounded creaminess. The Virginia is always in the lead, but is not overly sweet and never bites. I get some bitter notes from time to time, but not in a bad way. Feels like a high quality smoke from start to finish. Leaves only grey ash and very little moisture in the bowl.

A very solid VaPer at a reasonable price. I can't really find anything negative to say. Flakes aren't as pretty as Mac Baren's, but who cares?

Highly recommended!
PurchasedFrom: Dan Pipe
Age When Smoked: new
5 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 11, 2020 Medium None Detected Full Tolerable
I got a generous sample of this tobacco when I visited the Dan Pipe Shop, because I was curious about this tobacco, but I wasn’t sure if I need another tin of Virginia/Perique blend in my cellar. After the first few puffs, I have known that I need a full tin of this tobacco. It outstands the other VaPer blends I’ve tried from Dan Pipe. It’s fuller in taste and delivers a vaster flavor profile. The Perique, which is noticeable in all puffs, delivers pepper, raisins, figs and overall a pleasant spiciness. From the Virginia I got quite a bit earth and hay, but there is as well sweetness and some citrus notes. From time to time I even think I can taste honey. In other puffs there is a malty taste. Even the tin note is quite strong. It’s spicy, fruity and a bit sour.

If you are an VaPer fan, you should try this tobacco. I will probably order this blend in every Dan Pipe order from now on or I will buy it in the shop if I get the chance to swing by again.
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 28, 2020 Medium to Strong None Detected Medium to Full Pleasant to Tolerable
An archetypal VaPer, very spicy and dark flavoured and with full taste. Cannot sense any added flavoring. Quite bitter but very smooth. Excellent with strong black coffee. Not my first choice for early in the morning, though it's not particularly strong, but it’s a fine evening blend. The flakes in the tin were well formed and dry. Smokes well even if very dry without any harshness. If you like this sort of peppery tobacco, St. Bernard is for you.
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Feb 20, 2022 Medium Mild Medium to Full Pleasant to Tolerable
The tin note is sweet sourish a bit more yeasty, fermented (almost like leaven) and reminds me more of honey than fruits.

When lit there's an instant perique kick unlike other VA/PER ones where you get usually virginias first and then the perique raises.

The taste is deep sweet with slight sourness and just a hint of light pleasant bitterness like in a dry wine. There is slight mellow creamy vanilla/honey taste that I think comes from topping (or is there a cavendish in it?). The perique peppery spicyness is strong and present through whole bowl. Aftertaste is plesantly sweet with a little tingle. Theres a pleasant nic-hit but I need to inhale to get some (I have very high N tolerance). I found it better to smoke this as a flake since the rubbed version was a little rougher.

It lies right in the middle of three and four stars but I think there are more outstanding VA/PERs so lets do it a three star one.

Smoke and drive: Doable but this one is better enjoyed in a chair.
Pipe Used: Jirsa, cob
PurchasedFrom: etrafika.cz
Age When Smoked: fresh, 1 month
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 08, 2019 Mild None Detected Mild Pleasant to Tolerable
The last time I reviewed St Bernard it must have come from a bad batch . After reading the other reviews I gave it another chance and I'm glad I did . A very nice looking dark brown flake in nice little slices sort of lightly stuck together and perfectly ready to lite up . The virginia seemed very good quality by today's standards There was a very light perique presence , no more than a suggestion , not enough to call it a VaPer. I would say the perique flavored the virginias and made it a stronger smoke but no figs and raisons . A good VaPer should be balanced and this one fell short but there is some good news . This turned to be a hell of a good virginia flake smoke with a little kick from the perique . My 4 stars is awarded is on my enjoyment of the smoke as it was , not if it lived up to the description . I notice that I am more drawn to Dan products lately . This tobacco will become part of the day.s round to follow .
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 12, 2018 Strong Mild Medium to Full Strong
This Va/per differs from the typical taste other similar blends offer and you realize it once you open the tin.a strong sour and sweet smell comes out preparing you for a nice experience.the bright and brown flakes are dry making the rubbing easy.they also break easy if you prefer smoking a broken flake.either way the blend lights easy with a few relights needed.while smoking the flavours are natural and strong.virginias are sour,citrusy,earthy with some grassy notes.perique adds lots of sour and plumy notes accompanied from spices.a sweet topping softens the experience preventing it to be harsh.generally the flavours are married natural giving an almost full flavoured result.burns at medium speed,medium hot to ash with some unburned parts.the nicotine level is medium and the aftertaste sour.no tongue bite present if treated gentle with a strong room note.depending from your smoking mood it can be an all day smoke.generally this blend differs from the typical va/pers you mostly find in the market by giving a full flavour experience.
Age When Smoked: Fresh
3 people found this review helpful.
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