Dan Tobacco St. Bernard Flake

I always thought this was Dan Pipe's answer to St Bruno.

It's not of course, it's a typical Dan Pipe virginia blend with, as the description says, a twist of perique. The only thing in common with said other blend is the St. in the name.

One of Dan Pipe's better tins is this. With a proper label this time, instead of the naff (and boring) simple square computer-printed white labels present on other blends of theirs.

The tin fragrance is a delight. Probably the nicest of the Dan Pipe virginia-based blends I've tried so far. Very tight flakes squeezed into a big pile that needs careful excavation with pipe knife, is what greets you inside and it's a wee bit crumbly and therefore rather dry, which seems to be the recurring theme here.

The flake breaks down very quickly which is fine if you are a rubber-out but not so great if you like stuffing you flake in whole.

The taste is disappointing. It's so well...neutral. A mild-ish tobacco with something - obviously the perique - dumbing it down to a degree. This addition seems to take much of the natural sweetness of the virginia away and replace it with a rather dull, peppery, dry tasting, somewhat dusty even, content that I am not wild about.

And it is so dry. So so dry it's leaves you gasping for a drink even after the one you had to accompany your opening bowl. It also leaves your throat like feeling like a dusty old broom cupboard. It likes a lot of relights, surprisingly enough and burns through so quickly you wonder where half the bowl has gone when you tap out the ash. It's fairly strong stuff this but not overwhelming even pushed hard. There is little or no room note and it's presence in the house has been unremarked by Mrs RW.

So, half a glass full of fluid later, you find yourself thinking about the next bowl and wondering if there were some nuances that you have missed, judging by the general positive consensus in here.

I'm giving this one the benefit of the doubt and not making a final prognosis until after the tin is finished. I suspect some smokers might enjoy this better with an alcoholic side salad, but I don't care for spirits (or any alcohol come to that) to maybe counteract the aridity of the blend.

Indeed It'll be interesting to see how this one keeps (round tin thank goodness), as I won't be smoking this every day.