Dan Tobacco St. Bernard Flake

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 .

Like the old faithful mastiff with a keg of brandy around its neck, DTM's St Bernard Flake brings comfort to the pipester in the cold. Due to the stupid legislation, most of my smoking takes place among the fresh winds of the external atmosphere. During the cold portion of the year (appx. nine months) the subtleties of Va flakes get wasted and something with more strength is to be preferred. Here we have a tobacco that actually benefits from being smoked outside in the freezing breeze. Of course this applies to many a VaPer out there, but rarely in this price range.

The 7x3 cm light and medium brown flakes came packed in a 9 cm round tin of the cheap type DTM uses for several other of their own mixtures, e.g. Hamborger Veermaster. After opening, the low quality threading does not allow the tin to be closed tight. This is the single drawback I can find with this tobacco. The smell is intense, of rotten hay und das Sauerkraut, ripe tobacco. There are no fruity notes. Moisture level is perfect.

The folding method is not for me but I assume the flake will behave that way as well as slightly rubbed, which I prefer. At ignition there is the typical punch in the nose from the generous portion of Perique. The sharp VaPer taste has a fine rural nuance, that of cattle dung to be exact. Towards the end of the medium strength bowl the dry Virginia taste takes over. Usually there is little need for relighting or other tampering with the pipe during the St Bernard pass.

St Bernard flake does not quite push McClelland Beacon or SG St James down from the VaPer podium but Dunhill DLNR at a third higher price is one tobacco that will definitely have to watch out. The sturdy St Bernard delivers quality that you wouldn't expect at the medium price range. Will order more soon.

I love VaPer blends, I can smoke more of them than any other blend before I need a change of pace as I find them quite relaxing, not challenging like say Latakia blends, or too filling like some flavoured tobaccos.

At the same time they are interesting and filling, they have plenty of nuance to keep you interested.

This blend I had to try after reading JimInks's review, as Dunhill's DLNRs were my first VaPer, and remains a strong favourite. I was intrigued by reading "sweeter, spicier, rougher"'. It is also affordable and can be bought in 250g bags which is great for Europe.

Smell is classic VaPer, slightly sour, sweet, fruity (apricot, peach), hay. Perfect moisture out of the 250g bag, ready to shred or fold and stuff. A topping is obvious to the touch as the flakes are somewhat stiffer than e.g. Solani 633.

Taste is very honest, middle of the road in my opinion, nothing exaggerated. While this can lead someone to think that this blend is flat, it isn't, at least for me, it is simply a middle of the road VaPer, a chill relaxed VaPer that one can smoke and enjoy at any time, any place. I'd have some trouble distinguishing it from Solani 633, and that's a compliment.

I'll buy again, a decent amount, and cellar it, though what I got in my hands is perfect to smoke as is.

Another big score out of the limelight. Basically, all Virginia, VaPer and Va/Barley I tried from Dan Tobacco are outstanding. St. Bernard isn’t different.
I find it not too strong like other Briar Brothers stated (probably I'm addicted to some GH's bombs and my staple starts quite high!?). The 2 players go hand in hand and none overwhelms the other. Of course, Va is the leader.
I don’t want/know to describe the palette (many chaps here have a talent and my tongue isn’t so refined). However, for me it’s mainly leathery and breads with hints of figs and dark dried fruits. Very tasty and intriguing.
I daresay that every puff is different especially if you use your nose.
Flakes are perfect both in humidity and to use. I mostly rub them unless I use long chimney pipes like old Pibe Dan or Holbek chimneys that fit perfectly with that technique. If I've to be really picky, I find the flakes a bit too long. This way they’re more difficult to go into a jar as well as to be loaded in a pipe…peanuts, of course.
To sum up: a lovely tobacco both for experienced smokers and for whom wants to approach the world of Va/Per via the main door.