John Aylesbury Luxury Flake/Classic Flake

As noted, this flake is very mild, yet it does have a taste and aroma that is its own. High quality Virginias and very nice cut flakes.

This is always a pleasant change for me as I normally smoke far stronger tobaccos...G&H Dark Plug, Revor, etc..

This flake holds its own and while it may be akin to others in the market place, I believe this to be, all around, individually, an excellent smoke.

It would be a fine all day smoke as well, however it is not complex per se, and may get too singular for some.

Enjoyed in a group 4 size Caminetto straight billiard.

...a pipe is to be savored...

Wonderful Virginia Blend and a great allday-smoke! One of my favourite virginia-blends. Not too sweet, a little nutty flavours. Very delicious tasting tobacco.

No drying time required. Grab a flake. Fold, twist or just rub it out and light it up...enjoy...

Virginia Lovers should give it definitely a try!

I am running through Virginia flakes and really love this one. I can smoke four bowls in a row and it is just a perfect smoke for me. I just stuff and light. I bought several tins for the cellar and foresee smoking a lot of this blend. Not a heavy hitter which is nice for me. For me it is the little brother of dunhill flake.

Another nice VA flake from Aylesbury by Planta. Now I'm 2/2 with 4*. The 1 1/2"x3"x1/16" flakes have an ideal moisture content from the tin and can be packed evenly without rubout and no relights are needed after the charing light. Smoked cool without any bite or condensation to the bottom of the bowl. Even with pipe rotation and smoking only one load in each, this blend tended to dry out my mouth so I wouldn't use it as an all day smoke. However, for a treat or nice change I'd give it a try.

John Aylesbury - Luxury Flake.

From my friend Gentleman Zombie, cheers Franck!

This is one of the 'samples' he sent me in loose pouches, so any excess moisture's escaped. Because of the exemplary hydration I don't need to rub the flakes, they crumble to perfection as I stuff them into the bowl.

The smoke from Luxury Flake is nicely uncomplicated. The flavour's medium-weight: there's a subtle sweetness, grass notes, and some hay. Although there's a slight sweetness, I wouldn't say it qualifies as having much depth, really. The smoke's cool, and the burn couldn't be any better, but that's partly due to the tobacco achieving good moistness in Franck's loose baggies; cheers pal!

The nicotine's about medium, maybe just below, and the room-note's nice.

A lovely smoke!

Highly recommended.

As described, "straight Virginia", has just a really good, good taste. Smooth, with no bite, very creamy, finishes on the palate very well. Ignited with no problems and was able to keep it lit throughout the entire smoke. Should be enjoyed a very slow pace as if you smoke it too fast, it can be a bit bitter. The natural sweetness of the Virginia comes through really well, and it has a really satisfying room note. Definitely recommend this to anyone who likes Virginia, and who wants something with a nice mellow taste.

This is an under-the-radar gem that has the best qualities of some other straight Virginia blends. As an evidence, it's one of the few blends that I smoked exclusively after opening the tin. I had to write this review in a rush before being tempted to finish the tin.

A few people compared it with Capstan and some Mac Baren blends. I absolutely agree that it's within that type of Virginias. If you enjoy Mac Baren's and Kohlhase & Kopp's Virginias you'll probably enjoy this too.

Out of the tin I get some hay, berries, dry fruit, lavender, and vanilla notes.

In the smoking notes I get those crackers / bread notes that you'd get with Newminster no. 400, as well as the sweet berry/lavender that I tend to associate with Mac Baren's casing. It is perfectly balanced between the bread, sugar, fruit notes, and just a hint of pepper with no flavor overtaking the others. On top of that, I don't get any change throughout the smoke.

The flakes are thin and rub out very easily. It packs and smokes very easy with minimal or no relight. Smoking pace is moderate. Comes in just a tiny bit too moist, but could be smoked straight after opening the tin. Definitely an all-day smoke. Smokes cool with no tongue bite whatsoever. Perfect blend, mechanically speaking.

I’d put its body as medium and strength as mild, although I get a stronger nicotine feeling when I smoke it out of a small bowl. However, this review is done on a medium-sized Canadian-shaped, which is what I mostly smoked this out of and in this pipe it is mild. Goes perfectly with a cup of coffee!

To sum it up, I absolutely love this blend and if I can find it more easily, I'll get several more tins to have around. Easily perfect score.

When sipped very gently, this tobacco delivers exactly what every good uncomplicated straight Virginia should : Delicacy. The sweetness is present yet very subtle, and you may even feel some almost unnoticeable licorice-like aftertaste with aging. A keeper, for sure.

Edit : I've never had the chance to taste the infamous McClelland virginias, but I have the feeling that the Aylesbury ones are absolutely underrated, and if they were more widely distributed, they would be very high up there with the late McLellands.

It manages to standout from a large group of Virginia flakes. Sweet, warm, complex citrus like a lemon cookie, then it gets sweeter, and more complex with an almost toffee, caramel body. Very pleasing. I hate giving it 4 stars because it will get harder to find.