Peterson Flake
(3.55)
Brown Virginia Pipe Tobacco. Pressed first and then delicately cut into fine slices.
Notes: Description from old Dunhill store catalogs: Flake (aka Light Flake): This ‘processed’ Virginia is a cut flake of medium strength, very cool, and has a pleasant, slightly sweet flavour and aroma (1959) [Lemon and Bronze Virginias, ideal for sportsmen - 1985].
Formerly known as Dunhill Flake, STG has changed the brand name from "Dunhill" to "Peterson".
Details
Brand | Peterson |
Blended By | Dunhill |
Manufactured By | Scandinavian Tobacco Group |
Blend Type | Straight Virginia |
Contents | Virginia |
Flavoring | |
Cut | Flake |
Packaging | 50 grams tin |
Country | Denmark |
Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
3.55 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 231 Reviews
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Aug 28, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I wonder how many folk have dismissed a blend simply because they smoked it in the wrong pipe. I know I have!
In the square 50g tin the two rows of neatly stacked flakes looked enticing. Mostly mid brown interspersed with flecks of golden leaf and rather thinly cut. Tin aroma was not at all what I was expecting, it was a little vague but hints of fresh turned hay intermingled with tea leaves were the most evident with a very light 'scent' which suggested some kind of topping.
Rubbing out was no problem largely due to the fine cut of the flakes and only minimal airing was required afore I loaded up my McQuade bent bulldog. Char light, tamp and light proper and the ball was rolling. Huge plumes of white smoke initially billowed from the bowl but then settled down. From start to finish I got none of the gorgeous flavours one usually gets from a straight Virginia like FVF or Golden Glow, all I got was a taste of cigarettes with the occasional hint of Virginia sweetness and the meerest whisper of citrus and I really had to look hard to find that.
This really is more of a 'dry' Virginia than a sweet one and to be quite frank this was rather akin to smoking cardboard. Yes there is flavour in there but it is so hard to find and once found it is so diluted it might just as well not be there at all.
Now fast forward to a week later.
Not too happy with my initial experience with this blend I decided to give it another go but this time in my Bernina bent billiard, an ancient pipe that so often has revealed flavours in blends that were not so apparent when smoked in other pipes. The difference was quite amazing. I was now tasting what I should have the first time around, what was then a hard sought citrus sweetness became much more apparent and I no longer had the impression of smoking cheap cigarettes or cardboard. The typical Virginia flavours one would expect were there in every puff though they did flatten out slightly the closer to the end of the bowl I got.
I am now smoking this in a larger GBD bent billiard and am thoroughly enjoying every moment. Though not as flavoursome as Sam Gawith's Golden Glow or FVF I still feel Dunhill Flake is up there with the better straight Virginia blends. Mild to medium in strength, slow burning with zero bite this is a very 'clean' smoke.
So it just goes to show that not all blends sing their hearts out in every pipe. I wonder how many folks have dismissed blends simply because they were smoked in the wrong pipe...I know I have!
Would I buy this again? What with so many straight Virginia blends out there, many of which I have yet to trial I cannot honestly say I would. What I would do however is recommend this blend for those seeking a good Virginia, it may well prove to be a favourite. A well deserved 6/10 from this piper.
In the square 50g tin the two rows of neatly stacked flakes looked enticing. Mostly mid brown interspersed with flecks of golden leaf and rather thinly cut. Tin aroma was not at all what I was expecting, it was a little vague but hints of fresh turned hay intermingled with tea leaves were the most evident with a very light 'scent' which suggested some kind of topping.
Rubbing out was no problem largely due to the fine cut of the flakes and only minimal airing was required afore I loaded up my McQuade bent bulldog. Char light, tamp and light proper and the ball was rolling. Huge plumes of white smoke initially billowed from the bowl but then settled down. From start to finish I got none of the gorgeous flavours one usually gets from a straight Virginia like FVF or Golden Glow, all I got was a taste of cigarettes with the occasional hint of Virginia sweetness and the meerest whisper of citrus and I really had to look hard to find that.
This really is more of a 'dry' Virginia than a sweet one and to be quite frank this was rather akin to smoking cardboard. Yes there is flavour in there but it is so hard to find and once found it is so diluted it might just as well not be there at all.
Now fast forward to a week later.
Not too happy with my initial experience with this blend I decided to give it another go but this time in my Bernina bent billiard, an ancient pipe that so often has revealed flavours in blends that were not so apparent when smoked in other pipes. The difference was quite amazing. I was now tasting what I should have the first time around, what was then a hard sought citrus sweetness became much more apparent and I no longer had the impression of smoking cheap cigarettes or cardboard. The typical Virginia flavours one would expect were there in every puff though they did flatten out slightly the closer to the end of the bowl I got.
I am now smoking this in a larger GBD bent billiard and am thoroughly enjoying every moment. Though not as flavoursome as Sam Gawith's Golden Glow or FVF I still feel Dunhill Flake is up there with the better straight Virginia blends. Mild to medium in strength, slow burning with zero bite this is a very 'clean' smoke.
So it just goes to show that not all blends sing their hearts out in every pipe. I wonder how many folks have dismissed blends simply because they were smoked in the wrong pipe...I know I have!
Would I buy this again? What with so many straight Virginia blends out there, many of which I have yet to trial I cannot honestly say I would. What I would do however is recommend this blend for those seeking a good Virginia, it may well prove to be a favourite. A well deserved 6/10 from this piper.
Pipe Used:
McQuade bulldog & GBD bent billiard.
PurchasedFrom:
Mysmokingshop.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh.
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Jun 17, 2013 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
As this was originally “Dunhill Light Flake”, this review is fairly much the same as the older named blend. There's a natural Virginia tart and tangy citrusy sweetness along with some grassiness and a touch of earth, wood, bread, spice and tangy dark fruit. I also get a little lemony taste with a slightly noticeable honey essence, which comes from the lighter Virginia. The topping is tart citrus, which doesn't sublimate the varietals much. I notice the tobacco flavor is a tad more obvious in the last quarter of the bowl, but the flavors mostly hold their own all the way. The strength is in the center of mild to medium, while the taste is a step past that center. The nic-hit is a slot less potent than the strength level. No chance of bite, and sports no harsh spots. Has a few small rough edges. It breaks apart very easily, and burns at a reasonable pace, cool, clean, and mostly smooth with a mostly consistent flavor from top to bottom. Leaves very little dampness in the bowl, and has a pleasant, lightly lingering after taste and room note. Requires a few relights. Can be an all day smoke.
-JimInks
-JimInks
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Jul 26, 2013 | Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
A deep, dark, brooding flake - by VA standards. Tin note is traditional VA aromas of hay, sweet feed, earth, with subtle chocolate sweetness and the citrus notes buried deeper in the background. Similarly, the flavors are more robust: not the fresh baked bread and sugar of, say, a Royal Yacht. Rather more earthy: aged (rather than fresh cut) hay, leather, dark cacao. The Port analogy in a review below is apt. The citrus notes are in the background, emerging more expressively at mid-bowl, but always in the background- the more earthy flavors being dominant. I get a bit of licorice in the final third.
Overall a first class VA flake. A bit on the moist side relative to other Dunhill offerings, but nothing like the temperamental SG flakes. Living in a humid climate, I dry this for roughly an hour before smoking and that seems to do the trick. Burns well, smokes cool, almost impossible to create a bite with this one. I enjoy this flake both rubbed out and cube cut, without significant flavor variations. The cube cut expresses a bit more sweet citrus, but it's marginal and, as always, subdued.
A stout VA flake of complexity and substance without the preparatory drama of other flakes in its class. Highly recommended.
Overall a first class VA flake. A bit on the moist side relative to other Dunhill offerings, but nothing like the temperamental SG flakes. Living in a humid climate, I dry this for roughly an hour before smoking and that seems to do the trick. Burns well, smokes cool, almost impossible to create a bite with this one. I enjoy this flake both rubbed out and cube cut, without significant flavor variations. The cube cut expresses a bit more sweet citrus, but it's marginal and, as always, subdued.
A stout VA flake of complexity and substance without the preparatory drama of other flakes in its class. Highly recommended.
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Aug 20, 2014 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Tolerable |
This is the only review you will see from me with the following sentence: This is my favorite pipe tobacco of all time. Yes, the seemingly unremarkable -but perfectly crafted- Dunhill Flake. It was one of the first nonaromatic tobaccos I ever tried. Since then, I have smoked tins of easily over 50 different blends from every kind of blending style I could find. I always come back to this wonderfully consistent straight Virginia flake from Dunhill. It smells like hay with a hint of ketchup when you open the tin (I remember wondering what the hell I'd gotten myself into when I opened my first tin) it lights and burns great. I find it seems especially flavorful in small bowl sizes. If you are wondering what people mean by "sweet Virginias" in a blend, this is a great place to start. I still don't feel like I am explaining it quite right but it has a natural (no flavoring added) smell when burning like a chocolate cake baking and coffee brewing and just a hint of good teriyaki chicken. ...except even better. I'm doing a terrible job describing it but here's the bottom line: There are more complex, more remarkable, more unique blends out there and most of them are great, but Dunhill Flake burning in the bowl turns into something so good, I haven't figured out a way to explain it yet. Just try it, and see if I'm crazy or not.
Pipe Used:
Dr Grabow Lark, Cob, Astley, James Upshall
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Mar 13, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
I cannot and will not be drawn into the old vs new regarding this blend and its previous incarnations.
This is the most anticipated blend i have ever smoked. I finally got my tin as a gift
The presentation was in line with what one would expect from Dunhill and Petersons, first class in all respects. I appreciate this. * Samuel Gawith take note*
The Flakes were neatly cut and the smell promised a lot in that is was very similar to F&T Cut Virginia Plug, a firm favourite.
I left the tin open for a few hours as per my normal ritual with all blends to allow moisture to evaporate then loaded my first bowl.
Upon lighting, the taste was the first thing i noticed, it was a beautiful, deep, nutty Virginia and produced a LOT of smoke. Unfortunately the bite was there too and that is why i marked it 2 stars instead of 4
Bite is a personal thing and it applies to this piper. Do not let this discourage you from trying it.
Unfortunately for this Dunhill Flake, my vote for the Best Brown Flake still goes to the appropriately named " Best Brown Flake" by SG no less. Hideous presentation and all.
Mo, South Africa
This is the most anticipated blend i have ever smoked. I finally got my tin as a gift
The presentation was in line with what one would expect from Dunhill and Petersons, first class in all respects. I appreciate this. * Samuel Gawith take note*
The Flakes were neatly cut and the smell promised a lot in that is was very similar to F&T Cut Virginia Plug, a firm favourite.
I left the tin open for a few hours as per my normal ritual with all blends to allow moisture to evaporate then loaded my first bowl.
Upon lighting, the taste was the first thing i noticed, it was a beautiful, deep, nutty Virginia and produced a LOT of smoke. Unfortunately the bite was there too and that is why i marked it 2 stars instead of 4
Bite is a personal thing and it applies to this piper. Do not let this discourage you from trying it.
Unfortunately for this Dunhill Flake, my vote for the Best Brown Flake still goes to the appropriately named " Best Brown Flake" by SG no less. Hideous presentation and all.
Mo, South Africa
Pipe Used:
DB's and Petes
PurchasedFrom:
Got it as a gift
Age When Smoked:
New
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Dec 29, 2013 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
let's face it, Dunhill produces some great tobaccos. This blend is no exception. Only dark fired hints of blessed pure tobacco bliss await the smoker. This one only gives as much as one accepts, and then surpasses that expectation with delicious spills on the taste buds. Virginia lovers rejoice!!! This is your howled home. Even after leaving it in cold climates unattended, it reveals its full flavor with little or no relighting and minimal tamping. It is as close to pure tobacco bliss without being too over the top. This one delivers the goods and there is no ketchup or vinegar on the tooth. It is the real Virginia experience with nothing to wane. A++++++
Pipe Used:
various
PurchasedFrom:
various sources ( I can't recall, I stock and reload)
Age When Smoked:
6 months to a year
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Feb 14, 2017 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
A beautiful bronze Virginia that Orlik got right from the get go. Although production ended for a few years after the Orlik takeover from Murray's, they finally located the Bright needed to resume production of this rather strong and hearty blend. Despite the strength, the flavor is mellow and palate filling. For those who enjoy a little muscle in their bright Virginia leaf which hints of Lemon and honey as it is smoked. Just terrific stuff.
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | May 08, 2014 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This was the tobacco that first showed me the true pleasure of Virginia tobaccos. I had smoked plenty of Mac Baren's Va no.1, and liked it. But the second I first cracked a tin of this open and inhaled the deep sweet aroma, I knew I had stumbled onto something special. So needless to say, I absolutely love this stuff. It is a delicious, deep, rich Virginia flake with the perfect amount of natural sweetness that always satisfies. I have a few tins of the original Light Flake by Murray's and I honestly like this new incarnation make by Orlik as much if not more. If you're a lover of Virginias, you need to have some of this stuff on hand. It's one of the best.
***edit*** Thank god I stocked up on this. It is going away soon. The new round tins aren't as sexy, but the tobacco is the same. Enjoy it while you can, friends.
***edit*** Thank god I stocked up on this. It is going away soon. The new round tins aren't as sexy, but the tobacco is the same. Enjoy it while you can, friends.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Meerschaum, MM Cob, Stanwell
PurchasedFrom:
Beehive Cigars, Salt Lake City, UT
Age When Smoked:
1 year
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Jun 11, 2012 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Original Review 6/11/2012
This is an incredible tasting tobacco. I could be quite content sitting upon a pile of this on some deserted island. It is plain tobacco, nonbiting, but full flavored. Easily an all day smoke. I can't say enough good things about it and can't wait til I get my next tin.
Update 5/17/2021
Not much to add to this, but the first review was done within my first year of smoking and much time has passed and many things have been learned.
Dunhill Flake has grown to be my favorite tobacco to smoke. It is, in my opinion, the straight virginia to which all straight virginias should be compared. It has just the right touch of each flavor I enjoy in a straight Va, (Citrus, sugar and earth) and it performs flawlessy.
This is an incredible tasting tobacco. I could be quite content sitting upon a pile of this on some deserted island. It is plain tobacco, nonbiting, but full flavored. Easily an all day smoke. I can't say enough good things about it and can't wait til I get my next tin.
Update 5/17/2021
Not much to add to this, but the first review was done within my first year of smoking and much time has passed and many things have been learned.
Dunhill Flake has grown to be my favorite tobacco to smoke. It is, in my opinion, the straight virginia to which all straight virginias should be compared. It has just the right touch of each flavor I enjoy in a straight Va, (Citrus, sugar and earth) and it performs flawlessy.
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Nov 30, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is one of the best VA flakes I have ever tried. It has all the quality character and depth of Christmas Cheer, but is different enough to be it's own master. The flake NEVER bites,, and is never bitter, in fact it leaves a noticeably sweet taste on my tongue at times. Classic hay savor along with that VA creaminess that is so loved. The tin note is absolutely magical and wonderful, grassy-hay-cream magic.... Yum!!! It is amazing to me how even to this day Dunhill offerings are such high quality and world renowned. Dunhill Flake is surely right up there at the top. VA fans will instantly love and appreciate this tobacco. Ever so slightly damp,, but that's a good thing,, be warned VA fans,, any VA that's bone dry will get harsh and bite fiercely,, this one does NOT,, no need to dry it. Just rub out, fill and light. a few relights are no big deal and then this one will smoke like a dream. High Quality and no-fuss. Brilliant Dunhill........I will be ordering more. 4 stars..
Good Draw to You,, Cheers,,,
Glorfindel
Good Draw to You,, Cheers,,,
Glorfindel
Pipe Used:
Peterson Christmas 2016 Full Bent
PurchasedFrom:
pipesandcigars.com
Age When Smoked:
New Tin
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Jan 20, 2014 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I'm halfway through my first tin of it. Although a great fan of Dunhill english mixtures, I've always been sceptical about other types like this one let's say. I always thought of it like fancy snobbish smoke that is never too bad, but not too good either.
I've decided to give it a try, and I wasn't disappointed at all. I got pretty much what I was expecting, but also i got surprised by it's quality. I don't know why this tobacco is marked as non-flavoured, since there is a lot of casing or maybe even topping added to it.
Flakes appear visually similar to Orlik golden sliced and also smells similar. First part of the bowl, you can feel some "Danish" flavouring" which fades away and disappears completely at the middle of the bowl. And then something very strange happens. Floral aroma comes up to the front, as in the first lit of the Lakeland tobaccos. After the danish taste, this is awesome. Not overpowering, but pleasant. And this goes for about a third of the bowl, then the pattern changes and darker VA's come upfront, all until the end. Burns perfectly to white ash, comes in a perfect moisture condition ready to pack immediately, doesnt dry out easily and stays in perfect condition for a week or two. Dunhill and Orlik guys have done wonderful job, by creating a very good flake that can be smoked all day, every day regardless of the mood and situation. It's "danish" flavoured, I guess that's the only negative, everything else is good. Highly recommended from me.
I've decided to give it a try, and I wasn't disappointed at all. I got pretty much what I was expecting, but also i got surprised by it's quality. I don't know why this tobacco is marked as non-flavoured, since there is a lot of casing or maybe even topping added to it.
Flakes appear visually similar to Orlik golden sliced and also smells similar. First part of the bowl, you can feel some "Danish" flavouring" which fades away and disappears completely at the middle of the bowl. And then something very strange happens. Floral aroma comes up to the front, as in the first lit of the Lakeland tobaccos. After the danish taste, this is awesome. Not overpowering, but pleasant. And this goes for about a third of the bowl, then the pattern changes and darker VA's come upfront, all until the end. Burns perfectly to white ash, comes in a perfect moisture condition ready to pack immediately, doesnt dry out easily and stays in perfect condition for a week or two. Dunhill and Orlik guys have done wonderful job, by creating a very good flake that can be smoked all day, every day regardless of the mood and situation. It's "danish" flavoured, I guess that's the only negative, everything else is good. Highly recommended from me.
Pipe Used:
various
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com