Dunhill Light Flake

I was quite excited when I first opened this tin of fine tobacco. This was my first experience with a pipe tobacco that didn?t come out of a [house-blend] jar at my local smoke shop. When I first opened the tin, I was very pleased to hear the vacuum seal ?hiss? as it was opened. This assured me that the seal was in tact. The first aroma from the cake was a tangy fig type of smell, with some lingering summer fruit aromas. At first I wasn?t sure if I had gotten myself into a ?casing-soaked? mess. I was truly shocked when the cake wasn?t wet, just the right amount of moisture. The flake easily rubbed into soft, long ribbons. I read somewhere that some folks just fold up the flake and pack it into the bowl. I did try this once and decided to never do it again. It just would not stay lit, and the aroma was less than favorable. After a quick fight convincing it to light (I wouldn?t recommend it for outdoor use because of this), it actually stayed lit easily. I only had to tamp down the ash twice. I did have to relight it once during the last half of the bowl, but it relit very easily. The aroma of this wonderful blend is quite pleasurable as it has a sweet, fruity scent to it. Non-smoking friends of mine commented that this blend didn?t ?push them away?. All in all, this will more than likely be the tobacco I take with me to public functions that I know non-smokers will be at. The only thing I did not like about it was the way it bit the back of my throat when I inhaled my draughts. The bite was not so bad as to burn me, or be overly annoying, but it was enough to bother me some after several bowls. In the overall look of this tobacco, I was quite pleased! The only complaint I have is the throat bite experience I had. Other than that, the blend, flavoring amount, aroma, and after taste was wonderful. I would highly recommend this to any beginner or experienced smoker who wants to change the pace with a light aromatic.