Sillem's Commodore Flake

Among so many similar mixtures in their composition, it is always nice to find an exoticism like Commodore Flake, as can also be Cornell & Diehl's Mississippi Mud.

The flakes are black like charcoal and come with a moisture level that pulls to the high side, allowing them to rub off easily for subsequent drying. The aroma in its tin is unique. Experience tells me that in the best mixes the cold smell does not differ much from the flavor that it will provide later in the pipe, and this is no exception. Despite its appearance it is not an excessively strong tobacco in any sense, nor is it overwhelming. Rather I would say that it is a very balanced mix, where Latakia and Kentucky go hand in hand. The Cavendish smooths and rounds the mix so that all the ingredients work as a team, providing a relaxed, pleasant, reflective, very rich and nice smoke. I usually smoke it at night and not every day, but when I smoke it it never disappoints me and it always gives me a long and pleasant smoke as it burns quite slowly.

You should not expect typical English mix, because it is not. Don't expect a typical Kentucky-flavored mix either, because it isn't either. It's something else, it's ... Commodore Flake. As another reviewer has said, you will never know if you like something if you don't try it first. Do it, and if you don't like it, send it to me, I'm willing to sacrifice generously for you and smoke the rest of what's left in your tin. You don't have to thank me, that's what friends are for ...

Commodore Flake: A fantastic Lat bomb that defies genres.

The tin-note smells of sweetened beef jerky. The tobacco is made up mostly of Latakia, and while potent, melds together with the dark-fired leaf. They provide a pleasant burning cedar flavor with a rich barbecue undertone. The addition of black cavendish adds a smooth-creaminess and just enough sweetness to turn this into a fantastic and distinct flake tobacco. No other blend compares to it. It is not really an English or a Virginia/Latakia blend. It is its own thing and I cannot get enough of it.

*Update*

Sadly, this blend, unlike most pipe tobacco, does not take to age well at all. When fresh it is easily a 4 star tobacco. Once it has about a year on it, it becomes a rather bland mixture, wherein the latakia is muted. The kentucky also becomes muted, and the burley taste becomes predominant, loosing most if not all of its smokiness, resulting in a very mediocre tobacco.

I had aged this in a well sealed mason jar as well as in original tins (I cracked a second one to be sure) and the same thing resulted. Aged, at best this is a one and a half star blend. I find this very odd, because all of my other English blends have only deepend in taste.

I ordered a fresh tin to compare with my 30 aged tins, and the fresh tin was as vibrant and good as I remembered it. But aging does not do this one any good. It is like laphroaig scotch, in which the 8yr and 10yr bottlings are divine, the 15yr has rounded, but the 18+ bottles have lost their original "zing." Nicotine content is the same in aged samples, just a whisper short of medium.

Original review: This flake is a modern masterpiece destined to become "THE" flake tobacco of fame, which pipe smokers the world over will lament the passing of, as has occured with lost blends such as 965, balkan sobraine etc.

This is undoubtedly the best latakia flake I have ever tried. Can hold its own against any other latakia blend, and is even better than many old classics. It is a lat-bomb without the bitter, which has the strongest incense taste of any english blend I have ever tried, without any orientals! Not a replacement for your favorite english or scottish blend, this is in a class all its own. It is the most flavorful tobacco that I have ever tasted. Too much so for every day smoking, this is like the richest Finnish smoked custard you ever had. But oddly, has no long lingering aftertaste. Even the room note is pleasant to others! This is not the nicotine bomb it is said to be, as the nicotine is no stronger than in most full English blends, but is just right.

This flake is so good that if you haven't tried it, and enjoy latakia even a little, you positively, absolutely must get a tin.

This blend is always sold out for good reason. It is the best modern blend on the market.

A tobacco of undeniable character, my constant companion wether strolling outside, sitting in contemplation inside, waking up or settling into sleep. This is my go-to tobacco. If I'm out of Commodore, I'm off to the tobacconist straight away, regardless of whatever other luxury tins of varying varieties I have on hand.

This is the flavor base for all my pipes as the Cavendish and Kentucky (Burley, which in other blends has been the tongue-burn factor for my own personal chemistry, which, you will find, with just a little research on the web, is asserted by some self-declared "tobacco experts" as the actual cause of that loathsome condition. I tend to agree that one's personal body-chemistry factors just as heavily into what tobaccos are enjoyable. But I digress.) give a whiskey-tinged sweetness at the top of the bowl, and get more complex and dark going further. For me, its like flavoring a bowl with a vanilla cavendish without the hot-burning additives on finely cut leaf.

Agreed, this is a full bodied, mouthy latakia based flake, (flake being another attribute which contributes to its versatility--and flavor. Its useful going from pipe to pipe, experimenting with a course or fine texture that fits each pipe's temperament) and the spice of that base ingredient comes out quite a bit by the middle and especially the end of the bowl. My lips tingle happily with the lovely nicotine spice that plays out by the end! It should be noted that I can and do the occasional full and smokey spice-laden Latakia from start to finish such as Lancer's Slices when I'm in the mood, but Commodore is no such animal; as soon as the pipe in which the spicy smokey blend was smoked has rested, I immediately "re-flavor" the bowl with this agreeable sweet flake.

Finally, I find Commodore Flake blends beautifully with bright and nic-kick virginias of many varieties, adding a harmonious contrast of flavors in the chambers of my go-to pipes.

This was my introduction to Latakia from aromatics and Black and Gold Cavendish and what a revelation it was. A sweet whiskey bouquet bordering on an aromatic ending in a robust, satisfying but subtly spicy smoke. An indispensable staple in my humidor. If I ever find its being discontinued I will hock several items of value to purchase it en mass. Hats off to our German friends at Sillem's!

Full English Delicious latakia high nicotine tobacco. (I do. It inhale) Mild tongue bite while smoking and the next day. Smoke outside if people on home are sensitive to strong pipe tobacco smells. (I personally love the smell of a strong English room note, many don’t and this one is excessive)

Pairs great with hot coffee or tea

If this rich, dark, and slightly mysterious flake is not a cult classic yet it will become one. The fragrance is incense-like, the strongest flavor impression to me is dark chocolate, as in Mole Negro from the Red Iguana (THE killer Mexican food in SLC), with maybe just a little citrus lingering in the background (think dark chocolate covered orange peel - the slightly bitter kind) over a framework of full, sturdy but natural woody / leathery tobacco flavor. The smoke is dense with a silky mouthfeel, I get some dark fruit on the exhale through the nose. The nicotine level is strong but the overall package is so velvety smooth that the strength does not overwhelm. Dark, rich, deep. I like to let it dry out a bit, then tear the flakes lengthwise into long skinny strands and fold them together for an inverted pack with a generous air gap. Highly recommended for the experienced smoker who doesn't mind a stout dancing partner in the nicotine department. I have stashed a few tins of this in the cellar - it is too strong for every day but I definitely don't want to run out of this.

Smokey, woody, earthy, with hints of sweetness, this tobacco can be a bit harsh with a faster pace of puff. It also changes significantly for me throughout the bowl, as the Cyprian Latakia overtones become less consistent even with a slow and gentle rate, moving from an awareness of the complexity of the leaf to a more general roughness in taste towards the bottom of the bowl.

The Latakia is the key player, but not overwhelmingly so. The Kentucky adds its own slightly vinegar/smoke essence. The flakes are easily worked but hold together moderately well for those who prefer to fold. A nice balance between the Lat and the rest of the blend; good for those looking for something in this vein for a chilly day. Not an everyday smoke for me, but those looking for a Latakia/Kentucky blend rather than Latakia/Oriental or pure Latakia should find it serviceable or better.