McCranie's Red Flake, vintage 2008
(3.60)
Straight red Virginia from the Old Belt. A flake version of Red Ribbon. A single crop allotment that is simply the best. 2008 Crop from North Carolina.
Notes: Fourth version of the Red Flake imprint. Previous versions used crops of 1983, 1996, and the 2000 vintages.
Details
| Brand | McCranie's |
| Blended By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Manufactured By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | Straight Virginia |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Mild
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 10, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
The red Virginia is richly tangy ripe dark fruity with some earth, wood, sugar, light bread, and a small touch of spice. A hint of vinegar quickly vanishes. Not much complexity, but that's the way red Va.s are. The strength and taste levels are medium. The nic-hit is in the center of mild to medium. No bite or harshness is present here. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable pace for a flake with a consistently smooth, creamy sweet taste. Has a lightly lingering, pleasant after taste and room note. Leaves just a little moisture at the finish, and needs a few relights. I really couldn't tell much difference between this and the vintage 2000 version. Nor could I really tell much difference between this and the 2008 ribbon version, except for this has a tiny bit more depth of flavor. Can be an all day smoke.
-JimInks
-JimInks
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2016 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant |
This tin had to grow on me. I was going thru a phase where I only wanted to smoke lat bombs, and this one was stowed away and nearly forgotten in my desk. At first puff, I thought it lacked flavor. When I came back to it a couple of months later, tired of living and breathing latakia all the time, I found red flake to be refreshing. It reminds me very much of sweet tea with a lemon wedge in that there is a lot of natural sweetness and a little citrus, and a mild and comforting flavor. Some don't like to rub out a broken flake, but I enjoy it. I think it holds the flavor in and I like having the option to include a variety of sizes of flake pieces in the bowl. I don't believe the ribbon cut would have held the flavor in my desk drawer the way the flake did for a couple of months. Red Flake has become my go to smoke in the mornings with my coffee. They just go together beautifully. There is a little moisture toward the bottom of the bowl, but not at all too much. I had 15 tins of various latakia mixtures and I have set them all to the side to finish the tin of red flake. After running out, I tried to go back to the lat bombs, but couldn't. I made my way back to McCranies today and picked up another tin, along with some other virginias. I believe my taste-tides are turning towards this sweet leaf and McCranies red flake was the turning point. 4 stars all day for the sweet, reliable flavor that doesn't change, and for pulling me back in!
Pipe Used:
Cob/Clay/Churchill
PurchasedFrom:
McCranie's Charlotte NC
Age When Smoked:
2 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 18, 2021 | Mild | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
I bought this leading up to the days when all McClelland blends were gone for good. I got 5 tins. I just opened my first tin, and I've smoked this faster than any tobacco, ever.
I thought Butera Golden Cake would be my all time favorite McClelland, but this, this is just amazing. It makes me really happy that I loaded up on Christmas Cheer and a bunch more of their Virginias before they were gone for good.
Red Flake is strawberry pie sweet, with a big, almost but not quite acidic, twang. Slightly earthy tobacco body, and there is nothing about this that feels lightweight to me. It's the same from start to finish. It doesn't develop. There isn't a ton of nuance. What it has to give is so good you don't care about all that. I'm sure once I get into the Christmas Cheers I have cellared this one won't remain on my favorites list, and that makes me very happy indeed. I have some awesome tobacco to look forward to.
I smoke this and I feel like I have the privilege to enjoy tobacco the like of which the world will never see again. Sell your McClelland tins if you like. I am smoking every last gram.
I thought Butera Golden Cake would be my all time favorite McClelland, but this, this is just amazing. It makes me really happy that I loaded up on Christmas Cheer and a bunch more of their Virginias before they were gone for good.
Red Flake is strawberry pie sweet, with a big, almost but not quite acidic, twang. Slightly earthy tobacco body, and there is nothing about this that feels lightweight to me. It's the same from start to finish. It doesn't develop. There isn't a ton of nuance. What it has to give is so good you don't care about all that. I'm sure once I get into the Christmas Cheers I have cellared this one won't remain on my favorites list, and that makes me very happy indeed. I have some awesome tobacco to look forward to.
I smoke this and I feel like I have the privilege to enjoy tobacco the like of which the world will never see again. Sell your McClelland tins if you like. I am smoking every last gram.
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