Butera Blended Flake

Even though, as many have remarked, you can tell McClellend blended this as soon as you pop the top, that did not carry over into the smoke for me. Instead, this seemed a very nicely balanced blend, neither the VAs, the Orientals, or the Perique stood out, but all were there. Overall, this is a very pleasant smoke, but nothing memorable about the taste. What is memorable, however is that while flakes tend to smoke more slowly than most other tobaccos, this was one of the slower burning flakes I've come across. Since I know there are many tobaccos out there I would rate a 4, the question arises would I rebuy this particular tobacco, assuming my tastes don't change much more. In this case, the answer is probably yes.

Smells like a McClelland. Tastes like a McClelland. In the first one quarter of the bowl the Virginias are right on the edge of biting. Calmed down after that and became very enjoyable. All the components are nicely balanced contributing equal amounts of flavor. Medium bodied, medium flavored. As much as I liked this I have to say that I prefer Low Country's Waccamaw for a VaPerOr. It's flavors are richer than these and it's also a bit cheaper. This is a good blend though and I'm glad I tried it.

Oriental/Virginia flakes are some of my favorite tobaccos. On the deeper tasting end you have McClellands Virginia No.24, on the higher sweet and tangy end you have the old Asfton Pebble Cut and Blended Flake. The virginias are sweet and tangy, and the orientals are rich and edgy. Sort of a tart razorblade for the tongue. If you like the type, it is a good, if somewhat strident iteration, not nearly as laid back as Mat.VA 24 or the Grand Oriental line, but interesting is you are wavering between tangy offerings.

Medium to dark brown broken flakes which deepen and homogenize somewhat in color as the tin is allowed to breathe, the aroma is rich and a bit spicy with an inviting earthy quality. While easily rubbed out to suit just about any preference, the flakes are tinned quite moist and require a bit of initial drying before coming anywhere near the pipe. Experimenting with a variety of preparations is suggested, as the character of the smoke has a tendency to change noticeably at varying degrees of moisture and with various styles of rubbing and packing. This reviewer has found the blend to perform at its best when in between just slightly pliable to a few ticks away from crispy, and when moderately rubbed out to just a bit chucky. Individual mileage will vary, of course, depending on pipe and preference.

Dominated by a mild woody spice, in the bowl Blended Flake offers dark notes of citrus and black tea alongside flavors reminding of figs, currants, and lychee. The piquant character of the Perique is notable throughout the bowl and at times seems intensified by the Oriental leaf. Securely coupled to a core of semi-sweet, aged Virginia, these two components are distinct enough to be recognized with little effort while at the same time creating enough of a synergy to generate a whole which at times transcends all three. While not a ‘balanced blend', Blended Flake is certainly not ‘out of balance' either. A smoke which seems to shift and change as one works his way through the tin, an interesting range of divergence and convergence are revealed as increased familiarity brings the blend's various aspects into focus. Medium to just a tad mild in body, the finish is long and lingering.

There is something about a Virginia-Perique-Oriental blend in a flake preparation which this reviewer finds eminently satisfying, and McClelland has done a nice job in producing an example which stands up to other well-known representatives of the genre – both those birthed in Kansas City and those coming from further afield. Blended Flake is a standout among Butera's Royal Vintage line and deserves the consideration of a wider audience than perhaps it has been given thus far. This review is based on a tin dated 2004, and while certainly more than ready to smoke at that vintage it does seems that laying some up to age for much longer would not go unrewarded.

First off the tobacco in the tin I have is not ready rubbed, but is in flake form. The tin aroma is wonderful, spicy, sweet,tobacco without flavoring. It packs ok as it is a bit moist out of the can. It charrs and relights without problems. It does not burn as nice and evenly as it would if it were a rubbed out blend as advertised. The taste is the important thing, and the taste is very nice. The blend is not too strong in nicotene either. It is a good smoke and worthy of many returned visits for any smoker who likes natural tasting tobacco, or some one who wants a non aromatic-non latakia blend. I am of the understanding that this tobacco is actually from McClelland. I'm not sure if this is true, but if it is I wonder under what name it is sold by.

Like everything Butera puts it's name to, quality shines through. This is definitely a McClelland product: the tin, the lid, the packaging the tobacco cut and slightly ketchupy aroma have that distinctive McClelland stamp. This reminds me very much of McC's matured Virginias series, such as the No. 24. It's sweet, though the zesty Perique and North Carolinas balance that out nicely. The aroma is warm and toasty, and the sugars from the Virginias are released to bring comfort to any room. Though ready rubbed, the pieces are a bit large and may require a bit more crumbling to get into the bowl. It's a clean, dry smoke and never any wet dottle or gurgle. Though matured Virginia flake is not one of my everyday favorites (I prefer English and spicy Balkans), when I am looking for a solid American with just the right amount of sweetness, Butera's Royal Vintage fills the bill. The Latakia No. 2 is Butera's crown achievement, and I will soon be trying the Latakia No. 1, which I hear is equally as spendid. I'll keep you posted on that after I've sampled it. Enjoy!

Three of five stars