Butera Dark Stoved

This morning I woke up at 4:30 in the morning and could not sleep. I read a lot in the forums and got my kids off to school at 6:40. I came home feeling adventurous. Having been gifted 14 tins of tobacco yesterday, I had a whole new world of tobacco to choose from so I looked the tins over and saw this one: Butera's Royal Vintage Dark Stoved. Never heard of the brand. Upon further investigation I discovered it to be made by The McClelland Tobacco Company. It sounded interesting.

Pickled tobacco??? This I had to try, so I cracked the tin to find It full of 1x2", slightly broken slices of dark reddish black flake. The smell was that of Perique on steroids. Way more of a vinegary, Ketchup smell, yet appealing. I pulled 2 of the slices out and prepared them in the cube cut method and loaded my Savinell Long John. It took 3 char lights to get it ready for the true light and you could very much taste the ketchup flavor come through but it was smokey and nice.

True light: Very much the same as the char light only very heavy with a tangy, almost Perique note as the main component. There was also a slight sweetness that came through. Maybe a hint of leather too. As I got into the heart of the bowl the sweetness came out more and more but was far from sweet like the typical Virginia. The tangy flavor still took center stage and continued to take center stage throughout the whole bowl.. I wish I could be more descriptive but it is certainly its own flavor. I can't think of anything to compare it to other than A really strong Perique but a lot more sour and tangy and less spicy. You could tell you were smoking a Virginia, but it was way in the background. You could also tell it was a Virginia in a subtle way by the way the smoke felt on your tongue. It was making my mouth water excessively. I had to stop smoking several times to wipe my stem.lol

The end of the bowl took on a little different flavor. The components all kind of ran together. It was more mild on the tang and you could tell you were smoking a Virginia even more except it was still not very sweet. It calmed down and finished a lot like most other Virginias I have smoked. I was surprised that it smoked really cool and dry. I am going to cellar the remainder of the tin till I get a more refined taste. It was enjoyable, but in the same way an amusement park is enjoyable. Its great to go to every once in awhile, but not an every day thing. I would recommend it as something to at least try.

I know this has been a bit of a confusing review, but its a very complex smoke and I'm a very new smoker. Happy smoking!!

Comprised of light black to very dark brown shiny broken flakes, the tin nose is sharp with the signature McClelland aroma of vinegar with sweet and woody undertones. Thick, leathery, and none too pliable the flakes are tinned quite moist and require careful preparation. Something of a chore to pack and light, in the the bowl Dark Stoved offers an overall sweet smoke with occasional notes of fig, dark chocolate, and wood. A bit of tangy sourness appears now and again as does some spice. Mild to medium bodied, the finish is short and dry.

As far as American stoved Virginias go, Butera's Royal Vintage Dark Stoved is an offering in the same vein as McClelland's Dark Star, although much lighter and less complex. The sample on which this review is based was tinned about three years prior to opening. While not unpleasant Dark Stoved is certainly not among the best in class nor is it a particularly noteworthy smoking tobacco in general.

A solid Virginia flake similar to Dark Star. The flavor is deep and complex. I will be smoking more of this for sure.

I was enticed by the tin description, and it was the last tin at the shop where I bought it. In a word: horrible! It's especially hard to imagine because this is a Butera/McClelland collaboration. (I know you're gloating, but shut up, Miciu!) The flakes, black as pitch, do not have any of the characteristic sweetness and complexity of McC's Dark Star. The slices are hard to rub out and they're slick and even a bit soggy, like damp leather. You have to wind up cutting the flakes into little cubes or strips. It's impossible to light this stuff and even more impossible to stay lit; I went through a half book of matches. A 'multi-dimensional array of flavors?' Give me a break; the taste was hot, burned my tongue immediately and was gummy in the bowl. I believe this stuff wasn't cured, it was boiled like pasta. I wound up emptying the bowl and throwing this crap out. I can't even describe the flavor or the lack thereof. It's just hot, stoved exhaust. I'll try drying this out for a few days, though I doubt it will help. This is a bad item that Butera should have enough sense to no longer market. I suppose we're all entitled to a flop. Try the other Buteras, such as Latakia 1 or 2, his Esoterica line, or go for McC's Dark Star if you want a heavily blackened dark Virginia flake with multi-dimensional flavor and bouquet. Avoid Dark Stoved at all cost. I agree with Pipestud on this one: yechhhhhhhh!

Zero of Five stars

Dark Star is a favorite of mine. Even though I don't always have a tin of it open, there's always some in the cellar. However, Dark Star is not always the appropriate choice for me when it comes to stoved VAs. The flake can come off a little too bold, too zesty or tangy -- a little overbearing in the flavor department. This of course depends on my mood, time fo day, what I've eaten, the pipe it's in, and other variables that are unique to the smoker.

When the mood calls for a silky, buttery finish but with just a little less in the all-out flavor and mouthfeel adventure that is Dark Star, Butera Royal Vintage Dark Stoved is the ticket. Butera's flake is just toned down a bit. It's an excellent, breezy smoke that is still full of flavor and interest.

When you feel like Dark Star might be a bit much, reach for this instead. Save the Dark Star for a more suitable moment.

This was recommended to me by someone who knows that McClelland Dark Star is one of my all-time favorites. Unfortunately, it isn't in the same league.

As Beer says, this is obviously a McClelland product. But the beauty of Dark Star is the combination of zesty/tangy, leathery, sweet, savory, caramel/toasty and rich elements, all combined in perfect balance. Dark Stoved lacks this balance, having none of the darker tones. Like a tannic red wine with no follow-through. There is no pay-off. It also bites the tongue. With Dark Star, Blackwoods Flake and 2035 available, I don't see any need to keep this around.

When I first opened the tin of this tobacco the sour aroma was overwhelming but this aroma did not overpower the flavor .this was one of the coolest smoking tobaccos I have tried in a long time. There was only a slight sour taste and aroma wile smoking. The flavor was consistent throughout the entire bowl, this has quickly become one of my favorite blends and I highly recommend this one.

I've only had one bowl of this so far and that was in a Castello that seems to like any Virginia but if first impressions mean anything this is one pleasant blend.

The flake texture reminds one of Dark Star or 2035. That is to say the flake could be used to repair worn shoe soles. Upon rubbing out and lighting the taste is very refined for a Va. This is something that could be smoked with very little thought but doing so is going to mean that one misses a lot of subtle tastes. All in all this is a great choice to introduce someone to Va. blends or for the seasoned smoker looking for an all around good smoke.

The flake are broken and chunky (and quite hard too), and quite moist, but beautifully dark. The smell is like dried fruit, vinegar-like, and sweet. It doesn't have that ketchup smell most people talk about, to me.

It doesn't take the flame that easily, needs quite a few relights, which I find, makes you eventually burn out the taste of the tobacco because you just have to keep subjecting the tobacco to so much heat. The flakes are so chunky, and trying to rub it out leaves you with something that isn't flexible to be packed and burned easily. They're like chips and chunks. The flavor I did manage to get leaned on fruit notes, bread notes, and vinegar- very fermented. I know the Virginias are stoved, and I am not a fan. To me, it removes the character of the taste and mouthfeel of the Virginias, and I just feel like I am smoking something airy and rather hollow. This is my opinion with many of McClelland Virginias. However, if you enjoy McClelland's Virginias, I think you may like this blend. I gave the rating of 'somewhat recommended' because of the packing issues and consistency of the tobacco. My rating is not a reflection of the taste or quality of the tobacco. There are enjoyable notes. It's just not a tobacco for me.

I found the nicotine level is mild. Same with the strength and taste.

If you like many of the other McClelland Virginias, especially the ones containing stoved Virginias, then I recommend this blend.