Butera Dark Stoved

I was a bit miffed when I opened my tin of Dark Stoved. I wasn't aware that the blend was made by McClelland, and was shocked to find that I had ordered a simple rebranding of Dark Star. So let's see, there's Dark Star, 2035, and now Dark Stoved. Am I missing any?

Judging by the inability to find any Pelican or Kingfisher, and the overwhelming availability of Royal Vintage, it's obvious what people really want. It's simply unnecessary to rebrand an endless array of McClelland blends when people are pining for something more native to the Butera name. That's not an insult to McClelland, they make many fine blends.

So how about devising something more derivative of the Pelican and Kingfisher formula? Or increasing the supply? If I wanted to purchase McClelland blends, then I would. Can't you people be a bit more creative?

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

I found this tobacco tasteless. I expected some rich sweet and spicy flavors from this stoved tobacco. But it could not satisfy my needs. It is stoved too much! I don't know how to finish this little tin as I hate to throw away tobaccos.

Emmbee's review came in a week too late for me. Being a fan of Dark Star and 2035, I looked forward to a change of pace.

How the makers of the excellent blends above can create, much less market Dark Stoved is beyond me.

Avoid this blend at all costs. Just awful.

I'm not a big enthusiast of the McClelland Tobaccos other than the Nording Hunter Blends. I love the taste of a Sweet Virginia this one just did have it for me, it left my throat feeling like it was hot and dry at times and I credit that to that Zesty Lemon, but I had to try it.