Butera Dark Stoved

I wanted to try Dark Stoved because I really like McClelland Virginia tobaccos. I smoked it quite dry, cut into small pieces. Even with that, I still had some difficulty keeping it lit. It started off a little grassy and hay like. It was also quite tangy with some spice into the bowl. It was less sweet than I prefer compared to other McC blends that I prefer. There is no bite at all but in the last half of the bowl, it made my tongue a little leathery. This blend didn't capture my interest because as the bowl progressed it gave off a flavor that was less than I had hoped for mainly because, being stoved it didn't offer the sweetness that I really like from one of my favorites, St James Woods. Although St. James Woods is stoved too, the lack of red Virginia found in St James Woods separates this from being a winner for me.

On the plus side, if you think you might enjoy dark stoved VAs, this might be a good one for many to try. Milder, even a bit generic, than many other similar blends and fairly uncomplex, this could give the smoker a sense of what dark stoved are like without being overwhelming. On the other hand, this tobacco bit me hard, which is rare for any VA. The generic uncomplexity might have had me wavering between a 2 and a 3, but the bite brings it easily down to a 2 for me.

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.

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.

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.

Dark Stoved is mild but interesting stuff. It's a black broken flake with a few little lighter strands evident when it gets rubbed out. The tin aroma combines the familiar high-toned sourness of a McClelland Virginia with some very appealing Christmas cake scents—dried fruits, spiced plums, that kind of thing. I'm a sucker for those nostalgia-inducing smells, by the way, so whatever positive comments emerge from this review may be have been twisted out of me by that collection of aromas.

When Dark Stoved is good, it's very good. The tin aromas come through nicely in the smoke and I'm reminded of plum pudding with brandy-spiked hard sauce. That's a pretty impressive aromatic complex for a tobacco that claims to be pure, stoved Virginia.

But this is also a fussy tobacco. The first bowl I smoked wasn't dry enough and I was left with a hot, tasteless smoke that almost had me throwing in the towel. Slower smoking and proper drying are essential for all Virginias, but I think Dark Stoved could act as the yardstick for that advice. Throw this at a new smoker interested in Virginias and tell him to come back when he's getting nice smokes from it. I completely understand those reviewers who complain that this is nothing but hot air or that it's tasteless. I had a few smokes that confirmed those comments.

But I've also had some very nice smokes, especially toward the bottom of the tin I jarred up a couple of years ago. Consistency is important, of course. But I'm going to rate this based on the best bowls it gave me, not on the worst.

Strange blend. First - it is black like a devil. Second - it smells like spoiled fruit jam. Third - it is sticky and far too humid. Directly from the tin it is unsmokable, because of its humidity. It needs at least one day of drying in room temperature. Through this process, this tobacco fills the room with its mysterious aroma, easy to confuse with smell of rotten apples. When more or less dry, it is easier to smoke, but still difficult to fill the pipe, because previously too wet flakes now are, well, too hard. It is certainly not EASY tobacco. Generally, I consider this blend rather strange than pleasant. Butera or not, it is most McClelland's blend, which I've ever tried. If somebody like fruit vinegar in big quantities, it is his choice. I am not fully convinced.

Well, well, you can't even remotely think that this isn't a McClelland, from the tin shape to the smell after opening (dried plums with some of that "vinegary" trace). This one is very similar to Dark Star, but a bit less dark and leathery, more chocolatey. The slices of flake rub out quite easily, and exhibit some moisture (nothing to worry about, though). Taste is quite consistent from beginning to end: a subtle, dark, slightly fruity experience which requires calm and patience. First, not to be scorched, but also to appreciate all the nuances: it is not a very strong blend (neither taste-wise nor nicotine-wise). To my taste is similar to a cross between Dark Star and Orlick Dark Strong Kentucky. Towards the end some very pleasant chocolate notes start to become more and more evident. A very fine tobacco, ideal for an evening smoke: a group 5 bowl of this can last me 75-80 minutes.

This tobacco is made for Butera by McClelland and is similar to Dark Star or 2035. The tobacco comes in slices that are somewhat more broken out than Dark Star. I had some Dark Star on hand when I tried Dark Stoved. The color of Dark Stoved is very dark brown, but not as dark as Dark Star. Dark Stoved has more of a Virginia taste, is less naturally sweet and has more complexity to the flavor than Dark Star.

I have always had a tonguebite problem with Virginias and Dark Stoved was no exception, though the bite was certainly less than some. While I found Dark Stoved to be good, I still find myself preferring Dark Star and McCranies Red Ribbon when I want Virginias. Both the Dark Star and McCranies are flavorful, but without tonguebite for me.