Peterson Dark Flake

Dunhill Dark Flake- Yep, it's a "dark FLAKE" , not a typical Dunhill ribbon cut and it comes damp. It needs a minimum of 6 hours open before smokable. Personally, I think rubbing this out gives the best burn rate , but then again, I've never been good with the fold and stuff flake method. This has a light top note of Molasses, not over done, no bite and it does have a slight bitter background. Overall the taste is that of a nice "English style" Virginia ,very Samuel Gawith in style, a sweeter FVF . Not real grassy or hay like , and I feel this would improve to 4 stars with a year of aging.

I never realized that there was Perique in this blend until I read the ingredients, so don't expect a VaPer ? It did taste more like a touch of DFK than Perique.

I love this stuff. I would love to try old release, but quite pleased with the most recent release. Rich, dark, satisfying. It has tang, spice, bread, earth, hay, all in subtle yet individually noticable proportions. I'm currently looking for a few more tins. I'll try to amass 4-8 tins. It's special enough to try and acquire, yet some people are willing to part with it. Not like the oh so worshipped Esoterica which only Peacehaven I prefer. Try this if you have a chance. You'll be glad you did.

(This review is based on Dunhill's relaunch of a tin dated 2017). I was giving it time and waiting for the opportunity to open the only tin that I could find of this tobacco.

The flakes appear stacked in two columns and are very dark in color (hence their name) due to the ripe virginias and the perique, although there are also some bright streaks. The degree of humidity is quite high so that I would dare to say that this also helps slightly to darken the flakes, but does not prevent them from burning perfectly after a few re-ignitions. Due to this degree of humidity, they rub off easily, leaving fluffy strands. The last flake I had to literally peel off the wrapping paper.

The fruity, prune aroma predominates over other Virginian nuances, and I am struck by the pleasant cellar smell that differentiates it from other blends.

Once the pipe is lit, these aromas are reproduced during smoking. Virginia and Perique are perfectly combined to create a very well balanced duo and with shared prominence. With a mild flavor, the notes of raisins and something similar to wine are the predominant ones. At some point I also had a certain smell of kidneys, which I would say is typical of the Virginias when it sinks too quickly.

A very rich and different tobacco, but which at the time of writing this little review is no longer manufactured. I hope that one day not too long ago Peterson will bring it back on the market so I can get some more tin.

05/13/2022: I was lucky to get several more tin of the Dunhill era to confirm that it is an exceptional tobacco. Without a doubt, one of my favorite vapers ...

I was finally able to score some of this from a fellow pipe club member and a heck of a guy dated June 2018. This was a beautiful flake about the width of two sticks of gum with mottled dark and medium brown color. This smokes really cool and pleasant. A very good blend and I did the fold and stuff method in my Savinelli 2nd Billiard and once I got it fired up the flavor really came through. I can’t dissect all of the flavors and nuances and will leave that to the pros but definitely a quality VaPer. Not sure if this one crossed over to Peterson. I hope I bought a few tins, will have to look. Thanks again for the sample. I also was given some Dunhill flake but will save that one for the weekend and I am sure it will be good also.

Based on a tin of unknown age. If I had to guess it would be at least two years or more. The presentation is neat and acceptable. The flakes were a little messy. The flakes were smokable but could use some drying.

This is a sweet flake. There was very little spice and and a roundness in the flavor profile. I think there is some stoving or some Cavendish in the mix. There were notes of brown sugar and cinnamon notes, bready notes, some tangy fruit notes, some raisin and molasses notes I found enjoyable. There are also some earthy soil-like notes (in a good way). Pretty deep.

The strength was on the mild side. The nicotine was unnoticeable. The taste was maybe medium.

I found this flake to be too sweet, plain and simple. It lacked anything I find loveable. Nothing that stood out. It's not like an Escudo, which is really superb. It's not like Cabbie's Mixture. It's certainly not like Bayou Morning Flake, which I also really like. Nevertheless, the quality is there and for those that like a smooth, Virginia and Perique mix, this is for you. Two stars.

When the 3 star reviews take multiple paragraphs you know it's a 4 star blend.. period. I'm just trying to create a stir amongst seasoned smokers.. and I will take flavour over smokability anyday.. it's good. It ain't (yes I used that 'word') your typical va/per.. and i kinda suspect a casing.. interferes witg the burn.. but it works.. and I will not give Dunhill a free pass.. not impressed by brand names.... but this has a wide flavor profile... dark fruit, barnyard, chocolate, spice.. sour in a good way.. the answer is yes.. just watch your cadence.

I was still a student when I discovered Dunhill tobaccos, and they became a decadent pleasure for me, something I could ill afford, but the name alone was a virtual guarantee that I would get maximum satisfaction with minimal effort. And this Dark Flake redux is deja vu all over again. It’s not much to look at by Dunhill standards, just a short stack of moist, variegated, dark-ish flakes that are loosely plopped into an over-sized tin. Typical of the marque, the tobacco performs well when it’s smoked straight from the tin. The tin note reminds me of plum pudding, but just barely; there really isn’t much wafting up from the tin. Lit and puffed, it’s another story. The mix of VAs is quite rich and fragrant, and the soft Perique is barely present, with parallel tastes of dark fruit leathers, fig, and meadow grasses, along with faint loam and tannin, and some vague, Middle Eastern dessert spices. If you prefer your flakes folded and stuffed, as I do, you should allow time for a long, leisurely smoke. IMO, this one is worth fussing with going in, to get a solid char and a thorough light. This way it finally opens up and gets more interesting down the bowl, adding lighter bread and floral notes to the end. I tend to wind up with some dark dottle that I would rather throw out than struggle to smoke, because the aftertaste is better if I toss it. The strength of this blend is more mild than medium. Tastes are more medium than mild with long, slow pulls. Room note is pleasant. Aftertaste (sans dottle) starts off slightly metallic and ashen before settling down to an aftermath of the best of the smoke.

If you wonder why Dunhill would re-release another VA/Per (a tough category) when they already offer DNR, then give this Dark Flake a try. IMO it holds its own in august company, and I’m pretty sure it will age to become even better. 4 stars, walking away.

On Dark Virginias side: Dunhill - Dark Flake; Marlin Flake; Dunhill Navy Roll.

On bright Virginias side: Dunhill - Flake; Solani - 633; Hearth & Home - Viprati; Cornell & Diehl - Bayou Morning; STG version Dunhill - Elizabethan Mixture.

So in its category, it is a high quality all day smoke.

As JimInks said: "Reminds me a little of a toned down Dunhill Navy Rolls."

Three and a half stars.

I might be in the minority, but I did not find anything special about this flake. With so many better flakes out there (Peterson's Irish Flake), I can't see why I would bother with this. It buens hot and the nic hit is less than desired.