Peterson Dark Flake

The new Dark Flake is a standard dark stoved Virginia of good quality but is one of those many stoved blends that needs quite a few years of aging to enrich the lives of those who smoke it. The edge, thanks to the stoving, is taken off, but the depth is not yet there. After sampling, I ordered a bunch more of this one as I think it will improve and strengthen greatly in 5-10 years and the bottom will build to a really nice level.

UPDATE (31/01/17): After posting the following review which was based on about 4/5ths of a tin smoked at various moisture levels I put the rest of the tin aside and forgot about it. I stumbled across it again today. The flakes had become extremely dry, crispy. First inclination was to toss it, but I have had good experiences with some very dry flakes so decided to give it a go. Crumbled a couple of flakes, fed them into a small Kaywoodie apple from the 20's which always smokes beautifully, and fired up... Delicious from start to finish! It burned beautifully, leaving a wonderful aftertaste, and was a very satisfying smoke. In this very dry state it's a solid three star (+) tobacco and, for me, just misses being a four star recommendation by a smidgeon (and that only because I'm not sure how often I will return to it). Great stuff. Give it a whirl! 3.5 stars... Will be putting some back to see what it offers in a few years...

Original review: This tin is from August of this year. It is round and contains well cut dark brown rectangular flakes mottled with lighter bits. The humidity level was high, about 28%, so reckon with some drying time. The tin aroma is sweet, reminiscent of fresh peat, sour (fermentation), and, I think SteelCowboy is spot on, offers up more than a hint of molasses, perhaps including some kind of dark berry or rum.

After drying it takes well to the match and burns consistently. The flavours are all up front with the first light, change very little during the smoke, and tend toward the dark side of things. What seemed fresh peat in the tin becomes peat smoke on the pallet, which may indicate dark-fired Kentucky in the blend. Perique is evident (with spice and that strangely fruity earthiness of decomposing leaves). The tannins are pleasant, softly dark, and the molasses is there from start to finish. The Perique prickle is there, but although there is a slightly alkaline tang to the smoke if puffed quickly, I could not get it to bite. Nicotine is apparent and on the high side of medium.

All in all a very serviceable, unproblematic smoke, and if you enjoy these flavours and are looking for a relatively full-bodied smoke that requires little attention, this may be one for you. I'm sure many will love this blend. It's well made and certainly worth a try. I’ll probably finish this tin, but I doubt I’ll be getting back to it anytime soon. It's just too predictable to me, but what seems predictable to me just may be steady and dependable to you. Enjoy!

I was looking forward to tasting this tobacco and opened it with some anticipation . Sadly , I did not feel rewarded . The tobacco was sort of stiff and dry in the tin with very little tin note . It was a little stiff to pack and took some work to prepare it for the bowl . Upon smoking I simply did not get the taste of a Virginia flake . It took some puffing to begin to get a sort of peaty , syrupy flavor from it . I suspect this blend has some Kentucky in it but I cannot say for sure . I have never thought Dunhill lite flake an especially strong flake since it usually incited tongue bite and this dark flake is sort of in the same range . While I admit that this flake does have some positive qualities I ask this question ... With the superb quality of K & K folded flakes available why would I smoke this dark flake? With the extremely high quality of Mc Clelland flakes available would I even consider ordering this ? The answer is this ; there is enough super high quality Virginia flakes out there that marginal flakes like this need not be re-ordered . 11/17/17 In time I have come to enjoy this blend a little more . If you puff slowly you are rewarded with a really nice and tangy perique flavor . I raised it to 3 stars because it is a decent perique smoke though not up there with the really good ones like Escudo and the Mc Clelland blends .

Beautiful darker brown flakes with a bit of a lemon streak. This comes wet in the tin and the flakes proved a little difficult to separate. I folded and stuffed for best results. Tin nose was a deep and rich tobacco smell with no non-tobacco scents.

As is my custom, I smoked this at tin moisture first and found it much lighter tasting than the aroma or color would indicate. It didn't want to hold a light, either. The overall flavor was bland at the start but eventually a richer taste came through. Subsequent bowls were well dried and the flavors snapped into focus. If you've ever wondered what pumpernickel, molasses and figs might taste like together, this will give you an idea. There was a dark sweetness and a really interesting sour note hung around for the last half-bowl. Every so often I get a fleeting taste of peat-smoke. I couldn't place the topping, if indeed there was one. Somehow it seemed there was, but I couldn't put my finger on it. This covered the lower end of the taste spectrum quite well but the highs were missing. And since it's named Dark Flake and Dunhill also makes a blend that used to be named Light Flake, I got the bright idea of mixing the two. Had to rub it out to do so, however. The LF really improved this one by adding some missing spiciness and high notes. Cool experiment, but as much as I preferred this one with LF mixed in, I preferred LF by itself. So it goes. As a darker Virginia, I wasn't overly impressed with this one, but if you like the direction something like ODF or Lakeland Dark goes but want to back off the flavor, this would be one to try.

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 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.

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.

A flake/broken flake in the tin. Dark scents. Mostly dark and some bright leaves.

Heavier, of course, than Dunhill's light flake/flake (new - hay like or older version -sweeter).

Easy to load, pack. Moisture level o.k. to smoke out of tin to me.

Flavors I get are brooding, stoved Virginia, but spiced up with some Perique (more than a pinch). Not bite but spice. I get little sweetness from the brights. DGT a little and I do get some of that prune taste.

Not as smooth as Stonehaven, but near that range. I don't think this has KFC but it could have a touch.

Overall, a tasty(dark toast) near full blend, but not over the top strong.

A touch peaty with remote hints of dark fruit from the Virginias, the latter reinforced along with a touch of spicy tang from the Perique -- altogether, an easy smoking VA flake, darker perhaps in appearance than in flavor. May be even an all-day smoke for those who really enjoy this category, although for me more of a change of pace.

Edit: just finished a tin bought at the same time (now 4 years later), and the taste was a bit darker and 'peatier', the taste now medium-to-full.