Orlik Tobacco Company A/S Dark Strong Kentucky

Update September 16, 2006: This picks up another star. Getting the moisture level down to "just pliable" makes a pleasant difference for me. I also switched to smoking DSK in meerschaums. The aroma is almost unbeatable and the fire-cured Burley is wonderfully present. If it were just more tame and easier to light, it would be four stars all the way.

---

I like this better than Edgeworth Sliced, another and better known Burley flake blend (presently unavailable 9/22/06). Both can bite the tongue if not smoked in whole flakes and that slowly. ES and DSK are also cased for added sweetness and flavor.

I do not detect the molasses in DSK I do in ES. DSK sometimes tastes a bit like honey and smells of bakers' spices. Both blends have some Virginia to my tastes. The moisture, casing and Virginia contribute to the the heat ever threatening. Try drying both before enjoying.

Except for ES and DSK having cigar notes, they really diverge in taste. DSK is a heavier flavor, akin to Lapsang Souchong tea. I think this smokiness in DSK comes from the dark, fired Kentucky leaf generously provided. DSK is more akin to a maduro cigar wrapper when the cigar notes waft in and out. I do not get a chocolate or cocoa note as some reviewers have noted. Perhaps a truffle (as in fungi, not confection) flavor is also detectable.

The first third of a bowl is pleasant, sweeter than the end and the hottest (by temperature) part of the experience. The last two thirds of a bowl are the better part of the smoke. The flavor deepens and the effect is rich. There are times a medium- high note comes through the deeper flavors. Adding Perique would make this too strong and too spicy.

I tried this in generous pot shaped pipes and found that it burned too hot. Changing to a straight-walled billard with a group 3+ capacity did it for me. I think a heavily tapered chamber would concentrate the flavors in excess and make it a harsh smoke.

DSK is strong, but not like 1792 or Royal Yacht, which are stronger. I can smoke this without having eaten and not fear "going green."

My first experience with tobacco was some 45 years ago with a Model, a burley tobacco which I smoked until I became enamoured with Virginia and English blends. Througout the years, I've tried about 20 burleys, only to find them either too harsh and/or too hot resulting in tongue bite.

DSK is in a class of its own. It is an exceptionally fine, full bodied and satisfying tobacco with a very light casing that adds a most satisfying flavor.

Fresh from the shelf, DSK is a great tobacco. Left to age even a few months provides a more mellow smoke and a slightly enhanced flavor.

There a still a couple of burley based tobaccos I have yet to sample, but for now, DSK is the one of the best of the lot, second only to Stonhaven.

Update 8/9/06 This blend reminds me of Espterica's Blackpool and Ramsgate notwithstanding that the Esoterica blends are Virginia's. If you enjoy the anise topping, you will be sure to enjoy

a very unique smooth Cavendish/ Burley. Great flavor.

Ps: I have contacted Orlik to figure out what the can says. It truely does defy all online translators. The phrase "Er Yderst Sundhedsskadelight" The mystery was too much for me. 'is harmfull to health'

I don't like misleading names and descriptions. I thought DSK would be a burley/Virginia blend in the same class as Edgeworth Slices. I bought it to replace the now extinct Edgworth Slices. I was wrong. Can I really be blamed? Look at the name and the tin description. This is nothing more than an upscale Danish aromatic, a pretty good one, but not for me. I feel misled and ripped off. It's not a bad blend, and I'm sure many will like it.

Update: Now that I am nearing the end of this tin, I've changed my opinion of DSK. Surely, it's no Edgeworth Slices, but it is a very good blend on its own merit. The flavoring reminds me of licorice and I have come to like it very much; the flavoring comes across stronger in the tin than when lit. The tobacco burns very well, rubbed or by folding the flakes. I have bought a few tins for the cellar and plan to keep a tin open as part of my regular tobacco rotation. When you're wrong, you're wrong, and I was wrong about this very nice tobacco blend!

This is a very pleasant medium strength tobacco that doesn't fit into any classification-- a little stoved, a little flavored, a little straight Virginia.

I was sure this was lightly cased until one day I mixed some rubbed out Stonehaven with light Virginia and realized it was a bit like Orlik DSK. Otherwise, there is nothing else like it.

OK, so I was very leery. I read the reviews and they concerned me. It didn't sound like this would be my kind of tobacco at all.

Well, here is my first sample review. I was given a 100g tin of this, and am not normally a big fan of burleys. The reviews here had me very leery of trying things, making me think of powerful Burley. Powerful I don't mind, I like stout tobaccos, just like my beers. However, the reviews had me concerned.

Ah what the heck, a friend said I should go for it. OK, I cracked the tin. This is some interesting looking tobacco. I like the color of the flakes, black & tan, reminds me of one of my English pub favorites - something with a stout in it. The tin note is very coffee-like with a dark molasses sweetness to it. However, it does not seem to be cased in any way. This smells like pure tobacco.

Rubbed some of it out as I like to try a flake the first time completely rubbed out to get its full measure. It rubs out easily into a very fine cut. Nice! I like that. Pulled out a cob, just in case it was a flavored tobacco, filled it and we were off.

OK, it was a little moist and needed three lights to get going, but I knew that before I started. Hmm, nutty, sweet, and very tasty - not complex, just tasty. Strong? Well, not yet anyway. I like the flavors here. This is some excellent tobacco. There is a hint of coffee, someone else mention caramel - maybe. Brown sugar? Possibly. Molasses? Could be it. It is just naturally sweet, no detectable flavorings. This was incredibly cool.

Inhaled a couple times to get a feel for the nicotine content, it is supposed to be "strong". While it is bold, it isn't nicotine strong so that it is going to leave you woozy. The room note was very pleasant for what I am still believing to be an un-cased tobacco.

OK, let's see how this stuff burns. I am looking for a blend I can smoke without thinking about it. When I do that, I tend to get bit badly as I puff more forcefully. So, I forced it. I tried to get this to burn hot - didn't happen - couldn't make it happen.

Again, I want to return to this. Is this an aromatic? Well, if it is, it is only mildly so. I get the feeling this is just a very tasty, full-flavored tobacco. This isn't a contemplative blend, you know, the type that needs 100% of your concentration to experience all the subtle nuances. This is just a very solid taste treat, rich and sweet.

If you haven't guessed by now, I thoroughly enjoyed this first bowl. That is saying quite a bit. Usually I reserve any judgement until I have had a couple pipes. Now, there is every possibility that all things were hitting on the right cylinders and I just got into the groove on this baccy in this one bowl. And, it may miss entirely after this. I doubt it, doesn't normally work that way.

So, I wanted to say thanks to the friend who encouraged me not to trade off this tin without opening it and giving it a whirl. Wow, what a mistake that would have been.

4.8 of 5 halos.

UPDATED - January 9, 2005

I didn't expect to like this blend much. My first review of it was after a sample. I have since gone through two 100g tins and have three more in the cellar. For me to have that much of a "burley" in my cellar says quite a bit. In fact, I don't have three tins of a whole lot in my cellar.

If you like aromatics, give this a try, this might be something to lead you into straight tobaccos. If you like Virginias, and think that Burleys aren't for you, this might change your mind. I have tried a few other Burley blends since this to see if my tastes have changed, I never finished one of them. I was hoping that Solani Silver Flake might be in a similar vein as this - no such luck.

Still agree with my original assessment.

I agree with Redneck (see below) that upon opening this burley had very distinct molasses/raisin notes and a dark, 'just-this-side-of-black' color. It smells delicious in the tin but unfortunately much of that warm sweetness is lost when lit, leaving behind on the tongue what was, to me, a very mild and subtle smoke with an unoffensive, if pleasant, nose - a good all day smoke. I enjoyed this alot and will smoke it quite often, probably - especially when I am writing or reading and need a mild enjoyment for hours that won't bite or overwhelm or if I am outdoors doing something and concentrating on the smoking experience itself is not the purpose. The nicotine kick, I thought, was relatively low, though I see some others here disagree with me. I liked it alot. No complaints. A solid 3 stars.

I'm not sure why, but I find DSK smokes a bit cooler than its stablemate, Golden Sliced. Smoke it in whole folded flakes, keep it tamped and puff gently. You will know that you've had a smoke all right - there is a fair nicotine hit. The flavour is quite strong and is not that of an aromatic, but mostly just decent burley. It looks and smells good in the tin, and takes a couple of lights when in whole flake form. Not bad, but not a favourite either.

I'll be brief, as many fine reviewers have described this tobacco very well.

This is a nice Burley experience with a lightly sweet topping. The room note is pleasant.

If you're a Burley lover, it's worth a try.

If you're interested in a GREAT Kentucky Burley experience, I recommend Cornell & Diehl's Easy Times.