Orlik Tobacco Company A/S Dark Strong Kentucky

Orlik DSK is only the 2nd flake tobacco I have tried so far. I really like the presentation of the tobacco in layers. It easily shows you what you are getting ready to smoke.

Upon opening the tin the sweet aroma is licorice-like but I can also smell the tobacco goodness as well. The flakes are slightly rubbery in texture, but rub out nicely & seem to dry quicker afterwards. Once dry the tobacco loads quite easily & burns fairly well with a couple relights. I had more relights until I started to let it dry out a bit more, about 30 to 45 mins. worked for me. The taste is just what I was hoping for from this tobacco. It's not overly sweet, just right with good tobacco flavor from start to finish. I got overzealous the 1st couple bowls, didn't really get a bite, just less flavor & a lot of heat. You can taste the dark fired but it's not overbearing. There is a touch of smokiness but rounded out by the tanginess & sweetness of the Virginia.

I've tried this in a couple different size cobs & it smoked well in both with very little dottle. It's a great smoke & I will be buying more!

This one hit the spot for me. After going through a few tins of Golden Slice I was ready for a bit more body. When I popped the lid to DSK I thought I died and gone to tobacco heaven where all the angels are two toned in cream and brown. There is a topping for sure that carries over to the room note, but I think Maple is added to the licorice.. could be both which would explain the difficulty in pipers describing the smell, but I do smell licorice but there is something present that is sweet. The tin smell is unique but divine. This is a burley blend. The burley does overshadow the va but does not taste like a straight burley smoke. Between the topping and the VA addition it really makes the smoke much milder than expected and is a nice mild to med smoke... looking for something stronger than mild but not heavy, but yet with flavor? This is a good one. Not your usual burley blend, recommended, and I would buy more.

I am smoking through a generous sample given to me by a friend. It has been an enjoyable smoke. I have been rubbing it out.

The Virginias are sweet and a little heavy. There is a mild topping I claim bringing out the sweet, but it does not contribute a honey or similar taste. The description says licorice, but my tastebuds are not good enough to pick that out. The bowl has a distinctive "flash" of sweet on first light. The DFK gives it some spice and a full, slightly earthy flavor.

In terms of flavor, it reminds me a little of a smoother, more refined Superior Round Slices. The flavor profile has a little more depth.It is a great blend, and I found the smoke improved in the course of the bowl, becoming fuller and less edgy. There was no bitter in the profile, and it never tasted ashy.

A virginia/kentucky aromatic blend. It is topped with various sugars, propylene glycol, licorice, molasses, cocoa powder and unknown flavorings as per the German BMEL website: https://service.bmel.de/tabakerzeugnisse/index2.php?detail_id=102227&site_key=153&stichw_suche=dark+strong&zeilenzahl_zaehler=3

The tin smells very strongly of the molasses topping and a little tobacco. The virginias are bready and sweetened by the casing. Although there is a lot of it in there, the kentucky adds just a touch of smoke and spice. The flavors are very subdued by the casing, but results in a pleasant, mild, smooth, sweet smoke. Mild nicotine.

For an unadulterated virginia/kentucky blend go for G.L. Pease Jackknife Plug and for something less adulterated go for Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired.

I've been piping for just a year. It's taken a minute to develop my palate. I've waited to write a review. Once I got the tin note, I knew I was in for a treat. Beautiful presentation of dual colored flakes presented in chewy dark rectangles. I had no issue rubbing it out and gravity packing the tobacco. The first puff of the charring light was amazing. After the second light, it was bliss at first puff and just got better. A full creamy luxurious smoke wafted unto my tongue. The Kentucky was dark and stewy, the sweetness of the Virginias accentuated by the barbecue molasses taste of the Dark fired Kentucky, held together by a light top note of licorice. As the bowl progressed, complete harmony ensued. I can not imagine what aging would do to this tobacco. This is the perfect after dinner or late night smoke. If you're on the fence, delve off and get a couple of tins. We all have moments when we find a perfect smoke. This tobacco reminds me of smoking a homemade batch of root beer with a dash of burdock and cinnamon. This tobacco makes me feel genuine pitty for those who don't know the joy of the pipe. I'll never be without a tin

When I opened the tin I got a strong note of molasses and sweet hay. I like to rub these flakes out as they come a little moist and need a little drying time. When set to a match it brought back fond memories of my Great Grandfather and his pipe. This would be a blend he would have loved. The room note, which is something I seldom smell when smoking was very nice. Taste, the molasses top note was present but there is a nuttiness and sweetness to the KY, the VA had some notes of hay and there was a non citrus fruit like sweetness that may have been from KY. A very good blend that is not overly complex and slightly sweet. Do smoke this one slowly as the VA's can bite if you push too hard.

***Update*** 2022-03-28 Opened my final tin of this one with 6 years on it. It is a little drier in the tin and the VA's are darker. The tin note has changed before it was molasses forward now the licorice is way out front and it did translate into the smoke as I don't recall it being all that noticeable when 1 yr old; otherwise the taste is the same overall. A good smoke. I am glad I had picked up a couple of tins of this. I think I prefer it at the 1 yr mark personally.

Upon opening, I was immediately hit with a rich deep smell of licorice, raisins and prunes. The presentation of this tobacco is very appealing with several stacks of flakes. The flake is two strips of dark fired Kentucky with a bright strip of Virginia in the middle. It takes about two flakes (dependent on bowl size) more or less to fill your pipe. The tobacco is a bit moist so rubbing out and allowing a bit of air time before filling. Upon lighting, a pleasant, deep taste of rich tobacco overtakes you and a nice taste of molasses. I found this tobacco to produce a good volume of creamy smoke as well as a pleasant sweet taste in the mouth. There is a spicy zip in the nose upon retrohale. The ash was a dark grey with little dottle. I found this to be a very full, rich smoke that immediately became one of the main players in my rotation. I highly recommend this tobacco.

Conclusion: A fine, mild tobacco to smoke whenever - it will not disappoint or surprise.

Taste: A dominant taste of virginia sweetness mixed with a faint liquorice. It is good and straight forward, nothing complex. Clearly related to, and inferior to, Golden Sliced.

Mechanics: Needs a few relights but once lit burns clean leaving a fine grey ash. Low on nicotine.

Summary: a sweet blend with a vanilla top note that brings out sugary and chocolate notes in the leaf.

For all that has been written about this blend, and its depth of flavor and the taste challenges posed by the dark fired leaf, forget it: this blend is ice cream. To the sweet Virginias and dark-fired Burley the blenders added vanilla, which makes the sweet taste like vanilla ice cream and the dark take on a chocolatey tone. It burns easily but moist, has some bite from the Virginias, but mostly is a sweet puffing smoke that like Carter Hall or Prince Albert, evokes your favorite dessert flavors more than strong tobacco tastes. As a result, this is a good blend for new smokers, junk food addicts or children.