Orlik Tobacco Company A/S Dark Strong Kentucky

I am quite happy that this classic is back on the shelves. I had tried Heinrich's version and was not crazy about it as I find the black licorice casing was too present and the strenght of the tobacco mild to medium. Orlik presents us with, yes, some kind of black licorice casing, but I find it's more of molasses. I wasn't quite sure if there was really some DFK in there as I could not identify it by nose. But when I lit up, the molasses casing had a quasi burnt taste to it and that's when I realized the DFK is quite present. I believe there might be some Black CA as well, which softens the spicy, fired qualities of the DFK. The virginias bring an unsweetened, "breadish" taste that balance out the blend's sweetness. Lighting up is super easy and the tobacco burns beautifully well. The casing is present throughout but does not hinder on the tobacco taste, especially when the DFK kicks in. DSK is not a complex tobacco but it's never boring. What makes it fun lies in the fact that, from one pipeful to another its strenght will vary, depending on the proportion of DFK that ends up in the bowl. Nicotine is more than medium on average, and less than strong. So, medium strong. I would not tend to make this an everyday smoke. However, I would open a tin every couple months to enjoy with genuine pleasure. Overall it's a tobacco much different than what I'm used to smoke. And, having 9 tins in my cellar, I will buy more.

Recently, Europe has changed their laws regarding labeling of things. Dark Strong Kentucky is now just Dark Kentucky so the ?confusion? can finally stop. I never thought this blend was particularly strong anyway.

Appearance: This one gets the nod for ?oddity? if anything ever did. When whole the flake look something like an Oreo cookie with Dark Kentucky on the outside and light colored Virginia in the middle, strange yes, but very appealing. One true bonus of this feature is that you can ?customize? a bowl easily adding more of either componant simply by adding more of the appropriate color.

Aroma: This mixture has a deep sweet aroma very enticing. Immediately one smells a deep hay-like quality, cocoa, molasseses, coffee and maybe a hint of cherry or some other fruity essence. Deep, sharp and earthy, carmel tones and nuts are evident.

This tobacco is nearly perfect in moisture though sometimes I allow it to air a bit before use. Most often I simply fold the flakes up and insert them into the bowl un-rubbed, affording me a long burning bowl each time.

Lighting usually is a single fairly laborious as this leathery flake is slow to burn and slow to properly light. As expected, the initial flavor very Burley, with a thick silky mouth feel, notes of butter and nuts. Hay-like tones and smells and flavors of Autumn are abundant with deepening flavors of nuts and butter interplaying in a fascinating way. Deeper tones of chocolate and the occasional taste of cherry is there. The Virginia adds a very pleasant tangy top note to the whole affair.

Mid Bowl: Approaching mid-bowl, the fullness tends to build the toothsome mixtures of butter, nuts and Burley develop in strength slowly along predictable lines. A slight builds throughout, cigar-like flavors come in from time to time. The nuttiness becomes more pronounced and the Virginia drones on adding sweet and sour which is very agreeable. DSK is not very complex, not requiring deep concentration to smoke and enjoy.

Home Stretch: As end of the bowl approaches, the bowl never really changes other than it gradually deepening. This blend remains consistent throughout. The final third has matured nicely with all the flavors working in deepening harmony. Well behaved and cool smoking this mixture satifsys my sweet tooth and passion for Burley all at once. The final third is very rich tasting, but IMHO it is not strong. While not quite a masterpiece of a blend, it certainly has a lot going for it. As a crossover blend (between natural and aromatic) it is unique, there is nothing that I know of that tastes quite like it, though there are some that are similar.

Supplemental Notes: I recommend this blend to those who enjoy Burley and to those who've never tried Burley but are curious to do so.. Rating for those interested in numbers *** stars

I first tried this tobacco by recomendation from my local pipe shop owner. She knew that I primarily smoked Kentucky Burley and told me to give it a try. The initial scent present at the opening of the tin was a bit more sweet and spicy than the straight burley that I usually smoke. I guess this is due in part to the presence of viginia varieties. This blend is pressed and sliced, revealing the top and bottom layers of Kentucky, which sandwich the lighter Virginia in the middle. Once rubbed out, I had to let this one dry for about 30min before smoking because the moisture content was quite high. Although this one is called Stong Dark Kentucky, it is quite mild on the tounge and its aroma is not offensive in the least. Also, I noticed that even with what appears to be a 2:1 ratio of Kentucky to Virginia, the Virginia cuts through the taste of the Kentucky more than I prefer. I usually like to smoke Virginia and Kentucky straight-up. The aroma is brown sugar sweet, with the mild tartness so characteristic of Virginia. I prefer to smoke this blend as vell as straight VA and KY in a billiard. It is long and lasting and stays caramel sweet to the end. This blend burns clean leaving a mildly grey ash in the bottom of the bowl.

For some reason this reminded me a little bit of Mick Mcquaids flake or kind of like Paul Olsons 111 flake but not as round and silky. I enjoy this for the times when I would like a stronger virginia burley blend. This is definately good and is worth a try but if you would like to try a virginia burley flake that is wonderful and superb try the 111 flake by Paul olson( another blended flake by Peter Stokebye)

This is how a premium Burley blend should be! I find this blend to be rich and dark, just like I imagined when I first heard the name. The only flavoring I picked up on was a bit of sweetness that seemed to be added. This tobacco burned well and was slightly dry in the tin. There really isn't much else to say, It's very fullfilling when you're looking for something to satisfy after a hearty meal!

This a very peculiar looking tobacco. It comes in a 100g tin consisting of small thin flakes, 1&1/2 x 3/4 inches in size, jumbled about. Half the flake is medium brown tobacco and half is dark tobacco. It smells like like a chocolate cake topped with vanilla and cherry cream. My first thought was, "Oh, oh, not one of these again. I can't put this stuff in a briar. Better get the corn cobs." The flake is nice and pliable, rubs easily into whatever form you would prefer to pack it. It lights quickly and burns nicely all the way to the bottom of the bowl. Thank goodness, very little of the casing comes through in the smoke. In fact, the smoke has a lightly sweetened Virginia and burley flavor. This is a good smoke if you appreciate burly. I am told the room note is a smooth vanilla with a chocolate edge. The burly has strength in that you get the strong burly sensation on the tongue, but you do not get the cheap burly taste. I continue to smoke this in corn cobs, although I do not think it would infest a pipe. Just not willing to take the chance. This should be enjoyed by the burly lover and as a very big step up for the aromatic lover. I would rank this right behind Sweet Vanilla Honeydew Flake. Recommended. Paddy.

Dark Strong Kentucky is an interesting bird to look at. The flakes seems to be composed of half golden tobacco and half a dark tobacco. The taste of this tobacco changes if you don't try to keep equal proportions of the lighter and darker tobaccos in your rubbing.

DSK is a rich smoke and you think it is going to make you turn green when you start smoking it. Have no fear - I have never experienced turning green with this one thankfully. There is a certain cigar tobacco smell and taste with this tobacco, and leaves a simular room note. This tobacco is very full tasting and burns clean.

Essentially just a very good dark Virginia blend, the label is misleading. There's nothing strong or dark Kentucky about this, and honestly I'm relieved. This isn't my wheelhouse, and there are certainly other options which fit this profile in my mind. Very fruity, not grassy, molasses is present, but no licorice as far as i can tell. Very good, again, just not what I'm looking for. Found a tin for $20, and at that price I'm happy to have it, but i wouldn't spend much more.

2014 tin that I tried. Been opened and not humidified at all.A lot better moisture level still left than the Balkan Sobrani from the same year that I’d reviewed the same night!The virginia’s I tasted well, hitting me square right in the face! As I smoked along the black cavendishes did mellow the smoke for me blending with the burley’s well in the end.My wife and daughters wondered “What the Heck I was smoking “, since I am mainly an Aromatic cavendish burley smoker.Still was very glad to experience this tobacco after having been recommended to try this.I have smoked the Orlik Golden Sliced which is a totally different blend than this. I have to admit that If I had to choose I’d have to keep on keeping on with this over the Golden Slice Orlik!