Orlik Tobacco Company A/S Golden Sliced (Red Tin)

Wow. An interesting day to welcome back old friends. Today I rediscovered tobaccoreviews.com and Orlik Golden Slices.

I have had two tins of OGS on hand for about 4 years that I haven't touched for at least 3 years. Today seemed a good day to reaquaint myself with this blend as I used to use it for a morning smoke due to its light almost unnoticeable flavor. While others have said that there is no burley in this blend, the tin does mention burley, although I don't know the context as I can't read Danish or whatever language it is written in. Go figure.

On to the tobacco itsself. It is indeed light and pleasant, if somewhat bland. There may or may not be any burley in this blend, but something sure does taste like it. However I don't notice any anise. Someone mentioned that this tobacco likes a smaller bowl and I would agree with the addition that it seems to like a bowl that is fairly small at the heel as well.

All in all, a good smoke, but a bit too bland to qualify as an all day smoke for me.

As always, YMMV, don't hold me responsible if as a result of this review you find your pipe fouled, sullied, rendered less smokeable or posessed by demons from your trying this tobacco.

*** Update 2013.

Try it in a cob! It's magical this way. Especially in MMC's "Pony Express" with a small chamber.

***

I've known this wonderful flake since i was a kid. My best friends father, (who actually WAS a judge; shrewd? i don't know.) used to smoke this all day long and the sweet and delightful roomnote lingers in my memories. Then, many years later i began to smoke it myself, and everytime i am lead back to his home.

This is plain VA, i know some of the other reviewers mentioned both Burley and Périque. No burley but a tad Perique. I asked Orlik Tobacco Company if it was true; i have seen several online tobacconists describe the blend as a mix of VA and Burley. Their answer: "Pure Virginia". With all due respect to my fellow reviewers' taste buds i wouldn't dream of being gleeful, this is only plain info.

It has a very unusual topping i think. I detected notes of aniseed, citrus and Earl Grey Tea (bergamot). It packs and burns very well, and i tend to rub it slightly to keep chunks in between. This gives me a much more complex smoke.

I really hope that some of you are able to find an international supplier for the other blends from Orlik. They're all here in Denmark, and i think it's a shame that people from the US don't have a single chance to get hold of the other blends from Orlik. (see tobaccoreviews.com) Most of these blends are just as good (sometimes even better)as MacBaren's products, but without that famous burn!

Golden Slices are the epitome of Danish flake tobacco, but there are other Danish flakes that are even better, i think.

This is one of those tobaccos that I find is neccessary to keep on hand for those times when nothing else will do. It has a very rich tobacco taste that seems to be mostly Burley. The closest thing to it I have tried so far is MacBaren's Navy Flake, one of my all time favorites. The overwhelming difference is in the casing. While MNF has a honey flavor to it, Golden Slices has only straight tobacco flavor on the palate. When opening the tin there is a definite anise aroma in the background, but I never tasted it in the smoke. The tobacco taste is so rich it is almost buttery. The Virginias make this a naturally sweet blend, but it is the nutty burley that is the prevalent flavor. This blend needs to be dried out a little right out of the tin or you will get bitten. Unlike MNF I also noted that you had to smoke this like a Virginia flake or you would get bitten anyway. Take it nice and slow however and you will be richly rewarded.

I smoke a bowl of Golden Sliced a day. Most of the good things about the tobacco have already been said above. However, a faint burly flavor can be tasted in the very back of the palate if you exhale through the nose slowly. And I like this effect. Otherwise, this tobacco delivers a tasty, well-behaved Virginia flavor. Some sort of neutral sweeter has been added, but does not interfere with the tobacco taste. It is quality tobacco, and I agree it could easily be an all day smoke. I would classify it with Luxury Twist Flake, with less pronounced flavor in the sweetener and less bitter aftertaste, which is not a criticism of LTF. Highly recommended. Paddy.

There would be no Henry B - the pipesmoker, if there wasn't Orlik Golden Sliced. For the most part of my pipe smoking career this has been my favourite tobacco. This said, I will not repeat in entire length the qualities of this fine tobacco, that others before me have adequately mentioned, but just give a couple of hints to obtain full pleasure from it. As always, I am being very objective (not really): First, you should devote one (or more) pipe(s) to it, and though it will not interfer with other natural tobaccos, this one will not tolerate any Gawith Hoggarth or Rattray's very well. As a morning smoke, smoke it in a small bowl. It will have a refreshing effect and get you going for the day. As an afternoon smoke, have it with some coffee. I love to sit in the sun on my porch with a huge bowl of this and a steaming mug of my favourite Kenia coffee blend. As an evening smoke, do not pair this with alcoholic beverages with a strong taste. It will ruin the taste of the tobacco.

I let it dry out quite a bit; a freshly opened tin will sit on my desk for at least two days, before I fill a bowl with it. This increases the spiciness. I can understand why this is (allegedly) the most popular tobacco in Denmark. It is perfect for a windy outdoor smoke and will not let you down ever, even if it rained and you relight the bowl after a couple of hours inside. The taste is smooth with hints of honey, anise or licorice. Sometimes it reminds me of caraway ("Kuemmel"). Give it a try.

Because some of my friends, whose tastes I admire, really like this stuff, I really wanted to like it, too. But I think what I learned from this nicely-made but ultimately boring flake is that I'm just not a Burley Guy. If you're a Burley Guy, I expect you will eat this stuff with a spoon. If you're not, you may decide like me that you like Mac Baren Navy Flake better than you like this near relative. To its credit, I must note that this flake is wonderfully made, and has wonderful burning characteristics. I also must note that I haven't tried Golden Slices in a cob. This is further proof that I just can't hang with the Burley Guys, who smoke by-god burley in nasty old cobs, talk like sailors, and have a great old time. This is a really nice tobacco, but I just don't love it enough to stock it in my own cellar.