Ashton Brindle Flake

If you like McClelland Virginias, you shouldn't pass this stuff by. Pipe-legend Paul Szabady identified Brindle Flake as the most full-flavored of the McC #2010 - McC #22 - Brindle Flake spectrum. Less lemony than its two siblings, it has a beautifully balanced zest note of apricot/peach in the top spectrum. A wonderful sweet and natural element passes without transition from the high range to the mid-range. The mid-range sweetness is butterscotchy, with toasted marshmallow flavors, again from the natural Virginias. The upper-bass zone carries a light-brown sugar tone, and a light-but-rich creaminess which perfectly balances the apricot zest.

Like most good Virginias, Brindle Flake gets better and better until the end of the bowl sneaks up on you. Smoked best at just above a smoulder, this can bite you if rapidly puffed due to the high natural sugar content of the leaf. Hot smoking also obscures the wonderful nuances of this blend, which continue to evolve throughout the bowl.

This is easily one of my favorite tobaccos. I'm always willing to take this stuff in trade, and I keep plenty of tins on hand due to its proven knack for getting even better with aging. BRAVO!

Got a ten-year old can of this on Ebay, and it is one of the best natural Virginia flakes I have had the privilage of trying. I savored that can, smoking small bowls slowly, until I had only enough for two more pipefuls, one of which I shared with my brother. I missed winning at the last moment another tin on Ebay (hope the winner likes it and posts a great review) and will watch out for more. I think this flake would continue to improve for ten more years. I would give possibly $30 for another can, though I usually don't believe in shelling out that much. It's quality all the way, and I wish it were still made.

5-23-10 I have acquired another sealed tin, which I will save for a special occasion. Really curious as to how the new reissue of this measures up. Buy some, and let's review, guys and gals!

7-13-10 Opened the (original issue) tin. Hope it blows me away like it did before. Will update!

At the beginning of the bowl, this is not much different than the McClelland Christmas Cheer 2002 I smoked earlier. Opening up a little now: perhaps the reason it was so good the first time I tried it was that I had had only a couple McClellands then, but I'll wait to form a final judgment until I have had a couple more bowls. Certainly not a disappointment, but then McClelland seldom is. It's just less unique now, since I have had more McClellands! It is a bit richer than CC '02. The last half of the bowl will tell more surely. No, wait, I can see how it's different: CC '02 is very pure and mild, and you can not get it to bite. This Brindle Flake is a sipper-it can bite a little if you overpuff, though to do so is tempting. Ah yes, now I'm starting to remember. Lovely smoke!

Okay, okay, okay- everybody knows that McClelland?s blends smell of catsup? Like some sort of VA salad dressing that none of us pipers can identify in anything but fragrance. But this one isn?t quite as strong, it has something much sweeter lurking in the tin. I can almost swear that when I put fire to this weed a heavenly cord rang out from above, and a light shone down illuminating me- I felt transfixed, at peace, one with the cosmos? Oops, sorry. That?s what happens every time I light a pipe.

McClelland did a fantastic job with Brindle Flake, the tin is filled with beautiful golden broken strips of flaked VA, I grab the larger strips, fold and stuff them and then crumble the rubbed out bits on top to get things fired up properly.

As for taste- it?s my opinion that this is a premium blend that doesn?t disappoint in the flavor department, there lay hidden in each bowl an unbridled powerhouse sweetness that develops the stoved rich body and roundness as the bowl progresses.

I have read that some experienced tongue bite with Brindle Flake; I humbly beg their pardon but disagree. I have smoked this blend in every size and shape that I can and have had no problems with tongue bite. I found this blend to be tame, or perhaps it?s just me.

A delightful Flake, highly recommended to the new or veteran VA smoker.

First of all: I am from Denmark. The total sum of tobacco available in my country is either Danish manufactured or "colonial tobacco" - if such a substantive even exists anymore.. American-made "Heinz-tobaccos" (pardon my french) is totally unknown to most Danes. I had some experiences with this certain type of leaf before I tried Brindle Flake, and I was shocked and appalled.

However: Brindle Flake made me convert.

Next: Never mind the weird smell in the tin. Once lit, this tobacco opens up worlds of nuances in the taste department. The leaf is of extremely high quality; golden brown pure unspoiled VA, with a tang and sweetness that exceeds almost everything I've ever put in my pipe. My tins were three to four years old, and that is probably a good thing - read Pipestuds reviews and learn about the attributes of stoved VAs. (been there, done that, bought the t-shirt) I could imagine a fresh tin would burn any palate to cinders. I have dedicated two pipes for Brindle Flake, because I want it unpolluted. Said pipes will soon be used for other blends, since this one has been discontinued and I have only seven tins left. I hope the taste will linger for aeons.... (pun intended with the New-Age lingo)

Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark

If the vinegar/ ketchup tirade bothers you, look elsewhere. Otherwise this is a very nice Virginia. One of my pipe pals gave me a few bowls of this and I thought it was an excellent smoke. A bit nippy like all pure Virginias, it seems to do best if lightly rubbed out, coarser tobac in the middle of the bowl and once well lit, smoke slowly and savor the taste. I think the key is the moisture level. The rubbed out flake needs to air dry for a bit but not to the crispy or brittle stage. If you live in a low humidity area, this can be accomplished by filling the pipe and waiting a half-hour to overnight before firing it up. You want the tobacco to have a little spring to it when pressed down lightly with the thumb. I don't know how to manage the drying process if you live in an area like the South or some of the Eastern United States. Maybe a wooden box with a small light bulb inside would do the trick.

To all the peasants that would past judgement on a fine leaf such as the Brindle Flake I say to you all - OFF with your Heads!Better yet- you're out of your heads!The richness that is obtained thru the aroma of drawing on my Reo Ferndown is unparallel to any can i've opened in the past 6 months.I must say the 5-97 mfg. date probably added a great deal to the sugar flakes that I so much savored . Then again, only the FINEST Virginia's are fit for a King!

Absolutely delicious is this weed. It also reminds me of Benjamin Hartwells Signature Blend. Although this seems fuller and not overly sweet. It has wonderful low and high notes. A really good virginia flake. Brindle flake rubs out, packs, lights and burns great right down to a white ash a real clean tobacco. This flake has a wonderful smokiness to it not as citrusy as BJ's signature blend. This is a definate keeper I will be buying more of this to cellar. Highly recommended to virginia fanciers and flake fans. Happy New Year!!!

Tin date code 550100 (2000). Tin note of a mix of tangy sweet and tart sour dark fruit. Tobacco is a broken flake of reddish brown and dark brown. Moisture content is great. Flakes break apart and rub out with a little effort. Burns slow with a few relights. The strength is mild to medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium and very consistent, with complex notes of tart and tangy dark fruit, spices, floral, bread, sweet grass, wood, slightly herbal, fermented sour, old hay, earthy, very savory, slight bitter orange peel, a deep tangy citrus background note, and a peppery retro. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is outstanding.