Savinelli Brunello Flake

I think Jimlnks and Greggles descriptions of this tobacco are right on. But I disagree with JimLnks review on only one aspect - in the last sentence of his review. I found this blend bites like a hot, wet, mutha-f#@%ing bi-atch!!

Even after significant drying time out of the tin. Maybe it's cuz I didn't rub it out enough first? Or maybe because it was a very hot, humid evening in Toronto. Either way, it bit the heck outta my mouth and tongue (even with a balsa filter, and got very moist at the bottom of the bowl. Retrohale is very nice though...

Next time I try to smoke this blend, I will wait until the dry winter months here in mid January, and crumble the flake completely first before packing it. Hope that will reduce the moisture, heat and bite.

Tin Aroma: Fruity, sugary sweetness. Its what I would imagine an old timey Starburst candy would smell like.

Taste: Delicious! Sweet Virginias mixing with the Macedonia leaf is a wonderful, savory experience. The flavor remains full and consistent throughout the whole bowl. As a lover of Virginia I am not dissapointed. Occasionally my nostrils will experience a pleasant tingle on the exhale.

Smokability: I found my usual flake packing method to work just fine with this blend. I will tear about a 1/3 of a flake off and fold it twice and stuff it into the bottom of the bowl. Than I'll rub out enough to gravity fill it to the top of the bowl. Char, tamp, relight.

Room Note: Virginia, that wonderful scent that all humans should smell and savor.

Thoughts: I really like this blend, as both a lover of Virginia and flakes. This also redeemed Burley for me. As my previous experience was with Captain Black (which I didn't hate, but just found it lacking and uninteresting) and the shudders Borkim Riff. So Burleys are okay in my book and I look forawrd to trying more of them. I've also never had Macedonian leaf before so theres another one of my horizons opened up.

Reccomended to: Anyone who enjoys Virginias and wants to really experience the sweetness they bring. And to anyone who wants to smoke something that is generally sweeter tasting, this blend should not dissapoint. Summary: Sweet, delicious flake which I could see myself smoking regularly. And I'll also have to cellar some 😉

4/5 Stars

This was my /r/pipetobacco review

Tin note sweet fruity slightly citrus. flake can be folded or rubbed out both seem to provide the same results. Moisture level was fine from the tin. This is a really good lite blend for all day smoking has a nice lite topping honey perhaps ? Mostly Virginia flavors fruit and Citrus but the blend is mild overall. Its got enough going on to hold your interest but not so complex you need to ponder. Nic hit is mild to medium. Wont get harsh you can freight train this one with no worries. leaves a bit of charcoal in the bottom of the bowl. I will be purchasing this again. Four stars out of 4

An ideal springtime smoke. Mild, grassy, fruity, and thoroughly pleasant. Sweet and sour with graham cracker notes. Rubs out easily and burns cool and consistent. Ages well. Another solid blend from Mac Baren.

Smoking now:

The bag note is very sweet like honey. I’m surprised it’s not topped. Honey, raisins, fruit, fermented hay. It’s very nice.

My sample bag was completely broken apart flakes that packed well although a bit moist. The taste is mild. Slightly sweet and sour. Notes of nuts, a little vegetative, earth, wood, that was very mild and cool burning. An all day smoke without any harshness. Something that could be smoked anytime with anything. The tobaccos do harmonize well and it was hard for me me to pick apart specific notes. Smoked well even when pushed. The retrohale was easy with notes of sourness, nuts, wood, and earth. Flavor improved the more of the bowl I smoked. Hardly any aftertaste and no bite.

I urge every one still in possession of these flakes to give the tin/jar a sniff, I think I know what it is topped with, strawberry! Smells like a strawberry fruit roll-up. Counter intuitive as this may be, I think it is. It also seems natural enough and adds to the tangy sweet thing this has going for it. This is not a Strawberry aromatic though. I air dry a flake for 10 to 15 min till it has faded a little in color but still pliable. It has a narrow Goldilocks, i.e., too dry = burns too hot = bite. Too wet = steam = bite. Not much more so than most flakes, it's a trade off for the fruit juice (strawberry?!) This one seems to like folding and stuffing. The only complaint was in reading the list of contents, I thought I would notice the Macedonian Oriental and was looking forward to a Virginia/Oriental Flake. As it is, if your looking for a nice Euro style Virginia flake with a tangy topping it makes a good change of pace. Looking for a More natural/neutral option stick with FVF, or Union Square. Or smoke all three, you're allowed!

Lovely plummy/straw tin note, but unlike others I really don't get much more than straigthforward, somewhat bland VA in the smoke. The only reason I would have thought there was burley in the blend is because it's slightly bitey. The flakes are thin and easy to fold in or rub out, and it lights easily but smokes a bit on the fast side for a flake. It's possible the blend might come together better after the tin is open for a few more weeks.

Savinelli Brunello Flake - Looking at the tobaccos in this blend of Virginias, Burley and Oriental I thought I would get a sweet ,nutty , earthy and a little sour smoke . What I get is a sweet , creamy , buttery , honey flavored tobacco from the topping . Mac Baren’s HH line is top notch but this blend is too smooth for me ! I need more tobacco flavor and less topping . It seems there is barely any burley or oriental leaf in this blend or the toppings cover them up . I expected more variety from the description as advertised. It burns well and doesn’t bite on the positive. 2

Burns fairly warm it’s a sweet mixture almost like it has a casing but I’m pretty sure it’s just the natural flavors burns a we bit wet Has a vanilla flavors