Savinelli Brunello Flake

Like many, this blend benefits from some air time. Freshly opened I was not all that crazy about it. Over the two weeks, it took to work through this tin, the blend got better and better each time I opened it.

The tin note reminds me of a sweet cereal. However, it is not as strong as Newminster Superior Navy Flake. They are more like cousins. The flavor is tangy, at times creamy, and there is the lingering presence of a gentle spice. This is not monochromatic and at the same time not complex.

I like this blend but I do not love it.

On a side note, I do not trust the rectangular tins they come in for longterm storage. This newer tin was already showing signs of rust on the corners.

A typical Macbaren product. A lot like Navy Flake but a bit more complex. Macbaren is never really all that exciting, and this is no exception. That said, its a very pleasant all day sort of light smoke. Better than Navy Flake by a wide margin IMHO. Virginias....very mild, a touch of an oriental leaf, but no idea what...there isnt enough of it. Burley ....the typical MacB variety. And a fair amount of topping added in./ probably fruit essences, maybe a touch of vanilla, and a cocoa. All told its quite balanced and the room note is very nice. Not much nicotine and potential for tongue bit if smoked too fast. I dont know...i get why people like it. And i might get more...down the road. But its nothing particularly special.

The tin note of Brunello Flake offers up some type of fruity note but does not overwhelm the blend & adds a tasty flavor to the smoke. My palate must be more sensitive than others because this seemed to bite a little bit initially but tamed down after a few tokes. I don't get the strawberry aroma that some have mentioned but definitely some type of fruit topping... I don't have a strawberry handy to compare. However, my olfactory glands might require a little maintenance or fine tuning. The top note is very lightly applied but noticeable while smoking & there's a mild taste of honey in the blend... reminded me a little of Bit O' Honey candy.

Virginia is the lead guitarist in the group while Oriental plays second fiddle & Burley plays a little rhythm & at the halfway juncture, the trio was in perfect unison & started playing better as the varietals melded together and the tobacco flavors began dancing to the beat as Topper started hitting the minor notes. At that point, any single flavor of the varietals became indistinguishable and the band played in perfect harmony.

Brunello Flake requires a number of relights & burns fairly cool & slow. It can be a relaxing all day smoke. It is quite tasty & leaves a lingering sweetness on the palate & I think Brunello Flake is a pretty darn good "semi-aromatic" tobacco. It is much better a couple of months after breaking the seal. However, after a few years of age, I feel it will bring out more sweetness, less harshness & without doubt, will be a smoother, more enjoyable smoke. I bought one extra tin to cellar. Three & one half stars.