Peter Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake

My favorite of the PS Luxury Flakes. Wow. For the price it is incredible...but the price is just the cherry on top. The flavor of the Virginias is super sharp (which is how I like my Virginias). And the Perique is not overbearing- just adds the perfect amount of condiment spice. Before my first bowl was finished I had ordered more.

I got this as a sample from a friend. Unfortunately, it's not available here in the UK, so can only be procured from overseas suppliers. I am very happy that I got to try it, though, as it's a lovely smoke.

The note from the pouch it arrived in was a sweet mild smell, with a bit of spice underneath.

The appearance is dominantly blonde with darker flecks. The cut of the tobacco is superb, thin, delicate flakes, perfect for folding and stuffing, as the cut is so thin, that it burns brilliantly. Takes the light easily, and burns well.

The taste is mild, with a spicy sweetness very reminiscent of the pouch note. It's very pleasant indeed, understated perhaps, but easy & nice to smoke.

The strength of nicotine is mild-mild/medium.

The room-note is also inoffensive & quite thin.

All in all, a very good smoke - not outstanding, but deserves 3 stars. I wish it were available in this country, as I feel that this would very popular amongst the pipesmokers over here. Goes very well with light dry red wine, I find.

Mildly sweet and spicy. The flavors of the tobacco are mild, smooth, and very mellow. Can't really separate the Virginias from the Perique as the Perique is lightly applied and the two have melded together during the processing of the flake. If you like it mild and mellow this would be an excellent choice for you.

Mild in body and flavor. Rubs out easily and burns perfectly.

Ultra soft and subtle.

Rumor has it this is very close to (or perhaps the same as) the erstwhile magnificent A & C Petersen Caledonian Melange No. 499 Original Navy Cut. If so, then Stokkebye's Luxury Navy Flake is an astounding value.

Look elsewhere for VaPer's that deliver the full-on perique experience with its typically rich and heavy mouth feel. Many of those VaPer's are excellent as well. But LNF is all about refinement and subtlety.

Don't misunderstand. The perique in LNF comes through. But it builds very slowly. And reveals, in my humble opinion, a more nuanced range of flavors. By mid-bowl the flake develops its full personality. With a beautiful palate drenching flavor and fullness that lingers until the end. Yet it's soft enough to be smoked repeatedly. Which I do often.

LNF is even more subtle in its use of perique than Orlik Golden Sliced. And that's saying a lot, because OGS is an absolute masterpiece of the VaPer blending art. The Orlik is undoubtedly brighter, fresher, and spicier in flavor. Whereas LNF is softer, and oh so mellow on the palate. Both offerings have great hidden depths. But I believe LNF slightly outshines its companion there.

According to experts, perique has hundreds of distinct flavor components. Enough to keep one busy for a lifetime of enjoyable pipe smoking, I should think.

Not sure why I bother to be reviewer number 137 but just wanted to chime in to say that this is a very uncomplicated but welcome flake for me to have on hand. Being completely OCD I must have between 50 and 100 tobaccos around, plus 20 blending tobaccos for my own hobby and amusement. That said, when I just want to smoke but don't have anything screaming my name it's to this flake (and one or two light Englishes that are my mainstay) that I turn. I stick my paw into about 1 1/2 pounds that I have in a mason-like container, pull out a flake or two and I'm never disappointed. I said it's not complicated, but that's in the traditional sense. It IS complicated when you consider so unassuming a VaPer actually satisfying you like a big piece of cake, a thick steak or a bowl of pasta. I guess that's what it is -- understated and effective. Good stuff.

This is a wonderful Virginia flake, with a bit of Perique added for a little sumpin extra. It's technically a VaPer, I guess, but it's nothing like Escudo, Irish Oak, or Elizabethan Mixture. What it is is a back to basics, pleasant, all day smoke - call it a Codger Flake, if you like.

Nothing special or Earth shattering here. Nothing adventurous. Just a pleasant Virginia blend. It reminds me of freshly cut hay fields, with a tiny bit of peppery spice. Something to smoke when you just want a relaxing bowl of tobacco and don't want to put a lot of effort into it. I like my flakes rubbed-out completely, and LNF is a joy to rub out. Then fill, tamp, char, light, and puff away. I find it requires no drying time or relights, it doesn't bite no matter how hard I push it, and it has a pouch and room note that offends no one. Complexed or naunced it ain't, so if you're looking for something like that then you might want to move on because LNF won't give you what you're looking for. However, if you want a pleasant blend to smoke while you're puttering around in the yard, or out camping or hiking, or puffing away on while you're commuting to/from work, or just sitting around gathering wool then this is a hard blend to beat.

There is a flavoring agent of some type in there, but I'm not sure what it is. It reminds me a bit of molasis and plum, but then I'm terrible at trying to lable or describe such things. It's subtle, and it does not overpower the smoke. In that respect, it's kind of like the flavoring agent they use in Carter Hall... just enough to enhance the flavor of the tobacco. It ages very nicely as well, and it makes great cellar fodder.

I use a pencil case that I bought at Wally World as my smoking kit, and I carry the LNF in an old OGS tin. Fits nicely in the smoking kit, and it allows me to carry about a week's supply. Yezzir, I smoke a lot of this. I also smoke a lot of OGS and Erinmore. I like them all, and all are exceptional values. However, LNF is even more exceptional if you consider that it is a fraction of the price of OGS or Erinmore - and both of those are really inexpensive. In fact, if you order it in the 24 ounce box it comes out to less than $2USD per ounce.

Less than $50 for 1.5 pounds of great smoking pipeweed that ages in a most sublime manner? Yezzir, it's true. Are there better flake blends out there? Yes. Are there better bargains to be found on a really good daily blend? No.

I think Virginia Flakes are probably the best way to enjoy true, unadulterated tobacco smoke. I enjoy Orlik GS and PS LNF is quite similar. The pouch note is typical grassy Virginia with a little kick from the perique. The fold and stuff method is what I prefer and this worked well in this case. The moisture level was just right. As I drew in the smoke I got that sweet lovely Virginia flavor and the perique added just the right spice especially when exhaled though the nose. Keep your pace slow and it will burn cool with no bite. It is an excellent mild to medium smoke with the right amount of nicotine. Easy enough for both novice and experienced pipers to enjoy. The price point makes this a must have for all Va/per lovers to keep in their rotation. It is a little fuller flavored than Newminster No.400 which is my go to straight Virginia flake which ,I'm sure is due to the perique component. I'm curious to see how it ages. Recommended

Excellent. Beautiful flakes that are just about perfect moisture level. I have to compare this to Escudo, which is my favorite. It is a bit lighter and more "grassy" than Escudo, and I think there may be a tad more Perique. It smokes dry and cool (for a VA), with a nice little spice kick rolling under the smooth VA.

This is not Escudo, but it is waaay cheaper and very smokable,

This smokes great young, and I look forward to aging a stack of it.

Wow! This is a great tobacco. Nothing not to like. Just beautiful tobacco. Smooth ...... slightly tangy ..... has a hay, grass like taste and just a great tobacco taste. I'm not a big fan of an over-dose of perique but in this case ....very little and just enough to add body. No after taste ..... burns perfect to the bottom of the bowl. I find this is best in MM cob. One of my favorite smokes. I've heard the comments on the taste .... my view is ..... tastes like tobacco .... no toppings ..no casing .... just a great straight forward virginia tobacco. For me .... I was going to give it three stars but at the price .... I gave it another star for a total of four. This has become one of my favorite smokes. I want to try the luxury twist. I will purchase more and keep it around. I recommend this tobacco highly. Great stuff.