Peter Stokkebye Luxury Twist Flake (No. 402)

This is a Danish style tobacco with more than a noticeable topping, but but not overtly aromatic. The reason for this is the topping seems to be added more as a compliment to enhance the smoking experience than as something to overtake all the tobacco flavours masking the physical properties of this blend. Having said that, the tin note kind of reminds me of Play-dough, and this shows quite ostensibly in the room note as well. The twist appearance of these flakes is a feast for the eyes, and they are so easy to crumble or pack in your bowl using the folding method. Not overtly sweet despite having a fair amount of gold leaf, but it seems to display very nice virginia properties. The Virginia leaf they use seems to be really good quality, with bread, hay like and citrusy undertones. The smoking experience is rich and mellow, and I can see some cellaring potential here despite the topping. I personally like Luxury Navy Flake a bit more because of the added perique, but these flakes are no mean feat either. On the downside I'd say the topping seems to be so much in the forefront, but it kind of wanes the more you progress with your smoke. It does not bite, but will nip at the tongue depending your smoking cadence.

Whenever I want a sweet flavored tobacco, I reach for Luxury Twist Flake, Sweet Vanilla Honeydew Flake or G&H Rum Flake. These all fall into my range for flavored tobaccos that, in my opinion, still deliver the taste of tobacco. The square flakes are light in color, somewhat dry and can become quite brittle for rubbing out. The tobacco aroma is of a maple liqueur, and that taste carries over into the smoke. The Virginia is excellent quality, mild with no bite. If you are a lover of straight Virginia flavor, the downside with this tobacco is the residual sweetness of the smoke which requires me to have a cup of coffee on hand to clean the palate regularly. Sweet Vanilla Honeydew and Rum Flake require the same treatment. This is good tobacco and it is comforting to know that I have it on hand when my sweet tooth demands a break from Virginia and Perique. Highly recommended as a sweetened, flavored tobacco. Paddy.

No substantive difference between this and Mac Baren's DARK TWIST. Quite good.

I wonder what will happen now that Zimbabwe's agriculture, very much including its tobacco plantations, (the finest in the Southern hemisphere) is being completely devastated, owing to the greed of yet another stupid dictator. Argh!

A Haiku Review:

Delectable smoke

When paired with coffee and cream

Bright, sweet, coconut

This is Carter Hall’s girlfriend. Pretty to look at, sweet but not sickly so. Occasional argumentative bite, but pleasant to be around almost all of the time.

Peter Stokkebye- Luxury Twist Flake

I’ve had this in a jar since April of 2019, it’s been a blend I first smoked when I picked up the pipe and understood little about the different types of tobacco etc. this blend gave me a serious case of tongue bite the first time as I has no idea about drying or cadence when smoking.

Forward to now a good Virginia pressed into a flake, it has a topping of caramel/coconut, which isn’t unwelcome but would have preferred this without it. It smokes great and tastes great also, no re-lights and smoked cool.

I recommend this as a beginner Virginia for those who are more inclined to aromatics. Overall it’s good but probably won’t be bought again, much rather smoke bullseye flake.

I find this blend similar to Peter Heinrich's Reserve Crue No. 4 Flake. Both being caramel topped straight Virginia flakes, the similarity in taste does not precisely reflect to looks or smoke quality. I can't say one is superior to others, both blends having slightly different attributes, one lacking where the other is better at delivering. I wonder how it would taste if I were to blend them. Reserve Crue No. 4 tastes slightly richer, whereas Luxury Twist Flake offers more Caramel flavor. RCN4 lights up easily, whereas LTF needs several relights to get it going. Virginias in RCN4 has a bready taste, whereas LTF Virginias are citrusy and almost non-existent. LTF has superior topping/flavoring and a crowd-pleaser, whereas RCN4 has a tolerable room note. All that said, If I must pick one, then I would pick RCN4 due to better Virginia quality, but I'd pretend that it smells like LTF. Alas, both are all day smokes and very nice beginner, beginner-intermediate blends.

I'll start this review with a brief reference to PS LNF and LBF the two other PS offerings which I have reviewed previously. The added effect of the casing here is reminiscent of the cavendish centres of LBF but as it is a casing which, although mild, stays present throughout the smoke, I must say I prefer LBF when I completely pulverize the cavendish centre and sprinkle the resultant crumbs after each half of the rubbed out virginas in the coin (most of my pipes will accomadate two coins) so that the sweetness of the cavendish has an intermittent presence. In comparison to LNF, this lacks the gentle zip zip zip from LNF's perique. As for appearance superb! Burning characteristics - easy and for a cased virginia no tongue bite unless you really puff deep and/or fast keep a easy pace (sipping not required as is the case for Macbaren's Va#1) and its quite a friendly smoke. Taste - a bit too sweet for me and I really could not find the citrusy tang I get with LNF and other VA's. I tried this using three methods of preparation: 1) fold and stuff, 2) rubbed out throughly, 3) cut up into tiny cubes. The best smoke (both flavour & burn) was with method 3 while method one was a close second. Method two got a tad hot for my puff rate but still did not result in more than little warnings to slow down from my tongue. I used the same pipe for all three methods - a BC Calabash with a tall narrow bowl and recommend something similar as I imagine a pot and method two could quite likely punish your tongue. To summarize, the casing is ok but I think it is responsible for the masking of the citrus essence I was expecting, actually had a slight hint of butterscotch flavour so for those with a sweet tooth this might make a fine after dinner smoke with way fewer calories than a butterscotch sundae. Room note: No complaints here. Price: WOW!!! If you like VA's you should give this a try before you spend all your money on more expensive offerings like SG FVF or Escudo.

Package note of coconut/caramel, vanilla and grass. Tobacco is a flake of marbled yellowish brown, dark brown and tan. Moisture content is good. Some pipe smokers will want to dry it a bit. Flakes rub out with a little effort. Burns slow with few relights. The strength is mild to medium and nic is mild. Flavoring is mild to medium, with notes of caramel and vanilla. Flavoring is upfront in the first 1/3 then drops to a mild background flavor. Taste is medium and mostly consistent, with notes of caramel, floral, vanilla, sweet grass, tart and tangy citrus, sugar, spices, bread, wood, rich earth, savory, orange peel/zest, slightly spicy, a creamy semi-sweet hay background note, and a peppery retro. Virginia is leading with Flavoring supporting. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is good.

C'mon baby, let's do the twist! Unique and radical looking bulk flakes that are crisp, clean and rather uniform. I get a definite coconut smell in the bag note. The taste is good; sweet, soft, caramelly, some hay and grass, a bit of woodiness, cocoa, coconut, bit of toast and a light earl grey/bergamont flavour. The topping is noticeable, but natural, it compliments the tobaccos well and never takes the focus off the virginias, nor does it detract from their flavour or quality. This twist does have a tendency to burn hot and bite me if puffed fast, I'd advise a sipping pace and smoking from a well caked briar. It is flavouful, but the bite potential and the fact I prefer others of a similar ilk, keep me from giving it the full 4 stars, therefore its a 3-3.5. I would not recommend for novice smokers due to the likelihood of tongue twist, but definitely for the seasoned vet as this is a rewarding smoke under proper conditions. A sweet, slow and consistent smoke that is inoffensive in taste and smell, what more can you ask for really? C'mon little miss, and do the twist!