Peterson University Flake

I really enjoy this blend and have begun building a modest stockpile. The "light, berry-like topping" is very light indeed, but it's in there and a makes University Flake a really interesting and tasty smoke.

This the most satisfying, delicious tobacco I've smoked in my 30 some years with a pipe. I have never dumped a bowl halfway through or grown tired of it and wished the bowl was done. My problem is smoking it too enthusiastically, drawing too deeply probably and really hosing my lungs. But it is so enjoyable. The flavor, the aroma, and the nicotine. I think because of the greedy way I smoke it I rarely have to re-light. For me, the best flavor is keeping it moist and simply doing a fold and stuff. Obviously, our unique palates and experience determine what suits us and for me, it's the best I've smoked.

As with all the tobaccos I try I like to avoid reviews and descriptions until I try it. Kind of like a blind taste test. This tobacco was a gift from my youtube friend Gribly. The flake came sort of on the drowned rat side. But after a vigorous rubbing out it packed and lit beautifully.

The tin note was perplexing at first however, after a bit I picked out the berryplum notes. The burly was a bit over powered by the Virginias but still detectable. As for the mechanics, it was too wet to fold and stuff but after rubbing out and drying for 20 minutes it lit wel and had very few relights. The flavour of the casing was right up front in the first half of the bowl. But with careful sipping it faded to a lovely underpinning to the rich burly. The fruit casing did not give any bite, but this may be more in part to the church warden I used. It burned to a clean whit ash and no unburnt residue.

My experience with the plum of Royal Yacht left me pensive about trying University Flake which I had read also had some sort of a plum casing. I'm glad I finally broke down and tried it.

University Flake definitely has a plummy note in the background, though what really comes out is a dark fruit type of flavour you associate with richer and darker tobaccos. In a way, one might consider it having a cigar like quality, but I am not a cigar smoker so I'll leave it to others if that's the case.

The blend is strong in taste, though not strong in nicotine in my opinion. It doesn't leave you with that nicotine "buzz" that something like Nightcap or 1792 does -- though it's not entirely absent either.

So if you're after a deep, rich tobacco flavour but without the heavy buzz, this would be a good choice.

Tin note is that of the grassy virginias and blueberries. Some sweet stewed fruit (plums) and the virginias are the main attraction. Smokes enjoyably warm and is well blended with some roundness. Burley pokes its head up every once in awhile and lends some body to the blend just enough that you know it's there. I Find it enjoyable, Tastes like a moist blueberry muffin at times. And some spice on the retrohale. Not my usual type of smoke but for what its trying to do I'd give it 3.5 stars. The flakes break apart easily and after a little drying time packed well. No burn issues and minimal relights can get hot though touches on soapy at moments but doesn't ever get unenjoyable. The flavoring I find medium BC it's apparent in every puff but not obnoxiously.

This is a really great tobacco. the VA/Bur is just right, the topping is delicious and perfectly done. Not too little, not too much. Chemistry is just right, not weak or overpowering, just right to relax and "take the edge off".

The problem I have with this flake is not so much the fault of the flake but my impatience and reluctance to spend the time to properly prepare the tobacco for the pipe. It is wet in the tin and substantial drying time is needed to get the required moisture for optimal burn. When I try to rub it out it just ends up a mess everywhere and when I cut it a get a bunch of dense cubes that wont stay lit for long. It's just my technique or lack of. I'll have to try rubbing out the entire tin and drying it all before smoking. I got to make this tobacco work because I like everything else about it.

If University flake came ready rubbed it would definitely be a four star favorite for me.

This is what I can consider to be an all day smoke. Across the board, I find it to between mild and medium, not to say its a bad smoke. On the contrary, it is one of my go to blends.

I've tried both rubbed out and fold and stuff method, and I think it has to be sufficiently rubbed out and dried to get more of the subtle flavours that this blend presents. Also smoke it slow, because I've tried different methods of smoking and they all give different results. Be patient and you'll be rewarded.

I find it full bodied, lightly sweet in taste, with a nutty and earthy presenting itself as you go through the bowl. Not too hard to keep it alight, and room note is quite pleasant. Vitamin N is sufficient for me, though it can be a wee bit strong for others.

I really love this flake, but this is not an everyday smoke for me.

Nice presentation and pretty little tin. The tin opens to reveal dark, reddish-brown slices of a dry, easy-to-crumble texture. The first few puffs and their sidestream smoke can deceive with their sweetness. However, the experience of a high-quality burley smoke kicks in rapidly and takes over. The aromatic flavouring here is present, but the gutsy tobacco taste is even more important as it deepens and mellows out while smoking. Towards the end I can feel the strength and gentle spiciness . For me this is tobacco-lover's tobacco.

This flake is built on the dense, nutty flavor of matured burley and the result is quite successful. Slow- and dry-burning with lots of body, I especially enjoy this as a relaxing late-night smoke or after a good steak. The room note is musty and sweet and my girlfriend seems to like it.

This is a good tobacco that I could see one enjoying as an all day smoke. It didn't knock my socks off, but was good enough to earn three stars.

The flake is a beautiful dark flake that is quite moist, but easy to rub out. Smells of earth, leather and berries from the tin.

It was quite moist and definitely needed some drying time. I tried a few bowls straight from the tin as well as letting a few flakes sit out for over 24 hours to dry. It was difficult to keep lit when smoking directly out of the tin, but the dried out flakes were easy enough to get lit and remained so during the smoke.

I would describe the flavors coming from the following components percentage-wise, as such: 60% dark burley, 30% Virginia, 20% berry/plum topping. The burley's are rich, smokey, a bit nutty, and robust. The virginias are present but more subdued that I expected. The flavoring is noticeable, however, not overpowering and do a good job to round out the strength of the smoke. This flake has a kick to it, but not as strong as Irish flake. I would say that this flake reminds me of Irish flake, but a bit less strong, more well rounded, and a step or two up on sweetness. There are notes of earth, leather, and savory spice that play off of the sweet virginia and berry flavors. Quite an enjoyable smoke. It reminds me of Classic Burley Kake, in the sense that, one can just load the pipe, smoke, and enjoy without thinking too hard about the tobacco. Some blends are contemplative and take your full attention to discern and enjoy each of the nuances....at least in my experience. This is one that you can just fire away, sit back, and enjoy the delicious, and moderately strong, smoke.

Great job Peterson!!!