Paul Olsen Vintage Flake

Paul Olsen - Vintage Flake. According to the description it's like a well aged No.45 or Golden Sliced 'Deluxe'. To me it's a fabulous blend that's in no need of comparisons as it's good in its own right!

As the Olsen tins are so capacious, I'm never to sure of how the presentation will be of an opened blend; a long roll of flake, squares, rectangles or broken almost to ribbons? Well, this one's quite large rectangles, slightly mottled brown, with (as usual for this brand) a perfect amount of water. The smell from the blend is a fruity Virginia one; there's not too much of a hay note but a big wallop of dried raisins, plums and figs. Let's move onto the smoke:

Hmmm, hmmm, what could be an applicable description for this one?...PERFECT. The list of positive's could go on for ever!

Lighting Vintage is as easy as a blend can be; a short touch of just a match or a basic lighter does the job brilliantly, and then the burn's absolutely spot on. Personally, I wouldn't compare the smoke to Golden Sliced, it's a lot fruitier without the Perique-esc 'zing!'. The extra ageing of the Virginia has somewhat diminished any grass and citrus tones but enhanced the plummy/figgy side of the smoke and it tastes sweeter due to the release of the dextrose sugars whilst being aged. There isn't a lot of nicotine from the smoke, I'd describe it as mild with it only getting slightly close to medium when it's strained. To keep the review from becoming too long I'll try to list the remaining few positives as succinctly as possible: it doesn't bite, gives a nice room note, the smoke's quite cool and leaves no bad aftertaste!

Highly recommended.

Paul Olson's My Own Blend series, sold out of the danish pipe shop, are worth trying to find. DarK Pearl, Big Coin, and especially Old School are just as good as it gets, honestly. Vintage flake has been compared to Orlik slices, but its better than that. It is certainly a more natural smoke. The added sugar is very mild, and not noticeable, really. What you get is a light Virginia flake that reminds me a bit of Dan Tobacco's Patriot Flake. It is not unlike the lighter Capstan, too. Not the heavier blue label. It is a great smooth Virginia, an all day uncomplicated smoke. Nothing remarkable but very satisfying if this is what you feel like. Might bear comparison to Sutliff Virginia slices too. Good stuff.

This is called Vintage and is a fine quality tobacco in its own right.

It's not a substitute for anything.

It's sharp and tangy. It's a tad shallow as is the wont with this brand.

Vintage is very easy to handle and smoke.

Highly recommended.

They say this could be a deluxe version of orlik golden sliced. And i might agree. Although i think this tobaco deserves not to be compared to other tobacos as it is in itself a brilliant tobaco that i will for sure buy again. Sweet but not aromatic sweet taste all the way through the pipe good room note and again nothing like an aromatic just plain Virginia and a good one at that Love it 4 stars!