Robert McConnell Scottish Cake

I'm with a reviewer below. This is a Kentucky through and through. It should be called "Kentucky Cake". I sense no perique in this at all though I can see how the tin note might fool some as there is that waft of fig. The Va only comes through in the bottom third - perhaps that makes for a beginner Va experience. A very nice blend and I'll store some tins when I can find them as its far better than the Orlik Kentuckys. I really appreciate that it rubs out further with no qualms and lights easily straight out of a moist tin.

Soooo many Scot blends and sooo little congruity! The day I find a "Scot blend" blended in Scotland I'll say yeah...there's a "Scot blend"!

I bought this and thought I'd found heaven- then I tried Scottish Flake. The Cake is still very good tobacco. Almost unctuously rich, with a long, lingering aftertaste and good complexity of flavour, this is sweet and satisfying, without being cloying or overtopped. There is a slight, woody dryness to the smoke, which doesn't like to be rushed and I think many smokers could use this as an alternative tobacco; something to liven the palate when their stalwart blend tastes a little too standard. I can't think of this without contrasting it to the Flake, which I think is more well-rounded and better balanced, but compared to so many insulting offerings, this shines.

update: going through my reviews here, i find that i'll have to downgrade a good deal of the praise i've given so many blends. 4 stars should, i feel, be reserved for the blends i find truly exceptional. so, this is downgraded a bit. end update.

tin aroma: slightly winey, hay, classical goodness.

cut: soft, rubbed flake. golden brown.

packing/lighting: extremely easy. taste/aroma: delicious. again, very clean. it is quite mild, and i find myself puffing a good deal to get some mouth-filling smoke, but it doesn't get hot or biting. quite sweet (not solely from the virginias, i think), a little winey/fruity/citrusy, with the slightest hint of caramel/vanilla/sandalwood. no detectable added flavours but the perique, though it is very much in the background. perhaps it isn't even there, and it's just the taste of well-made, well aged, mild virginia tobacco? the taste as well as the mildness of the smoke would suggest to me that really, there's no perique here. it is certainly no perique bomb like my beloved de luxe navy rolls, nor does it contain near as much as does st. james flake. actually, i've only found one place on the internet describing it as a va-per. most people seem to think it is, though.

i like it very much but i find that i go through a tin way too fast due to its mildness (and in all fairness, its aetherical-beautiful taste). still, it is a well behaved and civilized blend, and one of the best made by k&k. it should age well.

well reccomended, not least for a virginia-newbie.

I'm generally a latakia and orientals fiend, but this is definitely my favorite Virginia based blend I've ever smoked.

There is a definite bittersweet chocolate aroma and flavor. If like dark, dark chocolate, then you'll love this.

A great change of pace from Latakia. Will be buying more.

This is just a good blend, nothing special but good. The tin moisture requires some patience but I smoke while I wait so this works for me. I find this to be very straight forward, the right amount of strength and for the most part balanced. The smoke can be wispy at times but no tongue bite, pretty smooth and in the zone almost creamy.

I will not chime in on the perique debate but VAPER or not this stuff is good. The tin aroma is absolutely delicious however it does not translate into the smoke (I hate it when that happens). The mild fruit like top note in the tin reminds me of real cherries, sweet and tangy at the same time. I just love that smell. So far I have managed to get none of it up my nose but I am working real hard at it.

This blend does remind me (now) of a couple of Rattray?s offerings that I have tried as of late. Those being HOTW And Marlin Flake specifically. I don?t know if anyone else has noticed this but they are very similar in smell, taste, appearance and behavior. I assume K&P has something if not everything to do with this? Or maybe its time to bring out the denatured alcohol and erase some pipe history. I am not giving this 4 stars only because it has nothing that makes it stand out but I have gone through several tins over the last five years so I obviously like it and will order more. This blend ages very nicely as well. It makes for a great winter weather smoke and if you like straight forward viginia with a little citrus over the top give it try.

SF is a cool, slow burning tobacco that I turn to when I'm looking for a change from my first or second tier rotations. Best when dried out a bit as it is VERY wet when first opening the tin.

This was my first foray into the world of VA/Pers. I was not disappointed.

I'm not sure why this one gets so many rave reviews but agree with several others here who find this a solid but unexciting smoke.

Being a regular smoker of McConnell's Glen Piper I thought I would give this a try given it gets such great reviews on here. Appearance and consistency in the tin is very similar to GP minus the fruit scent.

Good smooth smoke with no bite, same as GP. Decent nicotine kick. However, being a fan of aromatics, I found it a little boring towards the end of the bowl hence my three star rating.

If you're a virginia smoker this may be an excellent all dayer for you. Similarly if you like this give Glen Piper a try.

Recommended.

This is an excellent quality tobacco but extremely mild for my taste. The aroma of the tobacco is wonderful. This is an indoors tobacco to be enjoyed with the nose. Don't expect much flavor.