Robert McConnell Scottish Cake
(3.27)
Scottish Cake - this ready rubbed flake is a great favorite for young and old. Dark brown in its color the seasoned pieces may directly be tampered into the pipe or even lightly rubbed become to a Honeydew. Produced from a mixture of Eastern Carolina, Kentucky and Middle Belt, that are pressed for several weeks. A very popular tobacco and very slow in its burning.
Notes: From the Kohlhase & Kopp website: "Hand rubbed flake of dark Virginia and Kentucky with a pinch of perique."
Details
| Brand | Robert McConnell |
| Blended By | Kohlhase, Kopp und Co. KG |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Burley |
| Contents | Kentucky, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin, 100 grams tin |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.27 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 11 - 20 of 57 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 09, 2020 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Given that this is one of those blends that is so hard to find (in the U.S.), like so many European brands that became scarce during the whole FDA scare, I reluctantly coughed up $21.99 + tax when I saw this at a B&M during my travels. I'll just say right off that it's not worth that kind of money. In fact, it's not much of a 'wow' blend at all, but because it burns so cool and steady and has no perceptible faults, it's one of those blends that you can just put in your pipe and let your mind wander onto other things.
Just by coincidence I popped this tin and a tin of Fribourg & Treyer Golden Mixture on the same day. They smell almost identical! I looked on the back of the tins and both are made by the same producer in Germany, with UPC codes that are only one number different. I'm certain that the same Virginia is used as a foundation for both blends and the flavor profile is about 90% the same between the two. Pronounced aroma of orange marmalade, which is unusual enough that the connection between the two was obvious.
This is a broken flake this is easy to load and burns slow and steady. The differences in taste between this and the F&T are due to the Kentucky and Perique in this blend, which give noticeably more depth and backbone to the smoking experience.
While the slightly milder F&T Golden Mixture might be suitable for a beginning piper, this one is best reserved for someone with more experience: if one accelerates the burn rate with aggressive puffing there will be some harsh notes that come into play. Best to sip and savor or use a 9mm filter which takes away any harshness and emphasizes the oatbread and malt foundation.
Just by coincidence I popped this tin and a tin of Fribourg & Treyer Golden Mixture on the same day. They smell almost identical! I looked on the back of the tins and both are made by the same producer in Germany, with UPC codes that are only one number different. I'm certain that the same Virginia is used as a foundation for both blends and the flavor profile is about 90% the same between the two. Pronounced aroma of orange marmalade, which is unusual enough that the connection between the two was obvious.
This is a broken flake this is easy to load and burns slow and steady. The differences in taste between this and the F&T are due to the Kentucky and Perique in this blend, which give noticeably more depth and backbone to the smoking experience.
While the slightly milder F&T Golden Mixture might be suitable for a beginning piper, this one is best reserved for someone with more experience: if one accelerates the burn rate with aggressive puffing there will be some harsh notes that come into play. Best to sip and savor or use a 9mm filter which takes away any harshness and emphasizes the oatbread and malt foundation.
Pipe Used:
Design Berlin Royal Star, London Comoy, 9mm briar
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 2018 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
First tried this about 15 years ago. Decided after 2 tins I really liked it and bought a few to stash away. Brought one out of hiding about 2 weeks ago dated June 2005. Have to say, I am still very pleased. A cut reminding me of Marlin Flake, but very moist in the tin. Needs an hour or more drying time for me. Burns very well surprisingly. Dark tobacco, great smell both in the tin and smoke, very little perique to my nose and taste, but an overall great VA all day smoke. Have one more saved for the next ten years. Worth buying.
Pipe Used:
David Jones Dublin
Age When Smoked:
13 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 11, 2018 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
*Brief review: McConnells Scottish Cake - Tin note is interesting and has some similarity in its breadiness to Royal Yacht and 221b Baker Street but has some real sweetness too like stewed plums maybe. Easy to pack although quite moist but I didn't wait to dry it just pinched and filled and it took the flame immediately and actually, surprising due to it's moistness, burned really well and only took one relight but that was because I put the pipe down for a few minutes. There is a real Perique pepperiness going on that gets more pronounced down the bowl but midway through there is a fantastic sweetness that is akin to Honeycomb toffee. No bite whatsoever and I am quite a hard puffer but lots of creamy smoke which is always satisfying. All in all a great tobacco, not a Cake like our continental friends would create I don't think although maybe Kake is different altogether but definitely a blend that is worth enjoying in a larger bowl as I did and savouring. About to become a regular Sunday Morning smoke for me I think and one I would highly recommend to any Vaper lovers out there who dont mind a bit of Kentucky thrown in for good smokey measure....
Pipe Used:
Georg Jensen Sitter
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 08, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I don't remember why I bought this one. Maybe it just sounded good reading the description.
In the tin it looks nice enough. Very fragrant, dates, raisins, bread and maybe molasses. Very moist, but it dries quickly enough. Whatever treatment it has is natural as far as I can tell. It burns better for me rubbed out fully, but works well in its ready rubbed form. It gave me a little tongue issue when I smoked it too damp and a it too fast the first time.
Very tasty. Sweet, but with a nice body to it. The darker elements play a nice supporting roll. The perique starts out very fruity and finishes nice and peppery. Very good blend that changes through the course of the bowl. May have to get some more for cellaring. Nice nic content to it, not too strong though. Could be an all day smoke.
In the tin it looks nice enough. Very fragrant, dates, raisins, bread and maybe molasses. Very moist, but it dries quickly enough. Whatever treatment it has is natural as far as I can tell. It burns better for me rubbed out fully, but works well in its ready rubbed form. It gave me a little tongue issue when I smoked it too damp and a it too fast the first time.
Very tasty. Sweet, but with a nice body to it. The darker elements play a nice supporting roll. The perique starts out very fruity and finishes nice and peppery. Very good blend that changes through the course of the bowl. May have to get some more for cellaring. Nice nic content to it, not too strong though. Could be an all day smoke.
Pipe Used:
IMP meer
Age When Smoked:
Fresh tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 16, 2008 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Update fall 2012: Continue to order and smoke this. It's top quality stuff and in the right pipe it really sings.
Update fall 08: This is a nice sweet Va/Per... easy smoking but I got bored of it.
First Update: The more I smoke this, the more I like it. It's kind of like the Coffee Crisp of the pipe world... "a nice, light snack". Leaves me wanting more, but in a good way.
Great dog-walking tobacco. I think I'll try Scottish Flake next time.
This one didn't do much for me. Quality is really high, presentation is nice ... "Von hand gemischt und gepackt" gotta love it. Straight tobacco, Va predominant - a nice dark broken flake kind of thing.
In the pipe this stuff is very friendly, for sure... reminded me a bit of a Mac Baren product without the acidic bite or honey overtones. However, there isn't a huge amount of flavour here... kind of a rice-pudding atmosphere.
Anyway, this is quality stuff, everyone else seems to love it. I was hoping for a somewhat deeper tobacco.
Update fall 08: This is a nice sweet Va/Per... easy smoking but I got bored of it.
First Update: The more I smoke this, the more I like it. It's kind of like the Coffee Crisp of the pipe world... "a nice, light snack". Leaves me wanting more, but in a good way.
Great dog-walking tobacco. I think I'll try Scottish Flake next time.
This one didn't do much for me. Quality is really high, presentation is nice ... "Von hand gemischt und gepackt" gotta love it. Straight tobacco, Va predominant - a nice dark broken flake kind of thing.
In the pipe this stuff is very friendly, for sure... reminded me a bit of a Mac Baren product without the acidic bite or honey overtones. However, there isn't a huge amount of flavour here... kind of a rice-pudding atmosphere.
Anyway, this is quality stuff, everyone else seems to love it. I was hoping for a somewhat deeper tobacco.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 08, 2003 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I originally tried this blend about ten years ago. At the time, taken as I was by English style mixtures and not very familiar with straight Vas., I found it rather dull and mild. A change of taste over the years has allowed me to appreciate the subtler Virginia flavours, and I must say I now find this blend a very nice and intriguing change of pace. Blended with the same care and quality that Kohlhase, Kopp & Co seem to put in their Rattray?s and Astley?s renderings, Scottish Cake is a very smooth smoke, slightly tangy, providing a simple and direct tobacco flavour. IMO the Kentucky here is barely noticeable, but it does seem to give a certain roundness to the overall flavour.
I don?t think this tobacco is cased or topped (at least I could not detect any particular flavour other than natural tobacco leaf). It comes in a broken flake form, a medium to light shade of brown, very easy to further rub out if you wish so. It packs easily and it has excellent burning characteristics.
Though I do enjoy it and smoke it gladly, there is really nothing remarkable or extraordinary about SC to make it an outstanding Virginia. Lets say that it is not a tobacco you would miss terribly if it went off the market, but if you have it in hand, well, it is a very good quality smoke, somewhat muted, yet very civil and traditional. If your thing is straight Virginias give it a try.
I don?t think this tobacco is cased or topped (at least I could not detect any particular flavour other than natural tobacco leaf). It comes in a broken flake form, a medium to light shade of brown, very easy to further rub out if you wish so. It packs easily and it has excellent burning characteristics.
Though I do enjoy it and smoke it gladly, there is really nothing remarkable or extraordinary about SC to make it an outstanding Virginia. Lets say that it is not a tobacco you would miss terribly if it went off the market, but if you have it in hand, well, it is a very good quality smoke, somewhat muted, yet very civil and traditional. If your thing is straight Virginias give it a try.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 03, 2022 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Second Robert McConnell I test, and as the 1st one, it was a nice surprise. I thought it will be sweeter because of the name, but it was very pleasant to smoke. The kentucky and perique are there increasing the strength of the blend, and obtaining a well-balanced tobacco. It burns very well and produces a nice and pleasant long smoke.
Pipe Used:
John Aylesbury - Billiard Dunkelbraun
PurchasedFrom:
Cigarworld
Age When Smoked:
1
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 2022 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Tin notes of figs, grass and a sweet vanilla like smell. The broken flakes are an orangish brown and slightly moist, drying not necessary. Some chunks may need further rubbing out, but mostly no prep needed. Burns slow with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected despite tin note. The taste is medium and somewhat inconsistent. I taste notes of sweet bread, Rasin, wood, grass, slightly floral and a little pepper on the retro. Virginias leads with Kentuckey providing backup, The perique seems to linger in the background. Room note is pleasant to tolerable and has a good after taste.
Pipe Used:
2016 XX Ashton Pebble Grain Lovat
PurchasedFrom:
Cup O' Joes
Age When Smoked:
1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 12, 2020 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I'm only an occasional VaPer smoker, but I have to say this is probably my favorite that I've smoked. I think it's the additon of the Kentuckies that sets it apart. They're not overpowering but add that additional complexity that I just don't find in other blends. Can be an all day smoke that veterans and novices alike can enjoy.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 22, 2017 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
This is a good blend, one that those that love VA/per/Ky blends should try. The VA's have notes of hay and citrus and the reb VA has notes of dark fruit and a subtle note of toasted grain. The perique comes and goes with notes of plum and raisins and a faint pepper note. The KY has a mild woodsy note with a little spice and earth (which I think comes from the KY but could be from the VA's) here and there and adds some depth to the overall blend but is far from forward. There is a very mild topping that seems more like a sweeter than anything else. Overall, a good blend that missed greatness but still very recommended. It will not bite even if pushed and would be a great blend for someone with just a little pipe experience to get into the VA/per/KY blends. I personally prefer Rattray's Howl o' the wynd (at the 6 month to 2 yr. mark) over this one, however.
Age When Smoked:
2 yrs.
target="_blank"
