Tobaccos Robert McConnell - Scottish Flake

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2003-12-07		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

This is a strange combination of tobaccos that somehow works. I am no blender and would not even try my hand at it. So, kudos to whoever mixed the first batch of this stuff. It is one of the best tobaccos I've ever had the pleasure of loading a pipe with! I knew I'd like the stuff the moment I popped the tin and saw the oily residue all over the wax paper overwrap and smelled the fermented bouquet of soured figs.

It is unique in that while being a pressed Virginia flake, it is actually much more than that. The addition of oriental leaf kept this soft and smooth. And, thanks to the Burley and quality Virginias it was cool and packed just enough nicotine punch to keep me happy. It rubbed out easily but the moisture content meant a half hour in the open air before being able to load up.

I really cannot think of anything to compare this to. You will be able to taste all of the elements, for sure. Upon finishing my first bowlful, my tongue curled up into a question mark. Not sure what I just had, but it was delicious. If this was thrust upon me as the only tobacco I'd be allowed to smoke for the rest of my life, I'd grin and bear it with pleasure!

56 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrumsAndBeer (217)	2014-09-09		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

It's unusual to come across a blend of this many tobaccos with this kind of flavor clarity. And I agree that Scottish Flake is a peculiar combination of leaf. Like most Virginia dominant flakes, this McConnell offering is best smoked at a slow sip and with a clean palate. The flakes are delicately pressed and the thin cut makes for an excellent fold and stuff tobacco. It performs wonderfully, it’s simple to prepare and takes to flame with ease. It smokes relatively cool, is fairly forgiving and does not bitter when puffed at a faster pace.

Scottish Flake has a sweet tone and delivers a light honey note and substantial flavor depth. The majority of the sweetness is provided by the red Virginia and Turkish. The other components add body without overtly influencing the overall flavor. The mouth-feel is on the lighter side but there is a definite texture to the smoke as well as a pleasing spiciness. By mid bowl, flavors broaden and ultimately Scottish Flake settles into a gratifying smoke that’s medium in body, superbly balanced and consistently sweet from beginning to end.

Scottish Flake is not incredibly complex but there are some interesting subtleties created by the compounding of flavors that make this tobacco stand out as something entirely unique and worth pursuing. Good stuff, and it ages superbly.

Pipe Used: Briar

Age When Smoked: 10 years

28 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3046)	2018-03-02		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

The base of the blend is the earthy, tartly dark fruity, woody, bready, floral, sugary, lightly tart and tangy citrusy dark red Virginias. They also sport a touch of vinegar and spice. The mildly spicy, woody, floral, herbal, lightly molasses, nutty sweet and sour dark fired Kentucky is a secondary player. The peppery, plumy, earthy, woody, figgy, raisiny, prune-isn perique is mostly in the background, only occasionally rising to a condimental level. There are a few light small streaks of Carolina that provide a touch of tart citrus and grass. The rum topping is very light and adds a little smoothing sweetness. The manufacturer claims no Turkish is currently present, but I still get a very small sense of it, so I will claim a pinch or two is in the mix regardless of what they state. The strength is medium, while the taste rises a step above that mark. The nic-hit is a shade closer to medium than it is to mild. Won’t bite or get harsh, but has a few small rough edges. Burns cool, clean and a little slow as flakes will, though they easily break apart. The tart and tangy sweet and lightly savory flavor is mostly consistent all the way to the finish, and translates to the lightly lingering after taste, and room note. Leaves little moisture in the bowl. Requires some relights. Not quite an all day smoke, though a veteran smoker may consider it to be one.

-JimInks

27 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Shane Ireland (8)	2014-09-15		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Surely any who have tried either the original McConnell Scottish Flake, or the first iteration blended in Germany, would rate it near the top of their list of all-time favorites. K&K have changed the blend (my guess would be due to availability of some original components) but they have done so expertly and with my supply of old Scottish Flake dwindling, it just so happens that the current version IS the closest substitute (which is not always the case). I have plenty in the cellar and while it satisfies directly off the shelf, even a few years will do wonders for this blend. Older recipe or current, this is still my all-time favorite tobacco.

Age When Smoked: Fresh, very old, and everything in-between

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

22 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	O'Confrère (40)	2013-03-08		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

There is nothing quite like rubbing out a K&K flake. The flakes are beautifully and evenly cut and inevitably expand to a surprising quantity of springy and easily workable ribbon. The moisture is such that one can smoke it as it comes, although it does profit from a small amount of drying. There are no humectants here so that if you're looking to smoke it occasionally you might want to put it in a container to keep it if from drying out.

The German tin says Red Virginia, Carolina, Kentucky and a pinch of Turkish, cold pressed for several weeks, and includes the description 'robust and full-flavored (or spicy),' which hits the mark exactly. At the moment the K&K website says dark Virginias, Kentucky and a pinch of Perique, lightly flavored with rum. Have they changed the blend?

There is something about this straight forward, no-nonsense flake that is 'old- timey' to me. Whatever that means...

Nothing else to add to the excellent reviews below, except to reiterate: A good blend with a friendly nudge of nicotine, SF is rich, full-bodied, bold tasting (as DK says) yet mild and cool; a pleasure, and as interesting as you want it to be. And, as mentioned often below, it definitely profits from time in the tin! Don't know what makes this Scottish, but this gets my vote. Three stars from a fresh tin, four when aged. Give this one a whirl!

17 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-08-25		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Very pleasant thinly sliced brown flake, sweet tasting and rich but mild. I always love when a tobacco smokes mild and cool but has a nice bold flavor. This one accomplishes that.

This one did not bite my tongue unless I puffer fairly hard. A nice slow contemplative puffer will have no problems with sting. This is mildly sweet but not overly so. This is a fully serviceable smoke, and suffers only in relation to "superstar" VA flakes like FVF. It ages well, and I honestly would give 4 stars to my 15 year old tin but just three for a tin from 2008. Aging is recommended on this one, but even from a new tin, I wouldn't kick it outta my bowl.

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DenizBeck (323)	2017-07-01		Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

FIRST OFF: I contacted K&K and asked for clearification about the actual ingridients- I'll update this, as soon as I get a response!

Edit 07/2020: Still waiting on that response ;D

They must've changed the blend for sure! You can notice that somewhere around 2012/13 the reviews change here and start statin there's no Turkish in there, and the descriptions start describing a "Va/Per with Kentucky and Rum Topping" (which is also the current description on Kohlhase & Kopps website). Anyways, some Online-Shops, and some tins (primarily the rectangle ones) have different descriptions stating "Red Virginias, Carolina Leaf, Kentucky & Turkish Havana" - no Perique, no rum. Some say only "Turkish", no "Havana", so I have the guess they changed this blend several times.

__________________________________

This review is about the rectangle tin, which describes: "Red Virginia, Carolina Leaf, Kentucky & Turkish" (no Havanna) on the back.

Upon opening the classy designed tin (which is exactly like Scottish CAKEs design), I got greeted by a intense (fermented) fruit note, that's accompanied by a slightly nutty undertone. Reminiscent of wine or cidre, full-bodied scent. Inside there a 2 stacks of thin sliced flakes, which look beautiful with mainly bright-brown colour and is speckled with golden-yellow and almost black stains.

The flakes break apart pretty easily and need about 30-60minutes (at least) of drying time, due to the rather high moisture level. Keep in mind this is personal preference and your preferred drying time may vary from this! Experimenting is the key for elaborating your personal preference.

Lights easy, need average relights and smokes well.

Scottish Flakes taste is very sophisticated and refined. Not comparable to Scottish CAKE at all, the Scottish FLAKE provides a intense fruity aroma at first light, which I perceive as being orangy, with plums and figs. Quickly the Turkish makes it's presence known by contributing a very herbal, dry and woodsy aroma, with a tad of sourness that's enriching the fruity component (which I guess is the Red Virginia) excellently. I also get a nuttiness that's lurking in the back, which is very pleasant and consitent throughout the smoke. The Kentucky is applied rather light handed, and contributes a decent smoky, nicely tangy spice to the blend, as well as it emphasizes the Turkish very well. A peppery spice is constantly present and gives this blend full-bodied and rich.

Lots of earthy and woodsy notesn interplay with the softly sweet, but intense fruity component of this smoke, form a melange that's bewitching and taking you to foreign lands of the Orient.

No doubt - this is a TOP-NOTCH blend, which deserves the full points of 4/4 stars!

Yet I'm exasperated, that I won't be able to enjoy this blend for much longer, as the official K&K website states (and also the countless reviews saying so) it's a "Va/Per/Ky" with Rum topping now. I'm kinda panicing and already planning to cellar the ~10 tins that my local B&M has, which are all the "Red VA, Carolina, Kentucky, Turkish (Havana)"-Mixture, before it will vanish for good. As soon as I get response from K&K (which usually takes weeks, up to months...) I'll update this and hope that I can clear things up for good! ;-)

Pipe Used: Clay Pipes / Various Briars

Similar Blends: Peter Heinrichs - Reserve Crue No. 6,, is the exact match to the "old" incarnaton consiting of "Red VA, Carolina, KY, Turkish Havana", just uncut as a plug..

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Virginia lover (218)	2011-03-02		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable

Dark Virginia spiced up with Kentucky and a sprinkle of Perique with a very mild rum flavoring. The flakes are hard to remove from the tin without breaking them. Nice smell of figs and plums.

Lighting the tobacco is easy and it burns slowly and constantly. I get a well rounded sweet, toasty and slightly spicy smoke with rum molasses in the background. It is much better than Old Gowrie in both strength and taste.

Virginia lover

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lazarus77 (91)	2018-02-17		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Really nice flake, cool dry smoke, zero tongue bite. Virginia is a Captain, Kentucky is sergant ant Perique is supporting soldier. Give it a try, I'm going to buy another few tins!

Pipe Used: Various

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: cigarworld.de

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2081)	2014-02-08		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Robert McConnell Scottish Flake.

The nose from the tin is nothing extraordinary for the tobacco's used. What I do find extraordinary is how easy it is to rub the flakes: they're of a superb moistness and they're quite thin enabling them to be rubbed with the utmost ease. As it's a doddle to load the pipe, let's move on to the smoke:

Lighting Scottish Flake is, like the preparation, very simple. Then a smoke that's as nutty as it is spicy comes into play. If it's puffed too hard it can become quite warm but as it's bite free the flavour can be savoured with gentler sips; the Kentucky gives a lot more character to the flavour than the Virginia does, this gives very little to the taste in comparison.

I'd say the nicotine's just below medium unless big gulps of smoke are inhaled, and even then it's not 'strong'.

This is a great smoke: Highly recommended. That's about all that needs saying!

Four stars.

Pipe Used: Peterson

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Smoke King

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sasquatch (90)	2008-11-16		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This is delicious. Creamy and sweet - a lovely virginia. No tongue bite, no worries. I loaded 2 flakes into a Peterson 606, with room to spare. Smoked it for probably 2 hours, over a period of 2 days. Finally dumped the pipe and found quite a bit of tobacco at the bottom! A very slow smoking weed indeed, and friendly all the way.

It's not complicated, just tasty. I like it better than Scot Cake and will order more.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	raybrown55 (46)	2017-08-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

First of all, speaking of the debate about the ingredients of this blend, on my tin there was no description at all, or maybe it was well hidden below the warning label… Anyway I don’t care much of it: for me it’s not important to identify the single components so to tell what is woody, what is grassy, what is earthy and so on, I’m interested in how the single tobaccos interact to generate the overall taste, and in this case their interaction is nearly perfect, the taste is dark, bold and full from the first to the end of the bowl. No byte, no harshness, stays lit (once rubbed) without problems, it’s a real enjoyment! Very recommended.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-02-08		Medium	Extremely Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Bought it today after finishing a tin of Oriental, also from McConnell. I haven't smoked a flake in a while now and, since University Flake wasn't available, I chose this (in fact it wasn't much of a choice, this being the only flake available in the respective tobacco shop). Upon opening the tin, the flakes were pretty dry and had the smell of freshly mowed grass with a hint of plums. The tobacco taste after the lighting was of pure Virginia with a small spicy taste from the Turkish. If this is made from an original Scottish recipe then I would say that the Scots prefer milder tobaccos than the Irish. I found this a little milder than University Flake and way milder than Irish Flake. But this is a good tobacco, great to smoke anytime and anywhere. My sincere congratulations to the blenders. This officially became my substitute when I cannot find University Flake.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-07-05		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

"Coal to Newcastle" could be the title of this review, since there are plenty here already. But I liked this so well that I have to comment. I'm not generally a "straight Virginia" smoker. I like my latakia and perique and usually don't care for blends without them. This tobacco changed my mind. On opening the tin, I found these lovely, thin and lightly moist flakes. Easily folded, crumbled, rolled into a ball, they lit nicely and burned well. I quickly found that if I hurried, my tongue would get a quick message telling me to slow down. Once I did, a wonderful flavor and volumes of smoke were the results. After just one bowl, this has a place in my regular rotation. Now to try some of the other McConnell blends.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pryhosm (248)	2019-02-09		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I am sure I will be told I am wrong... and I probably am... but I would not be surprised if Scottish Flake and Old Gowrie weren't the same tobacco in different tins. Both are Made by Kohlhas & Kopp and both have the same tobacco's making up the blend....and oh yeah the taste the same. I went as far as smoking back to back bowls in the same pipe and I cannot tell the difference. I will admit that my palate is probably not as refined as others that review here, I often miss nuances I read about in other reviewers blends. This blend is earthy, nutty and woody. There MAY be a bit more perique in SF than in OG but I cannot say for sure, I did think I got more of a nose tingle from the SF but nothing more in taste. The profile is the same (see my review of Old Gowrie). The DFK is the star and the VA is toasty and bready. Not complex but very tasty. I don't care if it IS the same, both are very good VABur's and if my local shop is out of one I can always buy the other. I think I was able to get SF a bit cheaper so if I had to choose...this would be the one for that reason alone.

Pipe Used: Briar’s and cob’s

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Philo Beddoe (221)	2018-12-14		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is really good, truly delicious. In the tin it smells very tart and sweet. The flakes are a perfect thickness and nice and wide as well. Once lit, it tastes like a tart Red Virginia with an extra level of body than a standard Red Va. flake. I didn’t taste the Perique or the Orientals that are in the blend or the rum topping for that matter, but I’m quite sure I’d miss them were they not in the mix. The Burley pops up here and there, but it’s mostly the tart Red Virginia that shines. Scottish Flake is a prime example of the blenders art, all of these complimentary tobaccos and the rum are applied with a skill that accentuates the Virginia and makes it more than it could be on its own without distracting your attention from the fine Red Virginia leaf. Most highly recommended.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MrPipey (5)	2017-11-14		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

Usually, when i smoke a virginia based tobbacco, it comes out too cigarette-like for my taste (i don't like cigarettes at all). This one was an instant surprise. A warm, somewhat spicy blend with a bit of a kick. Just a small puff is enough to fill your mouth and i love it. It has a steady, continuous taste from top to bottom and it's flavor is rich with amazing clarity, although it burns a bit hot as you smoke it. No casing, no bite at all. Also, it is packed into a flake beautifully. It is a blend that i will not smoke throughout the whole day, but rather wait for a special occasion (perhaps in the evening with a drink). A downside of the blend would be it's room note. The feedback i got from others is not the best as they found it smelling like a heavy cigarette, almost too heavy (even for smokers). I have smoked it both fresh from tin and dry and truth is it retains most of it's well balanced feeling, but when dry it burns quickly (for a flake).

To summarize, an awesome non-aromatic blend to smoke alone now and then.

Would i Buy it again? I most definetely will. Would i Recomend it for new smokers? Yes, but with caution if it is your first non-aromatic. Would i recomend it for aromatic smokers? If you want something different for a change, no second thought.

Pipe Used: Briar

Age When Smoked: Fresh from tin and Dry

Purchased From: HACICO

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	steppx (186)	2017-07-10		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I wrote K&K to affirm the ingredients here. They claim they have always had rum in this blend. But in fact it is VERY mild. Almost not noticeable at all. It is there to soften the Kentucky smokiness, of which there is only a little. It is a not uninteresting blend. And K&K, as with Rattrays blends, has tried to be loyal to the old McConnell recipe. The mostly succeed I think. It is a true scottish flake in the sense that everything but the kitchen sink is tossed into this. The results are pretty good on the whole. I feel like Im being unenthusiastic when in fact I think it a top flight blend. I almost wish there were more rum to be honest. Dark Virginia and Kentucky, a tiny pinch of Perique. -- and there are several virginias involved and all of it stoved.Its a 3 and a half star blend....although Im only giving it three. Aging may well do wonders for this blend.

Apparently there was some confusion with labeling. A few black labels listed Oriental leaf. So Im told. There is no oriental in this blend. And never was according to K&K.

Purchased From: 4noggins

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SteelCowboy (685)	2016-05-09		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I have smoked this new and well aged, and find this to be a rather unique flake. The thin flakes are somewhat easy to deal with, although when well aged, they are somewhat difficult to remove without breaking them apart. This particular review is from a 12+ year old tin. I haven't done the research to know for sure whether or not K&K changed the components since this tin was produced, but there does seem to be some Turkish in this blend. It's sweetly topped, although not as sweet as similarly aged Scottish Cake. There is also a mild tartness that shows itself more in the later stages of each bowl. There isn't a lot of complexity and it will burn warm if not respected. It is a moderately spicy without being sharp . SF offers a decent nic hit too, although not overpowering. It could be a body chemistry thing, but it can be a little unpleasantly acidic during the second half of bowl. Monochromatic tobacco isn't necessarily a bad thing, but added to the acidic flavor that I get from it, SF wouldn't be a first or second choice for me.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Young Piper (304)	2016-03-29		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I am a big fan of McConnell's Scottish Cake so it was a no brainer for me to pick up a tin when I saw Scottish Flake at my B&M that had just recently arrived. A very nutty Red Virginia Flake spiced with Kentucky and Perique. I did not taste or smell the rum but I'm sure it's addition adds to the overall pleasure and would be missed. As usual the quality of this blending house is off the charts, the presentation is fantastic and the tin art just screams Victorian era elegance. My flakes were pliable and easily rubbed out but I found that after a short drying time were easy to stuff and light making for a cooler smoke than rubbed out with a small loss of complexity. The Virginia's are top shelf and toasty with the Kentucky and Perique in the background giving some strength but this is still a mild to medium Flake and has enough nicotine to satisfy me after a largish bowl. No bite but as with all Virginia's, one must let the flake smolder at the point just before going out to achieve the best flavor but fear not, this Flake DGT's remarkably well, I love smoking half a bowl before bed and having an amazing toasty and nutty second half for breakfast that only a quality Red Virginia can provide. I will be ordering more of the other Robert McConnell offerings as they really are a cream of the crop blender and produce some amazing blends!

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Geronimo Von Klaus (76)	2015-12-11		Medium	None Detected	Full	Very Pleasant

Oh yes. Oh, yes.

I usually don't go for these types of blends and can find them bitter and harsh, but this sings from the off and is delightful.

The tin note is earthy and deep, with some grassy VA and nutty Kentucky easily detectable.

The light is easy, and right away its a glorious aroma. Immediately to my nose the KY sings out loud, and its mighty fine stuff. Really smooth and easy, I slightly overpacked it so it was hard to draw, but it did not bite at all even when the furnace got hot.

For me, it's KY/Burley forward with some VA and Perique playing second fiddle as a combination. I cannot think of many other blends that have tried this, but this really was something.

Got deeper and tastier as it went on, perfect ash and very little maintenance needed.

Not much to compare it too, but I just found the whole thing a pleasure and will certainly be investigating more from McConnell and will be adding to my store of this for future consumption.

Top class.

Pipe Used: XXL Nosewarmer Custom Poker

Age When Smoked: 3 years

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrT999 (318)	2015-01-21		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A nice thinly sliced flake. I don't get any hints of Kentucky, Perique, Turkish, or casings. To me (YMMV of course), this is a fairly straightforward VA with some dark fired VA (I suppose that could be a touch of Kentucky). Not fancy, not very complex (I suppose the bit of complexity could be some underlying Turkish, but I never would guess it was there), but enjoyable. Since I know there are many tobaccos out there I would rate a 4, the question arises would I rebuy this particular tobacco, assuming my tastes don't change much more. In this case, the answer is probably not.

Pipe Used: various briars & cobs

Age When Smoked: 3 months

Purchased From: Mars Cigars

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Wibblefishofdoom (139)	2013-01-03		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I wasn't sure what to expect from this one as it was my first foray into the world of McConnell's tobaccos, however the wee tin gave me a slightly larger, if less cute, reminder of Holger Danske's Royal Navy Flake.

The tin aroma, upon opening, is something similar to that fine virginia flake, if more mild. The packing and lighting on this are of supreme ease, probably the easiest for any flake I've tried so far, so hat's off there to Mr McConnell. The flavour of the smoke, not sure on this one, hints of toffee and lemon perhaps.

This one can't help reminding me of Royal Navy Flake but not in the best way. The small tin, the tin aroma and the flavour seem to be too similar for comfort for me. Who came up with which tobacco first, I don't know. This is a good tobacco on it's own merit, don't get me wrong, but Royal Navy Flake would be my preference.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-03-19		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I feel bad that I did not try this great blend before.

The flakes are dark in color, with a wonderful, pure, grassy sweet, soure fig like, Virginia smell. The flavors are just what I was searching for. The flakes have a high humidity level, so I aired the stuff. The airing settled also the flavors for sure. Flakes pack well. It burns well. Smokes cool. I personally didn't detect any casing. Beside the quality Virginia I enjoyed a spicy flavor which I think means a Turkish addition and somehow a perfectly balanced addition of Burley maybe. The overall smoking experience of this tobacco is great. Offers all the satisfaction of a true pipe tobacco. I highly recommend it.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-01-07		Medium	None Detected	Full	Very Pleasant

Ahh, Scottish Flake what a wonderful tobacco! The smoke is so full and satisfying right down to the bottom of the bowl. Rich smokey, creamy and never bites always clean burning. I would highly recommend this tobacco. One of my all time favorites!

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tomcat (221)	2020-05-03		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Unnoticeable

McConnell Original Scottish Flake - Hand selected dark Virginia tobaccos,spicy Kentucky,and a hint of Perique pressed into the flake . This is what my tin reads on the back . The Virginias are dominant here and they taste and smell very similar to SG Best brown Flake to me . I assume the Virginias are African like BBF . They are toasty and bready and sweet . There is a citrus tang and honey as well . The description above on this site says a Rum flavoring . It is welcomed as it adds some more flavor and enjoyment. The Kentucky adds some nuttiness and cocoa and takes over at times .The Perique is subtle and seems to maybe add a little to the fruitiness and minor spice notes. This is one fine smoke IMO and I plan on stocking up when available. This smoked best for me in a wide pot folded and stuffed . One of the best blends I have ever tasted . Be aware though that you will taste the Rum topping . Highly recommend.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	leafy (4)	2013-04-26		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I have recently realized a simple technique for the preparation of pipe tobacco flakes which has recreated my (mainly 9mm filter) pipe smoking enjoyment to a notable degree. Many reviewers on site remark on the desirability of airing and even of drying out divers blends before smoking. This is, IMHO, an error. The friable condition of Scottish Flake, as received, and its subsequent further dehydration led me to what I now consider to be a masterstroke. Using a thin sponge to which a small quantity of mineral water is applied, the sponge not dripping but moist, the flakes are hydrated in situ, in the tin. The flakes may be turned in the stack before retiring and should be found to be evenly moistened on the following day. The product of this action is at once realized to be a boon. Previously, we regarded hydration of this sort as a therapy for dried up tobacco, for resuscitation, but now, by virtue of pre- hydration, the mollified tobacco is a consistent delight to smoke. Where formerly, the first half of the pipe was somewhat 'bread and bread' followed by more engagement with the smoking experience in the second and perhaps the enjoyment of a juicy heel, we now experience a gratifying smoke which quickly delivers taste and flavour without harshness or bite and which exhibits a satisfying and homogenous character throughout the smoke. At once, your pipe is more of a pal and you look forward confidently to more congenial flake smoking than previously known. After practicing this course for a month, I am now convinced of its value and would estimate my pipe smoking enjoyment to be 50% to 70% enhanced. I preclude any prospect of smoking a flake blend without this timely tip for treatment and strongly recommend smokers to try it. Here's why; Flake tobacco, as received, could be said to be in a torpid condition. The moisture present is locked up in the tar and oil of the tobacco. Prehydration of the flakes avoids the repeated tussle with that locked in moisture and opens the door to pipe smoking bliss. Experience it and you know that this is how the blend should perform. Hydrate!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tmoney (25)	2011-06-28		Mild	Mild	Very Mild	Tolerable

The name is O; Pinochi-O. And here I am, Smoking this pipe... as a real boy. When I take in puffs of smoke I am reminded of my night of Mayhem that I had on a little place called "Pleasure Island."

I was supposed to be on a mission to lead a good, honest and selfless life to make myself into a boy of flesh, but Pleasure Island presented far too many opportunities. Opportunities to Get laid, smoke, play pool, get wasted, ride roller coasters, and kill whoever you wanted. I couldnt pass it up. I remember the whole time my conscience Jiminy kept giving me the same old stupid lecture he always gave about doing right and letting my conscience be my guide... I got so sick of his crap, you know. I told the stupid cricket to shove it. He wasn't my boss and were he to be in my shoes, he would be all over that cricket tail. Stupid bug thought he could control me. Jiminy was the biggest joy-killing cock block in the world. GOOOOSHHH.... Couln't ever have fun with that hardass always chirpin down my neck!

Pleasure Island was a trip! When we got there my new best friend, Lampwick and I decided to get laid. So we found some action at the Pleasure Saloon. Then on our way out we killed a man just cause of the way his face looked. Now you may be asking yourself how does a wooden boy get up?.... I lie. Thats how!

I gotta say Lampwick was a real cool guy, he was his own boss and really knew how to have a good time. Didn't have to take order from some know-it-all cricket. I really liked that about him. He did his thing. After that we went to play some pool while we got hammered drunk and did a couple lines of coke.

Jiminy started to screw with my head while we played pool telling me the island was cursed, told me that Lampwick was turning into a Donkey. But you know, Lampwick always looked like a donkey, so i wasnt convinced til i started to grow a tail, myself. I hated it when Jiminy was right! We eventually escaped that place, but not before I took some angel dust to resell in the village back home. Jiminy had the bright idea of us jumpin into the ocean to get off the island. that idiot, I almost got waterlogged. Jiminy was such a tool.

Once I got home and became a real boy, the first thing I did was smoke Scottish Flake! And Jiminy kept being a pain, still trying to make moral suggestions to me and I got real sick of it. So one day one the way to school I threw that creep into a spider web and left him there to die. He swore vengeance on me, but I dont see that happening any time soon!

P-O out!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Cherry picker 1779 (52)	2020-11-18		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I like stronger full flavored tobaccos. I’m not an aromatic guy. I like natural tobacco flavor with at least medium nicotine. So 4 stars for that.

Scottish flake was a surprise to me. I’ve never had a Scottish tobacco and wasn’t sure what to expect. The first few bowls were pretty good , unique and interesting. I smoked about a quarter of the tin and put it in a jar. It sat for about two months. I just finished the last bowl and it has been a very nice smoke after it aired in a mason jar for a couple months. The natural tobaccos are what I taste and there is a slight topping but very, if not extremely mild. hardly noticeable, but it all works together so perfectly well. I am already missing it as I take the last of the Dottle to fire here to enjoy it to the very end. I already have another tin on the way. Burns cool and dry and very satisfying. This is one I will smoke often and always keep around. Outstanding!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Brunello (166)	2020-07-05		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I suspect that the recipe has changed since some of the earliest reviews were posted here. I certainly find no evidence of black Cavendish or Latakia. Going by the most current manufacturer info both this and the Scottish Cake look very similar on paper, but I'm certain that different Virginias are used and the casings are different.

In a side by side comparison the Flake is smoother than the Cake, and does not have the underlay of orange citrus. It also has less of the zingy pepper of the the Cake. If the Cake is white bread, orange zest, white pepper and coriander, the Flake has a deeper, more nuanced flavor of toasted poppy seed roll, malt, and fleeting wisps of something vaguely sweet like marshmallow or sassafras.

Good from the start but really something by bowl's end. If the Cake is an energizing blend to stimulate the appetite this one is a relaxing blend to sip and savor and let all your problems melt away.

The subtle addition of rum is barely perceptible on the nose or palate, just enough to marry the Virginias and the Perique, and deepen the flavors overall. The first few minutes are fairly straightforward before the deeper, more delicious, flavors emerge. I do enjoy rum flavors in my tobacco but compared to anything else I've tried this is probably the most restrained. I point that out just in case the addition of a spirit scares you off, or conversely, if your expectations are for something with a really obvious rummy taste.

To me this is a class act from start to finish, now a keeper in my rotation.

Pipe Used: Comoy Blue Riband, Design Berlin, SMS meer.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Steerpike (156)	2019-11-19		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Tolerable

Brief review for now having tried a couple of bowls from a friends stash. I'm sure I'll get some and will update this at some point.

Nice dark flakes, very neatly presented in the tin. The aroma in the tin is alcoholic and plummy, I'd say there may be some fruit in the rum topping. It lit with ease and burned evenly in my Falcon pipe. Smooth and mellow smoke, the topping is subtle in the background with a sweet fruity character complementing the tobacco. Not very strong, but tasty.

Pipe Used: Falcon

Age When Smoked: 2 years

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PipeDragon (44)	2019-03-24		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This is a blend from what I could consider my "intermediate" pipe smoking period, when I started to smoke something else than aromatics. While in that time I liked Peterson's University Flake, this was probably the first tobacco that I fell in love with and made me realize that pipe smoking is so much more than aromatics.

The tin note has a pretty sweet, grassy, almost barn-like smell from the Virginias, but the smoking experience offers something a bit more different (more on that later). The tobacco is pretty moist, but a 20-30 minute drying time on a paper towel should be enough. One flake is enough to fill a medium-sized bowl. A personal note on flakes: I tend to rub them and filling the pipe, rather then the folding and filling method.

Mechanically, this blend behaves very nicely: packs and lights easily, doesn't require many relights, burns slowly and dry although, being a Virginia-type blend, it does tend to heat the pipe a bit.

Now for the flavors. Throughout most of the bowl, I mostly felt the chocolate, nutty, almond taste from the Burley/Kentucky and it took a while until the Virginia came forward. The Perique is there to offer a bit of spiciness to the blend, particularly in the retro. I could detect a slight casing of rum, but it's very faint and doesn't get in the way of the actual taste. The Virginia is there, but I would consider this blend to be more on the Burley side. All in all, a well balanced smoke that can give you a pleasant, warm feel. Room note is also pleasant.

This is a high quality, medium-bodied blend that can be an all-day smoke. At least, it is for me. I can see myself smoking this in the morning, in the afternoon or in the evenings. A personal favorite of mine that I will most definitely include in my permanent collection. A very delicious blend!

Pipe Used: Half-bent Savinelli Capitol

Age When Smoked: 1 week

Purchased From: Tobacco store

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BingCrosby (162)	2018-09-14		Medium	Extremely Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I have to go along with the general consensus here.. this is a great flake.. very similar to folded flake, but different slightly.. the Virginia character of this is considerably stronger than in folded flake.. more on the sweet, tangy, fruity side at times.. the Kentucky builds as you go down the bowl but it never quite takes over completely.. this is a somewhat stout smoke in terms of flavor. Great for evenings.. not too much nic.. but enough. The perique is very condimental.. I don't think there is a high percentage in here.. but sometimes perique is a chameleon.. this is a top flake in my opinion. I didn't detect any turkish.. seems like the recipe changed over the years.. I also don't pick up on the rum topping.. it must be light, or it hides well in the blend.

Update.. I am now picking something up on the background.. it's sweet and floral almost.. could be rum.. although I know this once had Turkish in it too.. it's almost slightly indicative of that.. but my mind could be playing tricks on me

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ELF (40)	2014-04-24		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Very Pleasant

This is Fantastic,Tobacco.Was Trying to get my hands,on this Weed for Months. Finally got some;from my Tobacconist(Wpg/Canada)Wowza,,Awesome..This is nice,Folded..Or RubbedOut.This is reminiscent,of Erinmore(Flake)Original Recipe(Still Blended,by Murrays)I went Thru 50g(tin),in under 2days.The tin Smell..is Perique+StewedTomatoes(MatureVa)Very smooth-FullFlavor ///I promptly Returned+Bought 2moreTins..TRYing2Cellar..at Least One Tin..for a Couple of Years(Likely Won't Happen..Oh Well) 4STARS !!!-)

Pipe Used: Lorenzetti(Tempesta)9mm

Age When Smoked: New Tin

Purchased From: Shefield and Sons/CityPlace//Wpg.Canada

Similar Blends: Escudo/ErimoreFlake(MurraysOrig.Blend).

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-07-16		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

As speculated below, "At the moment the K&K website says dark Virginias, Kentucky and a pinch of Perique, lightly flavored with rum. Have they changed the blend?"

My tin's back sticker states "Dark Red Virginia slices, medium strength, naturally sweet"

I just received a tin today and it indeed smells strongly of rum..in fact, it came in the same tin and with the same inside paper as my F&T Special Brown Flake, which also has rum. For a second, I was worried they were the same flake, but upon further inspection, they are not. Maybe the reds are just giving off a rum-like tang? I do not detect any scents of turkish or cigar, but this could be due to the heavy rum lingering in the tin. I am letting this one air out a bit, which I found really livened up my F&T blend.

Review to come. The heat index today is 100 and I find this to be a bit much for enjoying myself outside. I will be happy with the ingredients of the new blend, as I knew this may be the case when I bought it, but truthfully I bought it for what is listed on this website.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kilmarnock Piper (251)	2011-11-09		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

My tin was from 2000, and there was some fermentation and nice, browned crispy paper going on when I opened it. I smoked the tin pretty fast. Reminded me of Samuel Gawith, but one of those without any Lakeland flavorings. This was a great, mild (but not too mild) Virginia smoke, and I will look for more aged tins. The price of this brand and the fact that you can't get it in bulk keeps me from trying too many of them, but if all McConnells are like this, it still wouldn't be a waste of money. Flakes were moderately dark and fairly unbroken, though all my flakes end up broken before I smoke them; that's just me! The mouthfeel was pleasant with no bite, and it did well in all size pipes, though I found it best in a medium with a fairly narrow chamber. This is one of many tobaccos I could go to four stars on, but when I've only smoked one tin, and love it but don't find anything to really set it apart (like with FVF, where I smoked a whole pound and more and never got a less than excellent bowl) I always leave the rating at three stars just to be conservative. I really need newer production to compare this to, but still obviously it ages well in the tin (and I love these tiny, compact rectangular tins!) having developed that fine fermented flavor. Not sure what makes it Scottish, but it is at least a British Isles style flake, though devoid of any of those flowery scentings. At this age, it did have that mild, winey matured Virginia taste, but with just enough of a nip (not a bite, a nip!) to let one know it started as a red Virginia. I highly recommend it to lovers of this type of flake.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pseudo Nim (129)	2008-08-26		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Thanks to this site, I have strayed from the usual offerings of Sam Gawith and tried a few Rob McConells, this being one of them, and I love it !!!! from the moment I lit up I knew this was going to be a good one, and a couple of tins later, nothing has changed my opinion, a smooth light,slightly on the sweet side easy going smoke with a nice creamy taste which reminds me somewhat of Dunhill Light Flake, though a little more fuller in flavour.

An excellent eye opener and good daytime smoke, flake during the day and Cake for the evening.

Having said all that, there are a couple of cons, but nothing that would stop me from buying it, the first being the "orangey" aroma exuding from the tin, I like a pure tobacco smell, but as I'm more into burning than sniffing, thats only a minor, the second being that the flakes in both tins so far are all stuck together, and as the tobacco is quite dry, they must have gone in pretty wet. So in order to get any out, I find I have to take the whole lump out and break a peice off to rub out, finaly, maybe it's me, I do get a few gurgles from this one, (in the first quarter of the bowl) even though it's pretty dry, so I always make sure I have plenty of pipe cleaners on hand for this.

Burns a little faster than I would like, but then this is one of those tobacco's that I want to go on and on.

All in all, the taste outweighs any drawbacks, will definately keep a few tins of this on hand. Four well deserved stars, and come to think of it, this might well be a good one for new smokers of the pipe (I hate the term Newbie's) and for aromatic smokers looking for a good quality flake.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-11-27		Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Update

Surprisingly, this is the only tobacco so far that does not do well with aging. I've opened a 2 1/2 years tin and it has considerably dried out.

Original review - 11/27/2007

I would be very surprised that this breed bares any turkish, Havana or medium Kentucky...for the sake of clarity, the tin description says: "Medium strength red virginia,naturally sweet".

And the taste is of sweet, matured red virginia, I did not detect anything else.

Scottish flake is a medium brown and red flake contained in a very conservative looking tin. The tobacco aroma is that of a fine port.

Smoking is indeed deliciously sweet, combined with the reliable and comforting taste of high quality matured virginias. I've noticed that past mid-bowl, the flavor becomes sweeter, without sacrificing the virginia taste.

A great companion to complete the true joys of a philosophy treaty and a fine glass of Cognac.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-02-17		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

There is not much to add to the excellent reviews of pipestud, Colonel Panic and Tantric. This is an All Star tobacco that every pipe lover ought to try. As far as the comments for foul smell are concerned, it just proves how differently people's senses work. Me, but also female members of my family who are fanatic anti-smokers, having though a passion for french cuisine, find the smell in the tin very savoury and a positive indication that tobacco is not just this 'evil, horrible weed", but something that a fine blender works on to create a tasting experience. Has to be left to dry for half an hour IMO before smoking otherwise it will gurgle but then, I am quite an aggressive puffer also. I would join easily the much esteemed pipestud, in the team of those forced to smoke this as a life sentence!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Exedwardsguy (11)	2004-06-17		Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I?ve put off reviewing Scottish Flake long enough. I feel it is owed to potential smokers who might be on the fence about spending their sheckels to try it. This simple advice? don?t delay! If you like Virginia flake and won?t miss having Perique (which is absent), order at will. You?re gonna like this.

What you?ll get is: fairly tidy flakes ? packaged end up, dark brown with some lemon color and tans mixed in, tin aroma like raisins and hay, moist but easily rubbed (if you?re into that ? which I am), packs nicely.

A single Vesta gets the party started and the fun begins with a fog of creamy sweet smoke. The smoke is cool and won?t bite, and the taste is mouthwatering. If you want more, just draw harder. You?ll get a cheerful crackling and more cool tasty smoke. The mild raisiny topping is evident until the end of the first quarter of the bowl, then leaves you like a welcoming spirit to the contemplation of the simple but very high quality tobacco flavor that remains. If you focus hard you can get the buttery Burley and maybe the Turkish ever so quietly murmuring in the background, but it is really their mechanical impact on this blend that is so exquisite. The smoothing effect of these tobaccos upon the already smooth Virginia is quite remarkable. There seems to be a question whether these components really are there, and I must say if this is just the pure Virginny, it is some special weed!

At the halfway mark I found myself wishing I was back at the beginning, this stuff is that good. Still smooth and creamy, the sweetness is gone, but yields to a demi-sec grassy flavor with a dark richness that Scottish Cake aspires to, but seems to apply with a large mallet, rather than having it just ? happen. By the end the Burley makes itself known by its little tingle and nicotine whammy and I was left with a peppery gray ash and no waste.

I wanted to think this was simply the sliced cake from which Scottish Cake was broken up. I am convinced it is a completely different blend. As nice as Cake is, this flake makes it seem like a rustic backwoods cousin. The aftertaste is crisp and yeasty. My first experience with McConnell tobacco was with the sublime Red Virginia of the early 80?s. On trying a contemporary tin of that blend I had despaired, only to find something equally magnificent if not better in Scottish Flake! A masterpiece of blending balance. Highest recommendation.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tantric (321)	2004-02-04		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

Pure, unadulterated Virginia of the highest quality. This used to be a favorite of mine?together with Scottish Cake (lighter, mellower than SF) and Red Virginia Superb?when I first started smoking straight Vas. in the early Nineties. I recently got a new batch from Cupojoes, N.Y. Kohlhasse and Kopp (blenders of McConnell?s, Rattray?s, Astley´s, and Wessex) should be acknowledged not only for the consistent quality of their products, but also because they have managed to preserve the distinct personality of each brand and tobacco, so that Scottish Flake does not resemble Astley?s 55 or Rattrey´s Old Gowrie. This flake has a grassy undertone, and only a faint acidic reminiscence, common to all Virginias. It is not a mild smoke, but it won?t get you giddy. In terms of flavor, it does not have that raisin-winy like sweetness of Dunhill?s Light Flake, Rattray?s Hal O? the Wynd or Astley?s 109. Instead it has a plainer toasted-grain like flavor, slightly similar to some of Gawith?s offerings (BBF for example), but not as soapy. There is a certain rawness to the leaf that I find very palatable. The flakes come tightly pressed inside the small rectangular tin; dark brown in color, the texture is oily and supple. The flakes are a bit hard to break apart, but packing and lighting is not too much of a problem. I find this an excellent companion for straight Scotch, especially in those rare evenings when in splendid solitude. An excellent Virginia smoke, highly recommended.

PS: I don't detect any of the other components listed at the top of the page. An AITS (Association of Independent Tobacconists, from GB)catalogue c. 1992 states that this is a plain Viriginia tobacco. In any case, just enjoy it.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2003-07-24		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

I'm writing this review just after smoking the Scottish Flake in my Meerschaum pipe. From the smell of the blend I guess there are some Virginia (Red and/or Black) and a small part of Latakia in it. It is quite wet (like all the Flake), and I will reccomend it to an at least not 'newbie' smoker. However, I did not found any problem when I packed it and lighted it and if you let it dry for a while these little problems will surely disappear. And now, most importan thing, the taste of the smoke. Compared to other VAs Flake (i.e.: Marlin Flake by Rattray) the Scottish Flake has not a wide variety of flavours, however this is not disappointing, for the smoking is enjoyable and much much easier than other kind of Flake (for example, with the Marlin is quite difficult to control the peace when smoked in a large bowl; the Scottish instead allows you a more relaxed smoking: a wrong peace won't cause your precious tobacco to turn sour!). Probably, when the tobacco is burning at the end of the bowl, the smoke is too sweet. The body is quite light and the nicotine too is not strong. I reccomend to smoke this blend (and, generally speaking, i reccomend to smoke every Flake) with extreme calmness to enjoy this slow-burning tobacco. If you are searching for an 'easy' but interesting smoke this is the right choice.

P.S.: I apologize for my english (quite rusty, actually, but I'm italian!)

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2003-06-20		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I have tried this twice now, both times in an eighth-bent Savinelli pot which is still fairly new and dedicated to Virginias.

The tin aroma is very similar to Dunhill Light Flake, though maybe a little stronger and more on the alfalfa side. This may be a function, though, of its higher moisture content. On a whim, I opened a tin of DLF and compared their aroma. Very close indeed.

These flakes are darker than DLF, though, and not as neat. They do not separate cleanly, and have to be picked apart. They rub out easily to a medium-fine consistency, but, owing to the moisture, they cannot be reduced further.

It crowns nicely to the charring light. A quick tamp and proper light, and a beautiful thick cloud of white smoke emerges. My spousal unit doesn't care for it. Oh well.

Rob't McConnell Scottish Flake is sweeter than DLF. The unmistakable oriental notes are there. Like other reviewers, I cannot identify the Havana.

It DGTs well, becoming less grassy and deeper, with a delicious round flavor.

I'll lay up a couple or three tins.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2001-03-11		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

Pouch Aroma: This is a lightly sweet and grassy smelling flake - the aroma reminds me a bit of Capstan Medium Navy Cut. It smells like good virginia tobacco with no hint of perique and if there's Turkish or air-cured they're very lightly used. No casing detectable to my nose, although a very light top note may have been applied since it smells a tad less sweet than before I dried it.

Appearance: The flakes are thin and partially broken, consisting of predominately medium brown tobaccos (50%) with the remainder made up of dark brown and bright yellow (40% and 10% respectively). Other than that, it's nondescript.

Packing and Lighting: I'm using my trusty old Hardcastle Executive straight saddle bulldog as it absolutely loves virginias and always smokes them cool, sweet and dry. Rubbing the flakes is a simple matter, and they break up similarly to Sample "A". A pre-light draw gives me an almost nonexistent tobacco flavor that's probably mostly the pipe itself. The first match, however, gives me nothing but creamy, full Virginia flavor and a nicely stinging sharpness when blowing the smoke out of my nose. The flavor reminds me of Capstan Medium, but it's not as heavy or savory. It also brings to mind some of McClelland's flakes but without the unmistakeable McC's pouch aroma or coarser cut. It burns quite well and is off to a pleasant running start!

Exposition: Very nice! Smooth and creamy, lightly sweet and redolent of fields of dry grass or hay in late summer, this is a tobacco I would smoke a lot of if I didn't have similar blends already in my cellar. It's tasty, but has nothing special thus far to recommend it above McClelland's Virgina #22 or #2010. It has nice flavors in the upper and middle range but seems to be lacking something in the low end - but this is typical of light VA Flakes so don't take that as a criticism. A few years of age could do wonders for it. One thing I like especially is the 'nose', the smoke rising from the burning bowl. It has very evanescent sandalwood and burnt oak notes that intermingle in a fun way. Now that I have a good burn going I think I'll run a pipecleaner into the shank and let it sit for a few minutes...

The Story: The relight, after about 30 minutes, is still sweet and tasty with a bit more depth and richness to it. I've had better tobaccos of this type, but not too many. I find it a bit too light and sweet for my regular taste but I could see many Virginia flake fans smoking this as an all-day. The room note is light and sweet also, and not as reminiscent of cigarettes as some of the drier Virginias are so it's very pleasing in that respect also. The flavor is staying remarkably consistent as the bowl burns down, only gaining lightly in strength and picking up a slightly pungent sourness that's quite pleasant on the tongue.

Denoument: Nearing the end, the sweetness has subsided a bit to make way for more of the creamy, slightly sour flavor. It's still quite mild and smooth and there's not a trace of bite to the whole bowl. There is a nice amount of 'body' to the smoke, a palpable heaviness on my tongue that is really pleasant. The smoke from the bowl is still nice, so I would definately like to try this in a bent pipe, and it leaves a rich aftertaste for quite a while after putting it down. Overall, a wonderful smoke for Virginia lovers.

P.S. I let the last dregs of the first bowl sit for 9 hours to be my nightcap bowl, and it's gotten much bolder in flavor while staying smooth.

Pros: Too many to list 'em!

Cons: The only thing this tobacco could use is a little more heaviness, but when I want a light, smooth pure Virginia flake I'll reach for this one every time so that's not even a fault.

Addendum: 5 days later, and I'm smoking this in my Peterson #305 and absolutely enjoying myself. It's still sweet and light, but my Pete is bringing out the creaminess quite a bit earlier than the Hardcastle did. I find the flavor to be everything I said above and more! This is an excellent tobacco, and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn just what Virginia flake tobacco is all about. It's great for beginners as it rubs out and packs easily and is very easy on the tongue.

In my Peterson, the finish is a bit heavier than before but not in any way unpleasant. I'm not getting the sour flavor, but it's not exactly sweet either; it's full, rich and slightly musty/woody, like a dusty old bottle of Cabernet. This one's a keeper!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LiterarySmoker (143)	2022-10-21		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable

I've been puffing in this for a little while and I'm finally at the dregs of the tin. I don't know much about the McConnell blends, but I bought this one because I was trying to find something to replace my Three Nuns Green with now that it's discontinued. Like TNG it has Virginia, Perique and Dark Fired Kentucky and I heard that this is supposed to be a similar match.

When I opened the tin I found a nice neat stack of flake which are a light brown color. When I stick my nose in the tin I smell autumn leaves, molasses, earth, raisins, toasty bread and spices. The leaf hay like aroma is slightly reminiscent of TNG with just a hair less of the Perique. The flakes are not as sturdy and tend to rub out and crumble easily so some care is required to use the fold and stuff method which I prefer, but it smokes well either way. It takes a light well.

It burns relatively slow and it is best sipped. The taste is medium bodied, Virginia bread forward, dark fruity, and has a tang. The Dark Fired is an element I really enjoy in this blend with a woody spice, and the Perique is condimental and fruity. According to the manufacturer there is a rum topping but I can barely taste it, if anything it just lightens the blend a touch. It's not strong and more to the mild side. If it was more readily available it could be a daily smoke for me. As for replacing TNG I think Doblone d'Oro has this barely beat but the more I smoke this the more I'm willing to change my mind. If you want a no fuss oldtimey mixture this might be for you.

Pipe Used: Peterson Irish Harp 106

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Three Nuns Green, Doblone d'Oro.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	crosscountry (23)	2022-08-05		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This was an enjoyable tobacco that led with Perique but had smoky hints of Kentucky. This is one tobacco that I smoked through the tin, rather than jar, as I tend to do with ones I like less - hoping that they'll age well. I won't add it to my regular rotation, but it was a good one to try.

My favorite part was the tin note, with the Perique fruitiness coming forward. Plus, I love pressed flake for rubbing out or stuffing. Definitely in a category of its own, everyone should try it.

Pipe Used: various

Age When Smoked: 2 years

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jmack (1)	2021-01-17		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

First review, this is my tobaccopocalypse blend. If all production of all blends were to cease tomorrow, then I have enough of this blend cellared to survive on until the end of my days. I won't go into the nuanced flavors, but I do wish it contained just a trace more treacle or a drop more of licorice. Knowing full well that if it had that tiny bit extra, then the whole perfect symmetry would be lost.

Pipe Used: Neerup pot

Age When Smoked: Yes

Purchased From: Everywhere

Similar Blends: G&H Kendal Kentucky.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MangoLegs (72)	2020-07-06		Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Medium	Strong

It's not for me. Tastes rough to me and the rum seems out of place. Will not finish my tin. Perhaps lacking some brightness? Harsh in the pipe and the tin note is dull.

Age When Smoked: Fresh from a new tin

Purchased From: SmokingPipes

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stefanos (222)	2019-08-19		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable

I really like Scottish Flake and I also liked Scottish Cake but having smoked the second more than two years ago I am not sure wether it is the same tobacco offered in different cuts...

The flakes are very neatly packed and very thin so that they can easily be folded or rubbed out according to preference. If rubbed a surprisingly large quantiy of tobacco is produced, but I think it smokes better when folded. Tin note is fruity reminding me of Turkish delight with orange aroma. Yeasty notes are abundunt as well and I can also sense some grassy flavours. The presence of some very mild casing must be presumed.

Preparing and packing cannot be easier. Moisture is just about right, with just a few minutes of drying it is perfect. Lighting is easy as well as is the draw. One of the most user friendly tobaccos to be sure. Taste is very nice as well sweet and tangy with some fruity notes and as a background a slightly bitter and smoky taste presumably from the Kentucky. Very harmonious smoke with no element standing out and nothing overwhelming. Towards the end though the Kentucky seems to take prominence and then the smoke tranforms to sublime.

Strength is medium as is nicotine. For me this is an excellent all-day tobacco which should appeal to smokers new to the pipe not least because of easy of handling. Yet this tobacco when sipped becomes sublime.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	L'Italiano (233)	2017-03-25		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Improperly called Scottish Flake this is more correctly a perfect Virginia/Perique mixture. There is a lot of Perique in this blend and you can taste it from the beginning to the end. Tasty and easy to smoke, the mixture as a whole is very good. Much better than the “namesake” Scottish Cake (always from Robert McConnell) that - contrary to what is declared - has no Perique inside and is not so tasty. In my opinion and in my personal rating system (from 1 to 10), my score is 8 and three stars.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Big Train (118)	2016-05-10		Mild to Medium	Strong	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Scottish flake is a K & K folded flake . That being said , K & K makes quite a few folded flakes many of which are similar . This one , I feel , has the most topping of any . I'm not sure what exactly this toping is but it is over the hill for me . It is similar to F & T special brown flake and Wessex brown flake but the topping is much stronger here That being said these are , otherwise , very similar smokes . K & K is the master maker of folded flakes and this Mc Connell is typical of their excellent effort using very good Virginia tobaccos . Though a bit moist in the tin it burns very well . This will remain an occasional smoke for me but it has it's place , to be brought out when a Virginia with a little more kick is desired.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	speaknott (4)	2014-07-23		Very Mild	None Detected	Mild	Unnoticeable

This tobacco comes in a long loose flake form, very easy to rub out. It has a natural sweetness, but is very mild to my palate. Burns down to a gray speckled ash. Overall, not very complex, but not a bad tobacco.

Pipe Used: Fe.Ro Bent Billiard

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jacinto Cupboard (209)	2014-07-14		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

My tin, presumably recent, makes no mention of any tobacco other than Red Virginia. I can't taste anything else in there.

These are squarish mid brown flakes with specks of bright leaf. The flakes are very loose. The tin note is quite mild with a hint of molasses.

Rubs out easily and takes a light well. This is a moderate smoke with some sweetness and spice on the nose. I found it burnt a little on the hot and wet side, but is not harsh on the tongue.

Edit 24/8/14. I've decided to up this to 3 stars. There is a no nonsense clarity to this tobacco that is really refreshing.

Pipe Used: Lepeltier

Similar Blends: F&T Cut Blended Plug.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Beer (345)	2013-08-25		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Mmmm, this review is from an aged tin. The Virginia has become quite dark, but the taste has not become particularly richer or deeper. Very little fruit, very little tanginess, very little caramelized goodness. It's rather gray, ashy, flat, cardboardy. Not bad, mind you, but simply monochromatic and austere. I can't detect the Kentucky, but probably I do detect the cigar leaf a bit with its earthy notes (although it's quite a subtle presence): this particular earthy creaminess would probably be loved by aficionados of the (heavier and very old) Sobranie Virgnia N. 10.

Reminds me a bit of Presbyterian: probably there's quite a bit of Orientals here. Anyway, I seem not to be a fan of Virginia + Orientals without Latakia, with the exception of the stunning Ashton/Robert McConnell Old London Pebble Cut (which is extraordinary thanks to its fruitiness... and probably the generous amount of Perique too).

Anyway, it burns cool and even, and the flakes are compact and toughly pressed, so you can crumble them as you see fit.

Decent, but I won't buy it again: too many more flavorful alternatives around.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	pipealicious (21)	2010-11-21		Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable

This blend was recommended to me as something comparable to teh musty-sweet damp hay flavors of Old Gowrie, which I like a lot. The tin contains nice small flakes and smells sour-sweet. It reminds me of dried figs. The flakes need some drying before smoking but smoke slowly and cool. The taste is quite sweet and retains this fig like undertone. It is somehow fresher and slighly sweeter than Old Gowrie, but very enjoyable as well. Something to come back to.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-04-21		Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

i'm a big fan of scottish cake and for the life of me i can't understand why i've never tried this blend until a few weeks ago. you can't go wrong with SF, it smokes sweet and cool. by far the most underrated blend from the K&K blending house.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	strongirish (249)	2009-02-02		Very Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

As one who tends to burley I had my reservations on this one but I recieved some in a trade and I will try anything as sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised. I am just that with this one. Robert McC just seems to be an excellent blender. As his others, this one is nice and cool smoking, very flavorable, and burns right to the bottom leaving a grey ash with no gunk or wetness. This blend was made to smoke in a Pete as I did and I was lulled into a nice relaxing smoke and when I hit bottom, I yearned for another bowl. I am always impressed when I get a VA that causes no tongue bite as I tend to get it from VA's but not this one. I have to give it four star for being so gentle yet so full of a creamy sweetness that just performed all the way down. Highly reccommended!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dubinthedam (133)	2008-07-05		Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Full	Pleasant

I picked up a tin of Scot Flake seeing PipeStud had marked it higher than Scot Cake. On first impressions, I thought, "this is just 633 (Solani) without the Perique". By the end of the tin, it had surpassed 633 (a good quality VA flake) and was up there with Capstan and Marlin Flake as one of my fav's...it's as if it's a flake version of Old Gowrie and Scottish Cake mixed together...either way a solid VA flake...However I have yet to pop my tins of FVF yet so I can't really measure it against the definitive benchmark.

Edit: popped a 10yr odd old tin....It ages superbly....heavy laden with crystals...supereb....this one cellars extremely well.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Spike (296)	2004-10-02		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I don't smoke this regularly as it is too hard to come by. That being said, I give it four stars because it is excellent and an out of the ordinary flake. Most of the other reviewers have already described the good character of this fine tobacco and I highly recommend it.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jakob Kiilerich (120)	2004-06-30		Mild	None Detected	Full	Very Pleasant

Okay, this one is a strange fella'. I did not detect any Oriental from the smell of the tin. Just plain (GOOD quality) VA.

Upon lighting, I found this blend quite flat and way too mild. "Where's the Oriental, of which the other reviewers spoke of"?? I was hit by it later down the bowl.. I must admit that I'm not very fond of Oriental - reminds me of cigarettes, and I'm not very fond of the Oriental in this blend. Oh yes indeed; It's very unique and interesting but just too weird and intense for me. Not intense as in strong, too complex or as in too much nic. just too intense in depth...

I'm not a neophyte - heh! I even smoke RY - but the density of the smoke is too heavy for me, that's why I only use this one as "The tobaccos answer to Espresso", and that's why I only smoke this one on occasion.....Maybe it'll grow on me later on..

Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Paddy (127)	2003-06-12		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

Over all, this is a medium brown flake with some light and dark strands. The aroma in the tin is a slightly sweet raisiny tobacco essence, not exactly the smell I get from Virginia. The flakes are packed endwise and fall apart easily. It is easy to pack any way you like it, lights quickly and burns well. At first the flavor seems so mild that it put me off a bit. But after half dozen puffs, I detect the Turkish which is exceptionally well done in combination with a very mild Virginia. I do not taste the Havanna or the Kentucky right away so they may be there in faint amounts to give some body to an otherwise very mild Virginia. This is a smoke that you could enjoy while doing something else, but it is also the kind of smoke that has that special, unique nuance in the Turkish leaf. There is no bite for me and the tobacco, once it gets going, burns cool. Three fourths of the way along, the Kentucky emerges now and then with its distinctive nuttiness. I give this high marks for its unique Turkish spice combined with the sweet Virginia flavor and that trace of Kentucky, but I need to concentrate a bit or I will miss it. Something for the attentive connoiseur. Well recommended. Paddy.

Seventeen years later I modify my view of this tobacco, somewhat. I now give it four stars. This has become one of my all-time favorites. It has a tobacco flavor I find delicious.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RCUSElder (244)	2003-04-30		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Not being a big fan a "virginia" type flakes, I was hounded by my friends to try this blend. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. While I would gladly try this blend if it were offered to me, this is not my usual preference. The tobac flakes rub out easy and seemed to work better in smaller pipes (group 3-4), burned slowly and cool with no dottle and a fine grey ash. The flavor was sweet and complex, typical of a well married flake. The nicotine kick was a little high for me, which means this is a sit down blend. For those who like flake blends, I too would highly recommend this.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JaWiBr (559)	2022-11-02		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Tin notes of figs, grass and a sour smell. The flakes are an orangish brown and only a little moist, drying not necessary. Rubs out easily. Slow burn and needs relit. The strength is med and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. The taste is med-full and somewhat consistent. I taste notes of sweet grass, wood, floral, bread, Rasin and pepper. Virginias leads with Kentuckey and perique providing backup. Room note is pleasant to tolerable and has a good after taste.

Pipe Used: 2016 XX Ashton Pebble Grain Lovat

Age When Smoked: 3 years

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Michael Jan (13)	2022-10-12		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable

____________________________________

One of my favorite tobaccos for late summer / early autumn smoking sessions.

The perique comes strong on the tin note with virginia fruitiness right behind, while the DFK adds a little bit of spice and bbq smokiness to the smell. The rum casing is very subtle and barely noticeable in my opinion.

Solid smoke and part of my weekly rotation. It is a manly man's tobacco. Have a bowl and go chop down a tree to get firewood for the winter. Maybe wrestle a bear on your way back. No drying time was needed. The flakes rubbed out fine without any drama.

The smoke was spicy, sweet, nutty and creamy, but also with a strong savory side to it. Burned to white ash. Don't push too hard ...a real manly man shows patience is all he does ... No relights were necessary, as I expected, as it would be inconvenient while fighting off multiple attackers ... Basically, this is something Ron Swanson would smoke.

____________________________________

Pipe Used: Savinelli 101

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: The Danish Pipe Shop

Similar Blends: GL Pease Sixpence.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Goose55 (33)	2019-06-16		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I need to revisit this blend because I acquired several tins after really liking the 1st tin I tried back in the summer of 2016. It's comforting to know I have some good smoking to look forward to with aged Scottish Flake. I'll be back to update my review later

Pipe Used: Preben Holm Ben Wade Brandy

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: 4Noggins

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Briar Piper (89)	2018-11-15		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Very Strong

This tobacco I tried based on its rum topping, as I enjoy tobacco flavored with spirits. I don't drink, but enjoy the aromas and scents.

This tobacco was also said to be similar to Dunhill flake/light flake, which I enjoy from time to time. This tobacco so far, has won the competion for the most bland and tasteless flake or mixture out of everything I have ever tried. The only redeeming virtue it has is that the rum is detectable to the bottom of the bowl, in such a miniscule amount that it is an enigma that it is not lost in the tobacco taste, which is nowhere to be found. It has a strong room note of tobacco, which is yet another enigma as the smoke is about as tasteless as it gets. Just hot air with a very, very faint hint of rum. I have smoked a lot of virginias and vapers. Nothing has been this bland. Has a little nicotine but not much. This is mediocrity in a tin!

However you owe it to yourself to try this, just to see how extremely mild it is taste wise. It is amazingly mild.

Pipe Used: cob

Age When Smoked: New

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bluesthang (4)	2017-09-26		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Not a bad tobacco for me but not in my favorites. I'd say it's a nice easy smoke, nothing to complexe, good but not a WOW factor. Still a tobacco worth a try, for the blend. It was recommended to me at a tobacco shop after I mentioned that I enjoyed my first virginia Capstan Blue but my girfriend felt that capstan reminder her of cigarettes too much. So the shop told me that Scottish flake would be a good compromise for both of us. Though I found it somewhat interesting, my gf still tasted too much the cigarette taste ( which is virginia here in canada).

Pipe Used: Blatter&Blatter Haiti

Age When Smoked: Fresh from tin.

Purchased From: Blatter & Blatter

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Theosprey247 (73)	2017-01-14		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Tolerable

Robert McConnell Scottish Flake is a mild VaPer with some Kentucky thrown in for good measure. The perique has a mild spice/pepper taste. A judicious sipper will be rewarded with a sweet taste from the Virginia. This blend is a slooooooooooow burner so take your time and enjoy this mild but full of flavor flake.

Pipe Used: Cobs

Age When Smoked: New

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WillBrown (137)	2015-08-22		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Upon opening the tin I was greeted with two side-by-side stacks of damp (not wet) dark brown pressed flakes. A familiar, pleasant Virginia/Perique scent wafted up to my nose—great scent. The flakes are generously sized; I stuffed my Viprati big bowl and the flake overflowed (my largest sized pipe!). After nipping the excess off, I fired it up (I dried the honored flake for two hours; not that it needed it). In short, this flake delivered. It wasn't too strong nor was it weak, medium in the nic department. So far, so good.

The baccy fired up really well, with no relights throughout. I loved sipping this one. The perique made itself known, but the Virginia's are really what this blend is all about. A glass of Lacryma Christi is a perfect sipping partner with this blend. The Vesuvio and baccy danced very well together. The bowl got a bit hot as it progressed, and the back side was a tad bit off, but overall, this is what smoking a pipe is all about—I seek a pleasant smoking experience when I "pipe up" and Scottish Flake delivered.

A strong three stars. Another good flake (don't ya' just love'em?).

Recommended.

Keep on Pipin', yeah!

Pipe Used: Viprati big bowl

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	22yrsonthepipe (22)	2013-10-08		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I get the feeling this stuff has changed over time and is now a completely different blend. My tin says "Dark red Virginia slices, medium strength, naturally sweet (made in Germany)"

Which is exactly what it is, no stained paper, Turkish, Havana or Kentucky in my tin, unfortunately.

Reminds me of Astleys #44. Very sweet, slight hint of vanilla, monochromatic, cigarette-ish, disappointing. If straight up red virginia is your thing, then consider it 3 stars instead of 2.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-11-08		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

I picked up a 2005 vintage of this at last weekends West Coast Pipe Show - aged very well and need to get more!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TEO (33)	2011-10-07		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I forgot a flake of this bomb out of the tin and I fell asleep...when i reached it this evening it was completely dried out...I feared it could be an evil weed...tplus I didn't want to rehidr it and ruin it...I smoked it as it was...and it is a great one friends...really fresh and herby, never a bite, with just a little care in puffing. All that floral bouquet and figs and raisins I can smell out of the tin doesn't disappear but stay in the background as this great Virginia grows up and fill my nose and mind.

Recommended, no doubt!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SergentPepper (5)	2010-12-27		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Well, frankly speaking ? I'm in love with this tobacco... It's REAL tobacco. The base is Virginia, a bit spicy with Orientals (Turkish). Of course, if one is looking for a very aromatic blend, one can be disapointed. Then, let me ask you something: Why don't you try candies instead of smoking a pipe ;-). I could simply smell the openned tin for hours... Figs ? Yes ! I can smoke it all day (and night) long: just perfect. If you smoke cigarettes and like "english taste" (Dunhill, JPS, Benson & Hedge, Rothmans, Craven A), just give it a try and you'll quit smoking (cigarettes, of course !) as fast as the speed of light. I love it !

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ynrozturk (62)	2010-07-06		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Since I am a VA lover I just had to give this one a go.

The flakes themselves are sliced very thin and are very handsome. Tin smell is grassy and natural. They've done a nice job with the packaging. So far, so good.

I usually rub out my flakes these days. From my experience, I seem to draw more flavor out of them when partially rubbed. That's what I did with this tobacco, and it responded well to being rubbed out. Moisture levels out of the tin were spot on for me, being just a tad moist, but without having to air it out.

I packed into a Peterson Rathbone and lit up. Holds to a flame well - one tamp and I was off.

The taste is really quite hard to describe. It's VA for sure (obviously) but so much deeper, with a lot of small, subtle notes in the background. The figs are there for sure, but only a tiny percentage.

One thing that fascinated me was that even though it doesn't say so on the tin, I could swear that there is Turkish tobacco in this. I know that taste and smell very, very well, and it's present during the entire smoke. Not a bad thing, really, as it gives some nice spice, but it does in a way remind me of cigarette smoke.

Burns slow, burns cool, but it did gurgle on me a bit.

It's bold, deep and creamy. I would say that it's more earthy and not as fresh as one would expect a VA to be. It's just a really good, satisfying smoke, with just the right amount of nicotine levels.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Skando (203)	2009-11-08		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

In conclusion to the list of Virginia based blends by McConnell, here my review to Scottish Flake.

The small rectangular tin contains something as a dozen of large & thin flakes. The tin aroma is deliciously of sweet fresh hay, green tea and a faint alcoholic topping.

As per the K&K site description, we are talking of a medium strength flake composed of dark Virginias, Kentucky and a pinch of Perique, mildly topped with Rhum. I subscribe this being more accurate than the italian distributor's calling for a more complicate combination of Red Mottled Virginia + Carolina + Turkish Oriental + Havana + Kentucky ... I would appreciate the experienced reviewers in the TR community to comment over this.

One flake has been loaded just folded ( a' la Mc Baren) into a narrow bowl of a straight Castello, lovat shape. The humidity seems just right, I have not faced any particular charring problem.

The smoke is immediately smooth and very much refreshing. Unmistakably a Virginia flake in the best tradition, faintly fruity/sweet, with just hints of earthy/salty Kentucky and a very pleasant citrusy note. It burns cool and slow, not much volume, the pipe stays very cool. It pleasantly comes to the nostril woody and peppery. Perique and Rhum are used very sparingly, just to refine the blend. Reaching the mid-bowl mark, the blend starts displaying a wider and softer body, the smoke gets creamier and stronger. No gurgle, the ashes are very dry. The tongue is pleasantly tickled, the palate remains clean.

A medium-small bowl like this means one hour - and even longer - experience, which I found very rewarding. As a comparison, I would think mainly to Rattray's HOTW but milder, or to a brother of Orlick's Golden Sliced just a bit "spicier".

SF doesn't reach the four star rating, but goes near. I shall stock more tins.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	orka (66)	2009-05-22		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Scottish Flake came as a pleasant surprise, and for me as well, it is indeed strange that I didn't get around to trying it sooner. I guess I've always thought of RMC tobaccos as too underwhelming. But I'm glad I tried this. Its thick, lusciously sweet and spicy smoke hasn't let me down yet. To my surprise there was also a strong oriental (Turkish) presence, and while I usually don't find this very appealing, it works great with S.F. Very flavoursome stuff. Perhaps not the most potent in nicotine I've smoked, but the good and enjoyable taste makes up for it. Also, I can't say I find much resemblence between this and Scottish Cake (S.F is much better in my opinion).

Tin aroma is sweet and fruity, rich and redwine-like. The tobacco comes rather moist, but behaves perfectly well after folding. No excessive moisture buildup disturbing the peace. Sadly, the tin doesn't hold moisture very well (typical of all K+K 50g flake tobacco tins), and it does seem to lose a little of that delicious flavour as time goes by. A solid three stars never the less. It has a good unit price, too, which is never a bad thing.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-01-07		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

My impressions are from a large sample a "Pardner" sent me, was from the mid to late 90s.

I'm not someone that normally seeks out or enjoys a "kitchen sink" type of tobacco, where every known weed is thrown in to the mixture, but this one works and is excellent.

Very smooth, and initally started off like GH&Co Broken Scotch Cake (which is a lakeland scented VA flake). after that, it gave way to a nearly syrupy sweetness, not like a nasty goopy aromatic, mind you... almost like it coats the tongue with a sweetness. Again, it's silky smooth, with a little tingle if you push it out the nose, where you can catch a little floral notes. It's got a little nicotine hiding in it for those of you that require that feeling.

Too bad "Pardner" didn't send me the entire tin!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Slow Triathlete (62)	2008-11-10		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I guess that I have been spoiled with too much Scottish Cake. I picked this tin up when the local B & M was out of Cake just to see how this one compared.

Like some of the other reviewers have stated, most of my flakes were stuck together so there was no way for me to fold and pack this one. I ended up having to rub out most of it. Maybe this detracted from the taste because I found this blend to be a bit boring.

The taste was pretty monochromatic through the whole thing. There were no surprises, which could be a good thing or a bad thing.

I didn't find it to be Scottish Cake without the Perique but rather a different blend all together. Straight Virginia smokers should really like this blend. Smokers who prefer some kind of spice added will find this one subpar.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Warwick (37)	2005-10-08		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium	Strong

10/8/05 - Initial impressions review:

The tin aroma was unusual but inviting -- a VA plum/raisin aroma along with a "grassy" aroma. I did not find it "musty".

The flakes were compressed into the small tin, and it was easy to peel off roughly 1/4" wide pieces of broken flake as needed. Moisture content was only a smidge higher than optimal. The flakes themselves were variegated/mottled, with the mostly dark color interspersed with lesser amounts of various lighter colors.

Given the good moisture level, I did not bother to rub it out, but simply folded a few strips into the bowl. Upon lighting, the flavor of the VA was superseded by a burst of other brigher and lighter flavors. Spicy, grassy. I could imagine that it is from some combination of the Carolinas, Kentucky and orientals.

The flavor strikes me as a rather complex mixture, and definitely not a monochromatic blend, or a rich VA-only, nor the binary flavor combination of a VA/Oriental blend.

The flake burns very nicely, is smooth and has little tendency to bite. The orientals dry the throat a little (which Dunhill Durbar also does to me) and perhaps it is the Havana (which I've not experienced before) which lends an odd pungency in the background that is a bit offputting. This has a fair bit of nicotine - not SG-Brown-Rope#4-strong, but stronger than Dunhill Nightcap.

As it burned further down, I found the room note to be fairly strong and not entirely pleasant - somewhat like a mild spice-scented candle mixed with cigarette ash aroma. The bowl also became somewhat "ashy" and dumping out the ashes on top allowed the remainder of the bowl to return to the "brighter" flavor it had at first light. After its all done, the aftertaste of orientals and a bit of ashiness lingered quite awhile.

I think this blend has to be considered on its own terms, and not as if it were a VA flake, because the import of all the other flavors renders it quite unique. It's simply not in the same genre as Marlin Flakes, Old Gowrie, Hal o'the Wynd, Best Brown Flake, Peacehaven, etc. If I were looking for a strictly VA flake, I would bypass this one.

I do think some aging will improve it - I kept feeling that the flavors were more "raw" than they ought to be. I look forward to finding out what 3-6mo on the shelf will do for it.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	sasha (228)	2005-07-29		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

A strange combination of tobaccos, that's for sure, but it works. It's sweet, VERY sweet upon opening the tin, and this you can find during the smoke too, but not an overwhelming sweetness. The greatest point about this is its smoothness, it smokes easily without even the least edge. I really can't figure out a category to put this into: it's good, and that's all!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	NEWMAN (305)	2001-12-09		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

Easily packed which results in a nice even burn without relights. The flavor is enjoyable and even throughout and I slightly sense the turkish from my prior cigarette life. However, the room aroma is much better than cigarettes and I'd smoke this in company of non-pipesmokers. Although it appears to have an ideal moisture content in the tin, it smokes slightly wet for my taste towards the bottom of the bowl. A full bent seemed to help. I don't find anything so uniquely different from some of the McClelland and Stokkebye blends that are available in bulk @ reduced prices but this is a really good smoke for a treat.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Albion1956 (42)	2001-07-25		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I tried this tobacco on my ongoing quest, primarily, since I had not tried any RM tobaccos. This tobacco is blended and produced by the same people that produce Rattrays. This tobacco comes in flakes, similar to Bengal slices, and other pressed/sliced flakes. Tim aroma is that of Va's with a slight turkish mixture, the description says Havana, I'm not sure on that one. The flakes are easy to break up, and packing the bowl is a breeze. One match will do the trick, after charring, the tobacco burns even and produces a mild smoke, pleasant to the taste, and to those around you, a mild tobacco that could be recommended to a new flake user. The tobacco burns well all the way down, and does not leave a bad taste. The tobacco has a topnote, similar to Honeydew?

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2001-03-22		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Fermented tin aroma, spicy sweet and sour flavor, nasty room aroma, nasty aftertaste for the next few hours. This blend nearly turned me off Virginias completely. I've still got the tin in my humidor after all these years, maybe I'll try it again and see if five years of aging have helped.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Quiggifur (99)	2023-03-01		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

Amazing up front, very fig/raisin, less grassy/floral. Backs off fairly quickly, and I start to get more burley influence, and a slightly acrid quality to the smoke. Getting virtually none of the things I love about dark fired. The front end is so amazing and the back end is so lackluster and disappointing by comparison. I don't think I'd smoke this regularly. Think I'm feeling a little bit if nicotine nearing the end of the bowl, but not enough to speak of.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Philip from France (1)	2023-01-25		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Personally, I am a big fan of Scottish Flake. The blend of red Virginia, Turkish, Kentucky, and Perique, with a light rum topping, creates a flavor profile that is tasty and interesting. The sweetness from the red Virginia and Turkish is perfectly balanced with the earthy, woody, and floral notes from the Kentucky and Perique.

It's the perfect blend for someone looking for a complex, yet well-balanced smoke. The perique is pretty mild and doesn't really tap in before mid-bowl. The flakes themselves are beautifully and evenly cut and form easily workable ribbons. The moisture content is just right, so you can smoke it as it comes, or dry it out a bit if you prefer. Apparently, there are no humectants in this blend, so it's perfect for aging.

As for the burn, I have to say, it's pretty impressive. It burns cool and clean, and it doesn't bite or get harsh, even if you puff on it a bit too fast (like me haha). And it's not too moist, so you won't have to relight it too often. I just fold the flakes in two to fill my bowl. The only downside for me is that it may not be complex enough for some smoker looking for a more complex blend, and it may require some relights in the bowl is pressed too much.

I would recommend Scottish Flake to anyone looking for a unique and satisfying smoking experience. It's a blend that's definitely worth trying, whether you're a seasoned smoker or just starting out.

Pipe Used: Vauen

Age When Smoked: Few months

Purchased From: Bonner Pfeifen, Bonn, Germany

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-09-29		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A fine Scottish blend. Balanced and tasty. The only thing I didn't like was the "shape" of the flakes, it seemed more like loosened up and pressed again tobacco. There is no way of separating the flakes without braking them. It is highly similar to MacBarren Scotish Blend, but I tend to like this one more.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-07-25		Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable

Despite some inconsistencies from tin to tin, it still is worth the try.

Again, the tin aroma and taste is similar to Astley's 44 and Hal O' The Wynd. Which is no surprise considering K&K is the manufacturer for all these tobacco houses.

Almost overly sweet in some tins and dryer and harsher in others. And a good balance in others.

I am not sure I will rebuy due to the inconsistencies. But the good tins were very pleasant.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-03-31		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Fig/ straw-like and naturally sweet as a matured virginia should be. Very pleasant and interesting. Perfect, thinly sliced flakes in the tin. High in nicotine. Don't smoke on an empty stomach.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-03-24		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Nice, dark, thin flakes. Packed easy, burned cool, good flavor. Gave a pleasant room note. A good Virginia flake.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-03-14		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

K & K's Website states that this flake contains red Virginia, Kentucky and some Périque. The casing, or I would suspect topping rather, is rum.

The flakes are medium brown and may be the only tobacco that I own, so far, that does not do well with aging. After opening a 2 1/2 years old tin, the flakes had not darkened and they were rather dry. The other tin that I had opened displayed the same characteristics. Maybe I ended up with some overly dried tins when I purchased them?

The rum topping is noticeable to the nose and is dominant when lighting up and smoking. It will steal the show for the most part of the duration, whereas the red Va and Kentucky will remain in the background - actually the Kentucky's presence is extremely faint, I can hardly detect it.

These flakes are definitively sweet rather than spicy and I can't assess if this is due to the topping or the red VAs. Probably both.If you do not fancy sweet tobaccos, you should avoid this one.

In fact, there is something ackward about the taste. It burns very well though and does not become damp or sticky.

I bought five tins and have 2 1/2 left. I will not rebuy more.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-01-18		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

The tin says "Dark red Virginia slices, medium strength, naturally sweet".

The manufacturer's website says: "Virginia with kentucky and Perique"

A strange cookie that works well somehow for a change of pace.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-11-07		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a nice easy smoking tobacco. I have it in my regular rotation. Packs easily, burns well, and my significant other doesn't mind the smell. I would recommend trying it. It did seem a little pricey for the little tin, but overall I think it was worth it.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-10-12		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I still consider myself a new pipe smoker after a year...but, wanting to try things other than aromatics, and based on reviews here, I bought a tin of this. I'm happy I did! It rubbed out easily-using the Frank method for the first time, it packed and lit easily-and smoked like a dream. Sweet Virginia taste, lots of smoke, few re-lights, and an overall very pleasant smoke! I encourage you to try this one, it's a keeper!

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-02-16		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Addendum:- After a couple of years of pipe-smoking, my palate/mouth seems to've become more able to deal with more robust tobacco and I have to say that this is now a little too mild for my taste. Its as if the volume has been reduced gradually and after returning to this blend, I had to blend it with a more robust tobacco (Revor Plug). I think/hope my original comments are still valid.

I like McConnell's Sc. Flake very much. preferring it to Scottish Cake, as it seems more honest and less honeyed or topped. There is a creamy, butterscotch mouth-feel, but its not overtly syrupy or unnatural and still has that "brown" tobacco goodness. This could almost be a fine cigar, re-worked for a briar, with slight chocolate & vanilla overtones which don't overwhelm the main body of the smoke, which is subtle yet satisfying. It always has me wanting more and I find myself anticipating the bottom 1/3 of the bowl, where it gets richer and at times somewhat caramelised, in a very pleasing way. I find this easy to manage when well-rubbed and is a fine smoke, tho I too experienced the "mashed-up flake" problem, which was a tiny bit exasperating after several tins of perfectly prepared McB's Navy Flake. The most important thing about this to my mind is, it doesn't try too hard, having confidence in the smoker's palate. I could imagine some smokers wanting this a bit stronger and think a couple of strands of Peterson's Irish Flake would darken and and enrich this beautifully.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-01-29		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

latest 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.

updated review: okay, i surrendered out of curiosity, to the brutal method of "baking" a tin of s.f. - and the change was radical. not only did it develop some deep natural fruity notes it had been missing, it also suddenly appeared a good deal stronger. a very nicely balanced tobacco for smoking in the afternoon, really. oh, and do yourself the favour of smoking it in a rather narrow bowl, as the flake is thinly sliced.

upgraded from 3 to 4 stars.

original review: tin aroma: fruity, winey, raisins. a topping is present, but not in a way that scares me away. i find it quite inviting, as it seems to accentuate the kind of notes you get from an aged flue cured tobacco.

the rather light brown flakes pack and light easily - and then comes the disappointment: this virginia is rather flat and monocromattically sweetish in taste for the first half of the bowl. i think it could have done with some more aging to match the topping. also, i seem to sense some of that infernal propylene glycol. still, smoked slowly and carefully, the second half gets a lot more interesting, it gains in strength and flavour, and it ends up as a very nice smoke, with a hint of kentucky and turkish. the room note, though, was not appreciated by my wife for the last third of the bowl...

not the most interesting of tobaccos, perhaps, but quite decent. it will almost certainly benefit greatly from a few years of aging (if there's not too much topping and pg in it). i may be back with further comments by then!

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-11-14		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Tin: SF smell much like strong grape juice. It's a mix of brown hues spotted with blonde. The flakes do not peel off lengthwise as a whole piece but break up into little twigs and rub out as a stringy, stiff ribbon. It felt on the verge of being dry. The square tin doesn't reseal snugly.

Packing & Lighting: I was a little put off by the way the flakes rubbed out, but it packed easily enough, and of course, started with one match. It was surprising that there was a fair amount of gurgle, given that the tabacco did not feel moist, requiring several relights towards the end of the bowl.

Taste & Aroma: Nothing really stands out, no subtle or strong flavors to delineate amongst, just rather mild and monochromatic. Right at the end of the bowl, there was a fleeting fruity sandalwood aroma, slightly grassy, not sweet. The bowl is left with this same scent. A smooth smoke with no bite. Two stars, not bad.

Nicotine: medium, borderline strong

Room Note: Nothing until the end of the bowl, then mildly winey sandalwood; no unpleasant smokiness.

Overall: Unimpressive; no strong VA component. It's not a quality oriental blend. It leaves a sandalwood and wine scent to the room, leaving no unpleasant smokiness, just nothing special; there are better VA blends.

Second Effort in large Bowl:

Top third: monochromatic.

Halfway: fruity sandalwood

2/3: complex mix evoking bursts of mild VA, Kentucky, oriental, sandalwood

Bottom: sandalwood-oak scent, which is a contrast to the fruity tin aroma.

Smoke this in a tall bowl, to develop this aroma transition. One could be tempted to call this a plain, uninteresting tobacco if smoked in a small bowl. It was never really sweet. 3.0 stars

Addendum: After consuming about 1/2 of the tin, the tobacco had become bland, losing any contrasts in taste and aroma. At this point, it is plain VA that is light, smooth, and has no unpleasant qualities, vaguely sandalwood, leaving no sharp or smokey aspect lingering around. Moderately recommended for not leaving oa sharp or strong aroma. But, by the end of the tin, SF had lost any topping which could no longer hide a lingering, slightly sharp, smokey, mildly cigarish aroma. 2.7 stars

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-08-02		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

2nd Update - 02 Aug 07

One important comment, after smoking about half the tin: this flake needs to be smoked very carefully and slowly; if smoked too enthousiastically, it will leave the tobacco and the inside of the pipe wet, which is extremely unpleasant...because of that, I must downgrade it to 3 out of 4 stars...quite annoying!

This is the first time that I'm reviewing a tobacco after smoking it only once...but this is one of those things...

Scottish Flake is a traditional Red VA Flake; you are greeted by leaves that are golden, red, orange and medium brown, and the flakes are lengthwise - the tin is about 3" X 2 1/2", and that is the size of the Flakes, on the horizontal plane rather than vertical, which makes it interesting.

I can't say that I detect the Turkish, Havana or Kentucky bakkies...but the tin aroma is definitely of a fine red wine, almost reminiscent of Port. The tin description says "Dark red Virginia slices, medium strength, naturally sweet"; I'll be damned if there is any of the other bakkies mentioned...but logically, there should, because there are shades of gold and medium brown, but it is very subtle, so if those bakkies are there, they're definitely in the background. But, dammit, I can't taste it!

This tobacco reminds me of Hal O' the Wynd in strength, but in way less harsh, smoother in fact. Smokable, for I did not enjoy HOTW, as where I enjoy Scottish Flake very much... It smokes dry and rather slowly but needs some attention: don't puff too much or your tongue will pay the price!

Despite that it smells sweet, it doesn't really taste sweet at all; it tastes like tobacco, with some spicy notes - the Turkish/Havana?; the sweetness expresses itself in the room note!

So, if you like Hal O' the Wynd, this baby is for you! This is definitely an excellent bakkie.

Recommended, I will update after 5 or 6 pipefuls...

Update 03 July 07

I maintain my appreciation of this tobacco, and upgrade it from recommended to highly recommended. It's really nice! After the tobacco has dried out a bit, the first half of the bowl is mostly the taste of pure VA, with a slight sweet background; as soon as I hit the mid-bowl, the bold flavor of sweetness explodes, making this tobacco a very enjoyable smoke. IMHO, this is better than Hal O' The Wynd, even though it's the same manufacturer that do both Rattray's and McConnell. Also,you get your kick of nicotine without any problem.

Highly recommended, and the tin is really cool looking!

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-03-25		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

While this is a good tobacco, I'd say go with Scottish Cake. I think someone referred to this as Cake's "rustic" companion, or something to that effect, and I'd say that's accurate. Good in a pinch, and good for travel, but overall I'd say the taste is much more rough around the edges than the Cake, which makes me give it only three stars.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-01-04		Medium to Strong	Medium	Medium	Tolerable

It is an honest tobacco. It's strange to understand cause have also havana leafs in thee mixture. This flake gives to you a regular and honest smoketime. This is my favourite tobacco when I don't know what I will smoke.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-12-20		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Unnoticeable

Grampa would have loved this tobacco and couldn't we all learn a bit from Grampa? This is a plain old good and decent blend. Basic tobacco, very slightly aromatic. One of the few "sort of aromatic" Virginias which I really like. I don't know what dull or boring is in tobacco. I do know what "Yuck" is for me. For me yuck is easy to achieve and step one is usually to add goop that is intended to add flavour or aroma. But I really don't personally care much what the room aroma is like, within reason, and I don't really want other flavours because I like tobacco flavour. Perhaps that is precisely what bores some folks. This blend takes a baby step toward addressing the flavour, and manages to not really do it badly at all. Of course I happen to like red Virigina. I give this 3 stars. Nothing wrong with this blend at all, I just want to rate it a half step behind my very favourite blends. I buy this and smoke it. If we had a ten point system this would be a nine, not a seven. And the tins fit in my hip pocket.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-09-17		Medium	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Notes: There is certainly some confusion as to the exact ingredients of this blend -- whether it is a straight virginia blend (as it says on the tins I've purchased) or whether there are other condiment leaves as well. In any case, any contribution the latter may make is subtle indeed, acting only as supporting players to the lead character, red virginia leaf. When considering this, treat it as a virginia flake, as it smokes and behaves as such. I like it best in a thin tall chimney pipe.

Appearance: A firmly pressed thick broad-cut 3" flake, compactly stacked in a 3" x 2.5" tin, very similar to the way that Krumble Kake presents itself. The blend however comprises a melange of light to darkish brown strands.

Aroma: Quite sweet as natural flakes go. Honey, salted peanuts, vinegar, cupcakes, natural tobacco flavor, whole grains.

Taste: Flour tortilla, steel-cut oats, wheat bread, vinegar, plain tobacco flavor. Can burn a bit if you are overly aggressive with puffing. A complex flavor profile, for such a quiet, mild blend, with everything bubbling below the surface of perception.

Comparisons: Very much in the same line-up as Rattray's Hal O' The Wynd, with a similar nutty-Virginia disposition, but less nutty, harsher, austere.

Bottom Line: If you enjoy nutty Virginias, like Rattray's Hal 'O The Wynd, but are searching for a less expensive, more portable alternative, this may be a good choice.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Darth 69 (117)	2005-02-14		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Strong

I was blown away, in a bad way by the heady and foul tin aroma that is best liken to intense musty body oder. No joke! I never smelled something so obtrusively demonic in character as this bouquet from the tin which permeated the air like a cannister of Zyklon B. I can only guess maybe its' the havana leaf in conjunction with the maturing process. All this experience with out even lighting up yet. Smoke wise it is much more subdued, mellow, slightly naturally sweet and round but the echo of that rank stench is too distracting. I can also liken "that smell" to cumin largly used in mexican cooking. If you are as perceptive as I am, people who eat such cooking tend to smell like such cooking, amplified by exsertion and poor hygine. If it was'nt for biblical brimstone being the preferred olfactory torment for the damned this would be a great second choice.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2002-10-19		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I had previously tried Scottish Cake and loved it and having gotten seriously into flakes I had been wanting to try this for some time. I then had an opportunity to buy some aged tins of various blends and amongst them was a 4 year old tin of Scottish Flake. So this review is based on an aged tin rather than a fresher one.

On opening the tin I found the wax paper stained quite a dark brown colour. The tobacco itself is mostly dark but I have found some slightly lighter colours in there too. This is consistent with ageing. The tin aroma is similar to Marlin Flake which is a favourite of mine so this was a good sign. I was unable to get any of the flakes to seperate whole. It is quite moist for an aged tin. I broke off some good sized lumps and gave a little rub and found it broke up very easily into quite small pieces with little effort.

Lighting took some time with my Old Boy and I had to relight twice after tamping. The immediate flavour is reminiscent of Marlin but is spicier. I find the sweetness develops further during the bowl but demands a slow technique to reveal it's joys. The flavour is subtle and for me would not work too well as an outdoor smoke but is superb as a reading or working smoke or as a plain do nothing but enjoy the smoke slowly.

The flavour is of sweet red VA. I do not detect whatever Turkish is supposed to be in this. Burley is present and serves well to add a creaminess but does no more than that. I do not taste any nuttiness or ashiness. Just a wonderful creamy VA sweetness.

Kohlhase, Kopp & Co know how to make great flakes.

Although I have indicated I smoke this on occasion I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes sweet VA flakes like Marlin, Hal o the Wynd, Old Gowrie, Escudo, G&H Brown Flake, etc.

I plan on trying the fresher stuff but even if I find it different it would be worth laying some down for the years ahead.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2002-08-02		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The small pocket-size tin is just one of the things I like about Scottish Flake. These classic dark VA flakes do, as others have noted, break up very easily. Packing is no problem. There is a light sweetness in the flavor, but according to the A.I.T.S. Tobacco Index there is no flavoring added. Could be just the pressing of the red VA's and the natural sugar content. I detect no Orientals or Latakia, but there is a suggestive smokey flavor reminiscent of campfires and charcoal grill tastes. There's also a flavor that's sort of like walnuts (at least to me) but it's very delicate and subtle. This tobacco reminds me of an "Old World" kind of smoke. It lights and burns well. The flavor gets richer as you smoke and the VA "tang" is present nearly all the way down the bowl. When relighting I noticed a slight bitter taste but it disappeared as the burn got going again. I did notice a slight throat dryness near the very end of the bowl, but it was not at all bothersome and a couple sips of ice tea took care of it. I like the "musty" VA smell in the tin, and the smell in the room was inoffensive. I found the moisture content to be just about right, and I had little problems when smoking making just one swab with a pipe cleaner. All in all I really like this tobacco. The tin makes it easy to carry, it rubs out with little effort, it wasn't harsh or overly sharp, it has, IMHO, a good, honest natural VA tobacco flavor, and though, as some of you have noted, there are other bulk blends that are as good (or better)and perhaps less expensive (agreed), I feel this tobacco has a good quality-to-value ratio. Having obtained some tins, from a dear departed friends cellar, that are aged to the point that the wax paper inside is covered with black/brown age-blotches adds a little "mystique" as well. Works for me.

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