Thanks, I’ll be sure to keep it on my list. I think I’ll get better acquainted with these ones I have, and pump the brakes on my TAD… Maybe see if someone wants to trade for some of my aged English blends.
Comparing Virginia Flakes
- Thread starter fr0st
- Start date
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Love the original posters reviews and the ongoing recommendations. I am following this closely as I am also on the lookout for virginia flakes.
G. L. Pease: Union Square
Tinned: 01/17/2024 Opened: 03/31/2025Ingredients: Virginia (Bright and Red)
Tin notes: Dried grain, corn, grass hay
Notes: Taste and smell lack any fruit or other toppings found in other Va flakes. Slightly sweet, deep tobacco taste. Satisfying flavor and body.
Room note: unflavored tobacco, light smell that doesn’t linger heavily, still smells like a pipe and not cigars or cigarettes.
Discussion: I picked up this 2 oz. tin at a local tobacconist. It had a little over a year of age at that time. I think including both Red and Bright Virginias adds a nice complexity. The blend of these and the lack of topping suggest that this will further improve with age.
Rattray's Stirling Flake
Tinned: 01/20/21 Opened: 04/10/25
Ingredients: Virginia, Burly
Can Description: "Equal portions of air-cured, flue-cured and dark-fired tobaccos give this 'heavy weight' its specific taste"
Tin notes: Rich tobacco, leather, light blueberry. Very similar (if not the same) as I remember Peterson's Irish Flake.
Room note: n/a (smoked outside)
Discussion: As has been covered elsewhere, this blend is very similar to Peterson's Irish Flake (I only have a rather dry, 10-year old jar to compare). I have a new tin of Irish Flake, but it isn't opened yet (I'll follow-up when it is opened).
I found this four-year old tin at tobacconist which mainly specializes in cigars and only had a small collection of tins. This is a very nice Burley-forward blend with the lightly applied topping (similar to blueberry). Very nice, strong nicotine level. Great this morning sitting outside and drinking my morning coffee. In the bottom third of the bowl I detect more of a rich, pancake batter-like taste. This is a very nice blend, which I'll enjoy having on hand. For me it will probably be a morning smoke, or for when I want a stronger dose of nicotine. I'm sure anyone who enjoys Irish Flake will like this as well.
Tinned: 01/20/21 Opened: 04/10/25
Ingredients: Virginia, Burly
Can Description: "Equal portions of air-cured, flue-cured and dark-fired tobaccos give this 'heavy weight' its specific taste"
Tin notes: Rich tobacco, leather, light blueberry. Very similar (if not the same) as I remember Peterson's Irish Flake.
Room note: n/a (smoked outside)
Discussion: As has been covered elsewhere, this blend is very similar to Peterson's Irish Flake (I only have a rather dry, 10-year old jar to compare). I have a new tin of Irish Flake, but it isn't opened yet (I'll follow-up when it is opened).
I found this four-year old tin at tobacconist which mainly specializes in cigars and only had a small collection of tins. This is a very nice Burley-forward blend with the lightly applied topping (similar to blueberry). Very nice, strong nicotine level. Great this morning sitting outside and drinking my morning coffee. In the bottom third of the bowl I detect more of a rich, pancake batter-like taste. This is a very nice blend, which I'll enjoy having on hand. For me it will probably be a morning smoke, or for when I want a stronger dose of nicotine. I'm sure anyone who enjoys Irish Flake will like this as well.
When I referred to 507c it was to mean Sutliff 507c Virginia Slices. That's good to know it's staying after all. I have I think 10 lbs in half gallon jars and that should tide me over a while.
It's staying only is so far as someone from STG saying 507c is the same as Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake (PS 400, LNF).
Rattray's Old Gowrie
Canned: 11/10/2023, opened 03/26/2025Ingredients: Dark Virginia, Kentucky, Perique (VAPERKY?)
Tin Notes: Mature hay, fruit (raisin or apricot?). Moisture: good, smokes easily fresh, stays lit, not too dry.
Cut: Broken flake
Notes: I find the blend more complex than some VAPERs I've tried. On first smoke I felt I could pick out the component tobaccos, and has the amount of Perique I like (fruity/plum notes instead of overly spicy).
Discussion: On my first taste I wasn't overly impressed, I wrote in my notes "fills specific role, but not favorite". Since then I've smoked it several times- on the second round I found myself closing my eyes while slowly breath-smoking and just enjoying the blend and Nicotine. I think that my first reaction was poor because I was in "pure VA" mode and this isn't that. I'm enjoying my fourth pipe since opening and I'm really liking this blend. The taste of the VA comes through along with the earthy and slightly spicy qualities of the Kentucky and Perique. The taste and enjoyment, along with the ease of packing, lighting and smoking, this is a current everyday favorite of mine and I'll be picking up a few more cans on my next order. In the past year I've found myself really liking all of the Rattray blends I've tried. I haven't yet had HoTW, Marlin Flake, Macbeth, Brown Clunee, etc. - but look forward to trying more in the future!
Try Three Nuns, you might find that in the same ballpark (sadly without perique nowadays).
Dear all, do you find some differences between Rattray's Old Gowrie and Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls? They both are VaPer and taste is very similar. Do you have some coments on it?
I'm smoking a tin of OG at the moment, been a year or so since I last smoked DNR, but I find OG sweeter and spicier. Could be my palate, though - without side by side comparisons, it's not a reliable judgment. Also, OG is a ready rubbed, DNR coins, they deliver a little differently.
I’d suggest SG Best Brown Flake as well. I prefer the dark side of VA and found FVF very “blah” for all the hype it receives. I’m glad I tried FVF, and even gladder that I didn’t go deep on it.
Don’t LTF have black cav twisted in, like LBF has in its center?
PS400 LNF and 507C have been the same to me, but I’ve got a goat palate.
It appears that Smoking Pipes lists Virginia, Perique, and Burley. Whereas TR lists Kentucky, Perique and Virginia.
It's one of my favorite blends, and I'm enjoying some now. I definitely get the slightly sharp taste and tingling feeling I also notice in Cowboy Coffee (DFK, Burley, VA and Cav). Whether that is from Burley or Kentucky I could not confidently say- but I'd believe the can (VA, Kentucky and Perique):
The back of the can:
However, in Rattray's original recipe book Old Gowrie, Hal O' the Wind, and Brown Clunee were all originally a trio of "All-Virginian Tobaccos" and Old Gowrie, "manufactured from pure Virginia leaf, without any flavoring" (unless the other ingredients were kept secret). I believe the complete original recipes have been lost to time, or perhaps exist in heavily guarded vault beneath a Scottish keep.
Most “Kentuckies” are burley, hence both the label and TR being correct.
Now the “all Virginia” makes it interesting, but probably refers to a recipe that was changed. I don’t know the particulars on Rattray’s but many old blends are the old blend in name only.
Now the “all Virginia” makes it interesting, but probably refers to a recipe that was changed. I don’t know the particulars on Rattray’s but many old blends are the old blend in name only.
Since posting this thread I’ve enjoyed several different blends, and explored the rabbit hole of Burley and Dark Fired Kentucky.
After trying many Virginia flakes, I’ve found that my favorites are the European style flakes (mainly Capstan Original Navy Flake [blue], and Peterson Flake). I enjoy a light topping on my flake.
The most similar bulk offering I’ve found is Peter Stokkebye - Luxury Twist Flake. As predicted by several forum members, this blend closely matches my preference.
Peter Stokkebye - Luxury Twist Flake
Bulk blend, received May, 2025
Tin/Bag notes: Sweet, fruit, coconut, slightly boozy
Notes: Slightly skeptical of this bulk offering due to reading mixed reviews, I added a single ounce to an order. But, finding how I enjoy the blend I’ve since ordered a pound.
Arrived just slightly moist, dries in a few minutes to a level good for smoking. The topping lends sweetness and a while noticeable, in my opinion isn’t overpowering. I didn’t pick up on the coconut flavor until I read reviews. It is lightly applied, and nothing like coconut sunscreen or similar. Doesn’t tend to bite. Best smoked slowly, like other VA flake. Light/medium nicotine, good all day smoke. Flakes are a unique spin flake, easily folded and stuffed in the pipe. If you enjoy the likes of Capstan Blue, this may be a bulk blend for you.
Flake closeup view:
After trying many Virginia flakes, I’ve found that my favorites are the European style flakes (mainly Capstan Original Navy Flake [blue], and Peterson Flake). I enjoy a light topping on my flake.
The most similar bulk offering I’ve found is Peter Stokkebye - Luxury Twist Flake. As predicted by several forum members, this blend closely matches my preference.
Peter Stokkebye - Luxury Twist Flake
Bulk blend, received May, 2025
Tin/Bag notes: Sweet, fruit, coconut, slightly boozy
Notes: Slightly skeptical of this bulk offering due to reading mixed reviews, I added a single ounce to an order. But, finding how I enjoy the blend I’ve since ordered a pound.
Arrived just slightly moist, dries in a few minutes to a level good for smoking. The topping lends sweetness and a while noticeable, in my opinion isn’t overpowering. I didn’t pick up on the coconut flavor until I read reviews. It is lightly applied, and nothing like coconut sunscreen or similar. Doesn’t tend to bite. Best smoked slowly, like other VA flake. Light/medium nicotine, good all day smoke. Flakes are a unique spin flake, easily folded and stuffed in the pipe. If you enjoy the likes of Capstan Blue, this may be a bulk blend for you.
Flake closeup view:
C
Completely agree with your take on the flake. Capstan Blue and Peterson flake are two of my favorites, as well.