Dark Flakes Are The Yummiest Stuff

[misterlowercase]

I love a good dark flake.
St. Bruno used to always have the advertising tagline "the standard dark flake", and after I first tried it from a pouch kindly sent by Jimbo from Yorkshire, I've been in love with it, but it ain't exactly easily at hand.
Stonehaven is my favorite dark flake, and it ain't exactly easy to find neither, but I consider it to be the supreme expression of a classic British-style dark flake.
The dark flakes in my rotation are:

Irish Flake

ODF

Blackpool

McConnell Lat Flake

GH Dark Flake
I like Dark Star and smoke it on occasion, but it's a bit fiddly, although greatly rewarding from midbowl down --- I've read that Blackwoods is easier to deal with, I may have to try it, and the bulk Navy too? What about the Butera variant?
I've tried 1792 but it wasn't love at first puff, I'm still slowly working thru a tin.

I need to try Bracken Flake.
I've never tried the Wessex dark flake,

it's impossible to find.
I have some Sillem's Commodore Flake yet unopened, but unsure if it could be considered a dark flake?
It seems dark flakes are quite popular, but it doesn't seem there are a great number of them available.
Any suggestions for one I need to try?
Thanks.
Here's a gratuitous pic of a nice looking obscure dark flake...

 

[petes03]

I just tried Blackwoods the other day, it's pretty good stuff!

 

[Dutch Pipe Smoker]

I had a tin of Blackwoods flake but found it not easy to deal with. Very, very moist and difficult to smoke. Definitely for the flake-expert.
I did not smoke the McClelland Navy flake bulk but a good friend of mine did. He is/was/is/was a cigarette smoker and he found the stuff tasty but STRONG.
Ah, I also did not like 1792. Too strong and something put me off taste-wise..
Keep on searching for the Wessex Dark Flake, it is de-li-ci-ous! Keep an eye out for the usual websites and when they have it, don't think, just buy it. Very yummie stuff!
If you want that John Aylesbury flake, I know a way. But it is going to cost you since you have to import it from Europe.. Mail to German tobacco-store Linzbach (linzbach@tobacco.de) and ask them if they can send the tobacco to you (and give send instructions of course). They speak English and have the whole John Aylesbury line of tobaccos.
Seeing the Gawith tin, their Navy Flake is very much recommended!
Peter Heinrichs Dark Strong flake (in essence the same as the old Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky) is also very yummie!

 

[swampmouth]

I'm with ya on this. I'm rot really sure what costitutes "dark flake". I'd thought cooking was the hinge pin but there are plenty of uncooked dark flakes. Possibly just pressure, time, and fermentation. I'm smoking SG navy and it is quite dark(and tasty). Most tobacco starts out light. I'm going to jump to a radical conclusion. It's either dark before it goes in and/or is made dark by the process. I'm also assuming it has to do with caramelising sugars. The best DF to me is Black Parrot.

 

[PlanxtyPipes]

JF Germain's Rich Dark Flake is supposedly the exact same as (or a slight variation on) Stonehaven. Unfortunately they don't sell it in the US. But if you are in Europe it's a good alternative.
I've yet to try any dark flakes myself, just the lighter stuff (Dunhill, Capstan, Christmas Cheer), but I'm going to add some of these to my "must try" list!

 

[bryanf]

I also don't care for 1792. Can't even finish the tin I bought a year or so ago.
Bracken flake is good stuff. Stronger in nicotine than 1792, and up there with Irish Flake, if not stronger. However, it has a sweet taste. I don't smoke it all the time, though I have gone weekends smoking nothing but it. Just be aware that it has a certain amount of lakeland essence, so if you don't like lakeland flavors, you probably won't like it. Not a lot of lakeland sauce, but it's there for sure.
I don't like Latakia, so don't care for Balkan or Navy flake from SG. I finished the tins, but didn't reorder and it's been some years. My favorite dark flakes are: Irish Flake, Bracken Flake, Dark Flake, Kendal Cream Flake. These are all lightly flavored. I have other fav's but they are lakelands. Condor being the best.

 

[misterlowercase]

Cool, thanks everybody.
I'm sure I'll love the Balkan Flake 'cause I love Commonwealth very much,

are they similar in profile?
Arno, thanks for the Aylesbury info, I'll probably just avoid the hassle, it does look good though.
One I forgot to mention is Astley's #44,

it's great but I don't think of it as a dark flake, it is though the very best toasty brown flake I've yet to smoke.
Shame there ain't more examples to be had,

it seems like a third of the dark flakes on the market are continually sold out!

 

[cobguy]

You guys are killing me!
Ordering tonight: SG Balkan Flake, McC Dark Star and GLP JackKnife Plug
Ahhh ... what the heck ... add FVF to that as well because you guys talk it up pretty well!
Thanks for the TAD enablement!! lol