Mississippi River Special Reserve Not Really Flake

[hoosierpipeguy]

I bought 6 tins that I received today. Popped one to smoke a bowl just in case I found it to be great and wanted to order more. I was shocked when I saw what they're attempting to pass off as flake. At the very best one might consider it broken flake but what it really looks like is the regular MRSR cake they've attempted to slice and it's all broken up! And when you handle it at all, it crumbles to small pieces. I can't imagine anyone would label this as flake while keeping a straight face.

It does taste fine like the standard MRSR but not any distinct difference that I can tell. I'll probably just keep it since I like the blend and it would only be 5 tins is try to return. Not worth it. Shame on Seattle Pipe Club though for this sham. It's like they were meeting and decided to slice up the cakes, repackage, call it a special release and inflate the price.

 

[LotusEater]

Hmm
I just bought a tin at my local b&m and paid way too much for it. I was expecting something that cold be folded and stuffed. I’m glad I only bought one.

 

[Chasing Embers]

McClelland called that broken flake.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

McClelland called that broken flake.

But the McClelland broken flake didn't crumble to pieces when you tried to load it in a pipe.

 

[FurCoat]

Like their last limited edition, I decided to pass on this one. Seems I made the right decision

 

[Chasing Embers]

But the McClelland broken flake didn't crumble to pieces when you tried to load it in a pipe.

This is true.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Reminds me of when the new apprentice at the deli tries to slice a leg roast and it gets sold for more as “pulled pork”

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I'm surprised they didn't advertise it as a crumble cake, which is a selling point in other blends.

 

[kschatey]

I would agree that it doesn't look like flakes. The C&D Sun Bear 2021 is far more flake-like than the MRSR and it wasn't even marketed as flake or even broken flake!

 

[Sloopjohnbee]

Cut aside, How was it? Looks good

 

[shanez]

I hate to be this guy but, yes, it looks like flake to me. Like so many pipe terms flake is a bit confusing and vague at best.

From pipedia:

Flake: Flake tobacco is made by slicing thin sheets off of a cube, which in turn is formed by pressing whole tobacco leaves into a compressed form, usually under significant pressure for long periods of time. Flake tobacco may be sold in slices, or fully or partially broken or rubbed out.

Other websites have definitions of flake as "containing 1/8" or larger pieces".

It would seem producers could do a better job by utilizing the terms "slices", "partially broken flake", and "broken flake" rather than just flake.

But at least now we know SPC takes advantage of the vague definition instead of providing what most of us consider "flakes".

 

[crawdad]

<<thank you lort, for not letting me buy this blend>>

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I'm surprised they didn't advertise it as a crumble cake, which is a selling point in other blends.

Because the standard MRSR already is crumble cake.

Cut aside, How was it? Looks good

I'm smoking a bowl right now and it is quite good as is the standard MRSR.

I hate to be this guy but, yes, it looks like flake to me. Like so many pipe terms flake is a bit confusing and vague at best.

From pipedia:

Flake: Flake tobacco is made by slicing thin sheets off of a cube, which in turn is formed by pressing whole tobacco leaves into a compressed form, usually under significant pressure for long periods of time. Flake tobacco may be sold in slices, or fully or partially broken or rubbed out.

Other websites have definitions of flake as "containing 1/8" or larger pieces".

It would seem producers could do a better job by utilizing the terms "slices", "partially broken flake", and "broken flake" rather than just flake.

But at least now we know SPC takes advantage of the vague definition instead of providing what most of us consider "flakes".

Slices would have been appropriate. This reminds me of Watch City Slices.

 

[Sloopjohnbee]

<<thank you lort, for not letting me buy this blend>>

Id still buy some

 

[captainsousie]

It's like all the MacBaren blends that are labeled "twist" and in fact are shag cut. It's just how it goes sometimes. Tons of manufacturers do it so I wouldn't be too hard on this one.

 

[anotherbob]

It's like all the MacBaren blends that are labeled "twist" and in fact are shag cut. It's just how it goes sometimes. Tons of manufacturers do it so I wouldn't be too hard on this one.

what blends are those. Dark Twist is certainly a coin made from a twist. Which ones are shag?

 

[Sloopjohnbee]

this looks more promising than those G&H drops IMHO

 

[Chasing Embers]

this looks more promising than those G&H drops IMHO

Being made by Sutliff it is more readily available, but I won't touch it.

 

[Casual]

which in turn is formed by pressing whole tobacco leaves into a compressed form

(Emphasis mine.)

If it crumbles like the crumble cake, it wasn’t formed first by pressing whole tobacco leaves.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Maybe they're using C&D's press!