I've been working through some Peterson Flake that I cellared back in 2019 hoping to bring out some delicious flavor. While I have always struggled with Virginia's, since I quit snus, my taste for them has been slowly coming back. Peterson Flake on the other hand, especially aged, tastes like absolute ****. From the very moment the flame touches the tobacco I am greeted (or offended rather) by an acrid cigarette aroma and taste that is present as long as I keep the bowl going. I have tried it a bit moist, bone dry, medium, rubbed out, folded and stuffed, cube cut, in one pipe, in another, in a meer, in a clay, and a combination of all of the above and nothing gets rid of that awful taste. The past couple of nights I have started with a bowl of it and dumped it a quarter of the way through and moved on to another Va like HH or Orlik (granted there is a little perique in there) and those have treated me well. Is it my palate or is there a similar consensus about Peterson Flake? I guess I stocked up on those tins for nothing... I'll give them a few more years before I put them up for sale I suppose.
Peterson Flake: My Palate or Truly Terrible?
- Thread starter fishmansf
- Start date
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I recall enjoying it well enough and have a few extra tins. Sometimes we come across a blend that no matter what, it isn't right for us.
But I've also noted that at least as often, it's my personal physiological state that doesn't match it at that moment in time.
However, if this is your maiden voyage, maybe it's letting you know up front you two don't compliment each other...
But I've also noted that at least as often, it's my personal physiological state that doesn't match it at that moment in time.
However, if this is your maiden voyage, maybe it's letting you know up front you two don't compliment each other...
Not the maiden voyage and I actually recall enjoying it fresh out of the tin. Perhaps the aging actually did it an injustice
That would suck. Mine will have some age on them very soon...
All taste is subjective. I hate it too.
I don't believe I've tasted Peterson Flake, which purports to emulate the old Dunhill version, but I have struggled a bit through a tin of Charatan's version of the same and wasn't particularly taken by it.
I would suggest Peterson Dark Flake? Another that I've only had the Charatan's version, Black Flake, but that one sat very well with me and I've stashed a couple more.
I would suggest Peterson Dark Flake? Another that I've only had the Charatan's version, Black Flake, but that one sat very well with me and I've stashed a couple more.
It's not just you. Easily my least favorite of all the straight VAs I've tried. My experiences weren't quite as bad as yours, but I just felt that it was underwhelming. I tried to like it, I really did. I've had this happen with other blends too, and after a few fruitless tries, I always wave the white flag early; no sense in fighting a losing battle when there are so many other choices out there, right?
It's the same tobacco that STG made since around 2011 with a different label.
Jar it. Come back to it in a few years. Post about how much you love it.
I haven't smoked the Peterson branded stuff but did enjoy the Dunhill version. Smoked a fair bit of it before the STG transition. Don't recall any specific impression after the STG transition.
What are the odds it is now rebranded LNF?
What are the odds it is now rebranded LNF?
I like it but only after it's been in the tin a bit. The old Dunhill and new Pete versions are pretty close in my opinion and I have cellared 20 tins of the new iteration just in case.
I also like it. It's pretty consistent over the years. The recipe hasn't changed. It used to be called Light Flake so it's a subtle blend of lemon Virginias, with some very subtle top note of what is probably just sugar and water. I get notes of spearmint but YMMV. Because it is a light and subtle Virginia the pipe you use can make a big difference. I have a small to medium dedicated billiard and also a bulldog I only use for straight Virginias.
I love University flake. And haven't you been complaining about taste issues with several other tobaccos?
It's all subjective. I've been smoking Peterson Flake since it was Dunhill Light Flake, blended by Murray.
As has been noted, it is a very subtle blend. I like it in smaller pipes that are dedicated to Virginia blends.
It should also be noted that aging changes the tobacco. Whether or not it is an improvement depends very much on the individual smoker.
As has been noted, it is a very subtle blend. I like it in smaller pipes that are dedicated to Virginia blends.
It should also be noted that aging changes the tobacco. Whether or not it is an improvement depends very much on the individual smoker.
Yeah I have but my like I mentioned, my palate is coming back. This was a weird one because I remember loving it and smoking through several tins. Now that I have aged it, I have no desire to touch it.
It doesn't add up. There is certainly something weird going on. Like if you just didn't really like it that's one thing, but for it to be repulsive.... Maybe something happened to the tins. Maybe the pipes are ghosted with something nasty that some blends cover up...
Or if your palate had some issues and the actual sense of taste is coming back, well that can ruin blends. After covid the first time my sense of taste took a while to return and some blends just tasted acrid and horrible.
Don't get rid of them yet is what I am saying.
We are all different. To me, Orlik GS often feels very sweet, heavily cased and bergamot flavoured. Almost like a typical 'modern' OTC.
Peterson Flake tastes more like pure quality tobacco (with some subtle 'vanilla' etc added), like my all time favourite tobacco, Capstan (no 'vanilla' but other subtle casing/topping) does.
HH was/is more traditional, 'micro brewery', quality leaf, tasting like purer tobacco, as far as I remember but not a competition for the sauce in my 'codger' blend Capstan.
Peterson Flake tastes more like pure quality tobacco (with some subtle 'vanilla' etc added), like my all time favourite tobacco, Capstan (no 'vanilla' but other subtle casing/topping) does.
HH was/is more traditional, 'micro brewery', quality leaf, tasting like purer tobacco, as far as I remember but not a competition for the sauce in my 'codger' blend Capstan.
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