Rum Flake

[OverMountain]

I tried SG rum flake today with 30 min or so of drying. There were a few sips of greatness but for the most part I didn’t taste much.

Being a Virginia blend (I rarely smoke straight VAs) , could I have over temped it? (I tried to go slow).

In the tin, the Virginia’s are delicious smelling but it almost smells like Capstan or any other VA. Not a rum tin note.

What’s going on with me? Could I have bought a dried out tin that’s “lost the sauce” or am I just a VA newb/troglodyte?

 

[minerLuke]

I tried SG rum flake today with 30 min or so of drying. There were a few sips of greatness but for the most part I didn’t taste much.

Being a Virginia blend (I rarely smoke straight VAs) , could I have over temped it? (I tried to go slow).

In the tin, the Virginia’s are delicious smelling but it almost smells like Capstan or any other VA. Not a rum tin note.

What’s going on with me? Could I have bought a dried out tin that’s “lost the sauce” or am I just a VA newb/troglodyte?

Did you just pop the tin? I find with many tobaccos Pete/Dunhill tins and Gawiths in particular that a few week nap in a Mason jar after opening does wonders. Usually after opening the tin I will dry it out to nearly what I want (which may be overnight if uts a really wet tin) then jar it.

 

[AJL67]

Can't say I've ever tried the Rum Flake but that being said i don't think drying it would kill that much of the flavor as i've never found that with other tobaccos, could be a chance that you were expecting way more out of it than it was able to give? I mean unless it was bone dry when you opened it.

 

[coming to_falling too]

I get a strong maple smell and note from Rum Flake, but not so much actual rum haha, but I suppose it's there somewhere

 

[MikeDub]

First time I tried it I didn’t think much of it and stashed it in a mason jar and forgot about it for a month. Second smoke was incredible and it’s been amazing ever since. Of of my favorites from G&H. Give it a rest for a bit and try it again

 

[Oddball]

I second opening the tin and jarring for a while.

I always smoke one straight away and the bowls from the jarred flake a few weeks later are much deeper.

 

[verporchting]

Virginias can be a subtle and acquired taste. Personally it took a little longer for me to slow down enough to begin picking up the nuances. Before that I found them bland compared to aromatic or light English blends. But over time Virginia blends became my favorite category . Rum Flake seems like it should have more upfront Rum flavor but I’ve never found it to be so, it’s definitely a slow sipping tobacco. That’s when you notice the flavors. Don’t despair! Just be patient.

 

[OverMountain]

Thanks all. Into the jar it goes. When something has been enjoyed for longer than you have been alive, the problem probably isn’t with the product. It’s probably me! I’ll try it again in a month or so.

My wife said the room note smelled like cigarettes, guess that’s virginias.

 

[woodsroad]

Does your wife smoke?

 

[OverMountain]

Does your wife smoke?

No, but she grew up in a heavy cigarette smokers family.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I find that certain pipes can mute VA blends pretty heavily, try it in a differently shaped bowl. Was it a large pipe? if so try a smaller one or the other way round.

 

[woodsroad]

My guess: Tobacco was too wet. Should be crispy but fully flexible. Just shy of crumbling.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

I have a tin and I can get a hint of the famous Lakeland essence every now and then

 

[woodsroad]

I have a tin and I can get a hint of the famous Lakeland essence every now and then

For the longest time, GH has had a cross contamination problem, where anything they make could taste like Lakeland, whether it was supposed to be there or not. I spoke with someone a couple of weeks ago who recently toured their plant, and he felt that they had the problem under control. To be sure, I haven't detected any Lakeland in non-Lakeland GH blends for at least a year.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

For the longest time, GH has had a cross contamination problem, where anything they make could taste like Lakeland, whether it was supposed to be there or not. I spoke with someone a couple of weeks ago who recently toured their plant, and he felt that they had the problem under control. To be sure, I haven't detected any Lakeland in non-Lakeland GH blends for at least a year.

My tin came from secret Santa 2 or three years back (but I bought 2 more and some bulk)

 

[woodsroad]

My tin came from secret Santa 2 or three years back (but I bought 2 more and some bulk)

Trying to blame me isn't going to make it better!

 

[OverMountain]

I find that certain pipes can mute VA blends pretty heavily, try it in a differently shaped bowl. Was it a large pipe? if so try a smaller one or the other way round.

Peterson 313. I’m jarring it, will try again in same pipe for consistency, and the try a larger bowl. Thank you for your advice.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Both ,the Rum Flake and Peterson Hydepark are slightly flavored with that Lakeland essences.

 

[woodsroad]

Both ,the Rum Flake and Peterson Hydepark are slightly flavored with that Lakeland essences.

The last two batches of Rum Flake that I bought have no discernible amount of Lakeland.

 

[minerLuke]

I will also mention that my experience with the Gawiths top flavored blends is that they aren't very 'loud' like a full on aromatic. The Chocolate in Chocolate Flake or Bob's I mostly get on the initial light and then it sort of drifts in and out occasionally. Same with Rum, Navy, Ennerdale etc. I think the strongest flavor from them that I've had is the blackberry in Firedance FL, that's pretty much front and center. I'm smoking a tin of that right now.