The Holy Trinity of DFK Blends

[bluegrassbrian]

if it weren't small batch, Sansepolcro may have had a chance!

I just popped a tin of Sansepolcro about a week ago and I’ve smoked a few bowls. I like it but for me the dark fired is pretty far in the background. It’s nuanced where most others mentioned have more forward dark fired flavor.

Jacknife plug never impressed me much.

 

[logs]

Huh...rotting death, not quite. But something was missing.

Yeah I don't think my tin was representational. Something went really wrong in the production chain.

 

[mindglue]

Like all of these three tobaccos, and also enjoy Bold Kentucky.
Special thanks to Jesse, for Savinelli Doblone d’Oro, couple years ago, I think, he mentioned this blend as not so popular great tobacco, very close to the old version of Three Nuns. Its not under radar anymore.

 

[Chasing Embers]

if it weren't small batch, Sansepolcro may have had a chance!

Yep

 

[docrameous]

I like ODF plenty, but prefer Bold Kentucky which amps up the KY and tones down the vinegar a bit.

Ugh! I nearly bought Bold Kentucky on Saturday to compare against ODF. Should have... could have... would have... there is no end to this hobby!

 

[Jaylotw]

Any love for Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky? It’s a little too licorice-y for me, but man that’s some cool looking flake there and in the right circumstance I do enjoy it.

That Savineli stuff looks pretty incredible, I’d love to try it but at $20 a tin it’ll have to wait a bit.

 

[cigrmaster]

In my experience 1997 and 1998 Orlik Dak Strong Kentucky are my favorites. I also found one of my batches of 2012 Solani 660 Silver flake that is amazing. Also a favorite is 2012 Mac Baren Old Dark Fired is quite tasty.

I also smoked a tin of the re released Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky from 2015 and it was also damned tasty.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Any love for Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky? It’s a little too licorice-y for me, but man that’s some cool looking flake there and in the right circumstance I do enjoy it.

That Savineli stuff looks pretty incredible, I’d love to try it but at $20 a tin it’ll have to wait a bit.

I haven't tried the Orlik DSK but I do love Peter Heinrich's Dark Strong Flake which is supposed to be very similar.
That liquorice topping makes a nice change of pace.

 

[Sonorisis]

Surprised no one has mentioned the G-H offerings of Dark Bird's Eye, Kendal Kentucky, and Kendal Dark Shag. Those are my benchmarks for dark fired tobacco.

 

[cigrmaster]

I haven't tried the Orlik DSK but I do love Peter Heinrich's Dark Strong Flake which is supposed to be very similar.
That liquorice topping makes a nice change of pace.

For some reason I don' t get the licorice flavors others do with DSK. I get a major molasses flavor which I love. Granted I have not smoked a fresh tin of DSK for a long time so things may ave changed.

Years ago I tried smoking the Heintichs version when the Orlik was off the market but it had way too much red Virginia in it and it burned me bad. I so wanted to love it.

 

[Gubbins]

Jackknife plug is fucking disgusting and smells like rotting death (at least the tin I got). ODF is good--not really my thing but high quality to be sure. Irish Flake I've been meaning to try but haven't yet got around to it.

Sounds like there may have been mold in there. Why else would it smell like that?

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

For some reason I don' t get the licorice flavors others do with DSK. I get a major molasses flavor which I love. Granted I have not smoked a fresh tin of DSK for a long time so things may ave changed.

Years ago I tried smoking the Heintichs version when the Orlik was off the market but it had way too much red Virginia in it and it burned me bad. I so wanted to love it.

I thought I remembered Jiminks review for Peter Heinrich's Dark Strong Flake saying something about the red Virginia being toned down in more recent versions and I was right, he did.
Here's his update to the review.

Edit: 12-24-2014: I'm smoking a freshly opened tin, and the tobacco has changed from when I smoked it years ago. The Virginia is brighter, much less or no red, and doesn't have the level of dark fruit that it once had, and is a little sweeter. It still has the same molasses and licorice flavor, though I notice the licorice a little more than before. It has a little more grass and citrus that it didn't have before because the bright Virginia content is greater now, though the level of earthiness seems to be the same. It's also a tad spicier than it used to be. The sugary black cavendish is still a condiment. The strength and taste levels are the same, barely. The nicotine level lightly less potent. The burn rate and after taste are the same. Four stars for the older version, three for the new one.
-JimInks

 

[diamondback]

I’m considering mixing some Solani 656 with HH ODF... will report back if I can force myself to spare my little remaining 656.

 

[logs]

Sounds like there may have been mold in there. Why else would it smell like that?

I don't know. It's pretty clear when a plug is moldy. I've had other GLP plugs get moldy and it was pretty self evident, but the jackknife plug didn't look that way. I had a whole thread looking for the answer without success:

Is JackKnife Plug Supposed To . . . SMELL LIKE ROTTING DEATH?? :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion

I'm not a major dark-fired fan but decided to try a tin of 2 year old JackKnife Plug. It smokes well enough, but Jesus wept . . . the tin aroma stinks in a very weird rotting fruit way that I don't understand. It's like rotting apples sitting out on Bourbon Street while a drunken hobo takes a...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[Jaylotw]

I guess I should also add Brown No 4 to the list, I love that one and it’s got a DFK punch.

I’ve never tried any of the older DSK, just what’s been on the market for the last 3 years, and I do really like it. I like the bright VAs in it, and I think it’s the coolest looking flake...just the topping is something I’ve got to be in the mood for.

Oddly, someone mentioned Black House and I can barely detect the DFK in that one.

Dark fired seems to be a pretty polarizing ingredient...some people really love it in quantity, while other people claim it’s horseshit or only like it used sparingly. Me? I don’t want it straight, but the more the better as far as I’m concerned. I love how it can change from woody and Smokey to tangy and floral and a little sweet, like a BBQ sauce.

Thanks for all the recommendations everyone, I’ve got a great list to explore!

 

[Spinkle]

Any love for Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky?

I didn’t notice a licorice flavor despite reading that it contained that. Very satisfying smoke and I enjoyed it just a bit more than Old Dark Fired. Comes a close second to Amphora in my opinion.

 

[Chasing Embers]

That Savineli stuff looks pretty incredible, I’d love to try it but at $20 a tin it’ll have to wait a bit.

SPC has it on sale very often for $16/tin.

 

[cigrmaster]

I thought I remembered Jiminks review for Peter Heinrich's Dark Strong Flake saying something about the red Virginia being toned down in more recent versions and I was right, he did.
Here's his update to the review.

Edit: 12-24-2014: I'm smoking a freshly opened tin, and the tobacco has changed from when I smoked it years ago. The Virginia is brighter, much less or no red, and doesn't have the level of dark fruit that it once had, and is a little sweeter. It still has the same molasses and licorice flavor, though I notice the licorice a little more than before. It has a little more grass and citrus that it didn't have before because the bright Virginia content is greater now, though the level of earthiness seems to be the same. It's also a tad spicier than it used to be. The sugary black cavendish is still a condiment. The strength and taste levels are the same, barely. The nicotine level lightly less potent. The burn rate and after taste are the same. Four stars for the older version, three for the new one.
-JimInks

In the 2015, 1998 and 1997 versions I have smoked none thankfully have any grass or hey type flavors. I really dislike those and avoid blends with them. One thing that was pretty cool was the 97 and 98 were both all black. No blond and no lighter colors. After I finish this 1998 I plan on trying a 2006 version as I am saving my last 1998.

I love a good Va and Kentucky blend. Solani 660 Silver flake and Mac Baren Old Dark Fired are my next favorites.
Another good one is the GL Pease Navigator. The issue with this one is it is the Kentucky is rough in the beginning but now I am only smoking 2012 tins and was worth the wait.