Tobaccos Tavern Tobacco Co. - Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2007-07-14		Medium	Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I liked BQAR a lot!! the Sweet Virginias just complement the Latakia that is enough for me. The rum topping is light and just peaks in and out. This a lot like G&H Bobs Chocolat Flake. It's full flavor and smokyness are a true delight!! It does need a little drying out prior to packing! I rubbed my out totally and packed it very loose. It burned down to a light grey ash, very cool smoking tobacco. I usually smoke VAPER's this is going to be a nice change of pace for me. This is a must try! Just like Laural Flake is a must try. Cheers all.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3025)	2015-08-20		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The Virginias are slightly grassy and earthy, with a bit of tangy dried fruit. The light smokey, woodsy Cyprian latakia plays a support role in a way that's always noticeable, but never taking a lead. The rum topping is light and smooth. May need a little dry time, but I never recommend completely drying out flakes because you lose flavor when you do. I recommend packing it a little gently. Has very little nicotine and won't bite. Slow burning with a consistent flavor. Requires some relights, and leaves a little moisture in the bowl. Not quite an all day smoke, but it has enough strength to hold your interest for repeat performances.

-JimInks

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lew (4)	2015-08-12		Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I found some of this in a jar at the back of my cupboard, another one I'd acquired in a trade years ago but never got round to trying. I wish I'd tried it earlier as I quite like this one. It reminds me of G&H Rum Flake with the addition of latakia, which gives it a nice smokiness without overpowering it (I'd previously been put off latakia after trying English blends like EMP and Nightcap). A little low in vitamin N for my liking, but has enough to satisfy. It has a lovely aftertaste as well, just like Rum Flake. I think I probably have a little under an ounce left, so I'll have to ration it carefully.

Pipe Used: GBD bent bulldog 58410

Age When Smoked: 10+ years

Purchased From: Aqcuired in a trade

Similar Blends: Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. - Rum Flake.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cwjudyjr (4)	2008-03-08		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

This is one of my new favorites. It has a pleasant room note, kind of musky. Lights well and stays lit. Nice taste and cool with no bite.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RMBittner (66)	2008-01-07		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

To my palate, the rum comes through loud and clear throughout a bowlful. But it never overshadows the rich flavors of the flake. The result, while a bit unusual, is quite satisfying. This is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for when I want an aromatic (and I'm not an aromatic fan) -- just a touch of additional flavor added to fine leaf.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2007-12-28		Medium	Medium	Medium	Unnoticeable

Brethren of the briar;go forth and get ye some of this !Go get it with briarean frenzy.Age it ,or right out of the tin ! The rum comes in very subtle at all the right places! I will even be so bold as to say I like it as much and sometimes better than Penzance;the rum comes in very subtle at all the right places! Get some VP

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2005-12-18		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

BQAR isn't anything at all what I expected other than it is a nice looking Virginia flake. When they say a "dash of rum", I think they mean it must have dashed away. I think the Latakia must have joined hand in hand with the rum in that dash. This isn't really a bad flue cured Virginia flake, but it is lacking the complexity I expect from something like Marlin Flake. It starts out flat and boring, turns mildly pleasant at mid-bowl, but finishes...well...like mid-bowl. That's not a result to complain about, but I never get much of the pleasure I derive from Latakia. It is in the background to some slightly sweet Virginias. Not bad, but there are others that fill this in my cravings. It certainly is not a strong and powerful Virginia, Burley, and Rum blend like Mac Baren's Plumcake. Perhaps that is good. Because I can expect to get through this stuff without tongue bite. But, there isn't the rum taste that I expect. I probably wouldn't buy this again, but would recommend it to anybody who is looking for a mild rendition of a Navy type blend. Who knows? You might like it. I think I can find a better choice in my search for that sort of thing. Maybe the addition of a little Burley would amplify the qualities that I feel would give BQAR more pronounced claim as a Navy Flake.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	NEWMAN (305)	2004-10-22		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable

As with most of the flakes from Tavern Tobacco, these 6"x1"x1/16" nicely prepared cuts are very moist on arrival. Since I couldn't wait to try this blend and did not let it dry out, difficult lighting and numerous relights initially occurred. However, I didn't rub out the tobacco and just folded the very pliable pieces into the bowls. After drying, much better results were obtained and a cool, creamy smoke resulted. However, I missed the advertised rum add in pouch and room aroma and taste. This resulted in a similar taste to their McCraigan's Flake with the Latakia toned down even further. Since Latakia blends are not in my steady diet, when I choose to smoke one, I prefer more of an influence.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Beer (345)	2004-10-11		Medium	Extremely Mild	Very Mild	Tolerable to Strong

Allow me to express a radically different opinion... I don't like this tobacco at all, it is bland and boring. It's just a Samuel Gawith stoved virginia flake (and not the most flavorful one!) with a very light Latakia touch and an even lighter rum flavoring!

I find the smoke insipid, not delicate. Sure, it is smooth (I often accidentally inhale it), but even with slow puffing I have a hell of a time getting some acceptable flavor out of it. It has hints of caramel sweetness, toastiness, and some slight smokiness from the latakia... but it's all so subdued that I grow quickly bored.

The flakes in the tin are way too moist and pliable, so I recommend letting them dry for a LONG while before attempting to smoke them: if you won't do so, you'll get moisture, a watery taste, and several relights will be needed.

There's nothing offensive about this tobacco... I just can't find any reason of interest in it other than its cool and slow burning rate... but I'd rather have a shorter smoke with more taste (actually, with SOME taste) than another bowl of this!

UPDATE: A sustained drying of the flakes and a complete rubbing out produced a slightly increased flavor. Weird, since usually I find flakes are tasty if NOT rubbed and smoked whole... Anyway the taste is slightly sweet, caramelized, slightly smoky: a sorto of toned down and duller version of the old Winter's Tale.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2004-09-27		Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I tried this, having been very pleased with some of the other offerings from Tavern Tobbaco, with my last order. I was pleasantly surprised. I figured, with the rum top dressing, that I would be in dire need of first aid for my tounge after smoking this. I was wrong. The rum is restrained, as is the latakia. They only peak out at just the right moments, like when it was begining to get boring. I for one am not a proponant of stoved va's. I do agree, however, that it does need to be aired out for quite a while, as the moisture content is VERY high. I smoked one flake right out of the tin and had a hard time keeping it lit at first. After about 2 weeks with the tin opended, it was ready to smoke. Smokes best in a large briar or even better in a large meer, surely needs to be well rubbed out and broken up. it burns slow and cool and is great for the outdoorsman, or somone who is an absentminded smoker. Once you get it going it stays well lit. Over all 3 out of 4 stars.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ducksbreath (125)	2004-06-11		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Full	Tolerable

I've had a couple of bowls of this and felt I ought to give it a review, though usually I wait until I've smoked at least two ounces before I decide to post.

Rich, rich,smoky-sweet blend of deep Lakeland VA, Latakia with Rum flavoring. The rum is used very sparingly and integrates discretely with the VA and Latakia. A great change of pace smoke.

No orientals or "nuttiness" as in a real English, rather I think of this as a crossover blend with a dark VA backbone. Not complex, but smooth and stately. This pirate won't rob you and tastes stronger than it really is (some would find this a plus). Arrives extremely wet, as if someone threw it overboard, and needs a lot of drying time. Could probably use some age. I intend to explore this one further.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Paddy (127)	2004-03-27		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This is another Tavern Tobacco I have been smoking for several months after I discovered it was made by Samuel Gawith. This tobacco comes in six inch flakes, dark brown, similar in shade to Full Va. Flake. It arrives quiet moist. I like to rub it out to a broken ribbon before allowing it to dry a bit. The dark Virginia gives the smoke a mellow, rich, creamy base with no bite or harshness, and the latakia adds a nice level of smokiness, but is not overdone. This is a delicious English blend. I do not taste the rum nor do I experience a complex smoke. This starts off as a smooth latakia/Virginia and stays that way to the end. I have dedicated a Ferndown size 3 Dublin to this tobacco. I was having trouble smoking Virginias in the pipe because it became too hot regardless of how I nursed the tobacco. BQAR solved the problem and turned this beautiful pipe into a good smoker. The Virginia flavor is, however, submerged by the latakia. This is a wonderful tobacco, and one I hope will become available in bulk soon. Most highly recommended. Paddy.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jaybee (77)	2003-12-23		Medium	Medium	Medium	Tolerable

I too, was introduced to this blend by virtue of a sample pack that was included in an order of Marlin Flake. I liked it so much that I recently ordered it in bulk.

This is a matured virginia flake with latakia and a rum topping. The latakia is very reserved and slips in and out of the taste. The rum was much more pronounced in my bulk order, but burns away about 1/3 down the bowl leaving a deep sweet virginia with the smoky hint of latakia. It burns cool and is tongue-pleasing.

Although my usual fare is virginia flake, this is a very nice distraction 2 or 3 times a week.

A nice addition to the rotation or easily suitable for daily consumption. Nicely done.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2003-09-17		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable

Shiver me timbers!! I love this tobacco!

I was given this tobacco as a sample in one of my recent orders. Man it blew me away!

Delicious, rich, dark and smokey. Deeply stoved VAs pressed and aged with just a slight bit of Latakia (enough to smooth the blend without being too much). The rum is not really detectable but for a whispy bit of sweetness akin to a dash of molasses.

If you like dark and rich old world pressed tobaccos (e.g. Penzance), then do yourself a favor and get some of this. Fill a bowl, sit on the porch at night, pour youself a glass of grog, and harken back to the swashbuckling days of yore . . .

Life is good.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2003-09-06		Strong	Very Mild	Full	Tolerable

I've been in a bit of a rut with tobacco lately, so I've been searching for something new, something different. A few weeks ago my co-workers and I tried this blend and fell in love with it. I mostly smoke Virginia flake and taditional English. I've been trying blends that have Virginia and/or Latakia with some Cavendish or a touch of flavoring. I've found a few good ones and this has been one of the best. Appropriately, I smoked it after returning from a fishing trip in Cape Hateras, so I was pumped full of Blackbeard folk lore.

This is a full-bodied, dark stoved VA with a touch of Latakia and rum flavoring. It is smoky, rich and full without being too heavy. Don't be afraid of the rum, it is very subtle. I do recommend letting this tobacco breath before smoking it, as it has a high moisture content fresh out of the bag. The Latakia comes through nicely and perhaps tames the blend so it doesn't burn hot and smokes smooth and velvety all the way through. They nailed this combination of dark VA, Latakia and rum perfectly. The mixture is very complex and I haven't smoked it enough to be able to wax eloquently on all aspects of this wonderful smoke. But I'm glad I found it. It has gotten me out of my rut.

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