Tobaccos John Aylesbury - Luxury Flake/Classic Flake

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3023)	2015-08-14		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The Virginias are grassy and hay-like with a light earthiness. They also offer minor honey, floral, acidic and fermentation notes along with plenty of sweet tart and tangy citrus. The nic-hit is mild. The strength is a step past the mild mark, while the taste is around the center of mild to medium. The moderately moist flakes break apart with ease, allowing the smoker to fill the bowl to their preference. Burns at a reasonable pace once you get it lit, but it seems to take a few lights at first, and overall, it does require a few relights. Smokes cool, clean and smooth with a very consistent flavor, though it's possible to get a light cigarette note if you puff like a steam engine. No bite, no dottle or hardly any moisture left in the bowl. The pleasant after taste is short lived. Has a decent room note. Not a complex product by any means, but makes for a comfortable, flavorful all day smoke.

-JimInks

14 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2016-09-08		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

A very nice smoke with flavors of earthy hay, a lemon-like tang and just a touch of sweetness. There's a slight creaminess in the second half of the bowl making it very smooth. At first I was wishing for a little more sweetness, but after a few bowls I came to like it just as it is. This is a first class flake.

Mild to medium in body. I'm of the opinion that there are no added flavorings. Taste is medium. Burns very well.

Pipe Used: MM Little Devil Cutty, Little Devil Acorn, Marcus

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PeterD (91)	2012-06-23		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

As noted, this flake is very mild, yet it does have a taste and aroma that is its own. High quality Virginias and very nice cut flakes.

This is always a pleasant change for me as I normally smoke far stronger tobaccos...G&H Dark Plug, Revor, etc..

This flake holds its own and while it may be akin to others in the market place, I believe this to be, all around, individually, an excellent smoke.

It would be a fine all day smoke as well, however it is not complex per se, and may get too singular for some.

Enjoyed in a group 4 size Caminetto straight billiard.

...a pipe is to be savored...

11 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2015-03-20		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Planta has always done a good job with the Aylesbury blends and Luxury Flake is a dandy mid-stroke. in the pipe world, it would be a Stanwell, always counted on to give a good smoke but nothing outstanding. This tobacco, for some reason, was bugger to keep lite. Still, the flavor was very worthy of any Virginia Flake lover's pipe.

Pipestud

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	dk-piper (25)	2011-05-03		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Wonderful Virginia Blend and a great allday-smoke! One of my favourite virginia-blends. Not too sweet, a little nutty flavours. Very delicious tasting tobacco.

No drying time required. Grab a flake. Fold, twist or just rub it out and light it up...enjoy...

Virginia Lovers should give it definitely a try!

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-04-24		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

I am running through Virginia flakes and really love this one. I can smoke four bowls in a row and it is just a perfect smoke for me. I just stuff and light. I bought several tins for the cellar and foresee smoking a lot of this blend. Not a heavy hitter which is nice for me. For me it is the little brother of dunhill flake.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	steppx (186)	2018-05-29		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Another very good K&K virginia. Is similar to F&T vintage, and to their Special Brown flake. This is often hard to find. Its a straight virginia... darker than one might expect. Whatever the very mild casing, and it IS very mild....its got a nice subtle sweetness that works well with these darker yet mild virginias. Reminds me too of Dan Tobacco's Hamborger Veermaster. It is a very solid VA flake in a time when that is all too rare a commodity. nic hit is mild...maybe a notch over mild. 3 and a half stars.

Purchased From: cup o joes

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	NEWMAN (305)	2011-05-14		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Another nice VA flake from Aylesbury by Planta. Now I'm 2/2 with 4*. The 1 1/2"x3"x1/16" flakes have an ideal moisture content from the tin and can be packed evenly without rubout and no relights are needed after the charing light. Smoked cool without any bite or condensation to the bottom of the bowl. Even with pipe rotation and smoking only one load in each, this blend tended to dry out my mouth so I wouldn't use it as an all day smoke. However, for a treat or nice change I'd give it a try.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2076)	2017-03-01		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

John Aylesbury - Luxury Flake.

From my friend Gentleman Zombie, cheers Franck!

This is one of the 'samples' he sent me in loose pouches, so any excess moisture's escaped. Because of the exemplary hydration I don't need to rub the flakes, they crumble to perfection as I stuff them into the bowl.

The smoke from Luxury Flake is nicely uncomplicated. The flavour's medium-weight: there's a subtle sweetness, grass notes, and some hay. Although there's a slight sweetness, I wouldn't say it qualifies as having much depth, really. The smoke's cool, and the burn couldn't be any better, but that's partly due to the tobacco achieving good moistness in Franck's loose baggies; cheers pal!

The nicotine's about medium, maybe just below, and the room-note's nice.

A lovely smoke!

Highly recommended.

Pipe Used: Cob

Age When Smoked: ???

Purchased From: Traded with Gentleman Zombie

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-08-29		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I was sent a very generous sample of this fine flake and I thought it warranted a review.

The flakes where very uniform and had that lovely VA smell I have come to love. It rubbed out very easily and needed about 25 minutes to dry before I could load my pipe.

After the charring light and subsequent relight, this blend took me back 25 years ago when I first took up the pipe and was smoking Dunhill Light VA Flake. It was a mild, flavor full and smooth smoke. It did burn a bit fast and hot even though I was sipping. That keeps me from giving out 4**

I like this and I believe I will have to purchase a few tins to put in the cellar.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RonR (85)	2021-05-02		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Tolerable

3rdguy

Just finished a full tin and this is an excellent smoke. Smooth, easy to light, burns to a nice white ash. It did not quite give me the depth of flavor that Sir John's Flake does but otherwise highly recommended.

Pipe Used: cobs

Age When Smoked: approx 4 years of age

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BingCrosby (161)	2020-02-23		Mild	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

In my opinion trying to be objective is a futile endeavor. As is having an ego in any arena that is all about personal taste. This one really doesn't do it for me.. and.. I think it is a quality product.. I find it mild and boring... not really much flavor of the leaf.. it smokes well and has a resemblance to many other flakes.. kind of in the realm of capstan, dunhill flake, orlik, etc.. it has a clear topping/casing but not obtrusive.. for some reason, although I want to like it, I just find it meh.. but I think it is worth a try cause it is certainly not bad and may be just the thing for someone.. one of the few tobaccos that has given me complements on its aroma.. I've got one in the cellar to age but overall not really one way or the other about it.. grassy, hay, citrus, honey.. but those are just notes.. my opinion (which is what I think reviews are about) is that it is nothing special.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	S8ntsfan (21)	2018-01-13		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

As described, "straight Virginia", has just a really good, good taste. Smooth, with no bite, very creamy, finishes on the palate very well. Ignited with no problems and was able to keep it lit throughout the entire smoke. Should be enjoyed a very slow pace as if you smoke it too fast, it can be a bit bitter. The natural sweetness of the Virginia comes through really well, and it has a really satisfying room note. Definitely recommend this to anyone who likes Virginia, and who wants something with a nice mellow taste.

Pipe Used: Falcon

Age When Smoked: 7 months

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Drew Estate Gatsby Flake; Peter Stokkebye Luxury Flake.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	the_german (309)	2010-10-05		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

So I had run out of my regular VA flakes, and no time to go to my usual source for more. The shop I happened to pass by had this blend. So I got a tin on the recommendation of the shopkeeper. Can't say I'm sorry I did.

The slices are a mix of golden and brown leaf, overall pretty dark; the tin aroma is nice and sweet with just a hint of honey that may well be my own imagination rather than a topping. From the fresh tin, the tobacco is a bit on the moist side, but I could light it up with no problems.

The taste is nice and sweet, with very little VA grassiness. I am not going to stick my neck out by comparing this blend with Sam Gawith's FVF, but the taste is closer to that blend than any other VA flake I have tasted so far. It can turn bitter if smoked too hot though.

The smoke is nice and fully sweet. Not much of a Nic kick, but accomodating anyway. Could be an all-day smoke for me.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Leon (82)	2022-10-10		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is an under-the-radar gem that has the best qualities of some other straight Virginia blends. As an evidence, it's one of the few blends that I smoked exclusively after opening the tin. I had to write this review in a rush before being tempted to finish the tin.

A few people compared it with Capstan and some Mac Baren blends. I absolutely agree that it's within that type of Virginias. If you enjoy Mac Baren's and Kohlhase & Kopp's Virginias you'll probably enjoy this too.

Out of the tin I get some hay, berries, dry fruit, lavender, and vanilla notes.

In the smoking notes I get those crackers / bread notes that you'd get with Newminster no. 400, as well as the sweet berry/lavender that I tend to associate with Mac Baren's casing. It is perfectly balanced between the bread, sugar, fruit notes, and just a hint of pepper with no flavor overtaking the others. On top of that, I don't get any change throughout the smoke.

The flakes are thin and rub out very easily. It packs and smokes very easy with minimal or no relight. Smoking pace is moderate. Comes in just a tiny bit too moist, but could be smoked straight after opening the tin. Definitely an all-day smoke. Smokes cool with no tongue bite whatsoever. Perfect blend, mechanically speaking.

I’d put its body as medium and strength as mild, although I get a stronger nicotine feeling when I smoke it out of a small bowl. However, this review is done on a medium-sized Canadian-shaped, which is what I mostly smoked this out of and in this pipe it is mild. Goes perfectly with a cup of coffee!

To sum it up, I absolutely love this blend and if I can find it more easily, I'll get several more tins to have around. Easily perfect score.

Age When Smoked: New

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Antonius Blok (190)	2021-07-29		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

The aroma in its tin is very rich and smooth. Bright Virginias and others somewhat darker that provide a light, fresh and very smooth smoke. At first I was missing a little more flavor, but after the third pipe I started to like it the way it is, in such a way that I have seen myself going to this tobacco regularly, and quitting smoking it for a few days so that it does not run out (I think you all understand this). It has a slight note of chocolate. It burns slowly and well, and this, together with its characteristics of freshness and smoothness, makes it produce a very relaxed smoke. From my point of view, a fine and quality tobacco, which I go to when I feel like smoking something more relaxed than the usually more intense flavors in my rotation. On the other hand, I would like to see how this one ages...

Age When Smoked: 5 months

Similar Blends: Scottish Autumn Flake (Samuel Gawith).

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	roark (12)	2020-11-19		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

When sipped very gently, this tobacco delivers exactly what every good uncomplicated straight Virginia should : Delicacy. The sweetness is present yet very subtle, and you may even feel some almost unnoticeable licorice-like aftertaste with aging. A keeper, for sure.

Edit : I've never had the chance to taste the infamous McClelland virginias, but I have the feeling that the Aylesbury ones are absolutely underrated, and if they were more widely distributed, they would be very high up there with the late McLellands.

Pipe Used: Chacom Canadian

Age When Smoked: 9 Years

Purchased From: Berlin

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Eddie (11)	2019-11-04		Mild	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

It manages to standout from a large group of Virginia flakes. Sweet, warm, complex citrus like a lemon cookie, then it gets sweeter, and more complex with an almost toffee, caramel body. Very pleasing. I hate giving it 4 stars because it will get harder to find.

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: Mars cigars

Similar Blends: Sir John's flake, F&T Virginia Plug, Wessex golden Virginia flake.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Knightsmoker (216)	2019-06-24		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

My tin was labeled Classic Flake. The tin note is strongly of honey a mild citrus note and sweet hay. The flakes break apart easily and are in need of only a few minutes of drying time to get it how I like it. In the pipe I get sweet hay, a little citrus and earth. I also get a slight medicinal note that reminds me of iodine that comes in on occasions. No one else seems to get this I have noted it in a hand full of other blends and perhaps it is my cigar background that peeks through here and more my imagination than anything else. The honey note is more than just a little noticeable for me it is there along with something else that I just cannot quite put my finger on. Overall, a pleasant mild smoke that is nice first thing in the morning or on a summer afternoon. I did not get any cigarette like notes but it did bite just a little. That said while it is a fine smoke in its own right I don't see myself buying it again, there are too many other mild VA's out there that hold my interest better but I certainly would not turn down a bowl if offered either. This is really a 2.5 star blend for me but do to the bite, the availability of it, and the price I am rounding down to 2 stars.

Age When Smoked: 8 months

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Voyaging (80)	2019-06-19		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Tolerable

Based on a relatively fresh tin.

The presentation is nice. The flakes are neatly arranged and there is a somewhat sweet, oaty smell.

The taste is bready, oaty, and a touch earthy. There is likely a sweet topping of some kind. Maybe honey. There were almost no bright peaks to this flake, which isn't a bad thing depending on preferences. Sometimes I got a tea note in the taste.

The strength is mellow and mild. Taste is refined and mellow. Nicotine is mild.

I would recommend this to the lover of Virginia flakes. The oaty and bready profile is similar to that of Capstan Blue, but Capstan is a fuller-tasting flake with more flavor nuance. I probably would not buy it again, although it is an enjoyable flake. Just not enough going on for me.

Pipe Used: Bent brandy,canadian,billiard

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Similar Blends: Capstan Blue.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	nkulk8r (90)	2019-02-09		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is indeed a classic (definitive, standard, traditional) straight Virginia flake. The tin reads “Classic Flake” (I wouldn’t go so far as “Luxury”), but beautifully sliced flakes present a supple tobacco that is easy to work with -- it rubs and/or folds nicely (it nearly crumbles). Lovely notes of hay, grass and earth from the tin. Gentle Virginia sweet + citrus; mellifluous and honeyed – a restful, relaxing, soothing and satisfying smoke. Good stuff! 3-stars.

Pipe Used: Peterson Sherlock Hansom (Briar)

Age When Smoked: Fresh

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	McQueen (41)	2019-02-03		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a great flake! Tin aroma is of hay and dark chocolate. The moisture was just right in my opinion. I rubbed one flake out about seventy-five percent and then packed it in a trusted briar. Pre- light aroma was of warm toast and a hint of cream. After tamping and re-lighting the aroma was a bit stronger with an added pleasant tobacco smokiness. Taste was of good tobacco with a slight sweetness due to the Virginias. Taste and aroma stayed true from start to finish. It may bite if smoked too fast. A great tobacco for beginners and anyone looking for a good smoke!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Olivermac (18)	2018-07-02		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Ah, my very first review. I've been a long time visitor to this site and I finally got around to creating an account. I feel good about it. Ok, here goes. This is a real quality flake here. I'm really partial to a lot of the Virginia flakes out there and I just acquired this one recently. I'm smoking it with my morning joe as I compose this actually. I tend to usually enjoy a mildish flake of one name or another 1st thing and this one fits the bill very nicely. Just an all around good, sweet, grassy Virginia. It is similar imo to Mac Baren Virginia flake. Very nice and satisfying.

Pipe Used: Various mm cobs and briars

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Cup o Joe's

Similar Blends: Mac Baren HH series Virginia flake.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Nathan (15)	2013-01-06		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This is a great flake! Tin aroma is of hay and dark chocolate. The moisture was just right in my opinion. I rubbed one flake out about seventy-five percent and then packed it in a trusted briar. Pre- light aroma was of warm toast and a hint of cream. After tamping and re-lighting the aroma was a bit stronger with an added pleasant tobacco smokiness. Taste was of good tobacco with a slight sweetness due to the Virginias. Taste and aroma stayed true from start to finish. It may bite if smoked too fast. A great tobacco for beginners and anyone looking for a good smoke!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dubinthedam (133)	2012-02-16		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

A real nice va flake, well up there will more famous and expensive va blends. I really like the sir William flake too, but this has a little more depth and fullness too it. Honest and quality va flake. You'll be surprised with this one if you're a va purest. Great price for a quality flake.

1 person found this review helpful.