Review: Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake October 27, 2012

Posted by SifuRestita in Uncategorized Tags: Vaper stokkebye navy flake perique Virginia

I’ve recently tried a couple of VaPer blends, both being Peter Stokkebye blends. For this review I’d like to talk a bit about Luxury Navy Flake.

I’m mainly an Aromatic smoker, with preferences toward Virginias, Cavendish and Burleys. (However now loving Latakia blends). I didn’t know how I’d like Virginia -Perique blends, so decided to try some recommended VaPers.

I bought 2 ounces of bulk Luxury Navy Flake from Smokingpipes.com. Beautiful flakes with a nice sweet hay-like note out of the bag. I rubbed out a flake and a half, let it air doe about an hour, and began smoking from a just purchased estate nosewarmer. The char light brought the brightness of the Virginias to the forefront, and the Perique tickled my nose a tad bit…. A pleasant tickle. After 2 true lights to get the bowl going, I was pleasantly treated to a bright naturally sweet flavor with a little spice. Not too much spice, but just enough to touch my tongue and give a slight punch to the sweetness. A pleasant grassiness, almost hay like.

It was in the middle of the bowl where the smoke session shined. Small sips brought a nutty, almost raw-almondy note, with a heady bowl aroma of what I would describe as the “paper from the inside of a walnut shell”, and the spice balanced the Virginias well. This is where I enjoyed the bowl the very most. When a tobacco provides a hearty feel to it, I find it very comforting.

Now, for those new to pipe smoking, people describe “spice” in many different ways. For me, “spice” isnt necessarily a “hot-spicy” as in with food… But rather I look at spice as including finish notes of different spice such as clove, allspice, paprika, pepper, and even salt. The actual flavors of the spices arent what I’m talking about, but rather the hints of “aftertaste” of said spices, as well as the mouth feel of spices.

The last third of the bowl had a nice earthiness to it…..Umami. It might have been the pipe I was using, but closer to the heel the smoke began to taste almost ashy (even after tipping my bowl a couple of times to remove topmost layer of ash) , thus prompting me to end my session. An hour of beautiful smoke, with no bite and only two relights.

I must say, I like this blend alot and will keep this in my regular rotation. I will surely be seeking out other VaPer blends to broaden my palate, too.