Flake Recommendations

[cactusboy33]

Well I should start by saying that I hope this is the right place to ask this as I get a bit confused in the maze of forums on here, but here goes.

I recently splurged and bought 8 estate pipes on eBay and I'm currently prowling online for some baccys that take my fancy.I was skeptical of the whole slippery slope concept, but I now know it to be true.

One of which is a lovely small Hardcastle estate, due to it's size and the slight ghosting I was thinking that I would dedicate it to flakes (it is small pipes for flakes right?).
The only problem is I have no experience with flakes so could someone kindly give me a nudge in the right direction.

Thanks

Cactus

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by cactusboy33

Well I should start by saying that I hope this is the right place to ask this as I get a bit confused in the maze of forums on here, but here goes.

I recently splurged and bought 8 estate pipes on eBay and I'm currently prowling online for some baccys that take my fancy.I was skeptical of the whole slippery slope concept, but I now know it to be true.

One of which is a lovely small Hardcastle estate, due to it's size and the slight ghosting I was thinking that I would dedicate it to flakes (it is small pipes for flakes right?).
The only problem is I have no experience with flakes so could someone kindly give me a nudge in the right direction.

Thanks

Cactus

Welcome to the slope!

You can smoke flakes in any pipe. And smoke any baccy in a small bowl pipe. Generally one would dedicate a pipe to a specific "type" of baccy/blend, i.e. Virginias, or Latakia, or Perique, or aromatic, etc.

For a VA flake, try Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake (FVF). For a perique flake, try Samuel G's St. James Flake. For a latakia flake, try SG's Navy Flake. For a burley flake, hmmm, I'd say Esoterica Stonehaven but the darn thing is hard to find.

[cactusboy33]

Thanks so much. This is why I love this site, honest, quick advice from people who know what they are on about.

I'm thinking the Navy Flake sounds like a solid candidate but I will search each of your recommendations to see what I like the look of.

Life on the slope isn't half bad you know XD

Thanks again for the help

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Originally Posted by cactusboy33

Well I should start by saying that I hope this is the right place to ask this as I get a bit confused in the maze of forums on here, but here goes.

I recently splurged and bought 8 estate pipes on eBay and I'm currently prowling online for some baccys that take my fancy.I was skeptical of the whole slippery slope concept, but I now know it to be true.

One of which is a lovely small Hardcastle estate, due to it's size and the slight ghosting I was thinking that I would dedicate it to flakes (it is small pipes for flakes right?).
The only problem is I have no experience with flakes so could someone kindly give me a nudge in the right direction.

Thanks

Cactus

Get into the Newbie sampler trades, in the sticky area. That should be a good place to get several samples of tobacco. Most online retailers are out of stock on most tobaccos anyway.

[cp478]

the newbie sampler trade is a great thing. give it a try!

[bkeske]

I'm partial to Samuel Gawith 1792 Flake myself, but it seems to be a love/hate thing for many.

Personally, I smoke it more than any other.....but....I do have some Brebbia Balkin coming, which I have never tried, and have a feeling I may like it allot. Not sure if it will knock off 1792 Flake from my 'top shelf'....but....lwe'll see.

The Full Virginia Flake is also very very good.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

... For a burley flake, hmmm, I'd say Esoterica Stonehaven but the darn thing is hard to find.

MacBarens Navy Flake is easy to find, fold and smoke or so I believe.

[Mad Hatter]

Samuel Gawith and Solani brands are good.

[DubintheDam]

The king of Flakes to me is Long Golden Flake by Reiner, I also love Irish Flake, Uni flake and Marlin Flake.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by DubintheDam

The king of Flakes to me is Long Golden Flake by Reiner...

I'm into a can of it now and had a bowl this morning on the way to work. LGF never fails and, for extras, it has the most rock-solid resealable can on the face of tobacco-tin earth. It is very Kingly.

For the flake-unitiated LGF, like many flakes, has a natural "expand-o" characteristic; fill it too snug or tamp it too hard and your bowl is plugged like the entrails of a wino who has eaten too much cheese. A flake is well compressed at the factory and, even after rubbing out, will poof out when it's heated. Fill a bowl with flake cautiously, leaving the draw more open that for ribbon or shag tobacco. Once a flake plugs up a bowl it is troublesome, if not impossible, to smoke. Punching holes into the bowl of a flake-bound with the pointy pipetool thingie isn't very rewarding either. Flake world is just fantastic but it takes a little extra delicacy on the fill and subsequent tamps.

[cactusboy33]

Thanks everyone, such a range in pipe tobacco it's hard to decide. I'm like a kid in a tobacco store.

Thanks in particular dub, I watched a vid of yours on flakes and found it very helpful. At least now I know how to fold and pack my flake when I decide which one to get.

Also on a side note while looking up Samuel Gawith tobaccos I came across Celtic Talisman and since I'm still quite partial to aromatics I was wondering if anyone has experience with it (a site write can only tell you so much)

Thanks again

[wrapper23]

Originally Posted by cactusboy33

Also on a side note while looking up Samuel Gawith tobaccos I came across Celtic Talisman and since I'm still quite partial to aromatics I was wondering if anyone has experience with it (a site write can only tell you so much)

Here is where TR comes in handy. It took me all of 5 seconds to find reviews on Celtic Talisman, which sounds interesting. Mostly good reviews. I have a cob for aromatics. Hmmm.

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend_...PHA=C&TID=2931

[Vrbas]

Originally Posted by DubintheDam

The king of Flakes to me is Long Golden Flake by Reiner, I also love Irish Flake, Uni flake and Marlin Flake.

I tried some Irish Flake last night, and i dunno about it. It has a very raw and "straight" taste to it. I wasn't sure if i liked it or not, but looking back in retrospect i say no. I could barely taste Virginian, i just tasted.... tobacco. I dunno, i didn't really like it (i think).

It was weird, it reminded me alot of 1792... just not as enjoyable. I'll have to give it another chance.

I'll say that MY KING of flakes is Full Virginian Flake. However, i don't think one can fully appreciate it 'till you develop a palate. So i'll pass the torch onto MacBaren Vanilla Creme Flake

[Z.Kramer]

So many flakes, so little time!

[commonsenseman]

Originally Posted by Vrbas

I tried some Irish Flake last night, and i dunno about it. It has a very raw and "straight" taste to it. I wasn't sure if i liked it or not, but looking back in retrospect i say no. I could barely taste Virginian, i just tasted.... tobacco. I dunno, i didn't really like it (i think).

It was weird, it reminded me alot of 1792... just not as enjoyable. I'll have to give it another chance.

I'll say that MY KING of flakes is Full Virginian Flake. However, i don't think one can fully appreciate it 'till you develop a palate. So i'll pass the torch onto MacBaren Vanilla Creme Flake

Sorry you don't like the Irish Flake Jordan. I was hoping someone would appreciate it more than I did. I have tried smoking it a few times since I traded that tin to you, & I am enjoying it more than at first, still not my favorite though. Maybe it just takes some getting used to. It reminds me of a cross between 1792 & Black XX rope. I love 1792, but I don't like Black XX very much. We'll see how it goes.

I agree though FVF is one of the best flakes I've ever had, quite delicious.