...in social situations and for both beginning and advanced pipe smokers. I say socially, because 1-Q is the quintessential pipe smoke whose aroma non-pipe smokers remember with fondness. The room note is so pleasant that anyone who complains about it is just plain being a freakish, high-minded wood tick. Good for beginners because 1-Q doesn't take a lot of fuss to enjoy. It's a good one with which to learn to pack a pipe because I've always found it easy to light and also forgiving if I don't get the pack quite right, and we do tend to learn from our mistakes where packing a pipe is concerned. And, you'll get a good Virginia tobacco flavor along with the light sweetness of the casing. Good for advanced pipe smokers too because, having worked at a local tobacconist for a couple of years after college, this was far and away our best seller to young and old pipe smokers as well as our most common ingredient in blending. It's a smooth, lightly sweet flavored tobacco without being overpowering on the tongue. That light sweetness feels natural to the tobacco too, not heavy as with some other cased products like the cherry or whiskey flavored aromatics, nothing against them. An excellent choice with which to begin your pipe smoking odyssey, and you'll likely return to it again and again as well, as one does with an old and trusted friend. P.S. My own experience was that once I wanted to expand my palate and choices, a good place to go from Lane's 1-Q was to try McClelland 2010, followed by McClelland 2000. Read Less

I am definitely a Virginia and Va/Per lover. I have recently been having an affair with burley, particularly the lighter, OTC blends. I've come to like most burley-based blends very much. I guess my tastes in pipe tobacco are fairly eclectic: I also like light English blends and certain other latakia blends - long as they aren't "lat bombs". But I find myself always coming back to Virginia and Va/Per blends. So, after the fling with burley, I wanted to get several good quality Virginia-Va/Per blends for a nice change. Sutliff's Virginia Slices was one of them. I must say that the presentation is very interesting and attractive. These slices are cut considerably longer than most other flakes I've seen. I read that this is a European style. These slices rub out pretty easily, but my preferred method of flake preparation is a variation of "fold & stuff" I think of as "wad & stuff". So, I pulled a slice into a shorter section, then took a bit and simply wadded the tobacco into a ball and stuffed it into the bowl of my pipe. I repeated until the bowl was full. Bag note: smells like fresh, good ole tobacco. I couldn't detect a topping. This tobacco lights and burns readily to a fine, gray-white ash, and very few re-lights required. As with other Virginia blends, smoke this slowly to get the most flavor. Sip it! The smoke was cool and lasted a long time. Now, I usually have difficulty tasting the citrus notes everyone describes with Va blends. Plenty of grass and hay and all that, but citrus always seems to elude me. But with this blend, I was able to detect it! That sorta citrusy taste was subtle and would shy away whenever I tried to reach for it, but I was definitely getting it with this blend. Some earthiness in there, too, but lots of good, solid tobacco taste. Most Virginias leave a good after-taste for me, and Virginia Slices is no exception. It is also not hard on the tongue provided you don't huff n puff it. My favorite straight Virginia is G.L. Pease "Union Square"; Virginia Slices isn't going to beat it, in my opinion. But, just the same, this blend is tasty. Yes, it is a basic tobacco that is one- maybe two-dimensional. But, sometimes that's what is needed. This blend is good, especially for the price. I recommend it! Read Less

The Black Irish X was one of my first rope twist tobacco I ever tried. I'd heard about and seen them plenty of times but never wanted to try them for several reasons. First, they had no descernable aroma, nothing friendly anyways. Next, they seemed like more trouble than it was worth. Finally, their scarcity made me think if I liked it and couldn't get a hold of it...well, I've got enough tobaccos like that. But, once I tried it, none of that mattered. Over the years I've come to realize that what a tobacco smells like usually has nothing to do with how it tastes, that the ritual of preparation is a big part of the hobby and usually tobaccos that require it are worth the extra effort, and if you want something bad enough you will find a way to make sure you have it on hand. I keep a nice chunk of Black Irish X in a jar for when I'm in the mood. I use a cigar cutter to cut it into coins that I rub out and dry before smoking. I've tried to smoke it in coin, but it requires too many re-lights. Also, I seem to taste the deep rich flavors better when I let it get a tad dry before loading. It smokes best (for me anyways) in a wide shallow bowl. It is strong. The rumors are true, you will want to have a full stomach before partaking. I've turned green from smoking this too much under the wrong conditions. But, if you give it the time and respect it requires it can be a nice change-of-pace smoke for anyone wanting to try a heavy hitter from time to time. This is definitely not the Virginia you're used to and absolutely not for beginners. Hope this helps. Read Less

I've been pipe-smoking for 45+ years and "grew up" with the OLD Balkan Sobranie, Dunhill 965 and Standard Full, Rattray's Red Rapp and Black Mallory as well as Bengal Slices, State Express, etc. While I have found nothing like these old blends, some of todays are very smoke-able. This, however, raises the bar to another level. If you have been lamenting the old/good stuff, this is worthy of your attention! I wanted to give it 5 stars, but somehow the website wouldn't allow it. Give it a try, you won't regret it! Read Less

Why the five star review? Some people may reserve this only for Esoterica-esq blends. I either dislike, enjoy or really enjoy a tobacco. This is worthy of top honors. Don’t let the ‘evening’ name confuse you. This is a morning, noon and nighttime smoke that will be a best seller in a few months right up there with their Navy flake. Slightly lighter than their LNF. The hot pressing imparts something I can’t quite articulate but is wonderful. Luxury Navy Flake, in my humble opinion, is one of the top ten bulk tobaccos available all the time (Lancer Slices are my favorite). Now we have a new member (is it new or just new to us here in USA?) that will be held in the same regard as the classic. The Stokkebye name means quality tobacco and this flake is so good I hate to even write a review. The flakes are beautiful. I’ve said this before but Stokkebye takes a lot of pride in producing fine tobacco and has done so for many generations. There’s a lot to love for everyone in this flake. Virginia’s are soft and delicious. Virginia’s are 75% of the taste and just like Navy flake are extremely mellow, mild and flavorful. The Perique adds a smokiness that lends itself to all day smoking. The strength is manageable by even the most nicotine affected smokers. I put one flake on a plate and rolled it out into a rough ribbon cut. I also fold flakes and stuff them. If you smoke a small bowl you can easily fold this flake and get an extra 30 minutes of smoking due to the amount of compressed tobacco you don’t get from a ribbon cut. Had the pleasure of smoking this out of an unsmoked Stanwell. The soft smokey flavor is a beautiful bouquet of floral and spice. Exactly the quality and experience you would expect from such a beloved tobacco company. I have no doubt many of you will have this in your rotation very soon. Read Less

Update: After trying GH Bob's Chocolate Flake, I find that Luxury Twist Flake has a topping that's quite similar - sans the Lakeland essence. This is a great flake with a beautiful presentation; LTF does not disappoint. On the other hand, it is probably not going to please Virginia purists with such a distinctive casing. The pouch/tin note smells like powdered hot cocoa mix and fresh-baked bread. Its room note is pleasant as well. Preparation is easy, and behavior is good. Whether you choose to rub it to ribbons or fold-&-stuff, it's hard to mess this one up. The smoke is creamy, with a flavor that's mildy sweet with hints of cocoa and brown sugar, and I find it to be almost entirely bite-free. Additionally, the nicotine level is very low—even a big pipe of this on an empty stomach wont make you dizzy or ill, making it a very agreeable flake. As for aging, blends that are good when fresh—especially Virginias—are a thing of greatness, and this is one of 'em. With that said, it absolutely gets better with age. Still, it's nice to buy fresh flakes and be able to enjoy them as is. LTF is a perfect blend for those who want a Virginia flake with a sweeter twist, and if you liked Luxury Navy Flake, it's likely you'll enjoy this as well. Read Less

Great Tobacco. Smokes cold, smokes dry, does not itch the tongue, great aroma, great flavor and the best thing is that smokes so easy. In a small pipe of 1.2 in chamber depth you can smoke for about 40 minutes smoking pleasurably. This is my 4th Sutliff tobacco and none disappointed me, I can say that it is a house that gives great guarantee on the quality of their tobaccos. Read Less

This is truly lovely English blend. I would recommend it to those looking for a replacement for the original Frog Morton.. I really love this tobacco -- mildly sweet, but you know there is latakia in there. That is comes is bulk is quite a bonus. Read Less

If you dislike the Lakeland floral essences, then I would recommend that you steer clear of this flake. However, if you are the adventurous type, there is a tasty reward to be gained by smoking this tobacco. Like all G&H blends, I find this one to be made with premium quality tobaccos. I find it to have a floral, yet fruity taste with a nice creamy mouth feel. I usually smoke this flake a couple times a week for a nice change of pace. Read Less

The Key to BCA is to let it ghost your pipe. The more you smoke it the more the flavor grows. For me it has gone from tasty air to a really great smoke. I have tried about all of the sweetened Black Cavs and to me this is the best. It is also the most unique as it does not have the traditional chocolate flavor that is in most, but to me has the best chocolate like flavor. I have come to smoke this blend the most and also find it awesome when mixed with other tobaccos. For a change I may mix the following 1:Add about 25% of your favorite VA especially some fresh C&D bright va with a citrus flavor. 2: Also wonderful is about 25% of your favorite vanillia ( I use C&D Green River) this is a soupy blend but awesome. 3: Another awesome favorite and addition is about 25% RLP6 from lane limited. 4: Lastly I will add a disk of Lane bullsey to equal about 25%. It seems that adding morethen 20 – 25% of another tobacco takes away from the BCA portion to much atleast to me. I have tried and love about all the tobaccos the pipe world has to offer, but these have grown to be my favorite all day smokes. Also after 30+ years of offending others by cigarettes it is really nice to hear someone say “WOW that smells GOOD” My response is that “It taste good too” ; ) Read Less

Guys and gals this is a real bargain. I love it fresh or aged a bit. This is a Virginia that from first light to the last puff is creamy and in the pastry realm. It smells like a bowl of Golden Grahams cereal. I like to fold and stuff for best results but rubbing out is sublime too. It does have a slight earthy quality but on the sweet side. Sometimes I get a touch of cinnamon, but overall is toasty and bready and doughy. Burns super easy. I love it! Read Less

EDIT: 06/20/2019-2 years on and this is still one of my favorite blends. The DFK keeps drawing me back. Mixed this with some Five Brothers recently... wow, just wow. What can be said that hasn't already been said about this amazing blend?! Not much. I will just add my own two cents by saying that this is probably one of the most satisfyingly pleasant blends I have smoked to date. Really rich, wonderful flavor that gets only better as you work your way through the bowl. The flavor that it ends with is the highlight for me. There is a cocoa like flavor that comes through about halfway down. There is a bit of a nic-kick here to, so if you're a lightweight, smoke it on a full stomach and take your time. Another thing about this blend, it ages REALLY well. Buy yourself enough to enjoy right away and enough to squirrel away in your cellar. If you like Dark Fired Kentucky, this is one of the best I have tried thus far and it has been holding steady in 1st place of my tobacco rotation. Read Less

Heavy full flavor tobacco. Just how I like it! Super rich tobacco, Just basic bold tobacco flavor, a true premium quality smoke. This stuff separates the boys from the men, Nice and strong as far as nicotine goes. Just how I like it! Read Less

Are you looking for the best "bang for the buck" blend? You came to the right blend. My opinion here is also shared by fellow pipe smokers here in my country. We have tried various blends of englishes. But we all came down to one common consensus: this blend is the most cost effective but tasty English blend there is. Give this blend a try, its affordable yet good. Read Less