I have actually tried this tobacco long ago. I know, I know. I was
young, naive, new in town and hungry. He said he could get me into "show
business", NO, wait a minute that was a different story about an
encounter with a stranger.
At the time that I tried it, I had just made the transition from
aromatics to Latakia, and was looking for a tobacco that I could enjoy
in public without having to open a fresh can of Whuppass on potential
smoke nazis. The new guy behind the counter recommended Erinmore Flake.
I bought it, lit it. After waking, a few days later, I now had a punch
line for roughly 11% of my future conversations with fellow pipe guys,
and an ex tobacco retailer that I'm still on the trail of.
I still fantasize about the next meeting. A smoky, dimly lit bar in
South America. "Remember me you sick, sadistic Bastard? Stagg Tobacco,
Phoenix, 1980.... If you HAD a future, I'd give you the following
advice: If you try to kill a "Bear", you had better finish the job...!"
But I digress. I wanted, in the interest of Science to try the tobacco
again, Partly out of curiosity, partly out of a dare from an ASPer. I
also received the Tobacco from a kind ASPer, so there you are.
Appearance: A nice looking can, yellow with red logo, the tobacco inside
appears to be a well made, attractive flake. The tin aroma is a fairly
pungent pineapple -pineapple/cherry combination. It packs just fine.
Test Drive: Fire touches, puff, puff...... Hey! Everybody!! There's a
party in my mouth and you're ALL invited!!...A PARTY OF FRIGGIN' HELL'S
ANGELS ON A KILO OF METH THAT IS!!!
I haven't had this much fun since a bunch of force recon Marines caught
me without my paratrooper buddies and nearly stomped me to death. As bad
as this sounds, it's actually not as bad as I remember. I mean, I
maintained consciousness this time, that's gotta count for something.
The blend has a real peppery bite to it, and FWIW, the pineapple doesn't
seem as obnoxious lit as it does in the tin. I couldn't finish the smoke
which put it in some interesting Company, like 1792.
Aroma: 2-3
Burning qualities: 5
Taste: 2
Overall: 3
I am actually now considering sending this pipe to the Newbies, but in
good consciousness, I just can't bring myself to do it...
Bear