Bayou Morning Flake
A true delight for lovers of the Virginia/Perique combination! Bayou Morning Flake is a blend consisting of 25% authentic St. James Perique, complemented by a naturally sweet base of zesty Red Virginias from the Old Belt - pressed and sliced into flakes.
Characterisation:
Once the small round tin of Bayou Morning Flake has been opened with the ring-pull closure, it can be resealed with a plastic lid. However, you should transfer the tobacco to an airtight container if you don't want to use it up quickly. The flake is light and medium brown, with yellow speckles. If you take it out of the cardboard in which it is wrapped, you will notice that it is crumbly and more like a Ready Rubbed. The pieces are of an uniform length and thickness, which makes plugging easier. The scent is an interesting mix of moss and multivitamin juice, like some vintage tobaccos used to have. Since the tobacco still contains residual moisture, it should be aired for a quarter of an hour before plugging.
Plugging:
The crumbly Bayou Morning Flake is very easy to plug. However, not bent and folded, but filled loosely like a Ready Rubbed or, for example, formed into balls. However, you should not choose a pipe that is too small and remember not to press too hard so that the tobacco can develop.
Light up:
Under the first flame, the Bayou Morning Flake lifts up a bit. Gently use the tamper to press the tobacco back, smooth the surface and ignite it evenly with a second flame.
Smoking properties:
The Bayou Morning Flake has an unusually wide range of flavors. Contrary to what the name suggests, it is strong and spicy, less of a morning tobacco. In fact, its aroma is reminiscent of a Scottish whisky from the coast. Wood, leather and peat can also be tasted, as can slightly astringent salt-licorice and a smoky roasted note. It all fits together beautifully and interacts alternately with each other. However, the Bayou Morning Flake is hardly sweet. You should also smoke it carefully, if you want to taste the individual flavors and don't want to be overwhelmed by the strength. However, the burning is remarkably uncomplicated for a blend of Virginia and Perique. Other than some medium gray, fine ash, a few crumbs and some condensation, you don't need to clean much.
Redolency:
The Bayou Morning Flake can be clearly perceived in the room through the Perique. You should keep this in mind if you want to smoke tobacco in the company of non-smokers.
Conclusion:
The Bayou Morning Flake is so crumbly due to maturation that it falls apart into pieces of light brown Ready Rubbed when you take it out of the tin. This makes plugging a lot easier and doesn't affect the taste in any way. The whisky-like aroma may be due to this maturation process. The tobacco is in no way alcoholically flavored, but rather transports aromas in a completely natural way that one could also attribute to a Scotch: peat, leather, wood, smoky, salty, with slight hints of licorice and toasted bread. The tobacco requires comparatively little attention, but it is strong and to enjoy the aromas you should not smoke it casually. The Bayou Morning Flake is less a tobacco for the early hours of the day, as the name might suggest, but is best enjoyed after a good meal. If you want, accompanied by a strong sip or when the evening has become so late with the sounds of blues and country that it continues into the next morning...
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