The Leaf tobaccos for Erinmore are selected from only premium tobacco growing regions of the world. The blend consists of mature Virginia, mellow Burley and sweet dark air-cured tobaccos. It is pressed into cakes, aged and cut into slices providing a mellow and cool smoke with flowery and fruity note. Notes: Formerly blended by Murray & Sons, UK, until 2005. Now produced by Scandinavian tobacco group (Orlik factory, Assens, Denmark) Erinmore Flake is another icon in the pipe world. Much like Dunhills Nightcap this is a tin instantly recognizable by most well versed pipers. This is truly a staple of the pipe world, and just the fact that a blend has survived for as long as it has says a lot about the quality of the blend. This technically is an aromatic but it sure feels funny to call it that. This does not feel like your typical light and sweet aromatic. This is definitely a linebacker in the aromatic world. It is big and hearty and powerful in both the flavor and nicotine department. This is definitely not in the same class as some dessert named goopy bulk blend. The taste is very good. I am not going to get into the great pineapple enigma, quite frankly dont know and dont care. All I know is it is a big and delicious aromatic taste. Very satisfying on a nice winter day. The taste is fruity with a nice undertone of tobacco. There is no perique in this blend but it tingles in my nose the same way most perique blends do. Very nice. One caveat to be aware of. Erinmore has been known to leave a very stubborn ghost, so dont smoke this in your favorite virginia pipe. Overall a good choice for a stout aromatic blend. Although I dont smoke it often, but it is always satisfying. Pipe Used: Designer Berlin sandblasted billiard Age When Smoked: Purchased 2008 Once again we have a blend that is not for those who don't yet shave. This is a flake that is stout, bold, different and an all-time classic. When you open the tin, you will be able to tell that there is a flavoring, but Pinapple is not it, despite what you may read from some reviews above this one. That pineapple is a flavoring in this blend is a myth perpetuated by the picture of a pinapple on the lid of the tin. The flavoring is discreet, and you will certainly get a huge blast of true tobacco taste. Mostly a virginia/burley mixture, the top coating lends itself in a way that brings out the strength of the blend. It will be difficult to smoke this all day due to its strength, and it does get a tad harsh as you get near the bottom of the bowl. If you don't like fruity top notes, steer clear of this one ! I smoked this tobacco for the first time about 30+ years ago. At that stage it contained a fresh, fruity taste in every tin. It has changed quite a bit with time but I still adore it. It's sweet but not in an aromatic way. The biggest change is consistency. Whereas previously every tin's contents tasted the same, this does not hold true anymore. I received a batch of 6 tins and only 2 of them held the tobacco I was used to. But, never the less, it remains one of my favourites. I love the smell it sets free while burning, no tongue bite (NO TONGUE BITE!) remains lit very easily and the nic hit is, for me, just right. This is one great tobacco in the real sense of the word and I would not like to be without it, ever. Pipe Used: Parker Russet Age When Smoked: Unknown Purchased From: 4noggins Similar Blends: Unique. I find myself reaching for this tobacco more and more. I appreciate its balance, the fact that it isn't very much of any one thing: If you're looking for a nutty burley, this isn't going to do it; if you're looking for a sweet and tangy VA, then you'll be put off by the topping; if you're looking for an aromatic, then the flavoring will seem bland and unsatisfying. Erinmore Flake is all of these things, but none of them takes the fore, and this makes it a very pleasantly balanced smoke. Add a satisfying nicotine hit, and the package is a complete one for a go-to blend. The dominant flavor, for me, is that of the interplay between Virginia and Burley tobaccos. But omnipresent is the topping that several reviewers have characterized as "tooty fruity" and I completely concur. But the topping, while impossible to ignore, doesn't overwhelm. It is a seasoning for the tobacco's flavor, not the main flavor in the set. The flakes are always neat and nicely arrayed in the tin (until one starts pulling them out) and I find that packing a small-bowled pipe requires merely a "fold and stuff" of between one and two flakes. Little preparation is needed and I never rub this blend out--the burn quality of the flakes is just right. Smoking Erinmore Flake isn't a life-changing experience. But it's a very nice way to spend 45 minutes of one's day. I like it with a mild-flavored beverage--tea or not-too-heavy beer. And, for me, it works best in warm weather. Similar Blends: Peterson - University Flake . I smoke Erinmore by breaking up the small flakes into small pieces. It smells fruity. When first lit the taste was mild and pleasant. There is a sweet note that comes out as I smoke it. The berry flavor lingers in my mouth which is something I like. I find it to be mild in strength but builds somewhat as the bowl progresses. Although I like it, it wouldn’t be in my list of regular blends, but just as a nice change of pace. Age When Smoked: 6 years An old codger at the club offered me some of this. He had seen me put down my pipe things on the bar, and order an Old Bushmill's, neat. Since I had a small corncob with me, (I often smoke corncobs at the club: my own little statement against arrivistes with huge, enormous freehands) I accepted. The first thing I remarked is that all Murray Sons & Co, Ltd flakes look alike: whether it be their proprietary Erinmore, or the farmed-out Dunhill "Light" Flake, or Peterson's University Flake, the size, look, and disposition of the 50 g étui is exactly the same; in fact, the smell, colour and cut of the flakes are all alike. I could hardly smell the Erinmore smell; either I am getting old, or they have moderated their topping, or the old codger had put this tin under an electric fan. Peterson University Flake's very light cherry topping smelt much more noticeable to me than this. (Then again, U.F. has in it Burley, the slut of the tobacco bar; it sucks everything in sight sans peur et sans chagrin !) At first light, I immediately remarked, once again, how wonderful a Virginia flake this is: strong, round, with the big Virginia flavour filling my mouth: this is how it is supposed to be ! I was then shocked into realising that I didn't really taste The Taste hardly at all: a very occasional sweet tartness bringing to mind, perhaps, mint; no more. The dominant flavour here is the fine, superb Virginia. Unlike Burley and Burley-based non-English Cavendish leaf, Virginia cannot be heavily cased. The tobacco simply does not suck up the casing sauce the way Burley does. That is why the traditional Anglo-Irish way with pressed Virginia is to TOP it, i.e., to spray a light flavouring over the TOP of the uncut cake. The inside is not sprayed at all. The result is a very much subtler redolence than the baths in casing sauce that American-type Cavendish concoctions receive. (Dutch and Danish blenders do the last as well, but much more restrainedly, and on better-quality leaf.) This distinction applies much more emphatically to Erinmore: the Plug and Flake, fine, strong tobacco lightly topped, are very different from the cased, ready-rubbed mixtures, where the flavouring is, well, repulsive. (Though not any more repulsive than a multitude of savagely cased cheap Burley than millions of people in this country smoke, day-in, day-out, without batting an eyelash.) This delicious flake puts me in mind of smoking Murray's legendary VELVAN PLUG again. It is supposedly the Erinmore mix MINUS the Erinmore topping. Last smoked it in Bermuda...20 years ago? Can it be? Then again, when was the last time you saw it at an American tobacconist? So I took this tin out to sea with me on the last run. First bowl was pretty hot but Virginia tobacco tends to set my tounge on fire. The next bowl I packed in my cob and put it in my jacket while I sat on watch for an hour or so. As soon as I smoked this second bowl the deep sugars in tobacco came alive! I would say there is definatly a wood taste mixed with a fruity combo. Almost like visiting an old general store and the taste-smell you get when inside. My shipmates made notice of the room note saying it was pleasant and I have to admit after bowl number 12 the cob smelled wonderful sitting in my jacket before I packed it. I definatly had to smoke this a few times before I really enjoyed it. Pipe Used: corn cob Age When Smoked: fresh tin (2013) Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com Here's the TL;DR version - this flake is fantastic. The extended remix goes like this: I love this tobacco. It's bright and sweet and complicated... a lot like my wife, actually. I don't love this flake as much as I love her, but it's close. And much like my beloved wife, it is not without a certain, subtle, unbending strength. This certainly isn't for the beginner pipe smoker - for one the mechanics of working with flake tobacco probably shouldn't be attempted until the mechanics of actually packing and smoking a pipe are mastered. On top of the purely mechanical issues presented by a flake, you have to have developed something of a palate to be able to appreciate the richness and complexity that this tobacco presents. I've smoked this using both the fold-and-stuff method and the good, old-fashioned rub out. While I enjoyed both, rubbing it out (but stopping short of a ribbon or shag texture) produced a far superior flavor in my experience. This is my go-to recommendation for any smoker who's read to take that next step up from ribbon cut, light aromatics and I like to keep it in my cellar at all times. This is a very nice sipping tobacco. The added flavorings seem to, for the most part, match and enhance the natural flavors of the Virginias making them richer. The Burley is mostly silent until the second half of the bowl where I can only faintly pick it up at random times. It's role seems to be to add a little backbone body-wise. This smokes al lot like a somewhat rich straight Virginia to me. With the flake rubbed out about 75% it makes for a long burning smoke. The flavors seem to come out best when sipped. Burns a little cooler that way also. Medium in body and flavor. A nice tasting flake. Pipe Used: MM General, MM Country Gentleman Age When Smoked: fresh Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com Love love love erinmore, I just can't praise this blend enough. It's a top quality virginia/burley with a touch of casing and fruit flavoring. HOWEVER, I'm a little reluctant to call this an aromatic because it has such a nice, natural, Virginia taste to it, as I'm sure most others would agree. There are seasoned smokers who never touch aromatics who love this blend. Burns cool, tastes good, very temper-mental... What more can I say. Just go get some, especially if you like Virginias. 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 Disclaimer: I'm still pretty new to pipe smoking, and this is my first review. Opened a brand new tin that had been given to me. Rubbed one flake out about five minutes before packing, instead of doing the fold/stuff. One char light, and one re-light after, and smoked it to ash. I'm no expert, but I found it crisp, and medium bodied, with a little hint of fruitiness for the first third of the bowl or so. It stiffened up part way through the bowl, and lost some of the fruitiness, but tasted great right through. Not too light, not too strong. I'm still inexperienced enough that I'm not easily able to identify the flavour profile of each tobacco, but I liked this stuff. Will definitely re-visit. Pipe Used: Savinelli Trevi 310 Age When Smoked: New I felt I wanted to try a tin of this and I'm glad I did. I opened the tin and cut the flakes into squares, then put them back in the tin to let dry for a few days. On initial opening there was plenty of aroma but this gradually dissipated and was much less noticeable after a week or so. This is a strong but very smooth and flavorsome tobacco. Very smooth and with deep tastes and flavors. There is a little suggestion of the added fruit topping, but not much, and I found it enhanced the smoking experience. All in all I'm rather surprised by Erinmore Flake. It's smooth and full of flavor, and available at a good price. This tobacco might be considered strong by some, and I suspect the nicotine content is higher than average. It's certainly a tobacco that people should try for themselves, and I can understand why some smokers have this one as a permanent part of their rotation. An excellent combination of quality Virginias and a natural casing/topping (which, BTW, is approved by The Briar root association) Pros: Burns long and without bite, gives a pleasant room note if smoked indoors and will always leave you wanting more. Cons: Low on nicotine. Makes for a wonderful companion while in the woods. With the exception of Paladin and Spinnaker, I've never met a blend that I haven't somehow liked. However, my favorite blends (flake or otherwise) are good old Va or VaBur blends. SG Best Brown takes Gold, while Erinmore Flake brings home the Silver. (Bronze goes to OGS). The focus of this review is Erinmore Flake, which I've been blissfully smoking for years. There's nothing fancy here. Just fine Burley leaf that is supported by some VA and dark-fired leaf, and just enough of a fruity topping to make it all interesting. At least that's what I detect. I rub it out fully, pack it a wee bit on the tight-side, give it a charring light, tamp, give it a second lighting, and then lose myself in a wonderful medium/full-flavored blend as I float away on gloriously thick clouds of smoke, The room note is quite nice, but I can only describe it as "pipe tobacco-like". In short, this is pipe tobacco at it's finest but not most exotic. It's a solid and honest smoke, and one that is gonna appeal more to pipe smokers who just want an honest bowl of pipe tobacco - not an "experience. Some people claim that it nips if puffed too hard, but I don't find this to be true. However, I do agree that it needs to be sipped to appreciate the depth of flavor that this sublime blend offers. It's deep, it's rich, and it's just wonderful. I'm not sure how to describe the fruity topping, but comparing it to Juicy Fruit chewing gum is not unreasonable. It's also not unreasonable to think of this as an extremely light Lakeland blend, but it's not all GH soapy-like. If you smoke a lot of it, it will ghost a pipe. It also has some stones and a decent dose of Vitamin N, but not enough to relegate this to an evening smoke. I enjoy it all day long, and it pairs quite nicely with some black coffee or iced tea. Price-wise, it's probably tied with OGS as the best value in pipe tobacco. You can find it for about $8USD a tin if you go over to Pipes and Cigars.com. Think about that - that's not much more than what you'd pay for an OTC if you bought said OTC at a grocery store... at least here in Texas, anyway. The only better value is gonna be a bulk blend like Stokkebye's LNF or LTF. But Erinmore Flake is much better, IMHO. And at about $8USD a tin, I've cellared quite a bit of it. This is an old school smoke that's been around since Mobby Dick was a guppy. It's been around for so long that it is reputed to have been one of JRR Tolkien's favorite blends, and I would not be surprised to learn that he was thinking about Erinmore Flake when he decided to make pipe weed a central aspect of the daily lives of Hobbits and wizards. And people who have the solid sensibilities of a Hobbit or the wisdom of a wizard are gonna be those who really get the most out of this esteemed blend because it's a solid and dependable smoke, offered at a fair price, that embodies all the qualities of a really great pipe tobacco blend. Highly recommended to those who just want a bowl of great tobacco, and not a pipe smoking experience akin to nekked bungy jumping. But to clear up some long lasting controversy, there is not a pineapple on the label - it's a thistle. There is an old Celt connection to the thistle and the name Erinmore, but don't ask me for the exact details. That secret went to the grave along with the marketing gurus that first thought it up. Pipe Used: Falcon Dublin & Istanbul Age When Smoked: Over three yrs Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars.com Similar Blends: A light Lakeland but without the soap (praps). I too tried this blend long ago (in the eighties), and, frankly, this is where this flake belongs, the eighties. I'm a flake fanatic, I've tried many—but I really regret revisiting this one. Rotten apricots, super wet, strong as hell, in a word , bluch ! It was very wet out of the tin (a real gurgle fest, here). It took me forever to get it lit, and when I did, well, if you don't already get the picture, I don't know what else to say. This is an awful flake. Its when I smoke rot like this, I want to quit. Quite possibly the worst blend I've tried (or re-tried) yet. Does anybody want the rest of my tin? A real classic...Irish style. Some people say the real Irish tobaccos tend to be a little bit soapy. Indeed i experience some mild soapy undertone with this also- mostly after exhaling the smoke throu nostrils. I just love the mild, fresh topping of this blend. Ir reminds me on some funky mixture between NIVEA creme, apricot and banana essence. Of course we speek about the Isoamyl acetate topping (isopentyl ethanoate......3-methylbutyl acetate...all synonyms...as You wish, no big mystery!) PURE. However..... Some of You might think the famous old pineapple symbol, Murray & Sons invented as their trademark for this blend stands for the essence, they use in ERI FLAKE. In reality in was then (Victorian era) just a symbol of prestige, something of a higher quality (what Erinmore flake indeed still is). The aroma is creamy, little fruity....burleys are exact there, where they belong..just a solid Irish blend. I enjoy Erinmore flake only outdoors. In the closed room the N content is to high for me. Sometimes i mix 50% ERI with 50% ORLIK GOLDEN SLICED (rubbed...), the aroma stays there....and the new blend gets more mild. Recommended in smaller pipes (like my favourite Peterson 999 shape). Pipe Used: Peterson 999 shape Age When Smoked: fresh from tin...... Purchased From: www.pipe-shop.net Similar Blends: //////. Oh Erinmore Flake, where have you been my smoking life? Glad I tried this! What a great smoke. It's what I've been looking for. A great VA Burley flake that has flavor. Its more on the med side than mild. I love the fruity flavoring that stays with you, so you get the great va burley tobacco combo with a fruity topping that doesn't overwhelm the blend. This blend is favorable and you don't have to work hard. I did a fold and stuff in my Peterson 308 (which Im thinking about retiring as I just found out how rare it is) and enjoyed great smoke to the end. Decent Nic kick. Try it ! Pipe Used: Vintage 1942 Peterson 308 Age When Smoked: fresh from tin. No air dry. Purchased From: Jr Cigars. I don't know why it took so long for me to try out Erinmore Flake, I suppose with so many other exotic tobaccos, this one gets overlooked. It's an OTC blend in the UK, that is, if you can find pipe tobacco at all. Dark uniform flakes in the tin that look oily, with a fruityness that's more subdued than zesty, and recalls dried apricot. Not too moist, it packed without issue from being half rubbed out. I wasn't expecting such a luxurious smoke, there are definite creamy, buttery moments through the snork, and a velvety smoothness in the mouth. Quite delicious. Sweetness is there, though I couldn't classify this as an aromatic at all. Definitely not in the Danish / American sense. Surprisingly the fruity nose in the tin doesn't transfer further than the charring light / 1/8th of the bowl. Just a well behaved virginia that I can't imagine anyone not enjoying. All in all, easy to maintain, no bite, and surprisingly good. Also packs some nicotine, which is nice. Pipe Used: Astley's rusticated billiard Age When Smoked: New Update: My original review will be found below - without any change. I was going to remove one star - of how it stacks up against formidable competition in the range and my enthusiasm when reaching for it. However, I found that it may have been eclipsed accidentally, since with a fair amount of airing - aged tins of this blend are wonderful. Generally, these flakes require considerable airing - weeks / months for me. That is to say, I break the seal on the tins, re-close and place them back in my tobacco cabinet. Opening and looking at the flakes over a period of weeks before reaching for them. The difference is astounding. Fresh from the tin - this wouldn't even get one star - however with significant coaxing - it is an occasional treat in a small pipe. The topping becomes just a bit of support for high quality VA's. I do though, thoroughly enjoy the reviews of this tobacco. Most entertaining is the down right adamant assertion that some have assumed that Pineapple is an ingredient and don't understand logo - which implies - "rare quality." However, no one has made this point more clearly than the reviewer 'Mo'(29 Oct 2007), who didn't particularly like the tobacco, but made an excellent and funny point about the Pineapple conspiracy. Also, I am still smoking a supply of tins from the Murray production and haven't smoked any Erinmore Flake that wasn't made in Northern Ireland, yet. _________________________________________________________________ 27 October 2005 - Erinmore Flake is pretty much to me, a wonderful VA with a slight flavoring. The outstanding high quality VA flavor is deep and I believe the flavoring agent tames the high pungent notes of the VA very nicely. It is an unusually cool smoking blend that doesn't require any typical VA smoking technique. In my opinion, if one is looking for an aromatic tobacco this would be a huge let down, since this may have a signature aroma but not that of the traditional aromatic genre. I always smoke EF as a flake. As another reviewer noted ... it may take a few matches to get it going but my experience has been after a tamp an relight ... it is rather well behaved. One other comparison if you will permit ... I smoke this as I do GH Rum Flake. To me it is similar in pedigree, although the GH is buttery and soft, the EF is more piquant but in either case the topping is about setting the stage for the tobacco. A very nice smoke ! Cheers, VC After heating in presses, a uniform, brown flake is cut to slices ~ 3"x1"x1/16". Perfect moisture content right from the tin. I don't rub it out and just pack it easily in the bowl. Burns cool this way without a hint of bite. It has a unique tin aroma and taste which you'll probably either love or hate. Towards the bottom of the bowl, especially in a large one, it may become overpowering. However, the Virginias still come thru without any strong casing. I enjoy this one especially after meals and if you like aromatics, you might try this VA flake. I walked into The Godfathers Tobacco Shop today and spied 8 tins of Erinmore for 6.99. With a 10 percent discount I was sold. As I placed it on the counter the girl asked..."are you really going to buy those?" I laughed and must have given her a very puzzled look indeed. She pointed to the bulk jars and stated it is so popular here no one buys the tins they just pick up the bulk for $2.55. She asked if I had my pipe and when I pulled it out had it loaded up by her. This was a first for me. I lit it and sure enough it was Erinmore flake. Same taste all around. So I picked up a pound and all the tins. Plus several others I had not seen in years. As for the review. This is a very good flake. The taste has changed over the years but I really do not care. It smokes very well. It is mild and leaves no bad tastes. In all I will welcome it back into my rotation. Pipe Used: Weber, Comoy, Peterson Age When Smoked: fresh bulk, fresh tin Purchased From: Godfathers Tobacco and Cigar Sniffing the tin note I know there is a food from my childhood that smelled the same, alas, I cannot remember it. Maybe a fruit smoothie with strawberry, banana and apple? Regardless it's very apparent and welcoming. There is also a hay like tobacco smell under the fruityness. Looking at the flakes brings back memories of University Flake (more on that later) but with a couple of shades lighter and more fleck of bright leaf. They are beautiful flake and at about the width of two MacBaren ODF flakes. They rub out easily, although I am a fold and stuffer 90% of the time. Smoking this flake starts you off with a very pronounced fruitiness. I personally don't find it overbearing but for the pure tobacco flavor conoisseurs, it might be too much for enjoyment. The VAs are sweet and haylike while the Burleys are mild and nutty. The marriage of all three makes for a pleasant smoke that starts off middle of the road and builds throughout the bowl. The burn of this tobacco can be a little finicky so relights are going to be plentiful. It doesn't always burn down to a nice dottle but you can't have your fruit flavored cake and ash it too ! ;) Virginia and Burley are probably my favorite combination of tobaccos. If you like Peterson University Flake but think it might be a little too strong, this will probably be right up your alley. The plum in the former is not as present as the fruit/citrus in this blend though. You'll get more flavoring with less strength in Erinmore and less flavoring and more strength in University Flake. This is a wonderful year round smoke as it's warming and inviting during those cold winter months and sublte and sweet enough on those hot days. I've smoked three current production tins and three Murray era tins. I will say that I am more inclined to praise younger versions of this. The burley is very subtle (at least for my preferences, I tend to favor the C&D KO varietals) and with too much age on it the flavoring takes over and becomes a duet with the VA rather than a trio of flavors like the current production. This will always be a part of my rotation. Pipe Used: cobs, briars, mortas and meers Age When Smoked: Murray's tins to 1 year old tins Similar Blends: Peterson - University Flake (EF is easier on the nic and heavier on the topping) . This is a beautiful Virginia flake. It has a dark and leathery appearance in the tin. It has the typical grassy smell but it strong with the smell of dark or dried fruit. The taste is medium in strength but when it's smoking well it tastes of hay and plumb. This is a must try blend for those interested in Virginia flakes, which are a personal favorite for me. I find it smokes better with half of a single flake as it packs a little too tight with a whole flake. Take your time with this one since, as with most Virginias, it can and will bite if pushed too hard. Pipe Used: Bjarne Viking Classic and Adsorba Age When Smoked: Unknown Purchased From: Tabakhaus Durek, Berlin, Germany I had smoked Erinmore Mixture in the past and had enjoyed it, I had just recently smoked the last of my Macbaren Mixture Flake and decided to order some Erinmore Flake as a replacement as my medium nicotine flake in my cellar. I like to keep one type of tobacco genre open at a given time. Erinmore Flake is a really tasty medium flake, by medium I mean medium nicotine and flavor versus something high like Dark Flake or Old Dark Fired which is just fine for what I have been using it for which is either putzing around the house or a ride to work. This flake doesn't require my attention or cause me to be light headed. This is the flake closest to my favorite English flakes that I cannot get here In the US and just the label, the quality of tobacco and the look / feel of the flakes is something rare these days, like a turn of the century ocean liner versus a modern cruise ship, just a romantic tobacco... After smoking pipes for over ten years and trying hundreds of tobacco's I know that I do not like fruity toppings which confirms my fellow reviewers claiming that Erinmore is not overly topped or cased, I hardly notice the apricot topping to be honest but it does add a nice aroma I am told. So there you have it, a flake with perfect nicotine, no bite, under $8 a tin and readily available, what else does one need? A winner for sure and not to be missed. An occasional purchase for a change. I don't smoke a pipe that often, so I tend to pick and choose sample size packets for a nice change. Oddly I find this one somewhat like a more fruity St Bruno ready rubbed. Although lighter, the nicotine finally creeps up there. Admittedly my benchmarks are my two 'staple' (if you could call it that for occasional smoking) tobaccos, St Bruno (preferably flake) and Full Virginia Flake (Samuel Gawith's). All reviews are highly subjective, but on the whole I quite like this one for a slight change of pace. Pipe Used: Peterson Killarney, MM Cob, Butz Choquin and more. Age When Smoked: New-ish Purchased From: Smoke-King website Similar Blends: Not similar to anything much, if anything a really light, fruitier St Bruno variant (not a criticism).. Brightly colored flake with a sweet fruity floral aroma. Rubs out easily and packs nicely.Char light reveals a sweet taste that is maintained throughout the entire bowl.Actually the end of bowl a carmelized sugar taste is present. Very enjoyable smoke when you want something on the lighter side but wouldn't consider as a daily smoke. Have used the same pipe when smoking this tobacco and there is a noticable ghost in the pipe prior to smoking. Age When Smoked: out of tin Purchased From: Emersons Tobacco One person likened this blend to Dunhill Virginia flake but I find that blend rather bland whereas Erinmore flake is tasty and stays that way from top to bottom.I love it along with the Balkan blend of the same name. Pipe Used: Charatan and Meers. Age When Smoked: New Purchased From: mysmokingshop,Preston,England. Similar Blends: None,unique in itself.. Erinmore may be a classic, but it didn't work well with me. This flake certainly has some strength to it and some real tobacco taste yet it is adulterated with a flowery/fruity topping. This is something I just could not get past. Aside from this unappealing flavor and aroma, this weed endorses a harshness past mid-bowl I simply could not abide by. This one got tossed after a few bowls. Now if you are a fan of this type of pervasive fruit tone then Erinmore Flake just might be the ticket for you. Other essential qualities were present, such as proper moisture content, ease of packing and smoking as well as a good volume of smoke. Try this and hopefully you'll have a better experience than I. TYJFALIH I smoked several tins of this when it was sold in the smaller old style flake tins. The flakes are pressed lovingly into the tin, and are square as opposed to rectangular in their cut. The aroma in the tin is of cherry/creamy coconut/pineapple. The smell comes through strongly in the smoke, dominating the underlying quality tobaccos for the first third of the bowl. The topping recedes and a quality VA/Bur emerges. The room note is of toasted marshmallow per the wife. Pipe Used: jobey stromboli 165 Purchased From: iwan ries The flakes are in a fresh opened tin very wet but smoke able when i prepare them like ready rubbed cut.Also pack it loose in your pipe. At best fill your Pipe bowl and let it rest for 1 hour before you light up the tobacco. I can taste the un smoked tobacco flavoring during the smoke well (with the r.rubbed method) and i practice it for a long time. The tobacco burns slow.I like to use pipes with narrow bowls like prince,brandy pot shaped bowls.I don't recommend high bowls like chimney or Dublin etc. Its my favorite flake tobacco and its worth to experiment with this tobacco how to smoke it right for yourself. Pipe Used: Petersons/Dunhill prince shaped Age When Smoked: fresh Purchased From: smokingpipes.com I liked this one. It tasted light with a hint of fruity sweetness. It burned very well and was satisfying. I got a small sample of this from smoke king and although it felt quite dry about halfway down the bowl it was struggling to stay lit. I dumped out the bowl and sure enough it was a little damp near the bottom. I left it out for a few hours until it was almost crispy and tried again... beautiful! This one loves drying time. Nothing to complain about at all. Yea! This was of my first tobaccos I smoked. I thought for some reason it had been discontinued. It has changed a little since 1968, but it still a pleasure to smoke. A great full flavor and a neat topping which still reminds me of juicy fruit gum. I would actually smoke this daily, but I have difficulty finding it. Any rate big taste, huge flavor, and a pleasure to smoke. You should try some before you or the tobacco is discontinued. Recommend highly three 1/2 stars. Purchased From: Smoking Pipes Erinmore Flake is one of only about 3 of my experiences with tinned tobacco, and my first flake. The smell of a freshly opened tin is absolutely wonderful, a smell that reminds me of the taste of sweet iced tea and dried apricots. Surprisingly enough, these notes carried in the smoking quite well, something that rarely happens with any of the locally blended aromatics that I smoke. Not heeding the warnings of letting a flake dry out for 10-20 minutes or so, I will say I had some problems with lighting, relighting... but this did not seem to adversely affect the flavor. After experimenting with some rope tobacco the night before, the mildness of the nicotine was a welcome change from the sledgehammer that is typical of rope. I really enjoyed this tobacco. I used it to break in a brand new pipe, and I have decided that Erinmore will always have a place on my tobacco shelf, and will be the only blend I smoke in this new pipe. =UPDATE 2014-07-18= While I still enjoy Erinmore from time to time, my beloved ship has sailed as it being one of my favorite tobaccos. I find the topping to sometimes be slightly off-putting and pungent if I'm not expressly in the mood for it. I have quite a few tins that I will sit on for a few years, and I'll enjoy it from time-to-time... but no longer is Erinmore practically a daily smoke for me. Pipe Used: Unsmoked Savinelli Natural Dubliner Age When Smoked: Purchased March 2014 Purchased From: Pipesandcigars.com I rub it out quite fully and pack it somewhat lightly. It has a round, slightly sweet taste, the casing not hiding or covering up the tobaccos. Burning qualities are excellent, it rarely needs a relight. Notably gentle on the tongue and mouth. An excellent flake. Pipe Used: Bulldog, billiiard Age When Smoked: 7 years My third experience with flake VA. I was really curious about the "fruity" taste described on the tin, as well as from other reviewers. Upon opening the tin, the flakes are beautifully cut and rub out easily. I didn't find them too moist and after rubbing them out, they took a flame easily and burned consistently without much work throughout the smoke. In the tin, there is a definite fruity smell, alike to pineapple and other tropical fruits. However, I didn't really taste much of those flavors while smoking. The burley and VA were most noticeable, the hay-like earthy taste being dominant. About half way through, there was a nice spicy fruity taste that peaked in and out but unfortunately never stayed as long as I was hoping it would. Room note is tolerable but certainly not an aromatic by any means. Nicotine kicked me pretty hard after I finished the whole flake. Granted, it took me almost 90 minutes to do so. Overall, a nice VA flake. Still not sure if it's really my thing as I tend to like sweeter smokes but I have to give Erinmore Flake at least 3 stars for the quality of the tobacco over my personal preferences. Definitely worth checking out though at least once during your piping adventures. I'm very fond of good old Erinmore Flake. It's a beautifully presented flake—small, and square, with a mottled coloring dominated by dark brown. Apparently a mix of sugary Virginia and dry Burley, the stuff smokes just fine and can be folded and stuffed or rubbed out with equal ease. The slices are fairly thick, and so even rubbed out, it tends to smoke nice and slow. It also has pretty good strength, something I value in my tobacco. Up to this point, Erinmore is a pretty classic Virginia Flake lifted with some Burley (like most Virginia Flakes, whether they admit it or not). And then, of course, there's the endlessly discussed, praised, or maligned topping. I'm not really sure what to say about it, but I will say that this is a tobacco for which stay-away warnings and glowing, buy-some-immediately recommendations are equally meaningless. The flavoring is so unique that it really needs to be experienced. Personally, I like it. I think the closest descriptor with which I agree is the licorice/Juicy Fruit combination. For fun, I looked up the signature Juicy Fruit flavor and found that at least some believe that the flavoring may be Isoamyl acetate, an ester which provides flavors reminiscent of peach, banana, and, yes…pineapple. A little Isoamyl acetate…a dash of licorice…and poof…Erinmore Flake. Is this the secret recipe? I have no idea and I don't really care. If I have any real criticism of Erinmore, it's that it can turn on me and bite occasionally. For whatever reason, every tenth or twelfth smoke gets steamy and hot on me. This situation is probably more a result of my excitement over the flavors provided by Erinmore than it is a negative quality inherent in the tobacco. If there are blends that can be considered High English blends (Squadron Leader; Aristan's Blend; Margate; Blackpoint; British Woods; etc…) I believe there are some virginia flakes that can be considered High Virginian: FVF, Opening Night, Hal O the Wynd, Union Square, etc. Erinmore Flake definitely falls in this camp. It's a high quality straight virginia that, like other “single malt” flakes, has its own character, one which the copy has right: it's a bit flowery and fruity. That said, I find myself once again arrayed against the opinion of the vast majority of my pipe smoking brethren in that I don't detect any hint of the strong casing so easily discerned by others. Indeed this tobacco seems to have the most wildly variable “Flavoring” ratings of any tobacco on this site. I appear to be one of the tiny handful of reviewers who, like ivycap and Spike, believe that there is no topping here. Perhaps I'm mistaken, but the fruity, flowery flavor I discern I would simply ascribe as being a characteristic of the flake itself. But pineapple? Just because there's a pineapple in Erinmore's logo doesn't necessarily mean it's a flavor to be found in the smoke. I was actually looking forward to it, and was disappointed not to find it. Erinmore Flake is a quality virgnia, to be sure, but one I won't buy again. There's a quality to this smoke that doesn't agree with me, one that opens a mild but unpleasant pit in my stomach, and not in the same way as other strong Vitamin N blends. Still, it's worth a try, and like other quality virginias this one benefits from a very slow draw. I would also recommend letting it dry out quite a bit. I waited a while before reviewing Erinmore Flake as I found it a bit difficult to describe my experience with it. That said, I want to note that I highly recommend it with 5! stars and it is one of my top favorites. I had to patiently wait for it to be re-stocked as it was out from all of the tobacco vendors I frequent regularly. When one opens a tin of Erinmore Flake, you are greeted with flakes that are not cut parallel to the long side of the tin, but perpendicular to it (in other words, cut along the short length of the tin). It is similar to the way Kingfisher is packaged. Where Kingfisher is a crumble cake, Erinmore is truly a flake - perhaps a tad thinner than, let us say, a Peterson flake. Even though a flake, it does not stay together well when extracting a flake from the tin. It has a tendency to split apart along its length and fall apart from there, but certainly not crumbly (letting the tin air dry a bit, the flakes holds up much better). Yes, it is very fresh, but not overly moist. It is most certainly smokeable right from a newly opened tin. The tin aroma after first opening is quite strong, but this vanishes within minutes. For most of us familiar with EF, this tin note has been hard to describe. For me, there was no pineapple or juicy fruit gum. There was a flowery (not Lakeland) fruitiness - not immediately bringing to my mind anything definable. With deep inhalation of the tin contents, it was then reminiscent of perhaps incense-laden lemon - and at times even orange comes to mind. With continued sniffing, I can see where some have detected notes of licorice and or anise. Whatever it may be, it is a shade above subtle. Upon opening the tin, I was afraid that the concentrated aroma I first detected would make its presence known while smoking. I am happy to say that it did and it was delightful ! Lighting was easily accomplished for so fresh a tobacco. There was no moisture from first puff to last. I find that one needs to smoke EF slowly, and not because of bite, as smoking it like a freight train didn't even heat up the bowl! One needs to smoke it slowly to appreciate the truly fine blend that it is. The Virginias are top notch and spicy-sweet. The taste I got was only reminiscent of the tin aroma but stayed in the background to allow the true tobacco flavor to be enjoyed. It reminded me of Stonehaven with regard to overall tobacco flavor and sweetness, but better. A beautifully restrained, lightly stoved Virginia with moderate body added by a Burley that was never bitter or sour. What ever it is cased/topped with, it was expertly added to enhance the overall flavor. The whiffs I got from the side stream were delicious and had a restrained sweetness to it, similar to my experience with Stonehaven. If I had to describe the flavor of EF - besides the presence of quality tobacco leaf - I would have to say licorice and lemon; and mild at that. Sometimes even a hint of vanilla. EF is the most "Stonehaven-like" blend I have ever encountered with regard to tobacco flavor being the dominant factor (Stonehaven is treacle-flavored, see my review). EF is one of the few tobaccos that after finishing my first bowl, I immediately want another. Much preferred by me over Stonehaven; and by the way, poles apart from Irish Flake (another favorite), but I can smoke either all day. In my opinion, Erinmore Flake is for the experienced pipe smoker NOT because of any harshness, bite, dottle, moisture, etc. It is for the experienced pipe smoker who knows how to coax from a blend all that it has to offer in the way of pipe smoking satisfaction. And yes, it comes in one of the most elegantly designed tins I have ever encountered. All in all, one of the best out there! P.S. it leaves a nice Burley smell on the fingers after handling the leaf. UPDATE 11-23-10: After many pipefulls of Erinmore Flake, I tend to agree with some reviewers stating the flavoring is apricot. Although I still get the nice lemon scent from the tin, if I think about it while smoking, yes, apricot does come to the forefront. Very delicious, indeed ! UPDATE 11-16-12: I recently purchased a full content 6 ounce tin on Ebay of the original Ernimore Flake produced by Murrays. Although the seal was not intake and the flakes were very, very dry, the smoking quality was superb! Initial tin aroma was of old tobacco (read musty) with no typical Erinmore flavor what so ever. I took a few flakes and broke them in half and crushed them into my pipe. Obviously there was no problem with lighting tobacco this dry but surprisingly it never smoked hot. At times there was the faintest hint that this was indeed Erinmore. There was also, from time to time, a soapiness to the flavor. The tobacco was extremely dark - almost black actually. The Virginias aged very nicely and provided a slight spiciness to the smoke which was quite enjoyable. In a blind taste test I would be hard pressed to say it reminded me of Ernimore Flake, but this aged content tasted great! I don't know how old this tin is since there is no date stamp anywhere to be found on the tin. It only cost me $6.99 plus shipping and I would have to say that I got a bargain here. Exceptional quality at a low price. This one I will stretch out for as long as I can. A steddie Eddie that's been around for donkey's years. There is good reason for this, as it's a well behaved moderate smoke that burns well. Nice VA/BU blend. IMO there wasn't that much of a strong citrus aroma about it at all, just a steady hint of a mild sweet fruit note. This could easily be an all day'er, and it comes in a neat little retro coloured tin. Give it a whirl. EVERY pipesmoker should try Erinmore in at least one format during their pipesmoking careers/hobbies/whatever's.. Laters.. I quite enjoy this tobacco, I'm a big fan of flake tobacco and Virginias for that matter and Erinmore embodies both of these traits. The first thing I noticed on opeing the tin was the smell of well-aged Virginia tobaco. There is casing there, but it doesn't remind me so much of pineapple, but rather of something like apricot, with a bit of tang. This tobacco is a joy to smoke. It smokes easily with no problems keeping it lit, either lightly rubbed out or well rubbed. The topping is there, but the thing I taste the most is the high-quality leaf Erinmore uses. I tend to smoke this tobacco in one of my smaller bowls as there is a good whack of nicotine in there. I'm not a reformed cigarette smoker so I'm a bit more sensitive to the big nicotine tobaccos. Unlike some Virginias I've never had Erinmore bite me at all. Always burns cool and the smoke is flavorful and thick. I wouldn't reccomend this to a novice pipe smoker, but for the rest of us who can take a bit of nicotine it's a wonderful tobacco. My first tobaccos were, as with most pipe smokers, inexpensive aromatics and cavendish blends from the nearest tobacconist. Then one day, while sharing a few pints with my friend John, I tried the infamous Erinmore. Egad! Strong stuff! I'm afraid it sent my running for the restroom with a complaining stomach. I tried it again a few weeks later, this time in my apartment. The smell of the stuff stayed for two weeks! All of this was about three years ago. My tastes seem to have matured (or simply changed) somewhat. I've since tried it again. Other reviewers speak of Juicy Fruit and pineapple. I don't for the life of me find Erinmore to contain these flavours in anywhere near the proportions described by others. Mild hints, perhaps, but certainly not overwhelming. I do, however, taste a marvelous Virginia flavour. This it has in abundance. With careful packing and careful puffing, Erinmore delivers a wonderful, cool, dry, long smoke. This tobacco seems to be available everywhere in England. I can understand why. Overview: Erinmore Flake is an Irish tobacco that has been around a long time (my Dad smoked it as an RAF bomber pilot in World War II). It comes in a yellow and red 50 gram tin of rectangular shape. Feel: This flake is much drier and less sticky than the Cavendishes many new pipers are used to. Thats OK. Just take a few strips off the cake and put it in the center of your left palm. Next, put your right palm on these strips and move it in a slightly circular motion until the strips change to a consistency you're used to. Now pack it in your pipe in 3 or 4 lifts. Flake tobacco allows me to achieve several consistencies for different 1) pipes and 2) rates of burn I require for different occasions. Smoking Characteristics: Erinmore has the exact moisture level I like for setting-up a '1 match' burn. Cool and slow burning, it is quite unlikely to burn the mouth of a skilled piper. Occasional re-lighting may be required for beginners. Better out-of-doors than indoors,I enjoy it immensely while camping, walking or canoeing in the spring and fall as it seems to do better in cooler air. Nose: Popping the lid reveals Erinmore to have a strong & complex aroma both fruity and peppery -- a wonderful experience if your appreciation of scent extends beyond the corner store brands. The room note is semi-sweet & pleasant for smokers but it?s power is a bit much for the average non-smoker. Unfortunately, this nice room note tends to sour a bit quickly. Mouth: This is a strong, remarkably flavourful tobacco, well-behaved for pipesmokers with good technique buthard on Pipers with soft mouths. The initial taste experience is very full (somewhat extreme) and complex with the sweetness of fruit that is slightly-past-ripe. Flavors shift subtly within that context as it burns down. Not a tobacco for overnight re-lighting or inhaling. Economics: Here in Canada, Erinmore Flake is a high-priced tobacco. But I rate it as a moderately economical smoke because of it?s slow burn and it?s ability to please the nose & palate with small puffs. Last Word: Probably not for new pipesmokers with soft mouths as their taste buds would probably go into shock. However, if you enjoy the strong aromas and tastes of blue cheese, anchovies, peppers, jerky, scotch, etc. you may be ready to give Erinmore a try. I enjoy Erinmore immensely while camping, hiking or canoeing in the spring and fall. It's not my favorite blend for summer time as it tastes better when smoked in cool, moist air. I rate Erinmore at 4 stars out of 5 and would put it in my luggage if I faced banishment to a desert island. I first tried Erinmore a young man back in the late 1960's along with my favoured Condor (see my review on that) back then and of course St Bruno. I've still to get hold of a latest pack of Bruno , However, I have managed here in Indonesia to get hold of some Erinmore, which in all honesty I bought out of reminisence rather than actually liking it even then I still don't like the stuff, never did, seems I never will. rather than I elaborate about what in my opinion is a non event but just nostalgia. Read Bluesmoke and samanfromiran, below, not much point me repeating what they write. I'd never buy it again. PS Give the above any review points not me, I'm too lazy to write about it because it is just not worth it. After perusing this site for quite a few years I've finally decided to bite the bullet, register, and post my first review; and it is the Erinmore Flake that has tipped my hand. It's not the worst tobacco that I've ever smoked - that 'honor' would have to be reserved for Peterson's Hyde Park, but it has certainly made the list of "never to be bought again". I have no idea what the casing used on this tobacco is, other than to say it's not pineapple, but whatever it is - it's disgusting. I first tried it in my 303 and the taste was sickly sweet and over powering. A day later I thought I'd give it one more go and loaded up my Killarney 03. Again yuckity yuck bleugh! I cannot taste tobacco through the devastating casing. To add insult to injury, it severely ghosted both pipes. Last evening I loaded the 03 with some Irish Flake, and all I could taste was the insidious brew of erinmore. Never again. Pipe Used: Peterson Standard 303 & Peterson Killarney 03 Age When Smoked: New tin - just delivered A similar smoke and blend to the Dunhill Flake, which is also one of my favourites, but I think that the Erinmore Flake just pips it. It is easy to prepare, always smokes well, has a pleasing taste, quality tobacco & available in Cork ! I prefer to rub a flake out rather than the fold & twist. I like to take it slowly and savour the moment, which after all is what pipe smoking is all about for me really. Not as fruity as the Dunhill Flake, but still has a nice subtle hint of fruit, with a pleasing fresh hay fast too. Classic VA smoke form, one of my absolute favourites. If you like flake, not to strong, great VA taste, you'll like this. Pipe Used: Peterson Kapet 606 Age When Smoked: From the tin, or a few months old. Purchased From: Local Cork tobacconist. Similar Blends: Dunhill Flake.. This is lovely stuff, I'm probably biased as it was my Dad's favourite and his Dad's as well so it's something I grew up with. To start with; I don't believe that this tobacco is flavoured at all. The pineapple on the logo is an heraldic device that goes back to when the pineapple was so rare and expensive that anything associated with it attracted a real kudos. Erinmore is a real old time classic flake, it has echoes of lakeland but none of the sometimes overpowering floweriness you can sometimes get with these tobaccos. Erinmore burns exceptionally cleanly leaving little dottle. It is a very smoky flake producing a nice satisfying dense cloud of smoke. You will find very little bite from this if you treat it with a little respect. I don't find it wet at all and smoke it straight from the tin but it can be aired for a while or try the delayed gratification method and let it go out and get cold before lighting up again. My experience is that I smoke it rubbed out for my first couple of pipes of the day but then roll and stuff for the remainder of the day; the differing preparation makes a noticeable difference in my opinion but it might just be my habit. I really love this and never hesitate to recommend it. The fruit/citrus tin notes are promising, but I did not find that this translates into the flavor profile whatsoever. I rubbed out one flake, stuffed it into an old Jobey Dansk briar pipe, that by now, has an adequate cake build up. It took three lights to get the tobacco burning, and it burned well thereafter. Plenty of smoke, but no flavors, other than a basic Virginia tobacco profile. So disappointing, given the pleasant fruity tin notes. The bowl did get hot, since I was puffing aggressively, trying to get some type of flavor out of this bland tobacco. No tongue bite. No aftertaste. This blend doesn't even make my top 25. I won't be buying Erinmore Flake again, when the tin is finished. Not recommended. Sorry guys but this one doesn't work for me. the tin smell is interesting but that doesn't translate into a good smoking experience. first off, i've tried almost everything and I do have issues keeping it lit. i'm no big expert with flakes but it is annoying. secondly, the mild, somewhat pleasant first few puffs, soon turn into a bizarre bite that just ruins it and pretty much covers everything you may have enjoyed so far. wont buy this again. Very nice blend. Pleasant tin note reminded me of apricots,mango,pineapple, honey and lemon. Rubs out easily by hand although I prefer to use a "sweetleaf" tobacco grinder on my flakes. I'm able to pack a pipe better plus I feel this method unlocks more flavor from the tobacco. Amazon calls them a "herb" grinder. Check them out. Nice sweet smoke through out with no tongue bite. I slowly sipped this blend and was able pick up the wonderful flavors 1/4 into it. Started to pick up some full body taste halfway with the nic buzz showing up. Finished it off still tasting some fruitness in the background. Definitely would recommend trying and keeping a couple of tins of this in your cellar. I wouldnt call this a full blown aero so it should appeal to those vaper lovers who want a change of pace now and then. Wife didn't care for the after effects on my clothes. Three stars ! Makin' my wife rich one bowl at a time... UPDATE: I'm giving Erinmore Flake one more star. After smoking several more bowls, I find myself thinking of this blend at work. I'm also going to purchase more tins for my cellar and dedicate a briar exclusively to this flake following Reiny's advice. I started this wonderful hobby in 1967. I know a lot of people don't like Erinmore Flake but I recommend that everyone try it at least once. Even in it's present state it is still a very well made and presented blend. Never oversomke this blend and it will burn cool and very long. Rub out one flake and don't it pack too tight. Charring light will not burn long and don't even try to keep it going. Tamp lightly and relight. Erinmore will burn well with minimum puffing. It is at its best when not pushed hard. If it goes out, let your pipe cool before relighting and it won't sour and will burn all the way down to a white ash. For a tobacco that is not a complex blend, Burley and VA, dark and light, the strange topping gives it some nice complexity. Every now and then it will offer up that pineappple juicy fruit burst followed by rich B&V straight tobacco tastes. I love this blend and have smoked it off and on since the 1960s. My favorites are still Balkan Sobraine, Night Cap and the venerable Edgworth Flake but I have smoked most everying out there and try to find something good in all of them. It is sad that so many of my old time favorites are long gone. I'm smoking Dunhill Standard right now. Give EF a fair shot, I hope it lives on. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Nice slightly sticky flakes that have the aroma of a kind sophisticated Juicy Fruit gum. They rub out easily. I don't dry them as some folks do, I aerate the tobacco, sifting it and sprinkling it as I rub it out this makes it very easy to light and smoke. The flavor is not overly complex. It starts off a bit ashy but quickly becomes a nice smooth blend of pleasant but unspectacular, mild Virgina and Burley flavors complimented by that nice but artificial tasting Juicy Fruit flavor. I really don't notice much of a flowery taste. Perhaps after having been recently assaulted by a dose of Lakeland before smoking Erinmore I simply didn't notice it. It's a not unpleasant easy to puff away on smoke. While it is Danish it is not a heavy and goopy aromatic. However it is an aromatic so I've been smoking it in a Vauen or Big Ben 9mm filter pipe. I experience no tongue burn, just the mildest Virginia tongue tingle. It burns somewhat rapidly but not overly hot. It will provide a mid-level helping of nicotine. While not unpleasant I don't regularly smoke this blend as there are so many better aromatics available to me when I desire that style of tobacco. I have used Erinmore in some of my personal concoctions, one of them mixing it with a dash of a heavy Latakia blend, some nasty musty C&D Burley and a bit of Black Cavendish. Sometimes the outcome of using this as a blender has been good but other times whatever is used to flavor this blend does not harmonize well with other tobaccos creating a rather unpleasant bitter taste. I tried a blend while visiting a tobacconist in Houston on a recent trip. They had combined Erinmore with Maduro leaf and Latakia in a house blend. I found it awful and recognized that nasty bitter unharmonized flavor. An upside is that Erinmore is very economical and the tin design is quite charming. Slightly Recommended. I think Erinmore is what PS LBF would taste like if you took out the perique, added burley and put a touch more topping in the mix. Make any sense? That being said, it is good. I don't think it is too strong aromatic-wise and the VA and burley sort of cancel each other out and make for a flat, but enjoyable smoke. I got no bite, but can see how it could happen if not dried out properly or puffed on like crazy. Good room note... Erinmore Flake: Flavorless incense for pipes, not people. Nothing appealing, whatsoever. If you want something flat, try a pancake. At least with the pancake you can add flavor to it and it won't bite back. Years ago I had tried Erinmore Flake and found the flavoring and casing to be over the top. Today, I bought a can and tried a pipe full, then another then another. Well, I have to say this is a really nice mild to medium tobacco. There is no heavy note and the pipe doesn't seem to carry the flavor over. When I had tried it years ago it took a lot of cleaning and Sir Walter to get the flavor out of the pipe. This will become a regular for me. First of all i'm pretty new at pipe smoking. so don't take my opinion to seriously. That beeing said, loved the flake cut (first time i've tried it) and the pretty cool and dry way it burns. Plus, it's really nice to have the chance of rubbing the tobacco accordingly to how slow you want to smoke it. didn't like the toping that much, wich constantly reminds me of pineapple jellow and kind of gets over the taste. Can't really say i've disliked it overall but it's not a blend i intend to keep in a rotation. i'm prety sure i'll find something more like dryed plums, grapes or nutty fruits flavour if i ever feel like smoke something more aromatic. i would apreciate any suggestions on that. I quite like this flake. I wasn't so sure when I smelled the freshly opened tin. I had mixed feelings about the fruityness. I didn't get the fruity smell in the smoke. There is a good strong tobacco taste that greatly out weighs the flavouring, especially if you let it dry a bit before loading your pipe. I would call this a semi-aromatic. I am not an aro smoker but Erinmore and then 1792 are my favourite flakes with SGs' Best Brown flake being third. Class is in the tobacco not in the ratings. I'm just finishing my first tin,I will be getting more of of this one. I guess there is something to be said for a blend that has been reviewed as many times as Erinmore has as this marks the 200th review. Upon opening the tin, I hated, yes hated the tin scent as it reminded me of a medication that I took as a child with a bouquet of fake smelling berries. The good news is that the strong tin scent doesn't fully carry over to the smoke. I have smoked these neat little flakes folded and rubbed out and I enjoy it best rubbed out. Erinmore is a nice Burley/Virginia flake with a pleasant berry/fruit taste in the background. Although not comparable blends, I would put the amount of berry scent in the same realm as Dunhill's old Three Year Matured in terms of the amount of the casing. I did notice that letting the flakes air out in the unsealed tin for a couple of months, the scent dissipates quite a bit. It rubs out with ease and smokes cleanly leaving a nice grey ash. It also has a nice amount of Lady N which is something I enjoy in flake tobacco. Erinmore seems to be a love/hate blend for many and I find myself in the love camp for a tin or two, but unless I can find a well aged tin, I won't purchase it again as I enjoy other flakes far more. Recommended This is more like the old Erinmore Mixture than the current Erinmore Mixture. I enjoyed this: nice white puffs of smoke and a pleasant fruity taste. Erinmore was one of the first I tried in the days when you could clip a coupon from a newspaper and get a small, free sample pack. One I'll always return to now and then. Nicely prepared flake, but that is all I can say! Tobacco is strong and hot, very much like "Petersons University Flake " in strength and burn characteristics, but instead of a slight raspberry topping, it has a slight "lakeland floral" topping. I don't like LF. Comes in a great little tin that can be carried very easily.I'll keep the tin, and throw out the tobacco ! Appearance is a dark brown flake. Tin smells sweet, a bit like candied orange peel. Tastes flat and cigarette-like. Erinmore Flake is an uninteresting, cased, poor quality tobacco. I find no reason to recommend this for anyone. Tin notes of sweet fruits and hay. I wish this didn't bite as bad as it does, or it would have earned one more star. A bit difficult to pack and get lit. The more you try, the harder it bites. I have it in the cellar for the last year now, I'll update soon and hopefully add that 3rd star. Update: After writing this review, I grabbed the tin out of the cellar. Nice moisture now, just the way I like my flakes. Packing and lighting was a dream, the rest of the experience was a nightmare. I didn't think this would get worse, but it did. Tenfold. It now tastes like cigarette ash, still burns, and tastes horrible. Downgraded to 1 star. Erinmore Flake used to be pretty freely available in B&M shops, and wasn't regarded as all that classy. This hasn't been true for quite a while now - thanks, I assume, to the decline in pipe smoking. It still isn't a classy smoke, but, unlike so many old- time baccies, it doesn't seem to have suffered a significant decline in quality. I tried it first in the late 1970s, and it seems the same now as what I remember from back then. It still comes in a tin also, which is a plus point. It's a strong and heavy flake with an attractive "plumcake" tin note. It'll give you a long and cool smoke if you don't drive it too hard, but it's a good idea to dry it a bit first: don't smoke it straight out of the tin, or you'll use a lot of matches and get a lot of heat and steam. Personally, I don't care all that much for the fruity flavouring (though its a far cry from Erinmore Mixture, which I positively dislike); but if you like heftily cased flakes, this'll suit you. It's what I think of as a "winter" smoke. I enjoy it very much when I'm in the mood, but the casing can cloy if you smoke it too often, I find. Somewhat recommended, from a personal standpoint - but people who like aromatics and semi-aromatics will think more highly of it than I do. It isn't really an aromatic, but the casing is very perceptible, and not to everyone's taste. My first experience with Erinmore Flake: Has a vanilla taste to me. Smells great in the tin! Easy to rub out and keep lit. A bit of bite on the tongue but not too bad. Finally, an aromatic I can tolerate and even enjoy. First off, I have to say IMHO, Erinmore is so absolutely unique, as to be an entity unto itself. I think a lot of people go into smoking Erinmore, looking to compare it to something familiar....it isn't. Thus the divide over...I love it/I hate it. This is one great smoke, and unlike any other flake, so comparison's can't be made. IMHO, it's a unique, great, smoke....like no other. I was expecting too much more from this. Erinmore Flake is quite an inoffensive VaB cased with a fruity aroma, so mild that I couldn't even say it is natural or chemical. Yes, it has meat and it's well behaved . Those half-shaped flakes are beautiful and easy to ply and stuff (two flakes a hour or more into a group 4 bowl). The bowl burns smooth his way, but nothing builds as I would expect, to the point that I would prefer some more flavouring… EF has nothing to do with FVF, or Capstan. Even the Golden Sliced has something more to offer. It's just boring me, that't the the fact … I ordered this tobacco do to reports of its strength. I like to have several choices of rather stout blends when social engagements won't allow for one's extended absence from the host. Royal Yacht is of this ilk- strong and assertive. I suspect Erinmore is fully cased and topped with such things as licorice, tonquin, cocoa and all or some of those elements from early days in the tobacco industry. Yes, even some fruit essence is there yet there is never a singular note I can identify. When I smoke Erinmore I continue to taste the casing and topping melange forever, unfortunately. Maybe if you suffered from advanced gum disease that could be an advantage, but not for me. I've been smoking pounds of Hal o' the Wynd and love it, and yet, it could be a little stronger. H.O.T.W never grows old on the tongue, whereas, Erinmore Flake's flavor is tiresome. If it had more nicotine it might be useful and bearable. By the way, the pineapple is the symbol of hospitality. Erinmore Flake... Packed in a real nice reusable pocket size tin. When opened, the aroma is anise like, and with a bit of imagination pineapple. A single flake fills a medium bowl just right. You do your part and sure enough, most of those claimed flavors really ARE there. Nice. I found the tobaccos complexity is in proportion to my patience. This is where I say goodbye. A tin of this will last me a long time, as I much prefer the upfront taste of a "plain" (less topping) Burley/Virginia blend. Too much fuss and added flavorings for me, once in a while OK, but as a repeat smoke, no. For me 2.5 stars. For many, nirvana. As a side note, you can smoke this stuff aggressively, and it still remains fairly well mannered, with a OK nic. kick. More than 40 years ago now, I last tasted small, coloured, cubed confections called Jap Desserts. When I opened my 1st tin of Erinmore Flake I caught that same almost forgotten sweet smell of.... coconut! There is no doubt in my mind that the flavouring definately contains coconut. There's some hint of fruitiness as well, but the flavouring doesn't overwhelm the tobaccos. It's quite tasty, but for me, I'd rather have the unadulterated flavour of Golden Glow, or if I felt like a bit of extra flavour, I'd still stick to University Flake. Definitely a unique tobacco taste. Just like S.G.'s 1792, but the other way. Erinmore Flake taste fruity. Tropical flavors. Sometimes it feels like smoking an aromatic, but with the full tobacco strength and taste. At first, when i read all the other reviews i did not believe that there would be any pineapple flavor. Here's what i taste without any prejudices... Pineapple, occasionally hints of coconut linger through. Smoking this baccy reminds me of the movie-scene in "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas", where johnny depp and benicio del toro are sitting outside at the Flamingo and drinking cocktails. Just Tropical. Hate it or love it ! I love it, once it has dried out a bit. I've spent the weekend smoking this one and I still can't really decide where it fits into my ideas about the different categories of tobacco. It has the kind of strength and constitution that I associate with lakeland flakes, but the flavouring used is sufficiently different that it isn't really comparable. It is definitely more 'aromatic' than 'lakeland floral'. In fact, halfway through the first bowl I realised where I had tasted something like this before: Sunday's Fantasy by Radfords. That is a mild aromatic, chunky ribbon-cut blend with a strong (as in I can't get it out my pipe) top-flavour of apricot and vanilla. The dressing used on Erinmore Flake is very, very similar. As others have pointed out, this one definitely seems to work best rubbed out and well-dried, which makes the top flavour less assertive. With that done I find it acceptable, but it isn't as smooth as a lot of scented flakes and I can't help thinking, "I would rather be smoking St Bruno." My tentative conclusion is that if you like apricot flavoured aromatics and are looking for a flake with a similar taste and a higher vitamin N content then this is the one for you. For me, when the craving for a stout flake with some added flavour strikes (which is currently quite frequently) I will be sticking with my GH&Co florals and British OTC flakes. I will probably finish the tin, but shan't purchase again. I can see this hitting the spot for some folks so it gets a 'recommended' rating, but it definitely won't be for everyone. If you like Erinore Mixture then you will love this. It is sweet and tasty and burns slow due to it being flake. The small tin is great for your pocket and the the flakes are half the size of normal tinned flake so you will probably need two per bowl. Review based on a new tin and not a cellared one. This is my Desert Island Blend. If I could have no other tobacco (Heaven forbid!) I would puff away on a steady diet of this and still love pipe smoking. There isn't much to add to what has already been said, but I don't mind talking a lot and saying little. This is a medium strength FOR ME. I have smoked cigarettes for, well, more than three decades. And I've smoked a pipe for almost as long. Nicotine isn't a problem for me (Well, there was that one experience with SG's Brown rope, but that isn't actually tobacco, is it?). The flavoring is fairly subtle to my tastes. And it doesn't taste like anything except Erinmore Flake. Forget Juicy Fruit, pineapple, or 90 weight gear oil. This taste is unique. My wife used to rave about the room note. Then I overheard her and my daughter laughing about how bad it smells. But I've never had anyone say it to me. Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Everyone should try at least a 50g tin of it. Then, if you have more discerning tastes than I, you haven't lost much. Where to begin? It smells like candy. The flakes are comically small. In fact I just grab 2 every time I go to smoke some of this puzzler. There is all kinds of lore/speculation about the topping and the pineapple on the tin. Is it a full on aromatic? Is it a sort of hybrid like some people consider University Flake to be? Let's dive in ! The tin.....The tin design is delightfully dated. The colors and art work harken back to a slower, simpler time. The tiny pocket sized shape make me think it was MEANT to be carried about in the breast pocket of one's jacket. Forgive me if I delve to deep into speculation of the marketing here....easy transport, and bright colors mean you will be more likely to be seen in public with the product. Ever try to stuff a 100g tin of Mac Barren Plum Cake in your shirt pocket? The size of the flakes....they are small. Cute in a way. You can stick your fingers in the tin, grab one, fold it over, stuff it, and do the same again if your pipe has room. All the while holding the pipe AND tin in the the other hand. Easy flake smoking on the go! I TOLD you I was going to speculate heavily about the marketing going on with this brand. The SMELL: Love it or hate it, it is a unique aroma. People say pineapple, passion fruit, Juicy Fruit gum, cooked candy chews, and many other things are brought to mind. I have found something of a tropical melange of aromas when popping the tin. I first got hit with coconut. A sweet dry coconut nut unlike the aroma in a tin of Larson No 80. There is also a gooey sweet citrus note in the back, like ......PINEAPPLE. Possibly also mango. I also get a little hit of vanilla. The aroma seems like a dessert and tempts one to take a bite, which made me wonder if kids have ever gotten a hold of this stuff and ended up riding the puke train after finding out the hard way that it wasn't gum or candy. Yes, I am a wee bit evil as I chuckled at the hard lesson they would learn. The taste: Golden Virginia. Smooth, toasty, nutty, cool burley. Nothing surprising, except for the quality. There are some damned fine tobaccos pressed together here, and they aren't afraid to tell you so. Not bitey, not bitter, not sticky sweet, but yummy in a well rounded way. The topping is something I was worried about. The aroma in the tin was so prominent, I felt sure it would be all over the smoke, and coat my mouth and sinuses like silicone gasket sealer. I was WRONG!(there is a first time for everything)Somehow, be it black magic, divine intervention, or just really knowing what they are doing, they got the topping/casing to work PARALLEL to the tobacco. That's right, it is in the room note just enough to be pleasing to your companion and passers by, you will occasionally catch it in the side stream or on the mustache, but it doesn't figure prominently in the overall flavor of the smoke. All in all, I think there are some similarities in the base blend between this and Uni Flake, but they are certainly not the same.....just similar. I think the Erinmore is brighter with more of a lemon VA tang than a stoved VA darkness. I shall digress! Marketing? Oh hell yes. A high quality, rich, decently complex VA based flake for the experienced smoker who also needs to keep the public around him happy? Hmmmmmm. I told you this stuff had some planning behind it. The physical smoking experience: Easy, carefree, dry, with a solid dose of vitamin N. I didn't get bitten, gurgled, or felt a need to fuss with the contents of the bowl. You might need to relight on occasion, depending upon your smoking and packing styles, but I just puffed along without a problem. Amazingly, I failed to find any ghouls, demons, or ghosts in my bowl afterward. All in all: A winner!...and a window into how one might chose a tobacco to keep with them all day. An attractive package which is easy to handle, containing a quality tobacco, posessing a pleasant room note, which deliver a non-fussy smoke all day. I told you they were smart when they came up with this stuff. It probably has something to do with it still being on the market to this day. 3.8 * out of 4 ENJOY ! I love Virginia tobaccos and I love flakes, and this blend here is a very fine smoke to be enjoyed just about anytime, in my book. The smell out of the tin for me, is nothing special. I have known many tobaccos that smell awesome, and taste horrible. Here, it's pretty much the opposite. While it doesn't smell like "dessert" as a few others have commented, it tastes excellent. I don't rub out my flakes, I just roll them up and stuff them in. And this stuff burns so slowly and evenly that it's fantastic. What I really love about this tobacco is that the taste really, really progresses after about 10-15 minutes. It's pretty complex, I must say. Sweet, strong, cool and a little bit of spice. I love the smell you get out of this while smoking it, it's just a quality Virgina tobacco, nothing more, nothing less. Always in my rotation. The tin aroma is mild straw, grass, hay. I was a bit concerned the first time I packed my pipe with it because it felt a little too moist but I have found that it burns well and doesn't need to be dried any. It is a sweet and cool smoke that is typical of virginias with no tongue bite. This one has a light floral taste to me in the first half of the bowl. There is a pleasant sourly acidic flavor on the finish, something like grapefruit maybe. My wife says the room note is of a plain but quality tobacco and tolerable. I would recommend this to try. I am not a big virginia smoker but would buy it again. The bottom line: Smoking the Erinmore Flake straight out of the tin is not at all a good idea as it comes out fairly moist. It needs a bit of pre-preparation before smoking and them it is an excellent but strong smoke, with a strong full bodied taste and a pleasant room note. The reviews here since 2001 indicate that the blend may have changed over the years or that there is a lot of batch variation. All in all, a good satisfying smoke even if you don't inhale much directly, or not at all. I recently re-acqainted myself with pipe smoking after 40 years, and Erinmore Flake was one of the first pipes I tried recently. In my eagerness I took it straight out of the box and the result was totally unacceptable. My half pipe-full drew wet and sticky, with strong fruity-sweet flavor with a cigarette tobacco smoke overlay. The sharp tongue bite towards the end was likely due to the over-damp tobacco--I dumped it right quick ! Reading the reviews here led me to try this: I took out the flakes and left them out in the late afternoon sun for about half an hour and then left them open on a paper napkin for an hour. I then experimented with two ways of smoking EF in my BBB pipe: 1. The first was to rub the flakes open and then charge the pipe. The result was an excellent strong smoke with a full mouth feel. The tobacco burnt well and evenly with a noticeable but not overpowering after-aroma. The room note was pleasant but some people found it a bit strong. 2. I had a second pipe at night, but this time folding the well-aired flakes without rubbing them open. It was even better this way. The burn was better as was the draw, with no tongue bite, but it had a peppery taste. I expect that airing and aging the tobacco will improve the EF experience. Post-smoke the only negative I found was a strong cigarette after-taste and smell that lingered in the mouth for a while. I would give Erinmore Flake overall an almost 3.5 stars, but as ½ stars are not ratable, I give this a very solid 3 star rating. This blend taste is uniq...Tin is great, flakes are smilar,quality and standart...Yes taste and package are uniq... When you open tin virginia smeels difrent...I cant explain actualy, its like tropical,fruit and sweet...Smokes like that too..It needs to dry...Actualy its not wet but like mix with olive oil... Slow to burn, no bite to tounge but 2-3 bowl enough...You cant finish tin if you are smoke only this tobacco all day...Its monotone... 6 months for a 1 tin enough for me... This and Firedance Flake are my 2 favourite aromatics right now. I really cannot add much more than what has alreay been said other than a dry out helps this one to burn properly. I once loaded my pipe with this in the fold and stuff method and then forgot about it. I came back 3 days later and thought it would be ruined but waste not want not so I smoked it anyway. While it was a tad on the dry side it was one of my top five bowls of tobacco I ever smoked. In the zone from the first puff with a perfect marriage of the citrus/jackfruit flavour and the Va tobacco base. This tobacco is one of the reasons pipe smokers live longer. What a delicious surprise ! Erinmore Flake has become a favorite of mine. It has a richness and fullness that is quite unique. The topping is very sweet in the tin and carries through nicely in the smoke. It's subtle nuances of citrus and sweetness which is quite hard to put a finger on. It does take a few relights, but it's definitely a very manageable smoke. I'm now smoking this on a regular basis, it and SG Celtic Talisman have become my 2 favorite blends, both very different in nature and both very alluring in their own right. This is not an aromatic thoug the room note is very pleasant and subdued, a true Virginia with all of the sweetness that fine Virginia tobacco exudes. The smoke is an intriguing one, with a sometimes nutty nuance mid bowl, returning to a sweet and satisfying wisp of goodness to the very end. These are my favorite flakes also in terms of cut. As much as I admire SG FVF, I do prefer the cut of Erinmore Flakes. Simply take out 1 or 2 pieces, fold and stuff, it's a thing of magic really. I personally find the nicotine content to be low , very tolerable. I do not like a Nicotine punch, and find SG blends tend to be just on the verge of strength for my liking. This however is the perfect balance for me, no nicotine hit but definitely satisfying and a truly luxurious smoke. I will be stockpiling this blend for sure as it seems to be harder to find. If you are a Virginia aficionado, or just enjoy a satisfying smoke with an alluring taste and sweetness, I urge you to try Erinmore Flakes, a hidden gem indeed. This is lovely stuff, a rich, quality blend with lots of flavour, maybe too much sweet topping for some tobacco purists, but I like it. But then even if I had to fill a pipe the size of a saxophone I could still enjoy the flavour without finding it overpowering. Smells delicious in the tin and gives a very pleasing mellow taste and aroma when smoked. Satisfactory nicotine levels. Can leave your pipe a little moist in the bowl and stem, which is why you might like to rub out 2 or 3 flakes some time before you smoke them. Best not to rub out every last strand or leave it too long to dry out, lest too much of that distinctive Erinmore flavour should evaporate. A quality mellow smoke from N Ireland, though now made elewhere under licence from Murray & Sons. Maybe if there had been more Erinmore smokers in N Ireland, that fine country would have had a less troubled past and would have kept its Murray's factory. A quality flake with an interesting topping that still allows the tobacco taste to come through. What goes into the casing sauce I do not know, but it is most certainly not pineapple. Why some people tend to make such a fuss about the 'Erinmore aroma' escapes me anyway. Erinmore Flake is a staple tobacco for me and I'd recommend it highly to all lovers of Virginia tobacco who are not put off by the idea of a light topping. Some say this is one of the best Virginias flakes ever. It may be. It may also be that Virginias --unlike Erinmore Mixture, which also has Cavendish and Burley--do not absorb artificial flavors with the same degree of intensity that Burleys do. The fact remains the Erinmore's sour-sweet-tropical fruit topping is here alright, very noticeable and, to my taste buds, totally unbearable. Unlike Bear--whose review I celebrate--it's not that I find this tobacco overwhelming: in fact, I don't find it particularly strong. But the smell and the topping simply ruin it for me. Why on earth would such a quality Virginia be subjected to any sort of flavor other than the natural and elusive sweetness of the leaf itself, is beyond me. If you love Virginia flakes AND don't mind a strong fruit flavor that WILL pervade your pipe for some time (perhaps not as long as the casing left by Erinmore Mixture, but still quite noticeable), then you might enjoy this. I reviewed this before, but it seems not to be on the site. Anyway, the first and only time I tried this was over 30 years ago. It was recommended to me by an Irish friend and was made in Ulster somewhere. Other reviewers mention fruity pleasant tastes, some even mentioning Juicy Fruit gum of all things! Absolutely no pineapple as that's part of the Erinmore logo and, as another reviewer states, was a symbol of hospitality in the 18th and 19th centuries. I recall none of this. I remember licorice...really strong licorice. So strong it stained my pipe and I almost threw it away. It took several WEEKS to eliminate that stain from that pipe by smoking other tobaccos. As this was a long time ago and I was a newbie at the time, perhaps things will be different for me now as I intend to try it again (due to the other reviews here) as soon as I can find a tin. At that time I'll update this review. Update: I purchased a tin a few months ago and HAVE to edit this review. Erinmore is one of the best Virginia types I have smoked. I must have confused another blend in my mind with this as (a Peretti blend I believe) it does not overwhelm you with licorice, even though that appears to me to be the flavoring. It has a nice, sweet, barley candy note to it which brings me back to my youth at Christmas. Top notch. I give it 4 stars. I orered a tin of this online because the tobacconist recommended Erinmore Flake to me and I have seen many positive feedbacks on this tobacco from various websites and forums. When the tin arrived, I opened it and it smells good. I packed two flakes (maybe three?) to my Viprati 95' limited edition pipe. It lit so hard, burns so hard and easily goes out. It took me numerous re-lights to finish the bowl. The tast is good, very good tobacco, but the relight job is pain in the neck. It was my first flake and I did not know how to pack it properly. I tried rub it, fold it, airpoket method, but there is always something going wrong. I will definitely do some more practice. The tobacco is good, I ordered another 4 tins after the second bowl. It shall be my problem to pack it properly and enjoy it. So far I vote 3 stars, will update to 4 stars when I find a good way to pack it. ---- Update on 09-01-18 ---- Now I norminate this a four-star flake. It's just great and I love it. Erinmore flake and Three Nuns were my first tobaccos I smoked when I started some 30 years ago. Although I have moved on to other more complex and interesting blends (most recently some of the McCranie's and McClelland's), I still have Erinmore Flake as an occassional smoke. The tin note is very fruity and aromatic. I found over the years that the best approach to the flakes is rather than roll them in the palm, I pinch them between thumb and teo fingers and leave them in fairly course strands. This seems to burn the best. I am also an occassional cigar smoker. To my taste, Erinmore is one of the most cigar-like flavors among pipe tobaccos. It reminds me of a nice Griffin or Davidoff. The casing does not seem to come through much as a flavor, every once in awhile a faint trace. The room note is a very toned down version of the tin note. Not nearly as aromatic as the tin note would suggest. Tobacco and fruit. === Update === Although I am not as crazy about this as I once was, I do enjoy an occassional bowl. I recently came a cross half a dozen tins of the original Murray's from Northern Ireland and bought them for my cellar. If you prefer an uncased VA flake, I recommend the Davidoff Flake Medallions. Not a pure VA, but quite wonderful. When I first discovered Erinmore Flake, in the early seventies of the last century, I thought I had found my one and only pipe tobacco and would not look at any other. I bought twenty-five tins, and actually smoked eighteen of them on the trot. I found the aroma to be delicious, and the tobacco satisfying in a manly kind of way, that is to say strong but not brutal. The taste of virginia was really very good. It was also the first flake I smoked. At the end of eighteen tins I found I needed variety, and with all the emotional trauma of giving up a first love, went on to discover other tobaccos - and latakia. The remaining tins I kept giving away and thought my supply was exhausted. Recently, in the course of shifting house I found the last of those tins, thirty-six years old. The sealing was intact. On opening the tin, the aroma was considerably muted, and the tobacco had turned very dark. The moisture level was somewhat lower than in fresh tins. The taste was, if anything, even better than I remembered. I thoroughly enjoyed the tin. But it was a bit like meeting a former spouse: unexpectedly pleasant, but not temptation enough to go in for a second innings. Erinmore Flake is an excellent Virginia flake, the tin aroma is wonderful, the burning quality is perfect, the flavor and the tobacco taste is very rich, deep and delightful, the topping is fruity, original and unique; the casing is less sweet than the mixture version. This is another blend that I tried due to the reviews found here. I am lucky to have such a resource. This seems to be one of the "love it - hate it" blends. I'm much closer to "love it". While E.F. is cased, I do not consider this an aromatic. I find that the flavouring only plays a supporting role. My first tin (but hopefully not the last) states that it is Murray Sons & Co.-made in Northern Ireland. I am going to try to buy all of this vintage that I can. I am not sure what the "secret" recipe is, but I certainly hope that it was passed along to Orlik. After drying, I rub out these flakes, load, light, tamp, and ENJOY. The flavouring only compliments this high quality Va. tobacco. Strong, rich flavor. Excelant burn to the bottom of the bowl. I find that for a Virginia that there is no bight. I can find nothing not to like about this blend. If you are a Va. lover I think you will find Erinmore Flake to your likeing. I'm not sure this is the best blend I have ever fired up, but it is in my top 10. I give it I've been a piper more years than you'll ever get me to admit, but I've never come across another tobacco quite like Erinmore Flake. But just because it's odd, doesn't mean you won't like it. Look at me! But I digress. Point is, this is probably my desert island tobacco. This tobacco comes in nicely sized (in the 100g tin), dark, moist flakes. Too moist, really, but since it has no PG or other artificial humicants, I prefer it this way. By the time I get to the last few flakes in the tin, it's actually a little on the dry side. So it all evens out without me having to go through a bunch of gyrations to get the moisture content right. Come to think of it, maybe that's the reason this is my go-to tobacco. It's a no-brainer. Fold it and stuff it, or rub it out completely like I generally do. Shove it in the pipe, fire it up, and don't worry with it. It stays lit easily and doesn't bite when I forget and start puffing like a freight train. The "zone" for this tobacco is pretty wide. I have a meerschaum with a HUGE bowl. That's the one I usually load up with Erinmore. It'll last me at least an hour and a half of pure enjoyment. The only down side is the room note. My wife would MUCH prefer I smoked a vanilla/berry/whatever aromatic. But, at least I can smoke it in the house, unlike some English blends. I heartily recommend you try this stuff. And don't listen to the horror stories first. Make up your own mind. As for me, there'll never be a tobacco order without a few yellow tins in it. In my review of Erinmore Mixture I gave it two stars, saying that in reality it deserved one, but only for it´s tin aroma it was raised to two. The flake version is somewhat better. It really deserves the two stars. The only thing this two blends leave me thinking is how can something that looks so good and smells so good can be so disappointing? I have three tins left unopened (they were a gift). I will try to trade two and with the other one I will experiment in different combinations. I´m sure there must be a good use for this nice looking flake, as a condiment. I had been wanting to try this for some time, and finally bought a tin. I noticed that Lane Limited was the distributor for this batch, however the edge of the can says, Made in Northern Ireland by Murry and Sons. Belfast. I don't know the difference between The Orlic version vs the Murray version, but I really like this Erinmore Flake. It burns well, with a subtle taste I can't define. I did not detect any tongue bite, but I don't draw heavily when I smoke my pipes. The tin aroma is hard to describe as well. The room note is pleasant, and my overall opinion of this Flake Tobacco, is that I would definitely purchase this one again. As for the Orlic difference, I'll have to wait, till I actually get a-hold of the Orlic version, in order to give my opinion... Erinmore Flake is something of a legend in the tobacco industry, and a love/hate type of tobacco. There are no middle ground for this one... I do not find major differences since Orlik took on the manufacturing, besides the new shape of the flakes and maybe, I reckon, a new fragrance in the casing. But the overall aspect and result remain unaltered. EF is a very high quality aromatic flake! Inside a very conservative and delightful looking tin, the small rectangular flakes are wrapped in wax paper: the presentation could not be any better...and one is greeted by a licorice/anisette type of casing which is very pleasant. It seemed to be more of a citrus note in the past. The flakes vary in colour from dark to golden brown, in approximately even proportions. Lighting is rather easy, and the casing will be present with the virginia taste, but not overly so. Actually, from time to time,the flake has more of a natural tobacco taste than the cased one. The room note is very nice for the non smokers. It will get a little bit stronger past mid-bowl. I find EF to be an inspiring tobacco. Recommended. Info update 27 Sep 09 By the way, Orlik is NOT the current manufacturer of Erinmore flake. It's Peter Stokkebye. Check it out on their website. Update - 23 OCT 07 Hum, that's weird! Bought the flake recently, the flakes are now 2" X 1" instead of the 4" by 2" that it used to be; the bakkie now smells licorice/anisette instead of the citrussy pineapple aroma that my tobacconist said it was...And now, I just saw that Orlik blends it, not Murray & Sons anymore... Wow, what's going on? I think Orlik bought Dunhill also...and every time, the recipes are changed... The bakkie is still good, but not as much as when Murray did it... 13 JUL 07 Yes, the famous Erinmore recipe! Did you guys notice the pinneapple on the tin? Yes, my good men, it is there because Erinmore tobaccos are cased with that specific fruit aroma!!!!Don't get mislead by berries or whatever, it's pinneapple: this is unique in the pipe tobacco world, that is why either you love or hate that tobacco; usually those who like either the flake and/or the mixture get to a point where they do not smoke anything else...they're hooked on pinneapple ! Anyway, I personnally enjoy the flake very much, but I don't really get aroused by the mixture, I find it too mild. What I like about the flake is that it is from a range of light brown to dark brown with shades of black and from my experience, despite the fact that it does smell kind of fruity, but it varies from one tin to another, the taste is not that fruity but rather hearthy, full and it actually tastes like tobacco. I recommend the flake to be fullly rubbed prior to packing to facilitate a regular smoking and avoid freqent relightings, and do not pack it too tight or the casing will interfere with a successful smoking. The smoke does get stronger as you go through, but nothing dramatic. The finale is nice and usually smokes dry. And the room aroma is terrific, everybody's happy. My wife - the final judge at what is what in terms sceal of approvals- always smiles when she finds out I bought some Erinmore flake; it actually became among my favorites with Presbytarian and McClellland Oriental no. 14. I can't wait to start my new Blatter pipe with this tobacco ! So, guys, you may read as many reviews as you want about this tobacco, but you will never make up your mind unless you try this tobacco: and you must and shall, because this is a classic tobacco that every pipe smoker that respects himself must be able to say that he tried at least once. But you will either love it, or hate it, but you must smoke at least three pipefulls before you figure it out. personnally, I love the look of the tin: simple, no pretense, just unique. Update June 2007 Hmmm... I suspect that this flake also contains some Périque into it, because there is also a peppery taste under the fruity taste that is rather constant and blossoms when I pass the mid-bowl. What I forgot to say, also, is that from one tin to another, the pineapple smell will vary, sometimes dominant, sometimes more subtle, allowing a predominant VA/bakkie smell. But still an excellent tobacco. Highly recommended ! I was not sure what to expect when I purchased my first tin of Erinmore Flake.
Erinmore pipe tobacco is another great example of well mixed tobacco blends. This brand is made out of the famous Virginia tobacco and Cavendish mix.
Erinmore, pipe tobacco made the old fashioned way.Erinmore pipe tobacco is available in two varieties - flake and loose mixture - each of which is mat.
Erinmore Mixture Pipe Tobacco Erinmore Mixture - 100G. Sale Price: 18.44. SKU: Please note that the prices on tobacco products shown above.
- Name Brand Pipe Sale; Northern Briars in 3D; 10 discount on all Erinmore items. Erinmore Mixture How to Smoke a Tobacco Pipe;.
- Erinmore Flake is another icon in the pipe world. Much like Dunhills Nightcap this is a tin instantly recognizable by most well versed pipers.
- Erinmore mixture: a much maligned tobacco - particularly by those, like myself, who enjoy the occasional Erinmore flake. However, I have to place myself in the.
Erinmore - Erinmore Flake - Tobacco Reviews
Erinmore Tins Pipe Tobacco. When you speak of loyal following you need not look any further than Erinmore pipe tobacco. You will not find fans of any pipe tobacco.
Erinmore Pipe Tobacco
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ERINMORE Flake: The Leaf tobaccos for Erinmore are selected from only premium tobacco growing regions of the world. The blend consists of mature Virgi.
Erinmore Mixture is a combination of bright, sweet Virginia and a very special black Cavendish with a one-of-a-kind fruit top-note. This aromatic classic has been.