August 2008: Peter Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake

that Peter Stokkebye LNF. I've only smoked it but a couple times in my time, but I can remember it being something worthy of a "TOTM" label.

Well played August... well played.

I'll admit up front I'm not much of a Perique fan so read this with that in mind. About a year ago I was in love with this tobacco. Of late it has fallen from grace and now I seldom reach for it because as I said in the subject line its just hit or miss for me. When it hits its divine! When it misses its mediocre. I wish I could figure out if it were the pipe used or the size of the bowl or what have you, but truth to tell I see no pattern.

Speaking with the 'divine' times in mind: the VA component is wonderful in this blend. In fact I think that this is all that draws me to it (remember my opinion of perique). This VA is so very much like taking a stroll through a field on a sunny day and just reaching down to grab a handfull of hay stuffed into your bowl. Its so wonderful. There is a unique sweetness to the hay and its so enchanting that before you realize it the bowl is empty.

Speaking with the 'mediocre' times in mind: this is such a flat, go-nowhere blend. The nicotine level is medium. The VA is bland. The perique is evident in a very low percentage. At times its like smoking cardboard.

See what I mean ... I'm so confused by this blend. I wish all my bowls were of the 'divine' sort but way more than half are just 'mediocre'.

Lets discuss aging for a second. Someone on ASP sent me a couple of pounds of this stuff that he aged for over 4 years. He didn't age it right *doh*. He had it sealed in long term storage freezer plastic that had been vacuum sealed. Well, the seal never failed but the plastic breathed and the moisture level when I received it was about 90% dry. Even still some aging took place and I've got to tell you that this stuff ages really well. I'd love to try some that was aged properly. I have out of curiosity smoked two bowls back to back of this tobac. The first (which is normally the best for me) was the fresh stuff that I bought a few months ago. The second was the 4 year old stuff. Man was there a wonderful difference. Sweeter by far. The perique more pronounced (which I am surprised to say I actually enjoyed!). The flavor was all hay and prunes and almost a liquorish-like note.

So ... do I recommend this? Yes. For two reasons.
1. Its so inexpensive you just need to try it.
2. You need to age it so you can see how well some tobaccos age.

Ok ... its someone elses turn now. I'm done.

This is one of the few virginia's I really like

usually its smoked in a gbd dublin but it will smoke in any pipe

The taste is fantastic and it is smooth
The perique does not overpower the virginia and it is a satisfying smoke for me

I have 2pd in a jar that has aged a little over 6 months and it is sweeter than the new stuff I have out

You can't beat the price for a gret tasting tobacco

In Jan. I bought a pound. I had a few bowls and EH OK. I saved a few ounces in a small mason for tasting here and there. I put the rest in 2 mason jars, folding them and packing. I hope that it changes with time.I'm not saying it was bad, but wouldn't buy again as it came from the box. I like Best Brown and Chocolate flake much better. Will open a jar in a year.
Regards,
Dave

I actually have about 4 ounces or so of PSLNF in my tobacco cellar. Will also pull some of this out tonight and give it the once over. If memory serves, it was just a little too light for me, but I'll certainly give it another try.

I think it's a sturdy VA flake, the perique seems a bit light but I don't mind that aspect of it so much.

Smokeable, but pretty average and bland. I will finish the sample I got, but I doubt that I will ever get it again.

Meh.

that is exactly what I thought...but I am also waiting for some that is almost a year old...to see what it will be like then...though my next thought was: what can I mix this with. It seems like a perfect mixer for something that has a little difficult burning characteristics like Dark Star...or Mississippi Mud

Cheers,

Josh

I can't do better than Rick's description - great job. Perhaps to add the sweetness factor - it's mild for a navy flake. I've found this backy to be rather pipe insensitive - but I've been smoking it in fairly big-bowled pipes dedicated to Va or Burley blends. I don't find the inconsistency that Rick does. I guess PSLNF & McBaren NF are the 2 'working man's' navy flakes of choice. Certainly they are for the bulk buyer.

Is it the best blend I have ever smoked? Doesn't matter. When it graces my pipe it is a very comfortable smoke and I can't say it has ever disappointed me. The VA taste is grassy and hay like, it burns well folded or stuffed. Perique? Really could have fooled me, would not even classify it as a VA/Per and I think many try it expecting it to be. I have a pound at about 2 years old and what is open is almost gone. Once the opens are down I'll be opening one up and likely I will get another pound or so. I can't imagine it has declined.

There are far worse tobaccos out there.

I wonder how the Luxury NF compares to Orlik Golden Sliced? Is anybody willing to make an A-B test of the two weeds?

Cheers, Jesper

Has an even more pronounced hay flavor with a defined citrus flavor - no Perique. I prefer OGS, but PSLNF has a solid spot in my lineup.

OGS = great

PSLNF = not so great

Maybe not the detailed comparison of the two tobaccos that you were looking for, but it is that simple in my head. After smoking some more I will retract my earlier claim that I will consume the whole 1.5 ounces. I am not going to waste my time on this weed, no matter how inexpensive it is.

I have both
My ogs is a little more aged
the color seems very close ogs is just a little sweeter

LNF is stronger in taste probably because of the bit of perique

They smell almost exact to me

OGS may be just a bit smoother because it is aged

My choice would probably be LNF because of the stonger nic feeling

Both burn at about the same rate easy to light burns to the bottom of the bowl

All in all both are keepers in my storage

This may not be a great review but it's how they smoke for me

I'm surprised you find PSLNF more flavorful than OGS. I find OGS an absolute top shelf tobacco and would be satisfied if I never had any other tobacco. PSLNF? As I aready mentioned is hit or miss. When it misses, it really misses.

I suppose i like the perique in LNF a little more

OGS just seemed a little milder to me

Keep in mind I'm mostly a burley smoker
I like both but LNF does seem a littler more satysfying to me
My LNF is from a 2pounds box I bought
so it could be I got a good batch

Stokke-[bee] is probably the closest you'll get to how we say it in Denmark. I don't have a clue about phonetics, but there you go.

...Stoke-A-Bee

Crazy 'mericans

My best shot. But I have a New England accent.

the "kah" might also be "keh" ... Its real close the way I say it.

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Misha, I tried mixing 50% Rattrays Black VA with 50% PSLNF ... its really quite good. You're on to something there pal.

Every month I'm planning to participate actively into TOTM discussions but somehow I am too slow in forming the initial opinion. With PS LNF it's mostly because the tobacco does not have the catchy character. It is good, straightforward Virginia, a bit spicy but lacking deep tones. Between OGS (a piquant surprise expects an inquiring mind, which would follow this link ) and PS LNF I prefer the latter taste-wise but the first has the character. I can see myself revisiting OGS, while PS LNF is envisioned at most as a Guinea pig.

PS LNF turns out to be good for stoving. This brings low tones and the tobacco becomes promising although somewhat monodimensional. I would expect interesting results from mixing fifty-fifty stoved and nontreated versions with a pinch of Perique or a good measure of Orientals. Also, it would be interesting to play with mixing tobaccos stoved to different degrees and a tiny bit of Latakia to support the bass tones. Some day I will mess with it.

And, yeah, it's cheap. It makes me thinking that it has a noticeable percentage of a reconstituted tobacco. It would be interesting to know this for sure since if this is the case it would add a twist to the problem of aging.

Finally, I'm wondering how people pronounce Stokkebye? Stokke-[bai], Stokke-[bee] or Stokke-[bu]?

Update: Sorry, I've made the link more visible and it moved the post to the bottom.

This is the good idea. I'll see how PSLNF will cooperate with FVF and Marlin Flake (going to pop the tin in a few days).