Drew Estate Gatsby Luxury Flake

This is just great tobacco. Calm, unhurried and flavor-full. I highly recommend anyone to give this a try. You will probably order more.

Drew Estate may be better known for their cigar line, but Gatsby Luxury Flake is a pipe smoker's tobacco through and through. I really liked this flake. First of all, this is some top notch Virginia I'd easily put on par with Orlik Golden Slices or Luxury Twist Flake, but it's got something about it that actually pleases the VA/Per side of my desires. It claims it is a Virginia and Burley (Cavendish) blend, but if I had to describe Gatsby in one word it would be "peppery", as in a nice Perique blend, especially in the retro-hale. No Perique? Huh? That's funny. Seriously, you're telling me there's no Perique in here?!? Anyway, I don't detect any fruity top note in the tin or the bowl at all, so don't let that warn you off trying this. What I smell in the tin is delicious sweet Virginia and the taste I get is like a spiced-up Escudo or Luxury Navy Flake. I can't give it five stars, I know there are better flakes out there, but at pipesandcigars.com's price it's a damn fine tobacco, one that should NOT be overlooked and one that could easily be enjoyed anytime by Virginia fans. And, if you're a VA/Per lover, you'll not only probably enjoy this too, it'll leave you scratching your head over how Drew Estate got such a great flavor without any Perique. One thing I'd warn you about, this flake is a bit different in presentation - it's actually a stack of long flakes folded over itself in the tin rather than the normal clean-cut flakes you're probably used to. I should have weighed it...it looked like a lot more than 1.75 oz. crammed in there. No bother really, it comes only slightly on the moist side and is easily broken up and smoke-able right out of the tin. Peppery, but bite-free and smooth as they come (probably thanks to the Burley). Great smoke.

5 stars for this delightful flake. I'm smoking it as I write. I highly recommend this to those of you who enjoy a flavorful rich and mellow Virginia/Cavendish blend.

Interesting in that it has a really complex and pleasing taste, but unfortunately, the room note and the residual smell that it leaves on clothes and mustache is just gross.

I spent couple years hunting down my favorite tobacco. I bought a tin of this and at first smoke I thought it had a interesting taste but wasn’t a bad smoke. My second smoke it blew my mind I could taste a nice sweet berry taste the taste just made me want to keep smoking and not stop. It is now my favorite pipe tobacco and will always have it in my rotation and will always keep it in stock. I highly recommend it. Has nice sweet berry taste only has a bite when smoking to fast it’s a slow smoking tobacco and that’s where the flavors go crazy.

The tobacco when it first comes out of the tin is a bit dry and almost dull in flavor. After a day or so of sitting in the humidor to rehydrate it becomes much easier to break apart and flavors come alive in the bowl and is much easier to keep lit. It's a cooler smoke so the bowl shouldn't get as hot (in my experience) after it's properly humidified. It has a very earthy flavor with grassy notes as well as some leather mixed in and is mild in strength and room note. The smell is pleasant and very light and will remain on your person as a good subtle cologne would. The smoke itself isn't harsh nor is the flavor. The nicotine strength is variable though this is definitely not a night time smoke in my opinion. It's more of a morning or day time smoke than anything. Results may vary.

Very nice tobacco to blend with others and too have by itself. Smooth and easy to pack your pipe with. I love that it's a good flake for the morning time and during your evening. Very nice to have on hand when you want a break from aromatic and English style tobacco.

So far, my favorite Virginia tobacco.

What a treat awesome

Never would've thought about buying this, got it as part of a P&C promotion and I love this stuff. Although it's Virginia-based, it has a wonderful burley-like nuttiness with a kind of burnt caramel/honey graham flavor, absolutely delightful. Best sipped, not guzzled. Will keep this on hand at all times and am looking forward to trying other Drew Estate blends.

Not a bad tobacco but nothing special. Not what I was expecting from a Virginia burley flake! Very moist and very little tin aroma. Not the taste that one usually has from a Virginia burley flake. Upon opening tin was one sold lump of tobacco. Have smoked one bowl and will let it dry out. Will retry and see if it gets better!

The title says it all.

Good stuff but I like John Cotton much more LAC Apollo Bch FL

Being new at pipe smoking, I am still trying to sample all the different types and blends of tobacco. Hadn't yet tried a mostly or all Virginia flake yet and ordered this because I was ordering a pipe and got free shipping on my order by throwing this in and it was on sale. Practically from the first puff I discovered the wonderful tangy, citrus, grassy, hay-like richness of Virginia flake and knew I found my preferred taste. Now ordering and sampling Virginia flakes in search of a value priced one for everyday smokes and supplement from time to time with this and other tins. But so far, this is my favorite tobacco and pairs awesome with a cold chalice of Stella Artois!

This is on my all time favorites list on the higher end of tabacoo list. I love the room note, my wife says it smells great, but still doesn't beat out her all time favorite for the room note. I find it to be a refreshing, relaxing, and cool smoke and could smoke it everyday if I couldl afford it. I do buy it and cellar it every chance I get epecially if it's on sale I stock up on it like crazy. I have no tongue bite, problems keeping it lit, and don't find it burning hot to the bowl touch. I would recommend it to anyone. I gave it a try and loved it. In my opinion can't go wrong with this one, and it will be hard to get off my top tobacco list. And I look for special occasions to break it out. Scouts Out

not to good russ blends a lot better

Just rekindled (pun intended) my interest in smoking pipes and am experimenting with different mixtures/styles. This one is great! Bought as a "free shipping" special and have now ordered two more tins!

As much as I enjoyed the taste and the aroma I am very disappointed in first the quanity (I know it's measured by the ounce, but I was very surprised it was less than 1/3 the can) and mainly the dryness. I don't think I've ever purchased such a dry tobacco before. It's so dry it crumbles into dust.

I bought this tobacco because P&C was offering free shipping on the entire order if a tin of Drew Estate was ordered. Well, Thank you, thank you, thank you P&C! I have found another very good baccy for my rotation collection. Excellent, very tasty, minimal to zero tongue bite, burns very well, and it tastes great with a Guinness Extra Stout. Thanks P&C.

I don't know what this stuff is made of, but it shouldn't be. It is unlike anything I have tried to smoke, and not in a good way. The taste is outright foul.

It pains me to write a bad review, as I am a big fan of Drew Estate. My absolute favorite cigar in the world is the Drew Estate Isla Del Sol, followed by Drew's discontinued Kahlua cigar from about 15 years ago. I have tried every Drew Estate cigar and never had any sort of complaint. I figured his pipe tobacco would be of the same caliber, and this was my first try at it. This has to be one of the worst pipe tobaccos I have had. Again, maybe I was expecting something different - but I guess that is the beauty of pipe tobacco that by trial and error you figure out what you don't like. I know I don't like this. When you open the tin, it has a bizarre smell - a very pungent raisin/prune smell, and maybe something like fermented orange - I found it to be quite unpleasant. Smoking it wasn't much better - I didn't get much of a flavor out of this, just a taste which I felt like gave me heartburn. I had it outside, so I couldn't tell you what the room note is - but it will be a while before I try this again. As I said, I may have been expecting something different - I thought that this would be as flavored as his cigars are - but it isn't. So if you are a cigar smoker, just know that this is not like his cigars. Just my two cents.

This was my first experience with flake tobacco. I very much enjoy the bright yet mild flavor. For me this is a nice smoke to have on a warm afternoon with the sun shining beautifully. Sweet, yet light and refreshing.

dried out and tasteless

Not as good as the other Drew Estate pipe tobaccos, but mild & tasty. For the price, it's highly acceptable.

This stuff was terrible. Ashy, dry , burly tasting without burly. Not aromatic whatsoever. Feels like I'm smoking tree bark powder mixed with nasty strong cigarettes. Sophisticated? Ha. Not even close. I'm at a loss for words at these high reviews.

This was my first Va flake tobacco and it is still one of my favorites. Flavorful, natural, a bit of nutty sweetness. A wonderful tobacco. Get a couple tins.

Look no further if you want to experience just about everything that a quality pipe tobacco can offer. All the way, from the ripened-apricot tin smell to the last puff of the bowl, Gatsby delivers flavor, richness, and true smoking enjoyment. The flakes are always perfectly pressed, ready to rub out, and after preparing and packing, the chamber stays burning cool and bright. Heaps of grass, hay, honey, and a subtle hint of pungent 'tar', reminiscent of a distant whiff of creosote from an old bed of railroad ties (some might think that's a strange description, but it's a mighty pleasant one for me). Extraordinary.

Drew Estate Gatsby Luxury Flake is a pleasure to smoke.

Excellent quality of products customer service to final delivery

On my second tin very good

First the good. The i opened the tin and the tabacco had a very nice smell with just a hint of fruityness to it. It was rather moist so i took it out of the tin and put it in a jar for a couple days. I broke up a bowls worth and smoked it in a Vauen churchwarden with a Dr. Perl Junior filter. It started out great and actually tasted exactly like it smelled when i first open the tin. Now the bad, about halfway through the bowl it started to get really wet to the point that i actually got tabacco juice in my mouth a couple times, I had to keep drying out the stem with a pipe cleaner. This was a very long churchwarden, a Vauen Auenland with a new filter in place, so for juice to make its way up the stem to my mouth is pretty crazy, I've never had that happen with any other tabacco with this pipe. If it was not for the wetness I would give this a 5. My hopes is that after letting it age in a jar for a while it may dry out a bit and make for a great smoke.

I have nothing bad to say about it. I like smoking it as a Virginia flake, but when it says there's a bit of Cavendish in the flake, I expected sweeter. I'd totally smoke it again, but expect a dry smoke, by flavor.

Smoking Gatsby Luxury Flake made me wonder if F. Scott Fitzgerald may have smoked it when writing The Great Gatsby. :) Seriously, this is a top notch tobacco which I will undoubtedly order more of.

Too sweet

Basically bought it to get free shipping on my order of blends I really like. Either way, I'm sure it's good.

As a dedicated Balkan smoker one in a while I need a change of pace. You can't eat steak every day. Most aromatics are too sweet and perfumey for my taste. This is mildly aromatic and if smoked slowly will not give you too much bite or nicotine hit.

Nice initial taste. Once I got hakf way through the bowl it started to taste like a cigarette. It's as if it lost it's flavor. So it gets a 3. Started out a 5, finished as a 1.

A fairly light bodied tobacco with a subtle sweetness that makes for a great smoke anytime don't hesitate to try it

This is right when you want something soft and sweet, with nuanced aromas.

Super ,unusual test

I wasn't expecting much from this tin as I only ordered it as it got my entire order free shipping. I was wrong. The Virginia and Cavendish are both equally distinguishable without overpowering one another. This has actually turned out to be my favorite tin out of my whole order. I'll be ordering more for sure.

I would give it a three. Everyone has different taste. I prefer the Peter S luxury flake. I think the Black House is excellent.

“Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope.” - The Great Gatsby. It wasn't anything I'll put in my regular rotation but the promo made the risk worth it. It's a simple cavendish with a very mild and earthy fruit topper.

Never thought I'd say "delicious" about a pipe tobacco. It satisfies, burns even and clean, leaves a nice room note and crumbles well. All stars.

Not bad. More of a VaPer fan

Excellent. No `bite` A smooth relaxing smoke.

Upon opening the tin, I was immediately taken aback by the almost sickeningly sweet smell, but once I filled a pipe and lit it, I was pleasantly surprised. This flake, straight out of the tin, had just the right moisture level. It took a charring light well, and the rest of the bowl burned very nicely. Once lit, the overly sweet smell disappeared and I was treated to a nice complex, satisfying smoke.

Good smoking stuff. Nice, mellow and rich

It is not bad. I found no wow factor in it. To me it is just plain straight tobacco.

I bought this due to a VaBur flake and I know of the quality Drew Estate puts out. In the tin, you see a large spun flake wrapped around itself. This right here will make it perfect to cellar and age. The tin note is figgy, nutty and grassy. Moisture right out of the tin is just about right. Lightly breaking it up and then doing the trusty fold and stuff helps nuance out the flavors of figs or plum and the sweet hay notes. Doesn't seem to bite and smokes cool and dry. Rubbed out is fantastic too. Smokes great in just about any pipe of mine(Savinelli Rusticated Shape 601 churchwarden, Baraccini Bent Apple, MM Country Gentleman). Try it out.

Fantastic smoke. Really mellow. No bite. Perfect moisture right out of the tin. Easily a blend that I would smoke all day.

This was the First Flake I have tried since Picking the Pipe Hobby back up, I used the Fold and Stuff Method, as this seems to let the Flavors really shine, I tried to Rub it Out and was Underwhelmed with the First Bowl, after stuffing a Larger Bowl, I really enjoyed the Smoke, fruity, smooth and No Bite..will buy this again,,good show P&C...

Flake Lovers: Give this one a try. It is particularly good as A first bowl in the morning.....and all day long afterwards.

As soon as I fired this stuff up I ran to my computer to order more. As a Virginia Flake lover this is truly the best tobacco I have tried: smooth, flavorful, mild, and long burning. I will keep this in my rotation on a regular basis. Great stuff!

to start off I will buy this again. Tasty and smooth another winner from Drew Estate

Very good smoke. Smoke slow and you are in for a sweet treat. Never bites, always lights quick and stays lit. Not a huge amount of complexity here, but we'll worth trying.

Scale is 1-5 with 5 being the highest (most favorable) Blend Name Gatsby Luxury Flake Type Non Aromatic Made By Drew Estate Purchased From Pipes and Cigars Date of Tasting 3/2/16 Weather Conditions on Date of Tasting Damp Date or Age of Blend Unknown Number of Days Opened 1 day Power or Intensity 3 Depth 3 Complexity 2 Balance of Flavors 4 Strength 4 Smoothness 4 Finesse 3 Richness 2 Sweetness 4 Pleasant Fruit 3 Pleasant Spice 5 Pleasant Tang High Point of Bowl Half Way Low Point of the Bowl 3rd Quarter Burns Cool 3 Sufficiently Dry 5 Tin Aroma Grassy, earthy, fresh Sidestream Aroma Mildly spicy, toast Room Note Pleasant Pipe Brand or Maker Saisini Grade or Model 4 dot Ruff Root Shape Half bent Shape of Chamber Concave Height of Chanber 1.5 Wall Thickness 8 Cake Composition Thickness 1 Engineering Good Draw A Bit Open Sufficiently Cool Smoking 4 Sufficiently Dry Smokiing 5 Overall Smoking QUALITY 4 Comments Field 1 Although this tobacco seems to rate low, it is a very fine example of a VA Flake. Stayed lit after 1st re-light. That has not been my experience with most tobaccos. Never "swabbed" the stem or shank during the entire smoke that lasted about 45 minutes. Comments Field 2 Some heat build up in the pipe itself that never seemed to transfer to my mouth OVERALL PERSONAL RATING 4 OVERALL RATING AS A TOBACCO 4 Rated By Deacon Bill

As a newly returned pipe smoker, I've been trying everything I can get my hands on. I've tried all of the Drew Estate flavors, and I really enjoy the Gatsby Luxury Flake. I get a hint of hay, and citrus. I also tried Orlik Golden Sliced and preferred this to that. The price is great, too (3 for 2)!

Love it. Has a great, subtle apricot note to it. Surprised it doesn't contain Perique. A wonderful smoke.

like beauty taste is also in the realm of the beholder. i like this great gatsby mix a lot........

I prefer the Villiger 1888 line.

This is a must try for all Virginia flake lovers. I am very impressed with the quality, taste, and it propensity to burn down to a nice ash. As always, P & C gets this stuff to you quickly.

Love this stuff. From the figgy smell when first opening the tin, to the smooth smoke top to bottom of the bowl. Warms up a cool night in a jiffy.

Drew estate Gatsby is a excellent smoke, I'm not a big Virginia fan but this is a great tasting smooth smoke. This will stay in my rotation. A++

This is a great smoke. I am not a huge fan of Virginia tobaccos, but this is one great smoke. Drew estates tobaccos are truly top notch....

This is a great flake! I am pleasantly surprised and with the flavor and quality of this tobacco. Truly a home run.