Red Flake, vintage 1983

Red Flake is an unflavored red Virginia blend from Charlotte's McCranie's tobacconist, produced from a single harvest. The 1983-stamped version is the flake batch made from that year's harvest; since it's tied to a single harvest, it was never remade once the batch sold out, though later years saw releases under the same name from other harvests. Today it's remembered only through tins remaining in private cellars.

Being an unflavored Virginia, the flavor comes from the leaf's own sugars; long aging brings out a round, creamy, vanilla-like line along with dried-fruit sweetness. Pressed into flake form, it burns slow and cool. Of interest to experienced smokers wanting to see how an aged single-varietal Virginia develops.