Watch City's "Old Dominion 25th Anniversary Edition Flake" (1.5 oz FINAL RUN)

This is a stunning tobacco made with very high quality leaf, and is distinct from the regular Old Dominion crumble cake. This 25th Anniversary edition has exemplary Virginias unlike most of what's being produced today, and just the right amount of quality Perique. The only thing I can compare this to is the Sutliff Cringle Flake releases. I enjoy this one more than those because here, the OD 25th has younger Virginias and I found the Cringle Flake to be good, but some of the slap n tickle I like had been aged out of the Virginias. This tobacco is worth buying some tins of to forget about for a few years.

Stay smoky

First, having smoked this right after smoking a bowl of Old Dominion in the hitherto and still available available bulk cake form, this is definitely a true flake. Both are top shelf VaPers, with this flake version being very slightly more Perique forward. Otherwise, both are characterized by a full flavor Virginia range thanks to a nice balance between Red and Bright Virginia’s, which might sound easy to pull off but isn’t.

I had tried a sample of 5 yr old Old Dominion and liked it so I ordered some of the 25th Anniversary, mostly to age. I opened a tin and was very pleasantly surprised. Most vapers I smoke are red Virginia based so this was different. It has a fair amount of complexity and enough perique to get your attention without taking the lead role. Enjoyed it fresh and really looking forward to trying it with a year or two of age.

I love VaPer’s. I am in a pipe forum and one of the members is the owner of Watch City. There was some buzz about the 25th anniversary blend of Old Dominion. So I ordered 2 tins. I opened one up yesterday for my post work pipe. I have a 1.5 hour drive. I was absolutely blown away. This is the VaPer I have been searching for. I opened the tin and stuck my nose in and got a musty sweaty gym bag smell. I knew it was the perique and picked up figs and prunes. I loosely rubbed out a flake and put it in the pipe about a medium pack. Did my initial light and got some sweetness not bright more of a brown sugar, molasses sweet not overwhelming. The relight I got that aged balance sweetness with a spicy background. If you have ever eaten a curry it’s not peppery it’s a different spice. It builds as you smoke but you know it is there. I have been searching for my perfect VaPer. I like escudo but it lacks the depth, I also like Carolina Red flake, from C&D but it’s more of a peppery off set by Virginias in your face pepper. 25th Anniversary Old Dominion has a depth that I cannot explain at this time. I’m going to have to smoke some more to figure out the nuances that I know are there. I would say it is a home run!

The matured red Virginia provides a lot of tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, some sugar, mild floralness, a couple pinches of spice and a light vinegar note. It takes a small lead. The aged bright Virginia offers a fair amount of tart and tangy citrus, bread, some grass, sugar, floralness, very sour lemon, light vegetation, spice, and a touch of acidity. It’s right behind the red Va. in terms of effect. The peppery perique produces an abundance of earth, wood, plums, some raisins, and light figs. It’s almost a supporting player. The strength, nic-hit and taste levels are medium. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. Has a few very light rough edges. The flakes are mildly moist, and easily break apart to suit your packing preference. No dry time is needed. They are most decidedly NOT crumble cake flakes. Burns cool, clean and a little slow with a deeply rich, very consistent, fruity, sugary, spicy, lightly sour, fermented flavor that extends to the pleasantly lingering after taste. Leaves little dampness in the bowl. Requires some relights. Has a pleasant room note. Despite it’s zesty punchiness, it can be an all day smoke. There are differences between this flake version and the regular Old Dominion product, which is a crumble cake. This manufacture has a deeper fermented fruity flavor, and is a little less sour. The red Va. is tad more obvious, and the perique is more potent. Has a little more sugar, too. This flake version is a little more well rounded, and a notch stronger. Five stars.

Really not a flake. It’s a slice of a crumble cake. That’s not bad in and of it’s self, but it’s nota flake. Smells good in the tin but just doesn’t hit the notes it’s supposed to from the description. It should lead with the Virginia. Ten the perique. Like an orchestral piece. But it doesn’t. It just bangs away and has no conductor.