Smokey? LOL, no really, pipe leaf is all over the place in terms of flavor.
Not like vape flavor, but rich and grassy, sweet and spicy, all depends on the mix and if there is any "topping" (aka flavor, usually vanilla, rum, etc).
Thats a really long conversation to discuss, but my favorite is just straight red Virginia thats been aged and/or stoved (heated).
Makes cigarettes taste like the ash tray, somehow actually worse than they already are.
If you smoked cigs and tried real pipe leaf, you'd be shocked at the difference.