I opened a tin of this from '09 a couple months ago, and it was nothing like what you described.

It was so good that I smoked nada but that tin until it was gone (something I just don't do).

It had a hay and slight must smell, as well as sweet. It tasted like good VA tobacco, but it tasted a bit "darker" and richer. I attributed that to it being toasted. There was a slight sweet flavor in the background that sometimes got stronger and was honeyish.

I really liked it and bought more, but haven't opened any of the new tins yet. Yer description has me worried about the new tins. Maybe they changed the recipe, maybe age changes it radically, maybe you just got a "bad" tin?