I smoked both the newer sample and the aged 7-yr sample out of my Savinelli Piazza Di Spagna Rustic 111 KS. I used my Peterson pipe lighter for both samples. I alternated days and wrote down notes from each session.
I rubbed out both flakes prior to smoking. The newer FVF needed about 6 hours of drying time after being rubbed out and was still a bit of a wee beast to get to stay lit. Once it took to the flame it burned clean, perhaps 2-3 relights total. The 7-yr aged I let dry for about 25-30 minutes, though I could have gotten away with almost no dry time at all. The aged to to the flame perfectly and needed...maybe one relight at most...and even then that was not the case for every bowl. It is very good news to see just how well an aged and more dried-with-time Sam Gawith smokes versus the just-out-of-the-tin rainstorm/flood of moisture.
The newer sample, and most all of the new FVF I've had, smells delicious...a cut above your average Virginia flake. Less young grass and hay smell and more sweet and nuance black tea notes. Robust, but not overpowering. The 7-yr aged smelled so good it's astounding! The newer cut smells great when held up to the nose, the aged bursts forth and fills the room with it's molasses and brown sugar scent. Taking the picture you see here, with the last of the flake I have left, filled the room as though I was eating a freshly baked confection.
I have had SG FVF before and like it very much. It has a pleasing leather/loam/almost clove taste to it that comes forward if you have the patience to sip and sample rather than puff away at. I smoked the newer sample sent and was once again reminded why I pick up a tin of this every now and again. It is a truly significant Virginia.
The aged samples were everything I love about FVF only amplified x10. This taste testing has ruined/enlightened me to just how beneficial aging tobacco can be. The 7-yr aged sang like crazy. The leather is not a well worn coat, aged leather to a softer note. The molasses is not so sharp and just a background lingering brown sugar warmth. The clove is almost cinnamon, the loam now a black earth hint of a note. It was a revelation for me, having smoked mostly newer tins mixed with a few 2-4 year old aged.
The newer flake had to be sipped carefully, but the aged flake could be puffed like a robust blend. Towards the end of the bowl I would almost challenge it to bite. Nothing. The smoothest Virginia smoke with the most flavor I have personally witnessed. I was aware their would be a change in the flake, but not prepared for such a vast difference in profile. Even my wife was over the moon for the room note on the aged. She said it was sweet and sugary. Talk about a two person crowd pleaser!
The newer flake took a bit of cajoling to burn clean down, but eventually did, whereas the aged flake burned clean and perfect grey ash to the very end. Comparable with the common Dunhill ribbon cut burn, surprisingly.
The aged SG FVF was so good that between puffs I found myself deeply inhaling the scent from the burning bowl...something i will do from time to time, but never with this much enjoyment.
Thank you so much Ashdigger! This was a wonderful thing you did for the forum and such a cool thing for me to have the chance to be part of. I really appreciate it. Rest assured I will be investing in a few slabs of FVF this Christmas to be put away for a longer haul than usual! I blame you...
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