After two years are pipe smoking I still have many blends I am interested in trying but have yet to get to them. Some I own and I am just waiting to open and others I consider buying as I slowly learn what I like. The exploration of straight (or almost straight) Virginias has been very interesting as they are so variable. I just finished a tin of Old Gowrie so had space to open another Virginia for the rotation. The others I have open at the moment are OGS and C&D Opening Nights. OGS is not a favourite of mine, it is a solid smoke but I find I prefer fresh grass over dry hay in my Virginias. Opening Nights is good but a little harsh around the edges at times. I have ordered more tins of Opening Nights and plan on not smoking them for several years to see what happens. Old Gowrie has become my go to, Peter Stokkeybye Navy Flake is another winner for me and occasionally I like the tang of Christmas Cheer.
Yesterday I got around to opening a tin of Full Virginia Flake. I have had it for a year and half and it probably sat on a shelf in a shop in Toronto for a while before it made its way to me. From all I have read on here I was a little intimidated of this blend but I figured what they hell have I got to loose.
On opening the tin the first thing I noticed was some nice plume and an awesome smell. The flakes were moist but not wet. Certainly wetter than a lot of tobacco I smoke but whenever I wonder about things being too wet or too dry my motto is "shut up and smoke it, you can always change it next time around".
It looked so good I even took a picture
I roughly rubbed out a flake which was very springy and loaded up a sandblasted Peterson trinity straight billiard. It took a few attempts to get it properly alight but my-oh-my what a treat! The flavour was big, rich and well, full! I was amazed at the consistency of taste throughout the bowl, it is a pretty small pipe and it seemed to last forever. There were a few relights along the way but I never hit a point that it was annoying or troublesome in any way. I was left with very little dottle and the understanding that there is a whole other world of Virginia's that I need to explore.
So my question is what straight (or almost straight) Virginias compare to FVF in terms of rich, smooth and full flavour?
Yesterday I got around to opening a tin of Full Virginia Flake. I have had it for a year and half and it probably sat on a shelf in a shop in Toronto for a while before it made its way to me. From all I have read on here I was a little intimidated of this blend but I figured what they hell have I got to loose.
On opening the tin the first thing I noticed was some nice plume and an awesome smell. The flakes were moist but not wet. Certainly wetter than a lot of tobacco I smoke but whenever I wonder about things being too wet or too dry my motto is "shut up and smoke it, you can always change it next time around".
It looked so good I even took a picture
I roughly rubbed out a flake which was very springy and loaded up a sandblasted Peterson trinity straight billiard. It took a few attempts to get it properly alight but my-oh-my what a treat! The flavour was big, rich and well, full! I was amazed at the consistency of taste throughout the bowl, it is a pretty small pipe and it seemed to last forever. There were a few relights along the way but I never hit a point that it was annoying or troublesome in any way. I was left with very little dottle and the understanding that there is a whole other world of Virginia's that I need to explore.
So my question is what straight (or almost straight) Virginias compare to FVF in terms of rich, smooth and full flavour?
