Aged FVF, wow

[64alex]

I was not very impressed with a fresh FVF sample I got last year so I put it in the jar. Today 1 year later I gave it another try. It started to develop the famous crystals, I properly dried and wow it was totally different. Mellow, delicious creamy smoke for 90 minutes in a Lepeltier clay pipe, no bite at all.
Now I am salivating thinking how it could be in few more years. So I decided I am going to get a plug (which should be even better than flakes for aging) and storing in a jar for few years. Problem is that life is too short so while waiting for the plug to mature I want to find some FVF or better FVP already aged. Question is what is the minimum age for FVF/FVP I should look to have an excellent smoke, 5, 10, 20 years? I know the more aged the better, but I think after a certain point the improvement becomes marginal. So should I look at 5, 10, 20 years aged?

 

[mikestanley]

I have a pound each of both FVF and Best Brown from 2006 and 2003 IIRC. I'm not in any hurry to open them. I know they will be just wonderful whenever I choose to open a jar. I love 20+ yr old Virginias.
Mike S.

 

[ashdigger]

To me 5-10 years is the sweet spot for FVF.

 

[mawnansmiff]

In my experience the tobacco sold in tins seems to have more age to it than that bought in bulk. It is also considerably darker in colour. Also as you mention crystals, often my tinned FVF is covered in them though I have yet to see crystals on the bulk output. This could of course be due to the different packing methods and have nothing to do with age.
FVF is my number one blend and I have at least one bowl a day. Compared to such 'greats' as Dark Star and Blackwoods it knocks them both into a cocked hat...so much flavour right from the initial light right to the bottom.
If you can lay your hands on a tin of 'Limited Edition Aged FVF' then go for it. This was tinned in 2014 after spending two years ageing at the plant. An exceptional smoke!
As for the plug version, well that is sublime...heaven in a pipe bowl :worship:
Being a straight Virginia I should imagine it will only improve the longer it's kept.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[sablebrush52]

According to GL Pease, the most dramatic change from aging occurs in the first 3-5 years. After that the change is incremental. Virginia should be good for a number of decades before it declines. Is aging an improvement? That's debatable. Aging changes flavors. Some like the flavor of aged tobaccos and view it as an improvement, others don't. It comes down to your preference from blend to blend.

 

[tozert]

I agree with Jay...the plug version is sublime. In fact I would choose a SG plug over SG flake any day, but the flakes are great for when you don't have the time for the extra preparation effort of a plug.

 

[mikestanley]

I bought a 7 oz. can of MaBaren Va#1 that was from the 1970 and one from the 1980's. Both had contents in absolutely perfect condition. Those older mylar bags really did the job, especially considering the bags have twist tie closures!They are both amazing but they seem equally so to my taste. The changes to me were a deepening of the flavor. A baked bread flavor on steriods. Its delicious.

Mike S.

 

[jefff]

Sometimes there is more to aging than just time. If you can ever get your hands on some of Copes Escudo It will be at least 65 years old.
It will also be vastly different tobacco than current production.

 

[ashdigger]

Jefff, exactly. The applies to 4 Nuns

 

[sablebrush52]

Sometimes there is more to aging than just time. If you can ever get your hands on some of Copes Escudo It will be at least 65 years old.
It will also be vastly different tobacco than current production.

Absolutely. The STG product is pretty good fresh but I prefer it with a few years on it. And the A & C Petersen made Escudo remains my favorite version. At least, the earlier producers used the Cope equipment and recipe. To the best of my knowledge, that's not the case with STG. And, different makers source their tobaccos differently, so a recipe doesn't guarantee same results.
The thing with ancient tobaccos is that they're a crapshoot. The contents of an ancient tin may be perfectly fine, zombie dust, wraiths, or sludge. Much depends on the conditions under which the tin was stored.

 

[cortezattic]

Alex, you may enjoy reading "Saving For A Rainy Day", by G.L. Pease.

 

[hawky454]

6 months

 

[bluegrasspipe]

Alex, you may enjoy reading "Saving For A Rainy Day", by G.L. Pease.

Cortez, thanks that was a great article by Greg Pease.