Cringle Flake 2021

[sablebrush52]

Having been binging on G&H since the drop I decided it was a good idea to change it up. I reached for a tin of Cringle Flake 2021. When I bought it last November I like it a lot, but wasn't blown away by it like I was CF 2020. Still, what the heck, why not?

As I recall the tin I had last year, the flavors were very good, though I didn't experience the pungency of matured red Virginia that I had enjoy with the 2020 edition, and there was a bit of a floral note to the 20 yo Virginias used in this edition.

Four months in the tin has really changed this blend. The floralness is gone and the pungent stewed fruit accompanied by the plummy fruitiness of the vintage Perique has exploded. This is a truly great smoke and I only whish I had bought a lot more tins of it. Cringle Flake 2021 has developed great depth of flavor. If you like a matured Red Va/Per you will be hard pressed to improve on this one. If you haven't smoked a tin since last year, do yourself a favor and pop open a tin. It's a whole new day!

 

[sandollars]

Good to know! I still have 2020 and 2021 in the cellar. Maybe I will crack one open. I don't have a VaPer open right now.

 

[musicman]

Great review! I’m still working through my first tin (Living in Ohio rather than Arizona has definitely put a damper on my winter smoking habits) and it’s a fantastic smoke. I think that even though the Virginias are mature it will only get better with age.

 

[tfdickson]

Having been binging on G&H since the drop I decided it was a good idea to change it up. I reached for a tin of Cringle Flake 2021. When I bought it last November I like it a lot, but wasn't blown away by it like I was CF 2020. Still, what the heck, why not?

As I recall the tin I had last year, the flavors were very good, though I didn't experience the pungency of matured red Virginia that I had enjoy with the 2020 edition, and there was a bit of a floral note to the 20 yo Virginias used in this edition.

Four months in the tin has really changed this blend. The floralness is gone and the pungent stewed fruit accompanied by the plummy fruitiness of the vintage Perique has exploded. This is a truly great smoke and I only whish I had bought a lot more tins of it. Cringle Flake 2021 has developed great depth of flavor. If you like a matured Red Va/Per you will be hard pressed to improve on this one. If you haven't smoked a tin since last year, do yourself a favor and pop open a tin. It's a whole new day!

I agree, 2021 Cringle is an absolute masterpiece. I thought 2020 Cringle was amazing, still do, but to my tastes it is much more heavy on the stoved component. That stoved component is there in the 2021 version, just not nearly as dominant and the result strikes me as a good deal more complex. That old perique turned up in a few blends from at least 2 different blenders but 2021 Cringle was the best of them, at least to my taste.

 

[hawky454]

That’s good to hear! I look forward to trying it when the time comes. I’m currently working my way through my first tin of Cringle Flake 2020 and I’m very impressed.

 

[musicman]

I agree, 2021 Cringle is an absolute masterpiece. I thought 2020 Cringle was amazing, still do, but to my tastes it is much more heavy on the stoved component. That stoved component is there in the 2021 version, just not nearly as dominant and the result strikes me as a good deal more complex. That old perique turned up in a few blends from at least 2 different blenders but 2021 Cringle was the best of them, at least to my taste.

Well put. I disagree with the last point, but that's just a matter of taste. My absolute favorite smoke that used that perique was C and D's XX Flake. A top 5 blend for me. And a one time release like Cringle 2020 and 2021.

 

[Papamique]

That aged tobacco really is deep in smooth flavor and I too am not regretting getting those Cringle releases. It is a rare treat indeed.

 

[boston]

Having been binging on G&H since the drop I decided it was a good idea to change it up. I reached for a tin of Cringle Flake 2021. When I bought it last November I like it a lot, but wasn't blown away by it like I was CF 2020. Still, what the heck, why not?

As I recall the tin I had last year, the flavors were very good, though I didn't experience the pungency of matured red Virginia that I had enjoy with the 2020 edition, and there was a bit of a floral note to the 20 yo Virginias used in this edition.

Four months in the tin has really changed this blend. The floralness is gone and the pungent stewed fruit accompanied by the plummy fruitiness of the vintage Perique has exploded. This is a truly great smoke and I only whish I had bought a lot more tins of it. Cringle Flake 2021 has developed great depth of flavor. If you like a matured Red Va/Per you will be hard pressed to improve on this one. If you haven't smoked a tin since last year, do yourself a favor and pop open a tin. It's a whole new day!

I only got 5 tins.... sounds like I missed an opportunity not getting more! Have not tried it yet, gifted one. Oh well...

 

[Sir Yak]

I scored a tin as a freebie on a Christmas special from a small retailer last year. I’d never tried any of the CF releases. I brought the tin with me to the mountains of North Carolina on spring break. I’ve had a couple bowls and it is VERY good. I think I like this sort of blend more than I thought I would.

 

[pantsBoots]

I opened a tin of the 2020 recently and was surprised at how much more the blend had married together compared to the first one I opened upon receipt. I'm still working through the first tin of 2021, but haven't checked in on it in more than a month - need to see how it's coming along. After first taste, I'm glad I went deep on the 2021.

 

[Peter Turbo]

ill smoke some later and see how its coming along, i wasnt a big fan and liked 2020 a lot more.

 

[Brewfan]

I though CF21 was a masterpiece immediately, now I'm really excited about the 5 tins I have remaining.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I thought the stuff was pretty good indeed. Thanks Jesse. ?️

 

[kcghost]

Maybe my reluctance to buy over priced tobacco may have betrayed me on this occasion.

 

[JimInks]

Jesse is correct.

 

[hawky454]

Maybe my reluctance to buy over priced tobacco may have betrayed me on this occasion.

Just curious how you came to the conclusion that this was over priced tobacco? 20 year old VA’s and what, 19 year old Perique? I’d say the price was more than fair.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Having been binging on G&H since the drop I decided it was a good idea to change it up. I reached for a tin of Cringle Flake 2021. When I bought it last November I like it a lot, but wasn't blown away by it like I was CF 2020. Still, what the heck, why not?

As I recall the tin I had last year, the flavors were very good, though I didn't experience the pungency of matured red Virginia that I had enjoy with the 2020 edition, and there was a bit of a floral note to the 20 yo Virginias used in this edition.

Four months in the tin has really changed this blend. The floralness is gone and the pungent stewed fruit accompanied by the plummy fruitiness of the vintage Perique has exploded. This is a truly great smoke and I only whish I had bought a lot more tins of it. Cringle Flake 2021 has developed great depth of flavor. If you like a matured Red Va/Per you will be hard pressed to improve on this one. If you haven't smoked a tin since last year, do yourself a favor and pop open a tin. It's a whole new day!

Glad I clicked! I tried some when I got it and although I'm not all that experienced, I never gave the tin a second look when choosing something to try after that which isn't the case with many other blends. If Iowa beats Rutgers I'm digging out my Christmas pipe and packing it sort of ala Red Auerbach.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Pic says it all!

 

[JimInks]

Maybe my reluctance to buy over priced tobacco may have betrayed me on this occasion.

When Jesse and I discussed this on the phone the other night, both of us had reached the same conclusion on the 2021 CF. In my experience, it's the fastest aging VaPer I've ever had. There was no way to know that in advance, and in my case, I had a can of it before the release date.

 

[spicy_boiii]

Music to my ears Jesse, I bought the 2021 at the last second, hoping for exactly as you posted.

Love the 2020, after trying it from fresh up till now, it's definitely melded and improved, and I'm optimistic it will continue to do so.

Sounds like there's reason to be optimistic about the 2021 aging well too.