I see FVF more like a "house red" - it's the standard product SG produces from their crops of tobacco. Naturally, there are some variance year to year, after all the best tobacco you can find is the best tobacco you can find.
We've heard for years now, tobacco production is ever changing (read: shrinking) and becoming less and less profitable for more and more regions of the world. Naturally, somewhere down the line, the blends we used to love are changing as the world changes.
The last couple of years, FVF has definitely tasted younger, fresher/lighter, more grassy hay than the deep 'stewed fruist' it used to be. I haven't had any St James Flake since 2019, but I would bet you'd see similarities is how the flavor profiles have changed over the years.
We've heard for years now, tobacco production is ever changing (read: shrinking) and becoming less and less profitable for more and more regions of the world. Naturally, somewhere down the line, the blends we used to love are changing as the world changes.
The last couple of years, FVF has definitely tasted younger, fresher/lighter, more grassy hay than the deep 'stewed fruist' it used to be. I haven't had any St James Flake since 2019, but I would bet you'd see similarities is how the flavor profiles have changed over the years.