Samuel Gawith's Full Virginia Flake

[reflectingdane]

Very moist out of the tin, but I actually like that now, after I have gotten to know it. Different sized small flakes, pretty dark in appearance and a lovly earthy smell. Easy to rub out and let airdry for 10-15 minutes and fill the bowl with, just remember to pack relatively loose b/c of the moisture. Smokes very cool for a straight virginia, with very minimal bite and dense white smoke. No problem burning despite the moisture. Tastres very "earthy", I'm not good at describing the taste, but just delicious earthy virginia. It has become my favorite tobacco to date, no doubt. I completely understand the hype now that I have tried it.
Hope you can use this

 

[reflectingdane]

Thankyou too. I am trying to participate on the forum. It could be nice to know others with the same hobby, I only know myself.

 

[salewis]

I smoke several Virginia Flakes and FVF has been one of my favorites for a long time. It needs to be dried since out of the tin it is too moist. With a little drying time it delivers a full bodied smoke that never bites and is not too high in vitamin N. Whether rubbed out, folded or somewhere in between is never fails to satisfy.

 

[reflectingdane]

I completely agree with you salewis especially that it doesn't bite for a virginia

 

[jbbaldwin]

+Love+ FVF. Needs some drying, but I don't find it to be the persnickety flake some folks do. The effort it takes is rewarded in flavor, to me, at least.

 

[rhogg]

I love this tobacco. I have to dry it a bit before I smoke. Smoking it moist seems to deaden the flavor. It could be the way I smoke it, but out of the tin it is damn near lifeless to me. 20 minutes on a plate after being rubbed out it transform into a rich journey I try not to inhale.

 

[lordnoble]

I love FVF, but let me say this... A fresh (less than a year old) tin is a fetid, hot, steamy mess in comparison to one that has at least a year's worth of age on it, IMHO. I have several which are coming up on 3 years old and I'm always adding to the cellar when I see a tin. In a few years, I will have some wonderfully aged FVF. If you enjoy it fresh, save a tin for a year down the road. The difference will amaze you.
-Jason

 

[rickpal14]

I am also a fan of FVF!! Just picked up a pound for the cellar this morning actually. Jason is right ...... If you like it now try an aged tin when you can..... Mmmmmmmm

 

[dnietosi]

I cube-cut some this morning to have tonight when I get home. Yummy!
:puffpipe:

 

[rhogg]

I have always been confused about aging of sealed tins. In a hermetically sealed environment I don't see how much change could happen. I think that it does not change until I open and re-jar it.

 

[ohin3]

It changes a good deal in the tin. I have a few 9 year old tins left and they are worlds apart from the fresh tins. Any rough edges and sharp notes are rounded off. The earth and cocoa elements persist but any spicy elements calm down and you get a bit more maduro cocoa and caramel sweetness. I find the biggest changes occur and 3, 5 and so far 9 years of aging. The 9 year old tins I own are just soft cool sweet cocoa and earth.

 

[rhogg]

Perfect example is with fvf.... I have never seen plume on a freshly opened tin, but re-jar and put away for 6 months and their is plume all over the flakes. I know it isn't mold. Mold does not look like crystals before the conjecture begins.

 

[rhogg]

May not improve it but it is a sure sign of change, and one I have not seen in a freshly opened tin.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

FVF is the Ferrari of Flakes. And like any high performance machine, it is only for skilled drivers. Some crash and burn and wrongly attribute it to the car rather than the driver. These are the folks who drive Toyota Camrys and think there is nothing better.
:rofl:

 

[doctorthoss]

If you love FVF, let me make a suggestion for the next stop on the VA highway: Opening Night from Cornell & Diehl. It's a straight VA broken flake that, IMO, is qualitatively at least as good as FVF with the added asset of being easy to get. The trick is to make sure that you're smoking from a tin at least 6 months old.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I just bought some opening night a couple of weeks ago to try. Will fire it up at the 6 month mark.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

My opening night tin is dated Jan/13 so it's getting close.

 

[matchstickman]

dochirross, few will, unforunatelky, take note of your suggestion here.
How sad that Opening Night is lost on the radar while everybody is chasing FVF.

You dont have to twist my arm too hard to try out a tobacco I havent tried yet. Opening Night will have a spot in my next tobacco order. Thanks for the suggestions doctorthoss.

 

[dnietosi]

My cube cut smoke tonight was delicious, at least till the rain screw me over. I decided to do a little experiment myself and do some rubbing tonight for tomorrows smoke. Maybe I will try it to fold it the next day. I m finishing my "open" jar thought!... and only have one tin in the safe. I might need to suffer a TAD, some Opening night will fall in the bag.
::
I dont think FVF is soooooo hard to get. Peck seems to find it easy :nana:

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I dont think FVF is soooooo hard to get. Peck seems to find it easy

yeah, I don't get this either. I have never had any problem finding the stuff either.