Samuel Gawith's Full Virginia Flake

[rickpal14]

You are right It's not hard to find if you know where to look dnietosi. I picked up 2 boxes earlier today. They had 3 more left and am now kicking myself for not getting them. I will be calling first thing in the morning to add them to my order.
+1 on Opening Night rothnh!

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Opening Night will have a spot in my next tobacco order.

It's funny, I have about 3 or 4 "test" tobaccos on the go at any point in time. These are blends that I have bought to see if they make the cut to cellar a bunch. Opening night was in the most recent batch, as was Night Train and Red Carpet. To me, trying new blends is one of the most enjoyable parts of the hobby.
As I said, I haven't yet cracked Opening Night. Night Train was first up and I have to say I am really enjoying that stuff. Just cracked Red Carpet last night and some more testing is required but I think it may not make the grade.

 

[dnietosi]

Experiment is over. Tonight's smoke was fantastic and it actually tasted different. I have to confess that I did not believe that rubbing instead of cube cutting will make a difference. Well, it did. I wouldnt be able to say which one I do prefer thought.
I still have some trouble getting the bottom of my bowl to work. I guess I need to improve my packing, I truly hate when I pack to tight and the draw is not very smooth, and I m guessing too that is part of the problem, I end up packing to lose.
Anyways, I m definitely getting more of this stuff in my next TAD and some Opening Night too.

 

[flyguy]

I enjoy FVF. In fact, I am smoking some fresh stuff now. I have found enough to last me a good long while and am looking forward to see if this stuff gets better with age. I wish Stonehaven was as easy to find as FVF!

 

[reflectingdane]

Jason: I will definately try to do that, though it is still my absolute favourite tobacco when fresh
Thankyou all for the information, I take in everything

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Peck, I saw you posted that you finally popped a tin of Sunday Picnic.
Is the jury still out?

Hey Roth - I think Sunday picnic is great stuff and I do plan to put some tins in the cellar. I have a tin of red carpet open now - a C&D flake with izmir. I like Sunday Picnic much better. Thanks for recommending Sunday Picnic.

 

[dnietosi]

Peck I was looking at your cellar in tobaccocellar.com. Man! You have more FVF than all other users together or what? Quick question, how long does is say in your cellar that it is going to last you? :P

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Peck I was looking at your cellar in tobaccocellar.com. Man! You have more FVF than all other users together or what? Quick question, how long does is say in your cellar that it is going to last you?

That function doesn't work for me. The reason is that I only enter into the tobaccocellar program stuff that I have put away in the cellar and I actually haven't used any of it yet, so it has no way to calculate how long it will last. If I get 20 tins in, I may put 19 in the cellar (and enter them in the program) - the other tin goes in my drawer for current usage. Right now I have about 7 pounds in the current usage drawer which has never hit the cellar.
I haven't done the math but I assume I have enough for the rest of my days and probably longer. I am sure I have some stuff that I will probably never smoke as my tastes evolve. I am more of a flake smoker now so, for example, I will probably be getting rid of a lot of my latakia blends but I am in no rush to do so.

 

[cigrmaster]

I enjoy FVF very much in certain pipes. I finally figured this blend out after some experimenting. It is a tasty Virginia that will not bite. In regards to finding it, never had a problem. I have 10 pounds put away to age and another half a pound for smoking. My only issue with it now is the time required to dry it out, here in Florida it takes me a good 1-1.5 hours sitting out when my house is closed up and the AC is running. When it is winter and my house is wide open, it can take over 2 hours depending on how humid it is outside.

 

[kcvet67]

I think Sunday picnic is great stuff

You might also like Sunset Harbor Flake.

 

[gottagotogrow]

I smoke FVF mostly in a cob, no problems ever. It stays consistently sweet and meaty (for a Virginia) and has low nic content. Once a person gets over the "finickiness" of how to smoke it and when, it delivers. I have had a ten year old tin of this once that lost it's sharp that au jus/soy sauce taste. It was memorably smooth but had zero of that spicy tangy kick. I prefer five years or less. Fresh is even fine if you can work around the moisture problems. Too dry and it really loses alot. This will be a flake I will smoke as long as I smoke pipes.

 

[unfinished]

FVF must be cased with something, uncased tobacco do not taste like that. From the bag, it smells of sweet honey on herbal tea leaves, a hint of dried figs and hay. When burning, I sense sweet dried fruits mixed with Virginia.
Also, some people have claimed it has a strong nicotine content, it seems to be a normal amount, on par with many tobacco. It bites me too often, even when crispy dry.
4noggins have 250g boxes/$32 for sale again, get them before they're gone!

 

[unfinished]

I need to smoke them extra slow for a pleasurable experience. It taste slightly sweet, slightly flowery and fruity.
Good thing is, you can always detect a tobacco background while sniffing/from the bag it, burning/smelling it or smoking/tasting it.

 

[rogermugs]

it takes me two to three full days of lid-off drying... and then it's the best durn thing in the world. in my mouth. in the world.

 

[hotshot]

Well, I'm new to FVF, had my first bowl earlier this afternoon. I should have let it dry longer than I did. Way too moist, but even at that, it was a great tasting smoke. I think I will be a fan, after I learn it's intricacies. I'm actually new to non-aromatic Virginia's, so it's a learning process. I'm smoking a bowl of Briar Fox right now and really enjoying it. It is a much dryer tobacco.
BTW, I rubbed out my FVF and think that will be the way I prepare this. Also, another question- It seems to me that the FVF and the Briar Fox smokes wetter? I seem to have some pipe gurgle when smoking these non-aromatics? Is that a normal thing? Haven't noticed that in the aromatics, well at least not as much.
I appreciate all the info on this forum. Totally awesome. God bless.

 

[hotshot]

The jury is still out on the Virginia's with me. I like the taste, but getting used to smoking this tobacco is a challenge. It tends to be very easily "hot boxed" plus there is a lot of moisture from the tobacco. I think it's just getting used to smoking it slower, but for me it's a challenge to keep it burning and not burning too hot? Suggestions? I've also been spoiled to Hilands Cigars, Black Gold (Aromatic). It's good.

 

[cortezattic]

I dry out the whole flake with a low velocity hot air blower, and then rub it out really well.

I enjoy it immensely, but I readily admit that it's a lot of trouble -- being that it is hard to find and pricey to boot.

After all is said and done Mac Baren Old Dark Fired is, to my mind, as good or better (altho a bit different).

 

[hotshot]

Thank each of you for your comments. I've never tried the Virginia's until this round of trying three different. I love the taste, but not sure the extra work is worth it.... but alas, I assure you, it won't go to waste.... It will be smoked and enjoyed. Just learning how to deal with it better and ya'll are helping. Thanks and God bless.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Virginias are tricky. They have a very subtle taste, and you have to be attuned to these subtle nuances. Now that I am acclimated to the subtle favors, all of the Latakias and aros are like going from enjoying unsweetened tea to Jolly Ranchers, too pungent on my tongue.
They are for very slow smoking techniques. I don't expect to be finished with my smallest bowl size for under an hour. But, I love the delicate shift in flavors the bring about as they stove in the pipe, and that fresh herb aftertaste, and the flavors they leave on my teeth for the day.
I like FVF fully dried out and crunchy, so that it just crumbles in my fingers when I rub it out. You can also cube cut it for a different flavor profile, or try to fold and stuff. My issue with folding and stuffing is that they really never burn evenly for me, and you can't tamp them without causing airflow issues.
I suggest also trying Astley's 109. It is partially ready rubbed, and has all of those delicate flavors that I love in a light Virginia. It tends not to bite, but still, if you rush or puff it, your not going to get the same flavors as if you just let the pipe smoke itself and just passively enjoy the smoke.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Nice necro-bump by the way. It was nice of you not to start a whole new thread on this, plus it was good to re-read the banter from some missing friends. I wish these gentlemen would get more active again.