Post by atison on Dec 12, 2018 8:47:41 GMT -5
So I picked up a tin of SG FVF a week or two ago and was floored by the tin note upon opening. Smelled like a bag of dried raisins and dates. Was absolutely intoxicating. So much so I couldn't wait to fold and stuff a flake right away and enjoy all that greatness.
Well, anyone that knows this flake tobacco knows how that went. Way too wet, relights, harsh, where did that dried fruit note go, etc.
So I did some research and decided my method to tackle this one would be to dry the tin out for a day or two then rub the flakes out. Did that and was left with a pretty decent pile of much dryer ribbons with a few small chunks here or there. Loaded that back into the tin for another day of drying before I closed the tin back up ready for when I felt the itch to give it another try.
Today I made it a point to give it another go and boy am I glad I did. Still a little finicky to get going (my load method is gravity fill followed with a healthy wad stuffed on top until the draw is like soda through a straw) but once I did I only had an extra relight or two more than normal. It was pretty amazing though how you think it would be out then a few extra puffs would spring it back. Once I got into a good sip cadence the flavors started appearing. At first they were in the background pretty far but the Virginia sweetness was creeping in. Taste had an edge to it but as the bowl progressed it started mellowing out. Then about 1/4 in the bomb dropped and I was getting this incredible dried fruit, earthy and fragrant flavor that had me saying "wow" out loud on my commute. This is the flavor that I would get on occasion in a good cigar that had me chasing it. In a cigar this flavor would maybe represent 3-5% of the overall flavor you get and that was only in an occasional cigar. This bowl of FVF was deliver 60%+ on this wonderful note. There was still a bit of harshness to it though which was similar to a cigar that needed a good rest to mellow out. I can definitely see where aging this would do it wonders. Strip that bit of harshness away and amp up the mildly sweet dried fruit and I would be in heaven.
Just thought I would share my experience for anyone who has picked this one up and wondered what the fuss was about.
Well, anyone that knows this flake tobacco knows how that went. Way too wet, relights, harsh, where did that dried fruit note go, etc.
So I did some research and decided my method to tackle this one would be to dry the tin out for a day or two then rub the flakes out. Did that and was left with a pretty decent pile of much dryer ribbons with a few small chunks here or there. Loaded that back into the tin for another day of drying before I closed the tin back up ready for when I felt the itch to give it another try.
Today I made it a point to give it another go and boy am I glad I did. Still a little finicky to get going (my load method is gravity fill followed with a healthy wad stuffed on top until the draw is like soda through a straw) but once I did I only had an extra relight or two more than normal. It was pretty amazing though how you think it would be out then a few extra puffs would spring it back. Once I got into a good sip cadence the flavors started appearing. At first they were in the background pretty far but the Virginia sweetness was creeping in. Taste had an edge to it but as the bowl progressed it started mellowing out. Then about 1/4 in the bomb dropped and I was getting this incredible dried fruit, earthy and fragrant flavor that had me saying "wow" out loud on my commute. This is the flavor that I would get on occasion in a good cigar that had me chasing it. In a cigar this flavor would maybe represent 3-5% of the overall flavor you get and that was only in an occasional cigar. This bowl of FVF was deliver 60%+ on this wonderful note. There was still a bit of harshness to it though which was similar to a cigar that needed a good rest to mellow out. I can definitely see where aging this would do it wonders. Strip that bit of harshness away and amp up the mildly sweet dried fruit and I would be in heaven.
Just thought I would share my experience for anyone who has picked this one up and wondered what the fuss was about.
