A SLEEPER VA !

[monbla256]

I opened a tin of Former's Cross Grain Flake that I got in my "bombardment" Friday evening and have to say, it is a SLEEPER !!  The blurb from the blender says: "A full bodied "sweet" traditional Flake tobacco prepared with only the finest grade of Virginia leaf with a pinch of Perique. Aged to perfection in order to bring out the best in this cool smoking, magnificent flake." and man they are not at all wrong !! It's not a Red Va based mixture but rather seems to be a flue cured Bright Va with a TINY,TINY  bit of  Perique added which really is almost non existant tatse wise with just a bit of peppery note way in the background with the Va's being the predominate note. NO burley or casing that I can discern, just some nice sweet Va's with the usual citrusy.hay notes one gets with good straight Vas. It's a sort of broken flake which rubs out well, lights easily and except for when I put the pipe down and let it go out would stay lit to the bottom if one smoked it un-interrupted as I don't !! And the concept of "bite" is NOWHERE to be found in this blend/mixture AT ALL !! Smokes cool. smooth and ends with a nice dry grey ash to the bottom !! I am IMPRESSED with it !! It's priced almost the same as my beloved RY so is reasonable IMHO. I will add that the bro who sent it to me had marked the tin 12/31/2010 so I can't say how a "fresh" tin would be as this one's got almost 4 years on it but I can't think it would be all that different. I HIGHLY recommend it !!  :twisted:

 

[DrT999]

I wonder if it's just a different cut of their Bird's Eye Flake? If so, then I would no doubt enjoy it. Taste-wise, it would then also be similar to Germain's Royal Jersey Perique (although that is a much finer cut, almost a shag).

 

[allyby]

It's nothing like Royal Jersey Perique, FCG is way better than that.

 

[mattia76]

I haven't had this in years, but Former Cross Grain is definitely a winner. A properly aged and prepared bowl is sweet and flavorful. The tins are cheap too!

 

[Big G]

Great review!
Bought some of the Former's Cross Grain Flake when it first came out in 2005 but stashed it away & never got to it.
After reading the glowing praises, I better dig it out from the depths of the cellar!

 

[Brewdude]

I've an unopened tin of this somewhere. Looks like I need to get a round tuit!



Cheers,

RR

 

[DrT999]

It's nothing like Royal Jersey Perique, FCG is way better than that.

Well, I did say that if it was like the Former Bird's Eye it would be similar to RJPerique. I opened my tin of Cross-Grain, and you're right -- nothing like the Bird's Eye/RJPer. Cross-Grain is much much darker than those bright mixtures. It's good, but for the summer, I would prefer the brighter/lighter blends.

 

[juanmedusa]

I went through a couple of tins of the straight grain flake awhile ago and thought it was a good valued sleeper. Perhaps, I should revisit and see if it's to my liking.

 

[monbla256]

I went through a couple of tins of the straight grain flake awhile ago and thought it was a good valued sleeper. Perhaps, I should revisit and see if it's to my liking.

My review was for the CROSS GRAIN FLAKE Do you mean that blend ?  :twisted: :twisted: