AJ
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2012
- Messages
- 2,689
- Reaction score
- 3
Several years ago when I first tried FVF I was sorely disappointed because at that time I found it to be a one dimensional, overly wet, way too much trouble,and overly priced tobacco. The only redeeming quality I could find was that being a Virginia it held promise if allowed to age. The tin I had opened was from 2010 and I took the remaining flakes and stored them in a Mason Jar. A friend of mine here at home was placing a very large order for several blends to put into his cellar (this was in 2012) and wanted me to help increase his volume so he could get a better discount. For some reason I agreed and against my better judgement I ordered a dozen tins of FVF to stash away thinking I might be able to sell them if I decided I didn't want them and might actually make a couple of dollars profit. Last night I was scrounging around in my cellar and ran across the jar of 2010 FVF that I stashed years ago. I decided to open it up and have a go to see if aging had made any difference. WOW! What a difference! Upon opening the jar I was meet with the odor of dark fermenting fruit. I was thinking to myself that this has possibilities. The flakes were still very moist but I let them air dry for almost 30 minutes before taking one flake and broke it into pieces and stuffed them into my Hilson Upperten pipe. Even after drying for 30 minutes it still took awhile to get it lit but eventually I accomplished the deed and was rewarded with a very creamy semi-sweet tobacco taste that had just a bit of spice. There seemed to be other flavors that I couldn't identify but all of them were very good. There was a sufficient volume of smoke with each puff and each puff delivered and excellent rich tobacco flavor that could be savored. I tried to smoke it slowly and most of time I was successful but on occasion I'd push it a bit because it was so good. Even when it was pushed I didn't get any tongue bite. The semi-sweet notes were constant until the end. The spiciness was a little more pronounced toward the bottom of the bowl. The nicotine was satisfying and I'd say it was in the medium range. It required several relights but that happens with a lot of blends that I smoke so it's no problem to me. I've smoked a lot of aged tobacco but this is the first time I've smoked a tobacco that I really disliked when it was fresh and it has become one of the better tasting blends with age that I've ever smoked. I'm more than pleased that I've got a dozen tins from 2012 in my cellar becoming a fine blend that will give me many hours of pleasure starting next year. I don't understand all the hoopla around this bled a few years back because everyone was smoking it fresh. But with it having some age on it has become a noteworthy blend.
While smoking my second bowl of it last evening I went to Tobacco Reviews to see what others had written about this blend and I found one review by our Brother, Drums and Beer, that hit nail on the head. He was able to describe it with more detail than me and yet everything he wrote was what I was experiencing. So if you're interested in knowing in detail about the nuances of this fine blend then I suggest you go to his review and read it.Tobacco Reviews
I know this blend has been the subject of numerous reviews but I thought it rather significant that this was a blend that I really disliked when it was fresh but with almost six years of aging the change is remarkable. Maybe this will serve to encourage some of the newbies to give aging a try before they decide about a blend they didn't like at first.
AJ
While smoking my second bowl of it last evening I went to Tobacco Reviews to see what others had written about this blend and I found one review by our Brother, Drums and Beer, that hit nail on the head. He was able to describe it with more detail than me and yet everything he wrote was what I was experiencing. So if you're interested in knowing in detail about the nuances of this fine blend then I suggest you go to his review and read it.Tobacco Reviews
I know this blend has been the subject of numerous reviews but I thought it rather significant that this was a blend that I really disliked when it was fresh but with almost six years of aging the change is remarkable. Maybe this will serve to encourage some of the newbies to give aging a try before they decide about a blend they didn't like at first.
AJ