Full VA Flake
A couple of months ago I picked up 250 gm of Sam Gawith FVF. I have smoked several bowls and wanted to see what others in the cigar world think about this blend. It smokes very slowly. I tried this in my flake pipe but forget it I could not keep it lit and it burned forever. Now I rub it out and in my VA pipe that usually burns most blends around an hr. it takes 2 hrs. + to finish a bowl! The smoke falls into the medium category but the flavor is tremendous. I get sweet, creamy, earthy, leather, nutty tastes that move in and out playing off of each other. Just in the last couple of bowls I have notice on retro-haling that every once in a while (I mean very rarely) I pick up a scent that reminds me of a good butcher shop (in a good way). This happens so in frequently for a while I thought that I was imagining it but it is present now and then. I will be buying more of this.
The only downside to this is that it really should be smoked in a small bowl. When I have the 2+ hrs. to smoke I would rather have a cigar but if you enjoy pipes too and are looking for a change in profile from your normal go to cigar this might be a nice change of pace.
The only downside to this is that it really should be smoked in a small bowl. When I have the 2+ hrs. to smoke I would rather have a cigar but if you enjoy pipes too and are looking for a change in profile from your normal go to cigar this might be a nice change of pace.
Comments
I will have to try C&D's Opening Night. I do like their Briar Fox blend but have not got to Opening Night yet.
I use a pipe for my flakes that is a little deeper bowl. It allows me to fold the flake and still have a little room at the top when I stuff it in. Flakes that are just folded and stuffed tend to smoke cooler so basically you are just looking for a bowl that will be deep enough to take a flake and have enough room on top to add what has broken off and to have a little room below the rim. Flakes tend to puff up a little more on the false light than a ribbon or other cut would.
My VA pipe is for VA's that are not flakes or flakes that I want to break up. This too is a deep bowl but it is a little narrower than the the pipe I use for a full flake. I think the narrower chamber helps keep the smoke cooler and it is less likely to bite.
I think it is OK. It is a VA/Per and I think there are better ones out there but I will say that for the price it is a good smoke. You have to pay almost 50% or more to get a better VA/Per. The dried fruit is the perique, it is a little tangy too but I think this is from the VAs in it.