| Like Tantric, I agree that this is one of those quality Virginias that seems to be beyond the capacity of blenders these days. I do not know why...in fact surely it would be a profitable exercise for the recipe holders to revive them.
Anyway this tobacco was a sublime interpretation of the blenders art; deep and rich in flavour and a smooth joy to smoke. I say *was* because although I have 1 unopened tin left, I haven't managed in all these years to bring myself to break the seal and consume it! While it's here I suppose I can still anticipate the pleasure smoking it will give me.
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| I am glad this tobacco has now been included. In fact, I proposed that this one should be immediately admitted to the Hall of Fame (and was elated to learn GL Pease shared my view).
I tried this tobacco back in 1989. It was still available in specialized tobacconists in England. Together with BH's fuller Plug, and the Sullivan Powell English range, for a moment I was in heaven. OVF became a constant companion. Truly a tobacco for all seasons: warm and comforting through winter; invigorating in spring; fresh and cool in summer, and mellow in autumn. The taste was always pure, tarry and naturally sweet. Never a pretentious tobacco, it nevertheless came through as an elegant, refined and, if I may say so, eloquent smoke.
The only pure virginia I had previously smoked was Dunhill's Royal Yatch, and found it too strange. Eventually I discovered Dunhill's Light Flake--a beautiful Virginia tobacco, on the sweet side of things--and I used to alternate OVF, Plug and LF. Of the three OVF was my all time favorite, followed closely by Dunhill's.
When I returned from England in 199a OVF was scarce, expensive, almost an anecdote. I've never smoked it since. But I agree wholeheartedly with my fellow reviewers on the accolades to perhaps one of the three best straight Virginias ever made.
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