Former Cross Grain Flake
(3.13)
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.
Details
| Brand | Former |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Perique |
| Contents | Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.13 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 21 - 24 of 24 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 01, 2012 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I have cellared 5 tins of this dated 2005. The tobacco had taken on a very dark tone with age, and has the classic VaPer sweetness. I like this one better than the Straight Grain Flake, which is definitely stronger (makes my head swim a bit) with sour notes. I am going to let the remaining tins age for at least another year before trying it again.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 13, 2011 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I used to smoke a lot of Capstan Medium, and this blend does have a very similar flavor and aroma. The Former's, however, seems less dark and less full-flavored than Capstan Medium, and it bites my tongue more than Capstan. In its favor, I'll say it is a sweet VaPer flake, mild to medium strength with pretty good room aroma. Overall, not bad, but not my beloved Capstan Medium.
Update: I've gotten to know this blend a bit better over the past week or so in a few different pipes and with a bit more air-time to it, and I like it a lot more than my initial smokes. It is "like" Capstan Medium but not exactly the same. But the "like" at the moment has my attention since I loved Capstan so much and can't get it here in the U.S. any more. So, because Cross Grain Flake is a decent smoke, I can give this at least three stars, and a fourth for capturing a bit of the Capstan essence.
Update: I've gotten to know this blend a bit better over the past week or so in a few different pipes and with a bit more air-time to it, and I like it a lot more than my initial smokes. It is "like" Capstan Medium but not exactly the same. But the "like" at the moment has my attention since I loved Capstan so much and can't get it here in the U.S. any more. So, because Cross Grain Flake is a decent smoke, I can give this at least three stars, and a fourth for capturing a bit of the Capstan essence.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 01, 2007 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
The tobacco is medium brown with some mottling and a little dry, perhaps. The round tin opens to reveal rectangular, navy slices that have a sweet, Virginia aroma with a touch of straw.
The tobacco lights with one match and the ash is a nice white. Initially, I get a distinct sweetness and slight spiciness that is so indicative of Virginia flake. The sweetness subsides some over the smoke but I do not get any "grassy" or straw-like flavors. I should note that I do not rub-out flakes during packing.
I think I like this better than Escudo which is probably the closest tobacco I can think of to this flake. It is certainly lighter than Escudo but along those lines. The perique does give the smoke some thickness that I enjoy more than with straight Virginia leaf.
The tobacco lights with one match and the ash is a nice white. Initially, I get a distinct sweetness and slight spiciness that is so indicative of Virginia flake. The sweetness subsides some over the smoke but I do not get any "grassy" or straw-like flavors. I should note that I do not rub-out flakes during packing.
I think I like this better than Escudo which is probably the closest tobacco I can think of to this flake. It is certainly lighter than Escudo but along those lines. The perique does give the smoke some thickness that I enjoy more than with straight Virginia leaf.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 16, 2006 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Wonderful flake-cut VA blend which I find to be very similar to Capstan Medium. (Smoked Capstan a few years ago, but this blend harkens to it very strongly.) Supposedly there is a slight casing which is the same used in that famous European blend that we unfortunately don't have access to here in the States. Nielsen does a great job with this blend, and it's a wonderful change to a move full-bodied VA blend than his Straight-Grain flake (which I also recommend). Flakes are perfect moisture in tin, not falling apart, but not goopy either. Room note keeps me sniffing the air, and is a pleasant smoke. I find it to be no harsher than any other common VAs I've smoked (I'm more of an English/Balkan smoker.) This blend now has a place in my cellar. If you liked Capstan Medium, and can't obtain it, I suggest you pick up a tin.
target="_blank"
