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
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 2005 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
This hand blended flake presents nicely prepared golden VA with lesser adds of red and brown. Tin moisture content, packing and lighting are fine and result in an even burning smoke in various bowl sizes. The room aroma is less objectionable than most other VA/Perique blends but this is problably due to the small contribution from the Perique that I really didn't even taste. Initially, in most pipes, I found the initial 1/4 rather harsh. However, with unusually slow puffing (for me), this blend smoothed out and a sweet VA tang resulted. Since Imperial yanked the plug on Capstans in the US and I never smoked them, I can't compare this blend to them. However, in my view, there are more enjoyable VA/Periques available that I would choose before this one.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 19, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
Small round tin filled with mostly light colored (with some darker leaf) flakes. Nice scent of Virginia tobacco and lemon ice tea in the tin. The flakes were a bit overmoist in the tin but broke apart easily for rubbing out and folded easily as well.
The first bowl was at tin moisture and, similar to just about every Virginia flake I've ever smoked, screamed for drying time. The smoke was steamy and overly sour, with no body or depth. My main problem with this one is that I could never get the tobacco "in the zone" with respect to moisture content. Too wet - see above. Too dry and it tasted better but that came with a bit of tongue sizzle. Not too terrible but enough to throw me off. As best I can figure, since I couldn't really get this one dialed in even after smoking the entire tin, this one is citrus first, but not to the extent that I felt like it was marinated in lemon juice. There was a hint of spice from the darker Virginias as well as some type of mild casing that I couldn't identify. The perique was more fruity and hard to target, as it was very light. It was sweet and mild and seemed very "Danish" in character (not sure who makes this). It was a pleasant but unmemorable smoke, and failed to excite. Might be good to try for someone preferring very lightly added perique with their citrusy Virginias. It just lacked that "heart of darkness" I prefer in Virginia-based blends.
The first bowl was at tin moisture and, similar to just about every Virginia flake I've ever smoked, screamed for drying time. The smoke was steamy and overly sour, with no body or depth. My main problem with this one is that I could never get the tobacco "in the zone" with respect to moisture content. Too wet - see above. Too dry and it tasted better but that came with a bit of tongue sizzle. Not too terrible but enough to throw me off. As best I can figure, since I couldn't really get this one dialed in even after smoking the entire tin, this one is citrus first, but not to the extent that I felt like it was marinated in lemon juice. There was a hint of spice from the darker Virginias as well as some type of mild casing that I couldn't identify. The perique was more fruity and hard to target, as it was very light. It was sweet and mild and seemed very "Danish" in character (not sure who makes this). It was a pleasant but unmemorable smoke, and failed to excite. Might be good to try for someone preferring very lightly added perique with their citrusy Virginias. It just lacked that "heart of darkness" I prefer in Virginia-based blends.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 08, 2010 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Very Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Meh. It just didn't speak to me. VERY hay forward. Not as deep, dark, and layered with flavors as I have come to prefer. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with it, but it left me flat.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 04, 2007 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
I tried this, mainly just to revisit Perique. I remember that I wasn't that big of a fan of Perique last time I tried it.
A nice blend, easy to smoke, but I guess I still prefer the lighter aromatics.
A nice blend, easy to smoke, but I guess I still prefer the lighter aromatics.
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