Former Straight Grain Flake

Summary: this is what most Virginia flakes hope to be when they grow up.

The bready note of the tin gives way to a thick, rich smoke within the flavor range of medium Virginias. It is both sweet and dark, a wonderful liminal sensation of being caught at the decision point between extremes. The leaf burns gently, with less bite than the usual Virginia flake, but delivers a strong enough smoke to remind you of the origins of this leaf. Flavors vary between the grainy sweet and nutty warmth of the best of this variety, but together form a honey-sweet but tangy mixture of tobaccos that delivers all that one might hope for as an experienced smoker.

I cellared 5 tins of this dated from 2005. The age has darkened the tobacco quite a bit. This comes across as a spicy VaPer with definite sour notes. I do not like it as much as the Former Cross Grain Flake, which is milder and sweeter, so I am going to let the remaining tins age for a couple of more years before trying it again.

This one gets an A for presentation. Beautiful mottled flakes arranged neatly and looking smart. Tin nose is overly fruity, kind of like raisin drenched in a sugary plum sauce. I smoked this stuff moist and dry, folded and rubbed, in meerschaum and briar. Whether the tin nose biased my taste buds, I can't say, but the experience was far from enjoyable.

Whatever casing is used seems to clash with the perique. From the match to the dottle, my tin smoked massively sour and unpleasant. I don't think perique itself is quite so fruity. And the "fruit" had a rancid taste to it. There appeared to be good quality virginia in the blend but the casing (I assume) was so intrusive that it covered the base tobacco like an overcoat. Perhaps I got a bad tin but I don't care to try again. Hopefully others will enjoy this more than I did, but based on my experiences, I would recommend looking elsewhere for a VaPer.

Suggested to me by a pipe shop owner when I inquired about a good Va/Pe. I was a little skeptical first because it seemed like he was just getting rid of old stock because I am new at this, but all skepticism was gone after the first bowl. When opening it, you get a heavy raisin smell, but none while smoking. It is easy to smoke and very flavorful. A fantastic balance between the two tobaccos. Just a great smoke. Highly recommended!

I really like this tobacco. It is a wonderful Virginia perique mixture. Upon opening the tin you are hit with pungent aroma of fine aged Virginia and a deep and I mean deep odor of prune/raisin. There seems to be an added flavoring to this blend and I would guess it is prune juice. I say that because the prune fragrance is very dominating. If I'm wrong on that point then the perique must be plentiful and of the highest caliber. This is similar to St. Bruno just a wee bit milder,however the main difference being Bruno is obviously very British and this is, well not. For those of you who smoke English made tobaccos you probably know where I'm coming from. Great smoke, great vaper. Come to think of it, this blend is an older brother to Royal Jersey Perique and a younger brother to St. Bruno flake. Highly Recommended.

I'm new to this reviewing tobaccos so bare with me. I've been smoking for 20 years and how these blends got by me I don't know. I find it very spicy with a sharp Raisin and plum. What I like the most is the musty almost "stinky" tones through my nose. It's definitely an all day smoke for me. I've gone through 2 tins in the last 72 hours. I'm will definitely buy a lot more to put up for later. I believe it will get better with time.

Unlike certain well-known people with no redeeming qualities who nonetheless attempt to dominate the public consciousness through the leasing of their already over-promoted name, Former actually does have talent and actually does produce quality work deserving of his reputation. This is why I thought it odd to find a blend with his name on it. A cheap marketing ploy? Does he actually smoke this stuff himself? I remain skeptical.

Otherwise, this blend is good. Maybe not deserving of the name we associate with some of the finest pipe craftmanship in the world, but not terrible. Perique people will very much like that the perique is very round, fruity, and forward in both tin aroma and flavor. The VAs are on the bright end of the spectrum and are frequently overshadowed by the PER. Slight topping too - nothing that steps forward, but there is definitely an additive that leaves "that" sour-dryness on the tongue. I agree with Jimijinks, I would not be surprised to learn of some small amount of Cavendish hidden in there somewhere.

The flakes are broad, as you'd find with Dan tobacco. Moisture is right, behaves very well. In all, not a YUGE, GREAT blend, but I'm not SAD I tried it!

I have highest respect for Former, his carving skills are undoubtedly superb. One would not judge of personal taste however, because that is subjective. This blend is a vaper indeed however it feels and taste young. Nevertheless it do taste good but just harsh around the edges. The flakes comes in the tin broken not ready rubbed and dry enough to pick and pack. Burns slow and relatively cool to fine ash, mildly sweet and it certainly have a casing of some sort (think erinmore vs grousemoor) but not as strong, more detectable in tin note, if thats off putting to you then be warned. Dan tobacco genre is typical just like any other manufacturer and if you like their flakes you will love this one because it is a refined version. It did not knock me out so it not heavy but then again that make it an all day puffer. Al janabi

these new-ish Former flakes....all of which are vapers technically, are excellent. This might be my favorite of the 3 though it depends on one's mood. This has a sweeter virginia base, but also one that has perhaps a touch darker and longer pressed blend of varietals. The amount of Perique is different, too. This one is sort of in between I suspect. But none of them have a LOT of Perique..

Since the closing of McClellands, good virgina flakes are hard to come by (and given the hysteria about hoarding coupled to the Feds new draconian rules). So this was a pleasant surprise. Reminds me of a bit more substantial Vintage by Fribourg & Treyer. That, plus a pinch of perique..or pinch and a half. Might be compared, too, to Solani 633...though this is a notch hardier. It is a stronger fuller version of cross grain flake, also by former. The fermentation is a bit heavier too. All around excellent