Samuel Gawith St. James Plug

Original review: 4-20-2015. The Virginia (which is the same used in FVF and FVP) is dark and stewed tangy, slight tart and vinegary, sugary dark fruit sweet, bready, light vegetative grass, tart and tangy citrusy, floral, woody, and very earthy as the lead component. The earthy, woody perique offers raisins, plum, and plenty of figs with some pepper as a supporting player. In comparing it the flake version, I find this is a little sweeter, a tad more well rounded, and the perique is a little more noticeable. The very consistent flavors overall have a little more depth, roundness, and smoothness than they do in the flake version. I figure that's caused by the processing and stoving, and the fact that tobaccos left in plug form will ferment more, often creating a sweeter flavor than when they cut into flakes, ribbon, cube, etc. It takes a little time to prepare the plug to whatever your preference of cut is. It does need some drying time fresh out of the box, but if you dry it completely, you lose a little of the flavor. The strength is medium, while the taste level is a couple of steps past that mark. The nic-hit is a couple of steps past the center of mild to medium. No chance of bite or harshness. It burns cool, clean and slow. Requires some relights, and you may have to stir up the tobacco at the bottom just a little, depending on how you prepare it for smoking. Leaves a little moisture in the bowl, but no dottle. Has a very pleasant, lightly lingering after taste, and room note. Can be an all day smoke. Four stars.

Update 9-6-2015: Having just smoked some year 2009 SJP, I noticed what grassiness is there has mostly vanished, save for a whisper. The sweetness is a little more deeply fermented than it already is and slightly diminishes the spice from the perique, though its other attributes seem lightly more noticeable. Smooth, smooth, smooth with a little spice and a continual deepening taste for the tongue to enjoy.

Update 1-13-2023. There are a few differences in the current production. There’s a greater variance of colors in the plug. Lighter grade Virginias have a higher presence, and the tart and tangy citrus and vegetative grass take a little of the lead. The sugary stewed dark fruit is a few steps less potent. The tangy dark fruit and stewed fruit are more of a condiment. The spice from the perique is a little milder though the fruit aspects are close to earlier versions, although this is a little less figgy. It’s a notch more floral. This has a little less flavor depth and body with a few more rough notes. The taste level is now medium. All other aspects of my original review remain the same. Three stars for the current production, and my ratings reflect that.

-JimInks