Today I opened a tin of Former's Straight Grain Flake. It's a straight VA, and I've had this tin for 2 years and forgot about it until recently. It came at just the right moisture level. Rubbed it out a bit and stuffed it into my Hardcastle Old Bruyere 'dog, which seems to be made for 'ginny flakes.
Had a great smoke. This is clearly one of the lightest and mildest VA flakes I've had, even more so than say OGS. Still, nothing wrong with mild as long as it isn't bland which this certainly wasn't. Very delicate, slightly sweet, and a thoroughly enjoyable hour of smoking bliss.
Just finished smoking MacBaren Roll Cake in a 1979 black sandblasted medium bend Savinelli Non Pareil 9606 Billiard with a horn ferrule. Time to feed the cats and get a new smoke. Next is Peretti’s #333 in a slight bend 1984 Stanwell Antique 124 grain etched with a smooth front.