“A limited offering from 4th Generation, Erik Stokkebye’s Small Batch Aged Virginia is comprised of a number of high-grade Virginia tobaccos which have been aged for a full decade before being hot pressed, sliced, and tumbled into ribbon form. Manufactured by Samuel Gawith in northern England, this robust blend of fully matured tobaccos is neatly presented in a collectible, special edition, humidor-style box.“- Description from smokingpipes.com

I bought some.

I was doing my usual window shopping at my favorite online tobacco retailer when I saw this special edition collaboration between Erik Stokkebye’s 4th Generation and Sam Gawith. There are a couple of things I really like, Sam Gawith Virginia’s and aged Virginia’s. I’ve never actually tried a 4th Generation product of any kind before this. When I read that this blend was comprised of a variety of Virginia leaf that had been aged for 10 years my interest was piqued. The $25 price tag was a bit of a deterrent and I couldn’t help but think that a majority of the cost was because of the somewhat gimmicky humidor style box. I didn’t buy it that day. The next day I was still interested. I checked back at my favorite retailer and it was sold out. At this point I believe I was being driven mostly by the fear of missing out. What if this tobacco was really something special and I’d never have a chance to try it. A quick Google search turned up my 2nd favorite retailer with the limited edition leaf in stock. I didn’t hesitate and snagged a box. When all was said and done I spent a total of $31.25 including shipping. That hurts to think about. Especially considering the fact that I once paid less than that for 8 and 10 year old tins of Union Square and Kajun Kake respectively. Anyway, moving on.

It arrived

I cut the tape on the cardboard shipping box and dug out the cellophane wrapped, cardboard sleeved, humidor box. Inside the box, wrapped in gold foiled paper, a dark brown, red, mahogany, mix of broken Flake and ribbon. I do have to say that to the eye, this stuff looks old. On the nose I’m met with the customary sweet hay and then a light bready molasses note. Moisture content is just north of where I normally like my Virginia’s but not quite as wet as a typical Gawith blend.

Before I had a chance to smoke any I went ahead an jarred it up because outside of the cellophane wrapper on the humidor box there is nothing sealed about the packaging.

I slightly rubbed out enough for a bowl in my $4 billiard and let it dry.

It took a light easily. Now at this point I wish I could wax eloquently about the depth and complexity of this blend but I can’t. It is delicious. It is rich and bready. But from start to finish that’s all. Rich, dark, bready Virginia. I think if you go into this expecting a natural sweetness and some complexity from the various types of leaf you will be disappointed. I do not think we can expect what 10 years does to quality Virginia in a tin or a jar to be mimicked and mirrored in leaf that has been aged for a decade and then processed. I think this is definitely a unique blend and a delicious blend. Do I feel like it was worth $17.85 a gram? I don’t today. I do however think that this is a solid Va and that a few years in a jar will do wonders for it and that it may be worth that price in a few years. I mean who really knows what happens when you age a leaf for a decade, process it into a broken flake/ribbon and then age it in a jar? Time will tell.