Samuel Gawith Spring Time Flake

(3.50)
Virginias and a touch of perique matured in old sherry barrels, this Springtime flake combines the natural, subtle sweetness of the former with the spice and sherry flavor of the latter; like all the Four Seasons mixtures, it's a labor of love, and the cooperation between Samuel Gawith and Dr. Josef Stanislav.
Notes: This is the same as Irish Spring Flake, though the packaging is different. Please submit reviews for this blend under Samuel Gawith's Irish Spring Flake.

Details

Brand Samuel Gawith
Series Four Seasons
Blended By Stanislaw & Samuel Gawith
Manufactured By Samuel Gawith
Blend Type Virginia/Perique
Contents Perique, Virginia
Flavoring Sherry, Spices
Cut Flake
Packaging 50 grams tin
Country United Kingdom
Production Currently available

Profile

Strength
Mild to Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Very Mild
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

3.50 / 4
5

5

0

0

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 23, 2015 Mild to Medium Very Mild Medium Pleasant
I opened the tin to a small number of extra large flakes, each flake being nearly 2" x 4". The flakes are mostly light in color with some darker browns in the mix. The tin note is of honey and oats, like the smell of Honey Nut Cheerios without the nutty scent. I laid the flakes out to dry for a bit. As has been noted, the moisture content is not normal for SG flakes and they may require as little as an hour of drying time to be at correct moisture for smoking. Of course that depends on your individual moisture preference. The length is just a tad bit too long for a traditional half pint mason jar. I cut the flakes in half across the grain to fit them in the jar.

I packed a flake or two slightly loose, using a fold 'n stuff method, with a little rubbed out on top for kindling. The charring light brings a distinct sweetness to your palate. The true and first puffs continue with the honey-like sweetness and bring in black pepper in both taste and spicyness. The tobacco burns easier than most traditional SG flakes. Cadence is important, this can get hot and bite a little. Through the first third the two flavors continue to fight each other, sweet vs pepper until about midway. The pepper spicyness, but not flavor, settles down about halfway through and the flavors begin to meld together with the sweetness being a constant throughout. In the last third a new flavor I have trouble describing comes into play, and having reread the description above I think it may have been the Sherry which I completely forgot about! Overall the flavor was in the medium range. I found the nic level to be slightly under medium. I did post a mild flavoring, as most pipe tobacco is treated somewhat, and while this is not a heavily cased or topped blend, the honey sweetness is most likely from some type of treatment. It really is quite an interesting smoke with good potential.
Pipe Used: Grant's Tanshell(Dunhill sub brand)
PurchasedFrom: smokingpipes
Age When Smoked: 6 months
5 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 08, 2017 Mild to Medium Very Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
A limited edition blend means since you find it you should purchase it with no second thoughts!this is my first out of four blends from the series°the tin appearance prepares you for something fresh and unique like spring time!when you crack the tin a light sherry topping accompanied with citrus and spicy grass notes comes out.the flakes are mostly semi broken and rub out very easily.the moisture is ok.my advise is not to dry them out because the flavours seem to flatten.lights with some effort and several relights are needed.while smoking there is only pleasure.the main player is the virginias wich i think are the same with golden glow.fresh fruits,citruses,lots of grass and some earth notes are mixed very well each other.the perique is in the backround in a spicy way and very rare some sour notes come out.the topping was absent while smoking,though present in the room note wich is pleasant.the nicotine level is almost medium.burns cool, a bit fast with some moisture being created to total ash.no tongue bite appeared.this is a really decent blend that can be smoked all day.totally a must try!!
Age When Smoked: Rubbed and packed at once
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 19, 2022 Mild to Medium Mild Medium Tolerable to Strong
Tin note sweet and spicy slightly musty. Thick cut flake needs some rubbing out and some drying time. This tobacco is outstanding sweetness and spiciness with just a hint of the sherry flavor . It packs very will and will last a long time if smoked with a light cadence. Very complex flavors and the topping is just perfect, not too much but still lightly noticeable. This is one of the best Vapers I have had that has added toppings. the nic hit is medium. Strength is medium as well. Burns very evenly. Great smoke for sitting and relaxing.
Pipe Used: Modified Peterson with condenser
PurchasedFrom: friend gift
Age When Smoked: gift not sure but aged a bit
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 04, 2019 Mild to Medium Very Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
At first I was a little dubious of the SG Stanislaw four seasons series. However after enjoying the winter time flake so much I decided to give the rest a try.

This Spring time flake is pretty much what I was expecting. Dried hay and grass on the nose, supporting the broad mainly lightly coloured flakes. The flakes a little broken are much drier than I expected, but this is a pleasant surprise and they break up and pack OK with a little brittleness. On the first light this tobacco reminds me a little of a Kendal flake, but as I progress through the bowl the toppings only come through lightly and the Virginia and Perique quickly shine tussling with each other playfully through the smoke.

This is a unique smoke and is indeed very well suited to the spring, and I would say summer also. At points I even gets notes of the fresh dandelions that appear on the label, and could see this accompanying me well to the beach.

Overall this is an enjoyable smoke. I'm not sure I enjoy it quite as much as some other Vapers, and therefor don't see myself getting any of this for the cellar, but I will continue to enjoy it and could see myself buying it again in the future as this seems pretty redly available here in Japan.
Pipe Used: Cob
PurchasedFrom: Local B&M
Age When Smoked: Fresh
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Feb 12, 2016 Mild Very Mild Mild Pleasant
Nicely prepared 2"x4" flakes just about fill the tin and are flexible enough for my fold and pack technique. I think the sweetness must come from a honey like topping and am not sure if the spice is from an additive or the perique. Overall, a nice mild smoke as the weather warms up. With care, smokes cool and evenly without relights.
Pipe Used: various bowl sizes
PurchasedFrom: pipes & cigars.com
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 26, 2022 Mild to Medium Mild Mild to Medium Tolerable
SPRING TIME FLAKE: Another one of the Four Seasons series. According to the name something to smoke during the spring. Well, it’s ideal for spring time, but it’s good all year round. This flake is not entirely natural. I mean it is not only Virginia and Perique. I do not detect casing, but there is an evident topping with chocolate and sherry. It is not bad, but in my personal taste I prefer a pure, straight Virginia/Perique, without any flavoring. Anyway, the tobacco is of an excellent quality: Virginia is sweet and slightly aromatic. Perique is spicy with an evident pepper note. As always Virginia and Perique marry perfectly and, as everyone knows, this is a winning combination. All in all, a good flake, fresh, peppery and tasty. In my personal rating system (from 1 to 10) my score is 8 and three stars.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 09, 2020 Mild Mild Mild to Medium Unnoticeable
Same notes as for: Samuel Gawith - Irish Spring Flake (Four Seasons)

Big surprise. I have tried all from Four season series and left Irish Spring at the end. As VA/Per is not for me. Guys I did not notice Perique at all. For someone it could be negative effect. I appreciated sweetness without additional spices, tobacco was grassy, sweet with a bit tone of flowers. For piper focusing on straight VA. This is must try staff.
Pipe Used: BPK, MM cob
PurchasedFrom: etrafika.cz
Age When Smoked: 1 year
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 09, 2019 Mild Extremely Mild Mild Pleasant
3rdguy

Out of the blue this came up for sale during the most recent Samuel Gawith drop. None of the other 3 blends from this 4 season offering came up to my knowledge. All 4 however are readily available overseas and are still in production.

My flakes came almost perfect in moisture to my surprise. Nice citrus tin note. I rub these out fairly well, similar to how Old Gowrie comes.Takes a few lights to get going. Perique is barely present but it is there. You can get a long smoke out of 1 or 2 flakes as they come nice and wide in the tin. To really pull the most flavor out of this blend I retrohale frequently. I did not detect any sherry myself. Burned well with zero bite.

A solid smoke with high quality leaf. I went through my tin fast. However as hard as it is to come by I won’t kill myself to find more with so many great VaPers out there.
Pipe Used: Meer, cobs.
Age When Smoked: Fresh
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 10, 2018 Medium None Detected Medium to Full Very Pleasant
Fantastic. One of the best if you like virginia perique blends. The sherry note is not dominant. No artificial flavours. An extremely spicy and addictive tobacco. Hard to get though but worth every cent. Its spicy sweet and of the highest quality. Very very highly recommended. No bite, no moisture build up and comes in the tin as very dry broken flakes. No prep required. Just load a bowl and smoke. Amazing stuff.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 11, 2016 Mild to Medium Extremely Mild Medium to Full Very Pleasant
The tin aroma reminded me of John Aylesbury "Sir John's Flake Virginia". Citrus and grass notes and perhaps a little of sherry. I did not notice any of the perique in the tin aroma. This did not need any drying. The moisture content of the flakes was perfect. I used a half rubbed out half fold and stuffed method. Initially the taste was of a good virginia without anything else of note. However, during the first quarter some black pepper and a light shitake mushroom taste came in to play. The perique had started to find its way through. From the end of the first quarter through the rest of the bowl the perique took more of a prominent flavor creating a chewy smoke with black pepper/shitake with the virginia still in play. The room note was very pleasant throughout. This tobacco was an absolute wonderful smoke and excellent vaper.
Pipe Used: Briar
Age When Smoked: 3 to 4 years
1 person found this review helpful.
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