I cut this into cubes for smoking, as it didn't seem to work well for me any other way. I found it mildly tangy with a complex sweetness, but not the equal of BBF. Curious. It seemed to have the same depth, but something was missing. Naturally, I'm out of BBF so I couldn't do a comparison, and memory becomes habitually faulty over time. But this seemed more grassy as opposed to the lightly sweet oatmeal of BBF. But for all I know this is the same stuff and I'm imagining things! This is a very worthy blend that possesses a light natural sweetness, good complexity and an easy burn when cubed. Definitely deserving of a try.

The Kendal Plug I recently received from Byron Oost's store had already been transformed into a cube cut the night before so I was ready. I filled my favorite little Virginia pipe, compressed it a bit, and gave it three or four char lights to get an ember glowing. I was surprised by how mild this blend is. Maybe that's why BBF (Kendal Plug after getting sliced into flakes) was never in my top rotation. I never smoked it in the morning!

This tobacco seems to do best with a clean morning palate (not an evening mouth that has been corrupted by garlic or pork roast) and time to contemplate. Sweet, mild, slightly toasty at times, consistent all the way to the bottom, a totally pleasing, wonderful experience. Can't believe it took me this long to try Kendal Plug! By all means, grab some if you can.

Judging by the muted colors as well as the taste, this is a well-aged virginia, seemingly composed solely of brights, with a very rich and cane-sugary character, though somewhat lacking in complex ferment. The flavor is broad and expansive.

Kendal Plug is a very fine and patricianly aged cake, though Best Brown may be an easier way to enjoy this blend, unless the price differential is sufficiently attractive. This was best in narrow gauge chambers.

Much is made of how flake tobacco allows the smoker to control the smoking experience. Well, plug tobacco adds to that tenfold. This tobacco is likely best left to seasoned smokers, as newbies may have trouble balancing how to break it up into a size that allows them to keep it lit.

I ordered an 8oz portion of this densely pressed plug from 4Noggins, with high expectations and nervous anticipation. The presentation and novelty effect of this tobacco is amazing. It offers smokers and non smokers alike the chance to pick up and feel the tobacco, smell it and enjoy the aesthetics.

I cut a flake of this tobacco off using a sharp knife and wooden cutting board. The plug was harder than I expected and made up of larger portions of leaf. After slicing an adequate portion into small pieces with the knife, I rubbed it out well and stuffed it into my favourite flake pipe.

I found it a little hard to light initially, but once I learned to pack the smallest bits on top, I was okay from then on. Having figured this out, I was well rewarded with a medium bodied Virginia smoke, of about the same sweetness as best brown. Due to the denseness of the plug-this didn't rub out as easliy as best brown, however. Once lit, however, this provided such a slow smoke that it was amazing. Truly a unique smoking experience.

I would recommend a plug to any well seasoned smoker. This one certainly for lovers of medium Virginia's. I don't know if there's plug version of Full Virginia Flake, but if the folks at Samuel Gawith are listening-I'm ready to make an order!

My next order of this tobacco will be for 1 lb. I am curious about the other plugs in the Samuel Gawith line, but most seem to be aromatic, so I expect that this is the one that best suits me.

Meerschaum Man, smoking the Paul Fischer Rusticated Bent Bulldog Meerschaum.

On the char light- my game was forgotten. On came the nice sweet hay smell I so love about a good Virginia. Like new grass in a country field. Yet, this was much sweeter than any other I had tried prev. A nutty sweetness like honey roast walnuts. Rich like Mead on a fall day, strength is med to strong, and no bite. I was never one to believe there was a blend out there that come demand a daily position, But where has this blend been all my life!?

Did I really just say that?. I have smoked at least two bowls of this everyday since I got it. I received my first lb today in the mail. I bears noting that I have NEVER purchased a lb of ANY blend until this one. I jarred all but about 2 oz. When the 2 oz's nears the end, I shall order another lb and do it again. I can't imagine not having this around.

Now I'm not saying this is the only blend I shall smoke. But keep you eyes open, cause I will be lightening the cellar to make some room. Can't recomend this enough.

Bliss. A lot of relights...a little more drying may be needed. No adverse effects from relighting. Sweet Virginia with some very light caramel flavors mid-bowl, probably from some sugar applied as "adhesive" in the pressing process. Not too deep in the flavor department. "Medium" about sums it up. One (good) dimensional. Very light tamping.

Some work, but recommended for those willing to take ownership of the smoking experience. Two more pounds on the way. Would rate four stars, but the effort may not appeal to all smokers, and relights may be an issue.

There also seems to be some confusion under this tobacco's comments. Kendal Plug is not scented tobacco. I fear that those that wrote reviews here attributing the Lakeland scent soapy floral were either mistaking SG-KP for another tobacco - or their tobacconist slipped them the wrong one. In either case, KP doesn't reveal even the slightest hint of flavoring except the distant innuendo of cocoa and a most richly rewarding and unusually velvety VA sweet nuttiness.

Generally for me, I slice a flake width-sized plug and then slice a few days worth from that diminutive plug into flakes. My preference is to lightly rub out the flakes. The moisture content is a personal choice. I don't spend too much time drying or airing out as I do with many other tobaccos.

After a char light or two this fine VA goes right into the zone and continues to almost the last puff. It also isn't finicky like many other VA's that I also enjoy. I've yet to come up with a bad combination of packing, pipe or rubbing - with one exception. Since KP comes in a plug and retains its moisture very well in long term storage - I refrain from packing this tight. Just normal packing for me works best. Lightly tamping the ash only throughout the smoke a little more frequently keeps it burning cool and flavorful. Speaking of flavor - IMO this is the tastiest most well-behaved VA that I have ever enjoyed. And, while I also enjoy Oriental blends with and without Latakia too, this straight VA would be my desert aisle smoke, if I were forced to choose. It is one of the few tobaccos that I can smoke in succession without wishing for a change of pace. It is always satisfying and while I still have ample supplies of other VAs - I have more VA pipes devoted to KP than any other.

I find this to be unusually smooth, nutty sweet and surprisingly tasty even though its more homogeneous than complex. While I'm a fan of Lakeland flakes - this has none of the SG trademark scents. While I am under the impression that this is the plug form of SG Best Brown - I find this to be, darker, richer and more flavorful.

Also, I found that this does not require any special smoking technique in order to be thoroughly enjoyable. It doesn't mind a little aggression. It also is perfectly fine if you pick up a pipe half-smoked an hour or a day past which leads me to believe that the PH of this smoke is most ideal. This tobacco has NO bite, and because it burns so well and cleanly, it is a great pipe to coax the residual flavor from pipes that may have dedicated to topped flakes such as Ennerdale Flake or Grousemoor Plug that I also enjoy on occasion. Kendal Plug, however, as far as I have discerned, has no flavoring whatsoever that doesn't occur naturally in this blend of VA's.

some will find this tobacco difficult to slice, load, light and keep burning. so do i, but in spite of all that trouble, the reward in full, clean, sweet virginia taste more than compensates. and yes, it's clean. no soap here, no sweetener, no additives, no nothing but real tobacco, leaving a delightful after taste lingering in your mouth. as i said, it can be quite difficult to handle, but one in four pipefull is pure tobacco nirvana!

it is said to be exactly the same tobacco as "best brown flake". that may be, but it's got a deeper, more velvety mouth feel which is more akin to "full virginia flake".

a winner, and a favourite.

It started out being difficult to slice, dice, lock and load. It then was difficult to keep lit. It was then difficult to get past the initial wave of "Lakeland perfume," and it was difficult to to finish the entire bowl.

I will say this, I have friends who have palates that crave the Lakeland flavorings. I think this one will put them high in the clouds with joy.

And if I may offer just a bit of friendly advice, it helps to have a Ginsu knife handy to prepare this stuff. Or, a small buzz saw.

Appearance: A solid little block of tobacco, much like a pipe tobacco "Chunky bar." Ultimatley it rubbed out to reveal medium to dark brown strands.

Aroma: Freshly mowed grass, sweet wine vinegar, roses, raisins, dried cherries.

Taste: Very flavored/scented, but surprisingly well-balanced, which yields a mellow, mild-mannered demeanor. Gently nutty, mildly sweet, geranium flowers present throughout, cherrywood, faintly smoky, becoming stronger and heavier on the palate as the bowl progresses.

Comparisons: Similar to St. Bruno in its behavior, but with a gentler flowery sweetness.

Bottom Line: Only for Lakeland/scented flake lovers! And it takes an effort to cut up your own plug. If you like St. Bruno, but have always thought, "Gee I wish it was really flowery!" this will punch your ticket.