I'll keep it simple as it's a simple tobacco. The aroma is deep and rich, the taste mild and mellow. What a lovely, no nonsense tobacco.

Although I prefer more complex and interesting mixtures (Frog Morton, Erinmore Flake) I did really appreciate the authenticity of this flake. Recommended.

I always like to have a good whiff of a packet when I first open it and this one proved a leafy, oaky aroma with bizarre hints of green tea and raspberries. Good stuff so far. Packing and lighting, well, I always find these a bit of a pain when it comes to flakes, though that's probably down to me not taking due care and attention in my lust to get cracking with my smoke.

The smoke itself is knock out stuff. The flavour mixes a little oakiness with a good meaty flavour, almost that of a decent steak. The only mistake I made with this was packing my first pipeful to the brim and really had problems finishing it off due to the strength. Having seen the error of my ways, however, I have since filled the pipe half full, more than ample for a ruddy good smoke. The room note is nothing memorable but the lack of any tonguebite more than makes up.

On the whole, it is a little too strong, too potent, to be a regular fixture in my pipe but there is no doubt in my mind that this is an excellent quality tobacco that I am perfectly happy smoke when it is to hand.

For me this blend just produces too much oil during the smoke, a little disappointed.

Update: I mixed this 50-50 with Best Brown and found that both blends benefit from this union.

Update 2: I finally got the hang of this blend. Let it dry overnight in a large bowl. Then rubbed it out thoroughly. Well worth the effort. A delicious and cool smoking blend.

I have only been smoking a pipe regularly for about three months having first purchased my old Duncan Delta filter pipe 37 years ago at the tender age of 16. At that time I dabbled with Clan (as you would expect, what a disappointment when that lovely sweet room-smell wasn't replicated in my nose when smoking the stuff), Holland House, Three Nuns, St. Bruno, Erinmore Flake, and Tetley's loose tea when skint, only once. It has been used on and off over the years for the smoking of various herbs legal and otherwise and has now returned to its intended use as an incinerator of fine tobaccos.

Here we go then for my first simple comparison of two virginia heavyweights. The big picture for me is that the Dunhill Flake is much sweeter and milder than the Gawith's. It is better presented in smaller more regular flakes and is overall much more delicate, or dainty. This presentation in a smaller tin, full of smaller flakes, gives an impression that in comparison to the Gawith product in its larger tin full of big rough meaty flakes, you are being short-sold. Not being a sad enough person to weigh the net contents, I cannot confirm this and I am sure the effect is purely one of perception.

The Gawith flake is much moister in the tin and I find that it does need to be dried for an hour or so before smoking to avoid your pipe gurgling, tongue bite and bitterness. The Dunhill requires less drying and you have to work it hard to get any tongue-bite.

The Dunhill in the tin smells much sweeter and milder although the Gawith smells more complex and fruity, like dried apricot and raisin. Not yet possessing the olfactory skills of other reviewers I am not able to offer any more elaborate distinctions once the tobacco is alight.

Both tobaccos are highly enjoyable smokes. Of the two I prefer the Dunhill.

Update: 1/19/2012~Oh-oh it's magic! This stuff gets better and better with age...if you can stay away from it for awhile and let it alone ;-)

I think that FVF and Capstan are two of the best Va's in the market.