Samuel Gawith 1792 Flake

I'm really into my flakes at the moment. The last two flakes of Sam's house I've tried (Firedance and Full Virginia) were incredible, and are bound to be in my rotation for many, many years to come. This though is a disappointment. It smells just like a pet shop. Tastes quite like one too.

Well I don't know what all the fuss was about with this flake.

After reading the reviews for weeks I finally managed to get a sample of this stuff. So, with a degree of trepidation, I rubbed this into a pipe.

I thought it was going to be a heavy old smoke, somewhat similar to Squadron Leader. It wasn't quite as hideous as that. In fact I was surprised at how mild it was.

I was expecting all these flavours. Something called a tonquin bean was being talked about.

I'm still none the wiser. I have no idea what tonquin is let alone what it tastes like. This flake is just tasteless.

And here's me thinking it would leave a strong aroma in my lounge. It didn't. No-one commented at all.

I agree with the previous reviewer - what a bugger to keep alight. Glad I don't have a tin to shift.

So, what a damp squib this one was.

Wow, what a strange one? I received my tin about 9 months ago, tobacco was so wet I couldn't light it, the paper inside the tin was stained brown from the wet topping. I began the drying process and after 2 weeks the tobacco was so dry I couldn't rub out the flakes, so I rehydrated. My first pipe was a cob, and the taste was so unusual ( vanilla and Chinese 5 Spice) from the tonquin I couldn't finish it. The odd taste seemed to stay with me for days after,... sickening. Well, I resealed the tin and reopened it after 9 months. Being a glutton for punishment , I tried a second pipe full...., sickening. I'll be giving this away to someone I don't like.

Let me start off by saying that I am a fan of most Samuel Gawith tobacco. However, this is the most fowl smelling and tasting tobacco I've ever had.

I can't believe there are people reviewing this and claiming that the flavoring is "mild". This stuff is about 97% flavoring and 3% tobacco taste. I can't put my finger on the taste itself but it smells like old cheap perfume, anise and dirty wet quilts.

I attempted to smoke two bowls of this but after 20-30 puffs, I ended up dumping the bowls and tossing out the tin. I also did a salt treatment on my pipe to get rid of the nasty stank. If I were stranded on a desert island and this was the only tobacco available, I would quit pipe smoking.

I loaded the bowl of favorite old pipe of mine ( a GBD Bronze Velvet Bulldog) and put match to tobacco. In over thirty years of pipe smoking I don't think I've had ever tasted anything quite like 1792. I pray I never do again.

I think I've ruined my pipe.

Tonquin is a strange and eerie flavor. At first light, it starts out smooth and almost minty, then turns in a taste I can barely describe, kind of like leather smells. It is a very dominating flavor and a little less than enjoyable. The nicotine is trememdous. I could feel it punch me on a full stomach. It turned into a black sludge at the bottom of my pipe. I'm glad I got this as a sample from a friend, because I wouldn't spend my money on it.

This stuff is as foul as anything I have ever encountered. It should have been named, "Smell My Finger".

Who said 'no casing?' This stuff REEKS of artificial chocolate-mint flavor goop on opening. I tried it straight from the can & couldn't get 1/2 way through. Opened the can for a week & let it dry to toast-like consistency and found it much less 'aromatic.' Altogether a better mild, one-dimensional but cool-smoking flake. I hesitate to call it a Va because it lacks the sweetness or freshness I am used to in such flakes. Being cheap, I will probably smoke it now that the phony candy aroma is gone, but cannot recommend.

08/31/07 This 200 year old blend from the fine folks at Samuel Gawith sure does smell odd in the tin and you better believe it tastes just as odd as it smells.I was hoping the Tonquin would burn off so I could get a better taste of the tobacco,but no such luck.

The dark flakes are very moist and I cant seem to get it into a dry enough state to light easily,and the amount of relights it takes to keep this burning is not worth the effort.Not as strong as the various ropes or Irish flake,but still a potent smoke.

So I apologize to all of the 1792 fanatics,but I personaly cannot tolerate the Tonquin smell left on my fingers after handling this product,and I would rather smoke tobacco than Tonquin.

*** update*** 09/13/07 Not wanting to waste the remaining tins of 1792 I have,I decieded to experiment a little.I rinsed the said flakes briefly in the wifes colander under hot water turning each flake once,placed on paper towels and dried in full sun.This created a wonderful smoke still 1792'ish but for me much more tasty and smokeable.

The flakes now light and stay lit easily,the flavor is still peppery and full bodied and the best part the Tonquin essence is now more in the background instead of dominating the smoke.

I'll be finishing these tins now after this "cleansing" process and would now give 1792 at least 3 stars,but its something I wouldnt go out of my way to do again.