Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake

I'm not a huge VA smoker , but this is one that I enjoy . It has a medium spicy taste and aroma for me . It is one of my regular tobaccos that I reach for when in the mood for a VA .

This is the second S. Gawith blend I have tried, and it is something of a shock, moving to this from 1792 Flake. If 1792 can be described as "overwhelming", than I would describe B.B. Flake as "average". The taste, while very nice and fairly complex, never really breaks out. The nicotine content, however, makes this a satisfying smoke for after a meal. The smell in the sample bag is mildly perfumy and soapy, with a hint of sweetness as well. The tobacco cames in 4" flakes, mostly medium and darker brown with a few lighter veins; the overall effect is medium brown. The flakes are on the moist side, a bit sticky to the touch but by no means excessivly moist. They rub out with difficulty, due to the moisture, but pack quickly when rubbed. The tobacco lights easily, and burns well during a bowl. I used a group 3 Dunhill Shell Briar for my first bowl of this blend. In the first third, the flavor starts off pretty good. It is medium in fullness and richness, but there is a decent level of complexity that increases as the burn continues. There is some sweetness, but it stays in the background, and I don't notice any of the perfumy note I smelled earlier. There is no bite at all at this point; the smoke is smooth and "firm", if that makes any sense. The flavors overall aren't spectacular; rather, the effect is one of subtly and quality in an "average-tasting" blend. The smoke is nice blown out through the nose, when it takes on a slighly spicy note. In the second third, I notice that it is easy to smoke this too hot. Even when smoke hot, however, it does not bite. The flavor is richer now, with a bit fuller taste and more complexity. It is still not overly flavorful, but smoked slowly, the subtle variation is more easily appreciated. One reviewer described the taste as "earthy", and I would agree with that, though it isn't the only flavor present. The sweetness is a bit stronger here, but I still would not call this a sweet tobacco. If I draw deeply on the pipe, the flavor is rich and substantial, almost like unsweetened chocolate without the bitterness. Moving into the last third, the nicotine is becoming more obvious. While not as strong as 1792 Flake, this is still a blend with some kick. The sweetness is stronger than at the start, but the other flavors aren't much more intense. The smoke is still smooth and bite-free, and there is no moisture right to the bottom. Overall, this is a high-quality, medium-flavored Virginia tobacco with some nicotine punch. The flavors are always subtle and "average", but they are very well-blended and not at all boring. If you're looking for a semi-sweet, middle-of-the-road Virginia with no bite, you may want to try this one. Don't use a huge bowl, though, unless you're sitting down! I plan to keep some of this around for when I'm in the mood, but normally I like Virginias with more intense flavors.