Samuel Gawith Cannon Plug

Based on an ounce sample. Nice dark plug with a bag aroma of something I couldn't hope to ascertain. That happens a lot to me with G&H florals. As a fan of same, the aroma was enticing. The flavor only mildly disappointed, which means this is still an excellent blend. At this point, I just expect G&H Lakelands to be stellar, and this one was merely "great". Then again, an ounce is only an ounce.

Flavor did not resemble honeydew but it was pretty robust, whatever it was. The flavoring level was up there with Ennerdale but wasn't quite as over-the-top. It was quite nice. I cut the plug into small cubes for loading and had no problems getting it alight. Burned just fine, albeit with a few relights. Pretty good nic content but not overpowering. As with most G&H Lakelands, the flavor did not dissipate down the bowl. As I smoke meerschaums almost exclusively, the ghosting was minimal. I'm not good at naming flavorings, but this was flowery and fairly strong but not as much so as Ennerdale, which I love. The main difference between the two is that whatever they flavor Ennerdale with is the flavoring I prefer. Your mileage may vary. This is a great tasting tobacco, as I expect from G&H, and is definitely recommended.

I was gifted a block of this by a friend. I sliced it very thin and rubbed it out to smoke. The pouch note was sweet and I can believe it is supposed to be honeydew melon.

Smoked, this was a very pleasant experience. The flavors are good. The Virginias are grassy, and there is a heavy fruit that is some combination of the Virginia and the topping. The flavor is a little tart when puffed and is consistently sweet with a mild floral and a hint of bergamot.

The only problem I can see with Cannon Plug is distribution. I enjoyed it, and it was easy to prepare. I did not dry the flakes once sliced, and they burned without an unusual number of relights. It was easy to sip, and enjoyable to the bottom of the bowl.

Recommended...

Cannon Plug is arguably one of the oldest tobaccos still in productions. Rumours of records for its use during the civil war have been circulating on line for years. A delightful medium blend of Virginia tobaccos pressed and aged for a cool and nutty flavour. While Best brown flake is one of Samuel Gawiths most iconic tobaccos, Cannon plug brings a large helping of Honeydew into play. As with the Special Flake No 2, Cannon plug is very heavily scented and ideal for serious Lakeland fans.

It is a pot-pourri, a Floral, fruity cannonball that's enough to knock you into next week by when even a perfume may already have worn off! Underlying rich citrusy, woody scent, lurks the distinct Virginia aroma. The taste is of honeydew, lemon balm and very sweet flowers.

You may cut into flakes or you may want to cube it and rub gently. Once in the pipe it catches the flame well and stays alight without the need to relight often, if at all. The smoke is cool and smooth and the strong topping really comes through.

Use a cob or a pipe that you don't mind losing to the flavour ghost that's left behind.

In a word, if you love the flavouring, you'll love it but if you don't, you'll hate it.

The Summary:

Contents - Virginia

Flavouring/Casings - Honey Dew

Cut - Plug

Origin - Kendal, England

Tasting Notes:

Strength is Medium

Flavouring is Very Strong

Taste is Full

Room Note is Pleasant

I've been exclusively smoking SG's Cannon plug these last couple of days. It's one of the classic granny lakelands.

The plug is that usual dense English block. In colour is a beautiful brown with bright golden yellow strands ponctuating the cross cut surfaces. Tobaccoreview says this blend is based on Best Brown Flake. So be it. I love that blend and I can see how it could make for a nice base.

The smell from the block is quite strong. Very high notes, reminding of sweet lemonade. The lower, deeper range is quite subdued but reminds me of salted cream caramel. There is some sort of lemongrass maybe. SG says it has honey dew but honestly, I can't see it here.

My routine with these dense plugs is cut off thin flakes, slightly rub out, leave to dry in the evening for about 30 minutes, pack it in a small jar for the next day's ration. I then stuff it in a cob with neglect as I am usually smoking it while outdoors. A small cob has been working well for me but clays are good too although not so much if clenching in the street.

A good charring usually makes for an easy smoke. Now things get quite different. The aroma's intensity stays very constant throughout the bowl but is much less pungent than before the light. The high notes in the sauce move to the background while those sweet citrussy aromas are still quite noticeable. On the other hand, the deeper caramel notes come to the foreground. These complementing beautifully the bright Virginia's hay and freshly cut grass. This results in some kind pastry aroma. As a whole, I find that the lakeland aspect of it, while quite present, is not overwhelming and truly adds a new depth to the tobacco.

As with all virginias I've tried, DGT works wonders. The sauce doesn't disappear but melds more intimately with the tobacco. The fresh bakery aroma comes out much more easily then.

Mine is unfortunately only barely a year old but I imagine this to evolve with the brighter citrus notes going back a notch while the darker sweetness melding deeper with bright va.

I have yet to experience tongue bite with this one. The nicotine is rather light as I could smoke a couple of bowls back to back. Apart from the preparation, I consider this an easy smoke and have actually made it an all day one lately. For sure it doesn't satisfy a dark fired leaf craving or a spicy perique longing. It is what it is, and deserves some love for it. If aromatics make you sick, this'll be a pass. If, on the other hand, you find some to be to your liking (I personally smoke McB's Scottish Mixture and Amphora Full on occasion) this could well be for you too.

I've said this before but I will again as I feel the comparison to be appropriate. To me, this is like a tobacco version of Earl Grey tea. It is highly aromatic, but plays as a rich complement to the tea. It is extremely common on that island and few seam to complain aromatics aren't for the real men. There's something luxurious but basic and old but eternal about it.

So...first off, let's get something straight. This is not actually tobacco per se. You know in 'Peter Pan' where the boys and girls are all supposed to clap their hands if they believe in fairies...and it would make Tinkerbell come back to life? This is something like that. Every time a pipe smoker lights up a bowl of Lakeland tobacco and thinks "OMG", or "Holy CRAP", or the like...it's like a little boy or girl clapping their hands...and in so doing, the Lakeland "Flower Flavor Fairy" puts another little hit of flavor into Cannon Plug. So you see, in a way, it's a kind of 'Magic Plug' - a compilation, if you will, of all the astonishment that nimrod smokers everywhere have felt at the flower power of the Lakeland blends. Oh, sure, well there's a little tobacco in there too I suppose. Likely pretty good stuff knowing it's from one of those nice Gawith boys.

PS: Whomever suggested this was a good DGT blend was right on. Plus...I don't think there's another blend in the whole wide world that give such impact per the cost. It's like getting the Acme Anvil of Lakeland flavors dropped on your little Wiley Coyote head...with each and every puff.

Where does this one fall in the overall scope of all things Gawith? Well, I characterized Coniston Cut Plug as the 'Goldilocks Blend' in that it fell into that perfect and ideal zone in which every aspect was, just right. Following on that kind of metaphore...this one is the 'Tinkerbell Blend'. It's a blend that'll bring a dead fairy back to life.

I do like it very much indeed. Strong, tangy and sweet, evident floral perfume still not covering the classy light Virginias it is made of. Burns easily with a higher nic content. For me perfect for small pipes (size 1 or 2) whenever I fancy something stronger then BBF with a plus. Probably not my everyday smoke but always at hand. It may ghost a pipe but in my opinion nothing serious or wrong with it. Very satisfactory.

As a new smoker of plug tobacco didn't know what to expect. Obviously I found a solid lump of tobacco! This smelled quite strongly of bergamot, with other floral notes I can't quite put my finger on. After cutting into 1/8th inch slices I rubbed one out to a similar cut as st Bruno and left for 20 minutes. First impressions are sweet unknown flavour with a soapy mouth feel, then an almost peachy aftertaste. Room note was quite heavy, but still pleasant to me. Definitely not one to smoke daily, I'd probably use as a Sunday roast dessert!

As an addendum- I left the tin open overnight , a totally different experience! Lights much easier (obviously), with a more rose petal flavour although still with the soapy feel. May elevate this to a nightcap smoke. The wife hasn't complained about the room note either which is a bonus!

I do not know what Cheviot is as it relates to tobacco. Samuel Gawith Co. Ltd. says..."Part of our traditional English range of plugs, Cannon is derived from the Best Brown cake with a sweet Honey Dew flavour". That is good enough for me.

The plug aroma consists in something like honeydew melon, brown sugar, black coffee, and bread. In the bowl it tastes like the plug aroma suggests it will except the bread is more like toasted English muffins. Upon re-entering the man cave it smells like toasted muffins.

I do not find the plug difficult. I slice enough for one bowl. I tease it and gravity feed it. I do not dry it. It burns cool and dry for me. No bite, no gurgle. It is not harsh. I encounter more throat irritation with straight Virginias like Old Gowrie, FVF, Cut Va Plug, and the like. I love them, but I smoke them infrequently.

Cannon plug is strong and full tasting, but pleasant and refreshing. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys Kendal tobaccos.

07/27/09 UPDATE: I am revising some of my reviews. I have given out more 4 star ratings than anything else. That practice is probably not helping. So, I am reducing Cannon Plug to 3 stars, not because I like it less than I did before, but because I am limiting 4 stars to fewer than 25% of all my reviews. One day I may use the 4 star rating to designate my top five.

Update: For what it's worth, Cannon Plug is topped with Honeydew, not Cheviot. Cheviot is a secret recipe of Sam Gawith, though I have no idea in which blend it is used. I love this plug. Probably will upgrade it to 4 stars when my next pound arrives, as I'm out and really think I need to have another few bowlfuls to be sure. Back to the review. . . .

This is the Mother-in-law of tobaccos. At first there's no way to understand it, much less like it. You need to leave it outside for a while, until the perfume wears off a bit, and then bring it inside, when you have some free time and an open mind. That said, I'm talking about a tobacco here, not my mother-in-law. . . I tear the plug into half inch thick pieces length-wise and let it air out in the plastic bag. Then i cut slices, the thinner the better, and rub out roughly. Let it dry and fire up. The, uh, scenting on this is Strong. But it's really grown on me. Given a little air time, the tobacco taste will come through, and it is good tobacco. Dark and deep, the flavor will be hard to find in all the spice and perfume high notes, but it is there. I understand all the low ratings for this plug, but I like it quite a lot. It's scented, not aromatic. I.e. no goop or glop. (technical terms) Given a chance, well, many chances, this is good, if misunderstandable, smoke.