Samuel Gawith Golden Glow (bulk)

Appearance and Aroma: This comes in bulk form. It is mostly a medium to light brown blend in a broken flake presentation. Smells like hay but with a slight "Lakeland" scent to it.

Packing and Lighting: I prefer to pack "as is" and just rub a little on top for easier lighting. Lights easily.

Initial Flavor: Like "Best Brown Flake". It has that same "earthiness" that I enjoy, but with a little more "oomph" and is a tad sweeter and brighter.

Mid-Bowl: This is plain delicious!

Bottom of Bowl: I much prefer this blend over FVF because it doesn't have the strong build up of strength of that blend. This builds up nicely, but I don't have to let it go out so that the strength doesn't overwhelm me. Ends with a light, dry, grey ash.

Overall: This has now become a staple VA blend for me. More flavor than BBF, but not the punch of FVF. It does have an occaisonal flavor of the "Lakeland" scenting, but you really have to pay attention to taste it. I like that so it won't get any complaints from me. I look forward to aging some to see what will happen to this stellar VA blend... Meanwhile, go get some now!

Samuel Gawith - Golden Glow (Bulk).

Like it's tinned sibling, this is a remarkable blend!

Being from bulk, the moisture on arrival couldn't be any better (an improvement on the tinned version!). Like the sealed version it can easily be identified as a broken flake, I see some coarse pieces, but it hasn't been reduced to fine ribbons.

The smoke? I love it! Unlike some VA's, it isn't awash with citrus, rich fruit, or overly sharp. The smoke has just enough sweetness to placate and calm the sprightly Virginia notes. I find it a 'lazier' Virginia! Due to the moisture content a bowl burns without a hitch, And, because of the exemplary hydration, the temperature is fairly cool, and I don't get a scintilla of tongue bite.

Nicotine: medium at a push. Room-note: nice.

Golden Glow (Bulk)? Easily deserves a high recommendation:

Four stars.

Medium Virginia is a golden yellow straight Virginia flake, made by and for people who love that sort of thing. It starts out breezy and light, and then builds to a fantastic medium flavor as it stoves itself in the pipe. Smokes cool, remarkably with no bite at all if you smoke at anything approaching a correct Virginia cadence. Plenty of complexity to be found, if you know how to look.

I would not recommend this to anyone who doesn't know how to smoke flake, or to anyone whose palate isn't tuned to straight Virginia pipeweed. The flavor develops gently and never smacks you on the tastebuds like Pease blends do. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but it'd be like handing a Montecristo No.4 to a Tatuaje smoker and expecting them to follow the thread.

For Virginia lovers, this is highly recommended either as an all-day option or as your break from more bold offerings.

Background: I'm mostly a VA smoker, prefer flakes & straight pipes with VA's.

It's described as a FVF lite & most likely won't be a favorite of those who like stronger blends. But what it may lack in strength, it more than makes up for in flavor. This is one of my favorite VA blends, a light smoke, especially in the nicotine department.

The flakes are the thickness of a standard flake, but cut into 4" long, 1/8" square strings that are flexible and soft. Upon inspection, the medium to light brown tobacco looks to have been stripped of stems. The sample I bought was moist, but not sopping or oily. Just enough to be flexible, supple.

Preparing to fill, I dry it using the oven method (60 seconds in a pre-heated oven, 200 degrees). I then bag it up & let it cool in a Ziplock bag. Then I break the strands into 1/2" strips & fill the pipe. Normal packing works well for me.

Upon light up, the pleasant oats waft is apparent & welcome. The light semi sweet taste is so nice with a cup of sweetened Joe in the morning. The blend remains constant down to the last crumb and leaves a white fluffy ash. Only clue it's the end of the bowl is when it's hard to relight. Speaking of which, I required a couple re-lights mainly due to a lack of attention to tamping (requires a little more so than most). I've yet to get any bite from this blend, even when puffing like a loaded freight train.

** 5-15-08 update **

Still the same fine smoke as when first reviewed. KEY: Dry it just shy of crispy, I use the microwave for small batches (20 seconds on high spread on a paper towel).

VA's are like a Colibri butane lighter, persnickety to say the least. They favor certain pipes, require the right humidity, and can burn when worked too hard. I find Medium VA Flake to be like an Old Boy, a reliable performer, consistently good flavor. Many VA's are in my cupboard, this one gets the most attention.

* 6-07-2015 * update

Sipping some MVF bulk jared since 2007 in a Missouri Meerschaum Mark Twain Pipe. Pipe stuffed as is, not rubbed out. The grassy note has been over taken by a sweet lemon citrus note, a touch of zest still present. puff slowly as it can get hot like most straight VA's. It can be monochromatic (like McClellands 5100), but the lemon cream wins me over. If memory serves me correct, Golden Glow (previously Medium VA flake), it’s the same leaf stock as BBF & FVF, difference is the amount of time the leaf stock is pressed & steamed.

This is my third most favored tobacco, right behind SG Best Brown and Full Virginia Flake. This a tobacco that for me requires a dedicated pipe. The Virginia tobacco flavor is pure and delicate and is to be enjoyed in small sips. Smoking this tobacco in a pipe in which another tobacco has been smoked will likely mask the flavor of this unique Virginia. I buy it in bulk, rub it out to a ribbon while moist, and allow it to thoroughly dry. I like to start with a bowl of Medium Flake, follow it with a bowl of Best Brown and finish up with FVF while clearing the palate from time to time with a jar of Guinness, exquisite pleasure for us simple folk. Most highly recommended. Paddy.

I was unimpressed until I loaded up a Peterson 302, a pipe i almost never use because i find it too massive.

In the 302 MVF shines! My verdict: better and cheaper than Old Gowrie. So while i'm smoking pouches of MVF i'll let my tins of OG in the cellar aging untill MVF is pulled of the market 🙂

Update: also great in my Barling bent 'system' meerschaum

Try it in different pipes before you give up on this one, a very underrated tobacco IMO.

Update may 2011 What's the matter with this stuff? I opened the pouch in january and now after having been open to oxygen for 4 months it really starts to shine, outclassing everything else i've got lying around...

When searching for a mild Virginia smoke that can be enjoyed any time of day, this is a sure winner. Medium Virginia Flake starts with a mild hay like taste, typical of many lighter Virginia's. It exhibits a mild temperment on the tongue and is never harsh or bitter.

What is unusual for such a light looking and tasting Virginia is the sweeetness of this tobacco. While not hosting the party in my mouth that Full Virginia Flake does, this tobacco exhibits a wonderful sweetness that I am hard pressed to recall seeing anywhere in this category.

Of course, your experience may vary. The size, shape, depth and length of a pipe are all important players in the delivery of taste. That being said, when compared to Old Gowrie, this is definitely my pick. At a significantly lower price-I can't think of a single reason not to stock up!

As a side note, Zimbabwe has experienced rapid declines of late in flue cured tobacco production. While I am confident that the blenders at Samuel Gawith will either secure enough of this for future use or will find acceptable substitutes, I encourage one and all to stock up on their blends.

The manufacturer describes MVF as "A bit lighter in strength and taste than Full Virginia Flake." True enough; but...notwithstanding its lightness, the tobacco, puff by puff, bursts with flavor. Easy to pack and easy to light with not a hint of bite.

Not a very complex blend, but certainly a fine smoke when I need to pay attention to other matters.

Update: Maybe it's because I'm finding lighter tobaccos more to my liking these days, that I'm upgrading my recommendation with this review.

What's interesting is that Golden Glow, the same tobacco in a tin gets more favorable reviews. Gp figure.

Slow down , you move too fast ; try to make the morning last . This is good advise for this tobacco . Use as little fire as possible and puff slowly . You will be rewarded with a fine , subtle Virginia taste . This bulk sold tobacco is delivered in sort of a loose brick that can be taken off in strips that need a little rubbing out . The tin note is inviting and the cut and color are as well . Don't pack this too tightly and make a little air hole with a cleaner . Smoke it in a quiet place with no wind . Savor it , don't slurp it down . This is an SG mini masterpiece . I've read that it is the bulk form of Golden Glow but it seems much better , maybe because it's not rubbed out . In any event , this is a tobacco to smoke when you have time to sit back and enjoy a pipe . Relax , spend some time

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