Samuel Gawith Skiff Mixture
(3.45)
Another Samuel Gawith original, Skiff is for the pipe smoker who appreciates the fuller flavour of an Oriental blend. Blending a variety of different styles of flue cured tobaccos gives Skiff its characteristic yellow and brown features. Its real identity comes with the addition of Turkish and a beautiful black Cyprus latakia giving the blend its full, round taste.
Details
| Brand | Samuel Gawith |
| Blended By | Samuel Gawith |
| Manufactured By | Samuel Gawith |
| Blend Type | Balkan |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.45 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 16 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 06, 2010 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant |
The King is dead, long live the King.
I so tire of hearing of the great blends of the past, especially from smokers whose reviews show they are so old or hardened they could not possibly remember where their car keys are, no less what a tobacco tasted like 10, 15 or twenty years ago.
I love being a beginner, because I still have the taste buds to enjoy a mild smoke. In fact, I hope I never have to "move up", "graduate", become "more sophisticated", etc. bla, bla, bla. I just want to be able to enjoy a tobacco like Skiff forever.
Read BriarPatch since he exemplifies how I feel about Skiff and life in general. And thanks Pipestud, your review and 2 stars let me know this was just what I wanted.
Skiff is a good virginia based mild english. The tin note is delightfully smokey, the taste is sweet and floral (some might say soapy) with a citrus note. The taste is full but shallow, the various mild flavors mixing well but none predominating. The latakia smokiness is evident, without a great deal of spiciness or pepper zing. The turkish seems to blur the taste while making it smoother. Overall a pleasant sweet virginia flavor, with none of the dullness evident in the burly based latakia blends. Dry it out before using.
It will not bite, the smoke is light bodied and mild in strength, with no harshness or rough edges. Aftertaste is tobacco , agreeable if a bit astringent. For me a once a month smoke. More often I smoke SL. If you get canker sores or your lips swell and tingle, don't smoke so often. Try it, it may not be what you are ultimately looking for, but it is not something you will likely throw away.
PS: Use a big rubber band to keep the tin airtight. Also, I know this is heresy but it is great mixed 50/50 with Squadron Leader. Smoke it fast, it dries out quickly and will bite mildly.
I so tire of hearing of the great blends of the past, especially from smokers whose reviews show they are so old or hardened they could not possibly remember where their car keys are, no less what a tobacco tasted like 10, 15 or twenty years ago.
I love being a beginner, because I still have the taste buds to enjoy a mild smoke. In fact, I hope I never have to "move up", "graduate", become "more sophisticated", etc. bla, bla, bla. I just want to be able to enjoy a tobacco like Skiff forever.
Read BriarPatch since he exemplifies how I feel about Skiff and life in general. And thanks Pipestud, your review and 2 stars let me know this was just what I wanted.
Skiff is a good virginia based mild english. The tin note is delightfully smokey, the taste is sweet and floral (some might say soapy) with a citrus note. The taste is full but shallow, the various mild flavors mixing well but none predominating. The latakia smokiness is evident, without a great deal of spiciness or pepper zing. The turkish seems to blur the taste while making it smoother. Overall a pleasant sweet virginia flavor, with none of the dullness evident in the burly based latakia blends. Dry it out before using.
It will not bite, the smoke is light bodied and mild in strength, with no harshness or rough edges. Aftertaste is tobacco , agreeable if a bit astringent. For me a once a month smoke. More often I smoke SL. If you get canker sores or your lips swell and tingle, don't smoke so often. Try it, it may not be what you are ultimately looking for, but it is not something you will likely throw away.
PS: Use a big rubber band to keep the tin airtight. Also, I know this is heresy but it is great mixed 50/50 with Squadron Leader. Smoke it fast, it dries out quickly and will bite mildly.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 29, 2006 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Samuel Gawith's Skiff is what Flying Dutchman OUGHT to be. I freely admit this statement is made from perceptions thirty-five years apart. But in the era of the Euro, what the heck?
The names and logos of both conjure sailing ships (as does Sail) and both blends claim Latakia as a component. Though Flying Dutchman is Danish and Skiff is British, they are alike in appearance, cut, and character. The difference is in the smokability. Flying Dutchman, as I recall, had a delectable sidestream aroma--but seered two layers of oral mucosa with each bowlful. Skiff has nary a bite; it is one of the smoothest tobaccos I have ever smoked.
That is not to say Skiff is one of the best. It is an acceptable smoke. There is not much flavor to be had; no definable taste to be detected. Samuel Gawith is a venerable and respected blender; there is no reason to doubt their word as to the ingredients in Skiff. To me, however, there is just not much taste.
If one wants a smoldering pipe in his mouth, irrespective of flavor, Skiff is the blend to go to. It will neither offend nor disappoint anyone. But if one is seeking a bracing tobacco to stand up to a strong headwind...look elsewhere.
**Though I cannot give Skiff Mixture another star, experience with this blend has illuminated some of the qualities others have found so enjoyable. Skiff takes time to appreciate for those not accoustomed to this type of tobacco.
The charms of this blend become more apparent the more it is smoked. It will never be a powerhouse of flavor or strength, but it might make a good all-day smoke for those who appreciate the more delicate tastes of a light English. It is unusual...but tasty.
The names and logos of both conjure sailing ships (as does Sail) and both blends claim Latakia as a component. Though Flying Dutchman is Danish and Skiff is British, they are alike in appearance, cut, and character. The difference is in the smokability. Flying Dutchman, as I recall, had a delectable sidestream aroma--but seered two layers of oral mucosa with each bowlful. Skiff has nary a bite; it is one of the smoothest tobaccos I have ever smoked.
That is not to say Skiff is one of the best. It is an acceptable smoke. There is not much flavor to be had; no definable taste to be detected. Samuel Gawith is a venerable and respected blender; there is no reason to doubt their word as to the ingredients in Skiff. To me, however, there is just not much taste.
If one wants a smoldering pipe in his mouth, irrespective of flavor, Skiff is the blend to go to. It will neither offend nor disappoint anyone. But if one is seeking a bracing tobacco to stand up to a strong headwind...look elsewhere.
**Though I cannot give Skiff Mixture another star, experience with this blend has illuminated some of the qualities others have found so enjoyable. Skiff takes time to appreciate for those not accoustomed to this type of tobacco.
The charms of this blend become more apparent the more it is smoked. It will never be a powerhouse of flavor or strength, but it might make a good all-day smoke for those who appreciate the more delicate tastes of a light English. It is unusual...but tasty.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Very Strong |
“It smells like a wet dog” – my girlfriend
Before writing a review, I usually ask my girlfriend’s opinion of the room note. Although I could not smell any wet dogs, the aroma was somewhat unpleasant at times. The stench would linger in my apartment for hours and my beard would smell horrid for the entire day. And yes, I do shower daily, so it was the tobacco and not my fault.
Upon opening the tin, I immediately noticed a ‘leather glove’ smell, complimented by the aroma of flowers, a hint of perfume, and some citrus undertones. It is a bit moist and like most Gawith blends, it could use a few minutes of drying time.
Aside from ‘wet dog smell’, Skiff Mixture is a nice, mild Oriental/ English blend. The Virginias, Latakia, and Orientals are all balanced nicely, resulting in a calming leather/citrus/ earthly taste. However, the smell is quite unpleasant and in my opinion, hinders the smoking experience. It is difficult to describe, but it smells like burning leather or a kitchen towel. Perhaps a wet dog as well?
Skiff Mixture is certainly an all-day smoke, if you can tolerate the aroma or don’t have a nagging girlfriend/ wife. I won’t be getting it again, since it is not as flavorful as other English blends and has an offensive aroma.
Before writing a review, I usually ask my girlfriend’s opinion of the room note. Although I could not smell any wet dogs, the aroma was somewhat unpleasant at times. The stench would linger in my apartment for hours and my beard would smell horrid for the entire day. And yes, I do shower daily, so it was the tobacco and not my fault.
Upon opening the tin, I immediately noticed a ‘leather glove’ smell, complimented by the aroma of flowers, a hint of perfume, and some citrus undertones. It is a bit moist and like most Gawith blends, it could use a few minutes of drying time.
Aside from ‘wet dog smell’, Skiff Mixture is a nice, mild Oriental/ English blend. The Virginias, Latakia, and Orientals are all balanced nicely, resulting in a calming leather/citrus/ earthly taste. However, the smell is quite unpleasant and in my opinion, hinders the smoking experience. It is difficult to describe, but it smells like burning leather or a kitchen towel. Perhaps a wet dog as well?
Skiff Mixture is certainly an all-day smoke, if you can tolerate the aroma or don’t have a nagging girlfriend/ wife. I won’t be getting it again, since it is not as flavorful as other English blends and has an offensive aroma.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 08, 2008 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Somewhere near to Peterson's Old Dublin, Samuel Gawith's Skiff is a mild to medium VA+Turkish+Latakia mixture with a slight touch of Latakia and predominant VA and Oriental character. Like many reviewers have commented, the leaf is really high-quality (which is in my opinion not so with the mentioned offering by Peterson, i.e. currently by Kohlhase&Kopp). However, top quality does not always equal an interesting smoke, and this is the case with Skiff.
It's a good weed to start your way into the English group of tobaccos (better than Old Dublin anyway). For a more experienced palate this is rather one of the many mild English type mixtures, and not something outstanding. Might be good as an all-day smoke if you're an all-day smoker, though I'd prefer Squadron Leader in this case. And as I am making my pipe sessions fewer to appreciate an inspiring smoke, Skiff is slowly drifting away from me, leaving me with SG Balkan Flake - which is a better company.
It's a good weed to start your way into the English group of tobaccos (better than Old Dublin anyway). For a more experienced palate this is rather one of the many mild English type mixtures, and not something outstanding. Might be good as an all-day smoke if you're an all-day smoker, though I'd prefer Squadron Leader in this case. And as I am making my pipe sessions fewer to appreciate an inspiring smoke, Skiff is slowly drifting away from me, leaving me with SG Balkan Flake - which is a better company.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 09, 2021 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
Tin was in good shape considering the recent SG issues I've seen. A good looking tobacco that needed a short drying time. An easy lighter and burner. Skiff smelled the same to me as Squadron Leader, but did not taste as strongly of Latakia as I was looking for. Still, not a bad smoke, but I'll head back to SL or something else with more Latakia. Also, I might have been getting the Lakeland soapy taste.
Pipe Used:
Peterson System
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 04, 2017 | Very Mild | None Detected | Very Mild | Unnoticeable |
No doubts, Skiff Mixture is made of good tobaccos. Here and there sweet undertones of Virginia and woodsy overtones of Orientals pop up. Sometimes even traces of Latakia are detectable. But all in all, I find it stingy and acidic and unpleasant to smoke because of that.
This style of ultra-mild Orientals with a whiff of Latakia added is represented in a wide array of blends and has a huge following. I'm not really into it, but I don't mind to try something of this kind time to time. Not Skiff, though. It's too bity, however slowly I try to smoke it.
Many people like it a lot. If you haven't tried it yet, give it a try and decide for yourself, if it's your cup of tea.
This style of ultra-mild Orientals with a whiff of Latakia added is represented in a wide array of blends and has a huge following. I'm not really into it, but I don't mind to try something of this kind time to time. Not Skiff, though. It's too bity, however slowly I try to smoke it.
Many people like it a lot. If you haven't tried it yet, give it a try and decide for yourself, if it's your cup of tea.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Bent Billard 221
Age When Smoked:
2
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Felt like a mish mash of too many things going on. In both lit and unlit stages, it had the tangy spiciness I associate with an oriental, but then the virgina and latakia fought with each other swallowing up the distinct notes of the other. At times there was a nuttiness and other times some charcoal flavor poked through... always taking away from the oriental's snap.
Now, I'm not saying this was a bad smoke in any stretch, just that it never jumped out at me. As I got to the bottom of the bowl the flavor dissipated and things got a bit ashy, afterwards the roof of my mouth had a sweet coating.
I will likely never revisit this one, but I don't want to discourage others from trying it. I feel others with a different pallete might enjoy it.
Now, I'm not saying this was a bad smoke in any stretch, just that it never jumped out at me. As I got to the bottom of the bowl the flavor dissipated and things got a bit ashy, afterwards the roof of my mouth had a sweet coating.
I will likely never revisit this one, but I don't want to discourage others from trying it. I feel others with a different pallete might enjoy it.
PurchasedFrom:
pipesandcigars.com
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 26, 2015 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
A friend on Cigarbum.com sent me a sample of Samuel Gawith's Skiff Mixture to try. I'm a fan of Samuel Gawith tobaccos but had never tried this one. It's a colorful array of brown and black shades of leaf, from light tan to black. The ribbon cut is easy to load into a bowl and lights readily, depending on how dry you allow your portion to get before smoking. The initial flavor was of Turkish/Orientals in a big way with a secondary influence of Latakia. The Latakia was never a big factor in the flavor of the smoke but still makes its presence known throughout the bowl. The curious thing is that in the second half of the bowl the Virginias step up to exert more flavor and the Turkish/Orientals tame down somewhat. The smoke body is of medium intensity and depth. Moderately complex, Skiff intrigues the palate with the variety of Turkish/Orientals, Virginias, and Latakia. The nicotine strength of this blend is mild/medium. For me, the high point of the bowl is in the middle when the influence of the Virginias becomes more apparent and the balance of flavors with the Turkish/Orientals evens out. I don't know why there is a shift in the flavors but that was what I tasted. A Sunrise Canadian was the pipe I smoked this blend in; it has a medium-sized bowl with a modest cake.
Pipe Used:
Sunrise Canadian
PurchasedFrom:
a gift
Age When Smoked:
1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 11, 2013 | Very Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
This is a nice blend. Very mild and lightly soothing to the palate. Floral notes, smokey. A solid, light oriental, not the usual fare from these guys, but most certainly nice to have around.
Smoke in peace, brothers and sisters of the leaf.
Smoke in peace, brothers and sisters of the leaf.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 10, 2012 | Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
Skiff: Cut from the same cloth as Squadron Leader, but a bit more pepper. Like SL, fairly one dimensional. A bit too spicy for all day, but a bit too blah for sit-down, contemplative. Needs drying, even though my sample is over six months old. More strength than SL, enough to make my palms sweat. Won't buy it again. I prefer Larry's Blend.
Two and a half stars.
Two and a half stars.
target="_blank"
