Samuel Gawith Skiff Mixture

My weekly foray at the Sunday unofficial, does not exist due to COVID pipe club enabled me to try a few samples from a fellow unofficial member where we unofficially met. As I have mentioned before Samuel Gawith blends are somewhat hard to obtain, at least by me. Usually when I see them offered on a website, I have previously just bought something else. The tin that I was able to smoke some had a cardboard cutout the shape of the square tin with two holes in it that you use to remove. I guess it helps keep the tobacco nice and snug. In case you are wondering this is called filler as I have just about run out of descriptors in my reviews, but I will try. 🙂 This was presented in the tin with a nice somewhat moist ribbon cut of tobacco which as described is mostly yellow, brown with some black ribbon (Latakia) in the mix. As an Oriental blend the Latakia is light as I would expect with the Turkish in the forefront and the Virginia hovering in the background. I enjoyed that the taste of this blend was consistent from start to finish and turned out to be a nice mild tasting smoke, something that I would probably prefer in the morning with a nice cup of coffee. A really stellar blend with over 200 reviews attesting to its long-time popularity. If you like Orientals I would give this one a try if you can get some.

After falling in love with Motzek's Highland Balls and Dunhill's Durbar (both blends where the Orientals are the stars) I was intrigued to try Skiff after reading about it on here. I love me some Oriental-heavy blends, but they are rather rare to find. And...well...this blend has some class and charme to it, it reminds me of why I love Oriental blends so much!

Of course it came way too moist, it's a SG-Blend after all.. just let the tin sit open for 1-2 days, no big drama. After cracking the tin, the wet tobacco didn't give me much of a tin-note, but after some good 6-hours of having the tin opened to air out the tin note is delicate. Flowery, ethereal, slighty musty, with some smoky undertone and only little sweetnes. All in all the tin-note is rather mild in the sense that I have to dip my nose into the tobacco to perceive it.

Beige, yellow, red, brown, black... the fine ribbons compromise a variety of colours, and I think there were several Oriental varietals used. With decent amount of drying time (which it demands, otherwise it'll be bland and have aweful burn characteristics!) it takes the fire like a champ and burns rather cool and smooth.

The Latakia, though present in almost every puff, only acts as a seasoning condiment, which I wouldn't want to miss in this melange. Just some slight, but savoury smokiness rounds of a perfectly blended mix of Orientals/Turkish that are ethereal, dry and woodsy, spicy, maybe even a bit nutty by times and definetly always flowery (NOT in a Lakeland way, but in the unique Oriental-leaf manner!). I don't really perceive much of the Virginias, I suppose they sport some minor sweetness to balance the rich spice and exotic aromas.

If the price of 13,60€ for a 50g tin wouldn't be, this would take a looong, comfy seat besides my stash of Durbar and Highland Balls... but I'm more than served with buying Dunhill blends for 13,60€ per 50g tin... and as SG doesn't plan to leave the market (like Dunhill does), I'll buy a tin whenever mine will get empty, no need to hoard this in panic! If it were to cease from the market, I definetly would, because this is a true alternative to Dunhill's Durbar, lots of similarities, yet each of the two is unique in its own way.

This is an excellent light/medium Latakia mélange, classically English. The Virginia base gives it a velvety herbal airiness, the Orientals a nutty tangibility, a silken briskness. Nifty!

The Latakia?Cyprus, probably?has been subtly applied; it gives the whole composition depth and ampleur, without bitterness. The start is a little austere perhaps, but when everything gets going, this is a wonderfully meditative tobacco; gentle, but not bland. Heartlily recommended as an introduction to Latakia, or as a subtly Balkanic change-of-pace mixture for discerning aromatophiles.

I saw a drop of Samuel Gawith and month ago and had to get some tins. I really like EMP so asked several people in different pipe groups for recommendations for a light English blend and this kept popping up. I wasn't sure I'd get the chance to get a tin until I went back to the UK, SO I was happily surprised to see it become available.

It comes in an attractive tin with a very heavy cardboard insert. The tobacco is pressed pretty firmly in the tin, but fluffs up as it were with no fuss. It comes in a cut that has some very long but consistent ribbons of tobacco. It does come very moist, so I left my tin open until it reached the right dryness for me and then I jarred it. The tin note smells of sweet Virginias, tangy Orientals, and smokey Latakia. The sweetness in the tin note reminds me a lot of Presbyterian Mixture. It does pack well and light well.

Right away the Orientals and the Latakia are doing a dance. The Latakia is smooth, smokey and earthy. The Orientals are tangy, herbal, and full. The Virginias are sweet and bright. What really gets me is how light yet complex this is. In this blend the flavors meld and build off of each other just like in Presbyterian Mixture. It's wonderfully sweet and smokey at the same time.

The taste I give a medium. The complexity of the flavor warrants it. The strength is a medium as well. Nothing is making this too strong and I have to say that it's a great blend for a hot day. I think that this smells wonderful and I think some of your non smoking friends might as well.

I came across this one in that seemingly endless search for a medium strength, flavoursome, yet tolerable Latakia-Turkish-Virignia smoke. Where I come from it is difficult to find Dunhills?, Rattrays? or G.L Pease?s creations (i.e., one can only get them via international mail order, and then fight for them at customs), so one has to do with whatever is available. Some of Gawith?s and Davidoff?s blends have of recent become regularly available. I like Davidoff?s Royalty very much, but it is not an economical smoke by any means, so why not give Gawith?s a try? I have tried the four Latakia based mixtures, Perfection included (though will not try it again). Skiff is the mildest, the other two being Squadron Leader (medium) and KBE (aka Commonwealth--full!). Skiff smokes very nicely.

It is mild, but flavoursome, and has that unmistakeable Latakia aroma that seems to split smokers and non smokers down the middle. My SLW, unfortunately, cannot tolerate the stuff (she keeps on asking me if its legal), and I have to retreat to the garden studio to enjoy any Latakia mixture. However, more than Latakia, what I really like about Skiff is the tangy predominance of the Turkish tobaccos. They add a very stimulating substance to the flavour, making it for me especially enjoyable. Indeed, Skiff is very mild and easy to smoke (packing is quick and lightening is no problem), but the extra Turkish gives the aroma perhaps a rather more pungent quality than SL or KBE (very much like Black Mallory and Red Raparee, in which being the former stronger, the latter is far more pungent). I find it a good option both to get acquainted with oriental mixtures, or as a change of pace when not in the mood for full bodied Latkia blends. In any case, it is an excellent companion when reading, say, Agatha Crhistie.

Samuel Gawith Skiff Mixture- Same kind of vibe I get with SL but Skiff definitely showcases the Oriental - Turkish tobaccos More .There is a lot going on here with a mild buttery sweetness and herbal spice . Savory tart and floral . A little incense combined with the Latakia .There are some citrus notes in the background. Very little sweetness in this blend . The Virginias do pop in at times though . The flavor changes a lot during the smoke session . Not my favorite Oriental blend but it is enjoyable. I would probably buy again but I like SL better . 3

This blend is interesting.when you open it you get a nice combination of latakia, spicyness woods and earth.packs well lights ok.the flavours are well balanced between latakia (sweet woods spices)and the virginia flavours.the orientals come out more than other compoments.burns from mid to hot and the tastes combine well.a bit moist is left at the end of the bowl.not recomended for an all day smoke.the nic level is mid to high.a good blend to relax you after launch with a cup of coffee.is it a must try?well you can try it out won't disappoint you but wo't give you the unique smoking experience also.

I consider Skiff Mixture to be the 'Oriental brother' of Squadron Leader. More oriental-forward, more spicy but a little bit less well balanced. Anyway, a must-try tobacco! 4,0/5 in my personal rating system.

This tobacco is a mild but not a boring smoke. Smoked in the early part of a Summer day, on the lanai in Waikiki. It was not out of place, performed the role well of a summer daytime smoke, not overpowering, light and easy with character. Picture a duet of oriental as vocalist and virginia as supporting pianist. I bought a 1oz sample online and packed my pipe right out of the "pouch" (i.e. Ziplock bag) it was mailed in, so I can't comment on the issue of the tin quality not being up to snuff. I'm looking forward to smoking the 1-ouncer again and procuring the charming looking tin in a future order.