Samuel Gawith Special Flake No.1
(2.83)
Notes: From Synjeco: To me, this is the most exotic SG tobacco! If you like "soapy" tobaccos, here is the one for you. The smell was a bit shocking to me; it smelled like the "Camay" soap, very perfumed. The color range from light to dark, with light brown dominant. The cut is rather medium, and I find the flakes to be easy to rub out. The taste is almost identical to the pouch aroma, esp. at first. The "perfumy" smell gradually dissipates, without disappearing. This is definitely a tobacco that require exclusive pipes for its use.
Details
| Brand | Samuel Gawith |
| Blended By | Samuel Gawith |
| Manufactured By | Samuel Gawith |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | Alcohol / Liquor, Other / Misc |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | bulk, 50 grams pouch |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Strong
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 18, 2003 | Medium | Medium to Strong | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I received my first parcel of this tabak last week and am basing this review upon half a dozen bowls, split between a meer and a Tinsky which have both been dedicated to "florals".
In the package, #1 smells less "Camayish" than G&H Kendal Flake, and more like a straight Va. blend with just a *hint* of that pineapple fruitiness associated with some of the more notorious U.K. blends. The flakes are rather moist and sticky, and needed a few minutes drying time after being rubbed-out.
Upon ignition, the taste is close to a mild Va/perique such as Esoterica Dunbar. This surprises me, as I expected a "floral curve" similar to Kendal Flake (my staple floral), which is "blast of botanicals, tapering to pure tabak by the last third of the bowl". The floral in #1 then builds in over the next few puffs, never becoming as dominant as in KF, and lingering to the finish. I don't know if this stamina is due to the flavoring agents, base tobacco, or the restraint one must use smoking it (which may be retarding cook-off of the flavoring agents)? "Why the restraint?", you ask. Because 1) this stuff is quicker to bite than KF, and 2) because it has a peppery element in the smoke which again reminded me of perique. Not the taste of perique, but the sensation in the back of the throat and in the nose. Mercifully, there is never a hint of pineapple as the tabak burns.
#1 burns to a dry, medium gray ash. It also requires an occasional pipe cleaner during the bowl - not for moisture, but for the tars which I find load-up rather quickly with the Lake District florals. I found it to smoke slightly better in the meer than the briar.
I will keep this on hand to complement Kendal Flake. Those looking for a real floral kick may be disappointed, but experienced Va. smokers could find it to be a good initation to florals.
In the package, #1 smells less "Camayish" than G&H Kendal Flake, and more like a straight Va. blend with just a *hint* of that pineapple fruitiness associated with some of the more notorious U.K. blends. The flakes are rather moist and sticky, and needed a few minutes drying time after being rubbed-out.
Upon ignition, the taste is close to a mild Va/perique such as Esoterica Dunbar. This surprises me, as I expected a "floral curve" similar to Kendal Flake (my staple floral), which is "blast of botanicals, tapering to pure tabak by the last third of the bowl". The floral in #1 then builds in over the next few puffs, never becoming as dominant as in KF, and lingering to the finish. I don't know if this stamina is due to the flavoring agents, base tobacco, or the restraint one must use smoking it (which may be retarding cook-off of the flavoring agents)? "Why the restraint?", you ask. Because 1) this stuff is quicker to bite than KF, and 2) because it has a peppery element in the smoke which again reminded me of perique. Not the taste of perique, but the sensation in the back of the throat and in the nose. Mercifully, there is never a hint of pineapple as the tabak burns.
#1 burns to a dry, medium gray ash. It also requires an occasional pipe cleaner during the bowl - not for moisture, but for the tars which I find load-up rather quickly with the Lake District florals. I found it to smoke slightly better in the meer than the briar.
I will keep this on hand to complement Kendal Flake. Those looking for a real floral kick may be disappointed, but experienced Va. smokers could find it to be a good initation to florals.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 26, 2014 | Medium to Strong | Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Similar to Special Flake #7 (at least considering the 6 unsealed pouches I got), even less lemon glass, but it was there underneath, with the similarities to Kendal Cream a bit more pronounced. In short, all seven Special Flakes seemed themes on the Grousemoor theme, with less lemon grass, sometimes with honey or the flavoring from Kendal Cream, 1792, or a bit of cedar.
Pipe Used:
falcons & clay
PurchasedFrom:
synjeco
Age When Smoked:
1 month
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