Samuel Gawith Special Flake No.4

(3.67)
Notes: From Synjeco: Like most SG flakes, this has a very particular pouch aroma; I could compare it to Flake. 7, though the aroma is different. I could say that the smell is "perfumy" and spicy, without being overwhelming so. It's relatively easy to rub out and pack. The colors range from bright to dark. I find that the sweetness and the spiciness go their separate ways: The former is mainly felt on the palate and tongue, while the latter more in the nose and nasal cavity I recommend packing it lightly to obtain a more trouble-free combustion. What I don't appreciate it about it is the fact that it can leave the pipe quite dirty, esp. the shank.

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
Country United Kingdom
Production Currently available

Profile

Strength
Medium to Strong
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild to Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

3.67 / 4
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Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 26, 2014 Medium to Strong Very Mild Medium Pleasant
Sam Gawith - Special Flake No 4.

What a surprise, this is one of the few Sam G' blends that isn't totally soaking with moisture! The flakes are actually delicate in build. The tobacco gives off a sweet smell and I can definitely detect the alcohol in there. Due to the build and moisture amount I can rub the flakes and fill my pipe imminently, a small airing would maybe improve the flakes slightly but it's not at all imperative to do so.

It takes to lighting with ease and once lit doesn't keep going out. The toppings in No 4 come across gently, a subtle sweetness with a slight alcoholic touch (very slight) and maybe a Lakeland style taste. Over to the tobacco flavour, I find it to be very amenable! The Virginia is such a full bodied flavour that it is a little hard to allow the lighter additives to dissuade you from enjoying it in all its glory! The smoke is on the cooler side, also getting more points as it doesn't bite me. Nicotine , now this has a good amount! It's not too preposterous in strength although it will definitely satisfy N lovers but could be a touch offensive for the "flavour only" smokers among us. Because the additives are so light in No 4 I get absolutely zero ghost left behind in my pipe, maybe that's just years of pipes dulling my palate! In my mind this is the archetypal flake being easy to prepare, not a gloopy added flavour, good nicotine amount, an even burn and no tongue-bite!

A massive applause from me!
Pipe Used: Peterson Dracula 221
PurchasedFrom: G.Q Tobaccos
Age When Smoked: New
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 04, 2017 Medium Mild to Medium Medium Tolerable
Flakes are black, very uniform and perfectly cut in neat 6inch oblong rectangular shape. Contrary to the usual Gawith moisture levels, these flakes are quite …dry. So when rubbed they actually brake to bits and not to threads or ribbons - if you understand what I am trying to say… - it’s not very important anyhow as it’s easy to handle and load the pipe.

Tin note taken alone is intense, honeyed, sweet with a coniferous/lavender quality. Yet of all the Gawith Special flakes this is the less scented after Special Flake #7. The aroma is classic Lakeland though not overtly floral as some sweeter fruit notes, which at times remind me of peach, are also present. Also a little grassy with notes of soil. Rather elusive but still delightful.

Takes to light easily and does not require much effort to keep lit. Burns slow to a grey-black mottled ash. Produces lots of flavorful smoke, strength is just medium while nicotine is on the medium-plus side - quite substantial I should say especially on an empty stomach. Yet it is very smooth and full with spicy and herbal, lavender-like flavors while the Virginia underneath is of the dark, sweetly honeyed, bready and yeasty kind. A nice combination I have to say. As the bowl progresses the Virginia takes center stage. Best sipped to appreciate the flavors, needless to say…

Scenting is here is mild so that these flakes can appeal even to straight Virginia smokers. It does not smoke like a straight stoved Virginia but the scenting that comes through has only a mild coniferous quality maybe with some alcohol. Special Flake #4 is not particularly ‘soapy’.

As StevieB mentions, it dirties the shank and filter a lot..
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 22, 2014 Medium to Strong Mild to Medium Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
To me, like #3 this was still somewhat similar to Grousemoor, but with just a hint of the lemon grass in the pouch. I thought it might have been just from contact with the other 'special flakes', but it is still there, lightly, in the first 1/3 to 1/2 of the bowl. The 'honey' aspect is stronger, and it bit a little in the first half but the rest of the bowl was a somewhat honey-sweetened straight VA
Pipe Used: falcon & meers
PurchasedFrom: Synjeco
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