Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Brown Flake Liquorice

3rdguy

Not a bad smoke. The licorice topping is very light, much more then say Blackpool or Dark Strong Kentucky. Takes quite a few lights to get going but once it is you will have a care free smoke. Can bite a bit when pushed. Puts out quite a bit of smoke if you are into that.

Decent flavor but not a blend that grabbed me in special any way.

This is a blend I debated on trying for quite some time now, but every time I thought about ordering it, no one had it in stock. Finally, Smokingpipes.com alerted me via email it was back in stock.

I ordered 4 oz, just in case it was an overpowering, overcased aromatic of the American genre. I waited with anticipation for it to arrive with the other various G&H blends they shipped my way.

On arrival, the long wide flakes appeared to be uniform and even, mostly comprised of dark brown Va, with some light colored burley layered in. Just about every G&H flake I order, is a bit too moist to smoke on arrival. I would rub out a pipeful and wait 30 minutes or so to let the future bowl dry out a bit.

Pouch aroma is sweet and hay like. On a strong inhalation, only then is the faint aroma is licorice detectable. This isn't a strong anise aroma, but a diminished scent of licorice candy. Nothing sweet or cloying about this blend.

If this blend isn't dried a bit before packing, it is quite difficult to keep it lit.

To me this blend smokes fairly dry on the palate. I detect little to no licorice, just the basic Brown Flake. Can smoke astringent if puffed hard, so be careful. This blend does nothing for me, but 3 stars for quality tobacco.

At this point I feel I've tried enough GH&C aromatic flakes to conclude their flavor is in the bag/tin and not in the smoke. This concoction's punch was even tamer upon first whiff. Sure, it was definitely liquorice (black), but nowhere near as topped as other similar Aromatics (ie. Mixture 79), which is a bummer for this Aro fan.

Then something magical happened. The flavor actually developed in the smoke! I honestly can't think of an Aromatic that is more flavorful lit, than unlit. Mind you it wasn't a candy rollercoaster, but something really worked here, creating a robust deep profile to elevate these earthy pressed leaves. Perhaps the Lakeland sprinkles (yeah there are some present) help tie it all together.

Package note Rasin, sweet ripe fruit, and lightly anise. Tobacco flakes are marbled light, medium and dark brown and fairly dense, cubes nicely and/or rubs out with a little effort. Tobacco is a little sticky, some drying out may be needed. Burns slow with relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild-medium. Flavoring is extremely mild. Taste is medium and consistent beginning to end, with notes of ripe fruit, sweet grass, toasted nuts, earth, floral, and a hint of spice. Virginias is driving with burley riding shotgun and the flavoring is napping in the back. Room note is pleasant, and aftertaste was great.