Samuel Gawith Squadron Leader

I have been smoking SL on and off for about two years now and it has taken me that long to really get a feel for why this is an on/off tobacco for me. SL is a very steady “Oriental leading” English blend. I enjoy blends such as this with heavy Oriental and light Latakia as Early Morning Pipe is one of my all time favorites. SL smokes smoothly out of the tin, doesn't bite, and ages nicely. The quality of the tobacco is also very good. SL simply lacks that extra something that keeps me interested in a world filled with English blend choices. By the time I reach the end of the tin I am anxious to get on to something else. I am fortunate enough to have a couple of sleeves left as it is difficult to obtain here in the US. With that in mind, SL is a little too pedestrian to keep me hunting for it in the future. Given the choice of Sam Gawith English blends, I think Skiff is a better choice. Recommended.

I loaded up a Pete with some Squadron Leader three weeks ago and damn near forgot about it. It's been sitting in my little rack, entirely neglected by my absent mindedness. I hadn't put the thing to fire yet and can't quite remember why I hadn't gotten to it. Anyhow, someone else must have laid the pipe back in its home. Ten minutes ago I stared at this sight. "Should I smoke this," I thought? I prodded the top layer of tobacco in the pipe. It was dried to an absolute crisp. So I set down my tin of London Mixture and fired her up. Man, this is good stuff.

Squadron Leader is, to me, the definition of an every day, always pleasing English blend. The flavoring is slightly sweet, slight sour, and even has a caramel taste to me if I smoke it slow enough. If you get it in a tin it has to be dried out a bit I've found, but I never buy it in tin anymore - I buy it in bulk/loose straight from P&C, which is a better cut in my opinion. The leaf is stringy, and keeps a light better.

Regarding packing and lighting, this baby will stay lit all day as long as your false light is good enough - I've found the tobacco will quickly go out if I don't char the tobacco rim sufficiently, but I don't think that's really the fault of the blend, but more of my impatience sometimes.

I've never been a huge English fan - I always stray towards Virginias... but Squadron Leader is my gateway drug, and I always have at least a half pound on hand in case I don't know what to smoke - it has never let me down, and it's not too strong or too light to make me wonder if I'm not in the mood for it. It's just right. It's also very well priced, so you can get a half pound for $20 shipped.

I cannot talk to the old Squadron Leader tins I see sometimes at shows or on eBay, but if it ages well I can only imagine that it's vibrant as I think. Highly recommended if you've never tried it... but seeing as it's one of the best selling bulk blends, I doubt many of us are left that haven't!

Like many have said before me, this is a baseline English blend. If you like English blends, you're bound to like Squadron Leader—and, I do. However, because this blend is what it is, a baseline, it sits about in the middle when compared to the multitude of other English blends out there. When I'm in the mood for consistency, I reach for this; when I'm in the mood for more excitement I definitely reach for other English blends like Beck's Ol Limey, Chipman Hill or even Balkan Supreme. I try to always keep SL in stock, for it reminds me of what an English blend used to be, back in simpler times. A classic blend, but not as good or fun as other blends out there right now.

I have no idea what this tobacco was like. I had recently a tin of it, smoked it, enjoyed it, and forgot about it. I've smoked this years ago, and I remember I liked it. I liked it now also. Nothing memorable, nothing distinctive, but still good English blend, nothing negative either. Goes well with booze, smoke is creamy enough, and Latakia is just the right amount. Good for smoking outdoors and in the winter. Stays lit, burns well. (not very usual for SG blends). Tin note has that sour oriental note, but when lit, you hardly catch it in the background. Still present but faintly. Anyways, good smoke, a decent English in my humble opinion. I have one more tin, I'll age it a bit and see what it's like when aged.

Another great English blend with a bit of heritage behind it. The great ones tend to last. In SL you will find a well balanced base of tobaccos with the edge going to the Turkish. This is precisely the kind of blend that rings bells for me.

A thin ribbon cut of the full spectrum of the standard English colors with just a tad more moisture than I prefer. A small amount of air time cures that. The loading is easy, and the lighting is a breeze due to the cut.

Turkish is the star from the beginning, and that doesn't change alot through the bowl. The other components start to sing along with the Turkish almost immediately and their volume picks up as the bowl progresses so the turkish becomes a partner to the Latakia and Virginia. Very well done blending by a reputable house makes all the difference.

The strength is a tad light for me as an all day smoke. Just shy of a solid medium, but will hold your interest with it's outstanding flavor that falls soloidly in the med-full category.

No bite, no excessive moisture when smoked. Not a rotation tobacco for me due to the strength, but I will keep my remaining tins in the cellar for enjoyment at a later date. These tins have 3 years age on them, and I would like to try again in a couple more years. A must try for all english lovers, and tame enough for the beginner with a sense of adventure. Cheers!

Like the other recent reviewers it is hard to add anything new other than one additional response. SL is a favorite Saturday morning smoke for me; the orientals blend well with a strong cup of coffee and the Latakia is present but in the background. It's a really fine blend. The only reason I don't rate it a 4 is as the others stated, there are other English blends with a bit more character as far as my taste buds are concerned. But, I'd rate it a 3.5 if I could and will always keep it around.

Adding to the original review: I just finished a tin of the Chicago Pipe Show blend for 2008, which allegedly added some perique. Can't say I really tasted much difference from the regular SL but it was excellent, too.

My little participation and humble opinion: Squadron Leader SL: Classic English blend. Latakia, Virginias and Turkish Orientals. All mixed smoothly. In this blend there is no anything tobbaco main here. There is not here Latakia bomb, whitout Virginia sweetness , gram, leather. For me, this is a wonderful and high quality tobacco and no are like say, a Latakia bomb and isn't a nicotine power. That is a smooth and balanced classic english blend. But that doesn't mean this mix is ​​bad. It is not a negative Squadron Leader qualification. It's that classic english blend and especially suitable for who want go the "english blend world". Smooth and agradable on palate and a good smell of tin. The tin aroma is slightly perfumy or soapy. But smoked and definitive leather and your bouquet is fine. In Squadron Leader, all components are harmoniously blended. It's 200 years old experience in tobacco work from Lake, Kendall Cumbria UK. This is one of my favorite English blends. My Review about Squadron Leader (in portuguese language)

https://youtu.be/Xtcv6d0QamI

It’s mild, musty, earthy, campfire flavor, with some sweet, and sour tones. It’s a little over hyped, but It is worth a go. If someone asked me to recommend a light mild English blend, this would be on the list. It’s also great for someone just getting into this category. It tends to bite me a little. I’m not sure what’s causing it. It’s expensive, and it’s difficult to get in the states. Other than that it’s pretty good.