Samuel Gawith Squadron Leader

This is the first time I have smoked SL, and I was speechless: I felt as if I had been smoking this tobacco all my life. I smoked it in a new briar ( I will try in a meerschaum next). It has a very nice aroma, where the different tobaccos blend into a wonderfully balanced bouquet. It burns perfect: you can smoke it in a steady gentle puff without overheating it. It is the type of tobacco that reminds me why I love smoking pipe so much. Enjoy .

Addendum: smokes/burns faster than I would expect. the Turkish tobacco is there, with the latakia circling around . meerschaum,briar...smokes the same: consistent smoke . It reminds me to some of the old Dunhill mixtures ( I cannot remember which one).

I bought this tobacco on the basis of reviews on this website. I must start by saying I'm not a massive fan of latakia, however this is a well made tobacco that is quite tasty but mild enough for an all day smoke if you're into latakia (which is, I guess, why it gets such good reviews).

Dry in the tin, packs well, lights easily, burns coolly and doesn't bite.

Resolution on tin sticker could be better however IMO.

Glad I tried it.

It's back !!!

It seemed quite fitting to upgrade this to my original review. I've left my previous comments untouched. The good news is that whatever quality issues have seemed to drive me away from a few SG blends appear to be gone. SL has returned to it's previous high standard, and as such, has made its way back my top shelf. All of my 2005 observations are again in play in the latest purchased tins of 'new' production.

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9-29-06 TWO STARS I'm forced to slightly downgrade my review from last year although I'm leaving it intact. The quality of this blenders product seems to have declined and while it is a classic blend, I feel compelled to react accordingly. I fear the qualities of the VAs have deteriorated.

Cheers, VC

9-23-05: FOUR STARS I've read most the reviews herein and I must say ... collaborations on taste facinate me because we're limited to conveying in words likes and dislikes. I look very forward to spotting reviewers that I have been able to identify that best represent my tastes and do further research. While not fond of real gussied-up tabaks, I do have a broad palate and don't need latakia in every blend to love it, I also am fonder of medium strong to strong tobaccos.

Squadron leader has my highest respect. I like this tobacco before meals since I find it perks up my taste buds. The Turkish component is rich and complex, the Latakia very well balanced and the Virginias are equally complex and tasty. This is one of my preferred afternoon smokes.

35 years ago, when I was dabbling with Captain Black, Flying Dutchman and aromatic tobaccos this tobacco would have smelled like a car fire and tasted as bad. Today, millions of miles later ... after quitting smoking, going to cigarettes (Turkish blends)... back to pipe and cigars .... quit and back to pipes again; its a pleasure to say I like this tobacco from the moment I open the tin until the I run a cleaner through the pipe. It's cool, tasty, can be relit repeatedly when activities force it and it interesting through the bowl. It burns clean and complete, a wonderful blending job of burning qualities. I highly recommend it.

I have been a big fan of Dunhill My Mixture 965 only to find out that it is soon to become unavailable. I have always preferred English Mixtures that contain a goodly percentage of Latikia and Orientals with a dash of Turkish and maybe a hint of cigar leaf and 965 very nearly fit the bill, anyhow it was my preferred mixture. Where to go next. I had read other reviews of SL and liked what I read so I duly picked up a couple of 50gms tins yesterday along with a new Chacom Maya briar. I was to be in for a very pleasant surprise indeed. Not only did SL meet all my preferred criteria, it did so in abundance, I am hooked. This mixture has all the right ingredients but somehow it manages to separate them out and offer them delightfully. I will make SL my daily fair. I am also pleased that the blender is based in Cumbria which borders my own home county, West Yorkshire

This is a nice mild/medium English that I will sometimes mix with some perique. The tin contents come a little moist and needs some drying time. This is well balanced...the VAs don't dominate but let the latakia and turkish really shine. Excellent taste and nutty, smokey aroma. I find this works really well in one of my larger bowled pipes, one I have dedicated for English blends. Good volume of smoke and not too pricey...very nice.

This is my current go to English blend. As you smoke it, the complexity of the blend comes alive. The sweetness of the Virginia is perfectly complimented bt the smokiness of the Latakia and spiciness of the Turkish. A wonderful sophisticated English/Balkan blend.

This stuff is great. I like Balkan's and lots of Latakia. I like the flavor and the consistancy out of the tin has been just fine. I can't add anything more to the good reviews of it here;

however,

I do wonder why folks that prefer Aromatics or Black Cavendish blends ding a blend like this for not being in their wheelhouse?

I'm probably not the best judge of the medium English genre, preferring a lighter and slightly sweet English style blend for daytime cravings and heavier/Balkan blends for a late night smoke.

Maybe my tastebuds have been damaged by sampling one too many bowls of Dan aromatics and Mac Baren products but I don't taste anything extraordinary about the much ballyhooed, Squadron Leader.

It's a nicely balanced and nicely priced, solid smoke, but overall I'd view it as a horseplayer might view a 5-1 shot in a full field of contenders.

Looking at the ratings for all Sam Gawith tobaccos, it's interesting that this popular brand has but one **** blend (with a decent number of reviews), that being FVF.

This is pretty much how I see the Sam Gawith line. Good, but not great products, but I'll defer to you ME fans on this one.

***UPDATE I have to update my review and take off a star. The last tin I opened -- a more recent purchase -- showed a real decline in quality. The Latakia has lost its pop, the VAs have lightened -- the color of the blend had shifted from brown-black to yellow-brown. It's become a boring light English. Maybe just a bad tin -- but NapaWineLover reports a similar complaint. Either Squadron Leader has become inconsistent or a great blend is in decline. Too bad, either way. ***END UPDATE

I never thought anything could hold a candle to Margate ? until I tried Squadron Leader. There is enough Latakia to satisfy any reasonable demand, and it?s perfectly balanced with Orientals for complexity and with Virginias for a hint of sugar. Not all Latakia is created equal, and I think this stuff is superior to whatever goes into Dunhill or McClelland?s or CAO blends (and I like Old Ironsides!). Overall, Squadron Leader is lighter than Margate or Nightcap or Penzance, both in color and on the palate. Ordinarily that would be a criticism in my book, but in this case it?s a virtue. The lightness allows the Virginias and Orientals to stand out better against the Latakia, resulting in a strong, vibrant smoke for any time of day or night.

Squadron Leader burns well right of the tin to a fine pale ash, getting sweeter and more intense as you move down the bowl. It benefits from a large bowl: I smoke it in a Ser Jacopo Picta Picasso 24. In short, this is the perfect middleweight English, a desert island blend.

Did I mention that it?s cheap to boot? You can get it online for under $6 per 50g. Plus the picture on the tin is pretty irresistible.