Samuel Gawith Hansom Flake

P&C Exclusive Samuel Gawith Hansom Flake Review

While opening, the tin note is a very mild chocolate mixed with Play-Doh. The smell is almost non-existent. The tobacco itself is typical Gawith flakes that are lightly folded to fit in the tin. The folding causes the flakes to shred a bit. I decided to use a very large bowl to get any nuance these flakes might be hiding.

Due to the natural shredding of the folded flakes, I decided to lightly rub out the tobacco instead of my beloved fold and stuff method. I only allowed the tobacco to dry for about 5 minutes because my experience with Samuel Gawith blends have shown me that the more moist the tobacco is, the more flavor it will provide.

After lighting the tobacco with my hemp rope I immediately noticed two things. First, pure sweetness. Second, floral essences. As I smoked both of these subdued a little and a bit of spice (possibly even a touch of pepper) started to shine brighter. Upon retro-hale the spice and/or pepper would completely run me over.

As the bowl progressed the sweetness, floral essences, as well as the spice/pepper all melded together. The retro-hale never knocked me down with the spice and/or pepper for the rest of the bowl and became dominated by the floral essences. That mild chocolate and Play-Doh of the original tin note started to appear in the smoke ever so slightly and merged with the sweetness, the floral essences, and spice/pepper. This melding of flavors held through the entire bowl. Very smooth from then on out.

The Virginias themselves decided to come out of hiding about half way through the bowl. Grass and a touch of hay were noticeable until the end of the bowl. But always in the very back corner of the room. I smoked this blend for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. The tobacco burned to a fine grey ash. It required a fair amount of relights (but remember it is a huge bowl). It filled my Kirsten's valve with quite a bit of liquid. So much that I was forced to empty it about half way.

The tobacco is an easy 3.5 out of 5 stars. Possibly even 4 stars. A very smooth all day smoke. Very little Vitamin N to be found here. As long as you don't expect huge flavor going in . . . you will find a very pleasant experience.

~ Barry

I like Lakeland's, so a new blend from Sammy G is something to get excited about. I ordered 7 tins. When they arrived, 6 out of 7 tins had "burped" and lost their seal. Probably due to haphazard packing. I quickly transfered the 6 tins to a mason jar. The tobacco was fresh and a bit moist, but not SG sopping wet. These are large flakes (like you get with Gawith bulks) folded over to fit in the tin. The flakes fall apart easily. I just folded and stuffed without any dry time. The flakes light right up and don't require any relights, or at least not many. Nice fine smooth grassy/hay taste. There's perique here, but it's not very peppery. Overall an easy-going smooth smoke. So what's missing? You have to search for the Lakeland essence. It must have been applied with a very light hand. If you're looking for a light entry into Lakelands, this could do it. If Lakelands are your thing, you'll be left wanting. Overall a nice smooth pipe I enjoyed with a tall coffee early this rainy morning.

This is my very first review on P&T. The first observation is the apparently new packaging design utilized by Samuel Gawith. The 50g tin has a hard cardboard rectangular "cover" inside with two fingerholes which protects the tobacco. The cardboard is attached to the tin cover by four round globs of mucilage--the type of glue commonly used when you receive a new credit card. I am unclear as to purpose, but it does not seem to have created any sort of deleterious effect on the tobacco. The tin note has an unmistakable chocolate/cocoa fragrance which does not manifest when smoked. The flakes are moist (as appears typical for Gawaith blends). I let dry for some 5 minutes. Initial char was actually somewhat harsh. The true Virginia/Perique blend appeared about a third of the way into the bowl and ultimately developed into a very smooth and enjoyable smoke. Customary sweet grass and hay noted for the Virginia and a bit of peppery Perique spice , especially on the retrohale. The Lakeland Essence was not noticeable in any way. A perfectly fine tobacco and to my liking, but not a "favorite", which remains reserved for McBaren's Navy Flake and the late lamented Essex of the Owl Pipe Shop of New Haven (the latter apparently impossible to re-create). A firm 3 stars.

A bit unusually, this tin was on the dry side. The flakes were therefore not at their most bendable. Still, fairly easy to pack. The tobaccos were just on the mild-medium side as opposed to medium, while the added flavors also seemed mild-to-medium. The main flavor seemed to be Tonquin (but not overwhelmingly so), with dried dark fruit (from the Perique) and (unexpectedly) a hint of chocolate. Pleasant.

I was feeling a craving for a few VaPers and burleys, and wanting to smoke down some jars so I have somewhere to put new tins I decided to review this. There are quite a few Samuel Gawith blends I'd like to try, but availability is hit or miss here in the states. I got this one off an exclusive deal from pipesandcigars and thought it was my lucky day. I have to say when I first opened the tin it was pretty unassuming and I remember being unsure of what I thought of it in general, so I did the time aged practice of jarring it and waiting till something changes.

When you first open you tin, which I really like the size of, you will see a rather thick cardboard insert, after you remove that the tobacco is packed pretty tightly in a long broken up flake. It wasn't too wet when I got it and it rubbed out easily enough. The tin note is bready, chocolaty, nutty, raisiny, and sweet. This does smell delicious with age, sort of like a fine box of chocolates. It is easy to light, and it keeps its light pretty well.

Now this has a lot of varying tastes. When you first light up the Virginia shines through and gives a wonderful bready smoke, there may be some sort of chocolate topping because it does come through not enough to cover the other tobaccos but it is there. There is another topping on this and it is floral, but it is much less than the chocolate that I'm detecting. The perique is tasty, and I can taste its dark fruit and spice.

The taste here is probably a medium, it doesn't coat your mouth but it is and average sort of mouth-feel. The strength here is nothing too crazy either, I give it a medium too. This is an easy going blend that could easily be an all day smoke. I can taste all the tobaccos and the toppings add a pleasant uplift. If this is my first taste, I can't wait to find more Samuel Gawith to try in the future.

Tin note is very pleasant. Chocolate like notes with some almost fruity notes melding into a fine Molasses like aroma.

Flavor and strength is close let to medium than light. Mostly fine Virginia notes can be picked up if you close your eyes and focus. Flowery notes indeed go well with the Virginia. A very light hand of perique may be here. A few things going on when you focus, but it’s non complex really, however it’s pleasant and very enjoyable.

Indeed different than most Gawith offerings. Much dryer, stays lit better, and little bite after it mellows in a jar for a month or so.

Taking everything into account, I like this blend. Something about it draws me to it. I think I will recommend this blend. But smoke slowly, and don’t over expect.

Edit 3/10/2021

Time out of the tin has done this a lot of mellowing on the bite. I reach for this more often than I expected I ever would. I am getting very round and creamy smokes now. It’s really is a nice smoke and it’s different than what is usually packed into my pipes. I will definitely buy more.

When this was released, I quickly ordered 10 tins, as I enjoy both Va/Per.’s and Lakeland blends. What arrived was quite good, but not exactly what I was expecting. Hansom Flake is a tasty Virginia/Perique Flake with a very mild baking cocoa topping. I don’t get any of the floral Lakeland essence that was promised, at best it smells like it was briefly stored in the same room as something like Grousemoor. I do enjoy this and I’ll keep the rest of my tins, but I won’t be buying anymore, unless it ages in an unexpected way.

Tin was tightly sealed. upon opening, I was greeted with notes of mildly pungent, strong hay, and sour fruit. Tobacco was haphazardly stuffed into the tin making the marbled tan, brown and dark brown flake stick together in a giant clump. Tobacco is on the dry side for SG and rubbed out with a little effort. No drying needed. Burns slow with a few extra relights. The strength is mild to medium and nic is mild to medium. Flavoring is very mild, with notes floral/Lakeland that disappears almost instantly. Others have noted chocolate or Tonquin bean, but I never detected any. Taste is mild to medium and consistent, with notes of hay, earth, floral, moderately spicy, bitter woody, spiced Rasin bread, stewed plums, a tangy lemon background note, and a peppery retro. Virginias is leading with perique supporting. Flavoring made a half-assed attempt to show but left the party early. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great.

This one grew on me. Straight out of the tin got very little flavor. After 6 months in a jar it was a different tobacco. Burned extremely well. Very nice flakes with a few sugar crystals. Not overly wet. Floral notes with a little spice and a definite but occasional chocolate essence. Very nice and easy smoking tobacco. Not a flavor bomb but not boring either. A pleasant smoke.