Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. No. 7 Broken Flake

Let me say that I am a fan of the British Highland type of blends, I just love Condor so I am not new to toppings on a good Virginia base. This blend falls into this catagory and I have enjoyed it, I just don't love it. For my tastes, it is a little to mild on the topping to be in this catagory yet to topped for a good VA lover. It comes in a broken flake and must be rubbed out a bit and I liked it best dried out overnight. It is a mix of medium to dark brown color and the pouch aroma is somewhat tangy yet sweet. It produces on first light, and it does light very easily and stays lit well, it produces a semi sweet, creamy smoke with a tartness to it. I did not find it overly soapy nor did I ever really taste nay vanilla in it though I could detect it in the room note. The room note is pleasant, sweet and not cigarette like as a lot of VA's can be. As I smoked it down the bowl, it never had any bite but if smoked to fast it got a little unpleasant but smoked slow it is a nice smoke. It never really gained any strenth to speak of until the last of the bowl and then it got a little harsh. It burned down without relites and to a light grey ash and a little dottle at the bottom of the pipe. While I would say this is an enjoyable blend, I can't highly recommend it, there are better in it's type. But I will smoke the rest I have and will enjoy it.

Upon opening No. 7, I was struck by a sharp perfume-like odor that didn't really bode well for the smoke to come. While I normally like GH & Co's mildly flavored tobaccos, I found this particular topping to be very distasteful. The harsh (I initially thought it was burning too hot), synthetic perfume-like flavor persists through the beginning of the smoke. Like other reviewers have noted, this eventually subsides to what turns out to be a fairly pleasant smoke. If only one could get around the first few minutes! I was not impressed even after setting it aside for a few weeks and giving it a second try. This is one to pass off to a friend who, hopefully, may find the flavoring to their liking. Perhaps you'll have a better experience.

Too much flavoring for me. It is not a scent I enjoy. Quality tobacco otherwise. I might try letting this dry and try it later. Sometimes that will subdue a too-strong flavoring.

Two types of smells and smokes from this tobacco I have learned. Sometimes, and every second bowl, like dry mushrooms I have had feeling of.

Interesting lakeland type of tobacco. Floral essence is dominating. There was something disturbing me. I dont like smell of lavender, thus this flower is part of toping most probably. Second flavor I have smelled was vanilla. (and as was mentioned in prolog, maybe mushrooms)

Tobacco is accurate moist. It is more enjoyable loosely packed in bowl. Major taste is toping, but you can easily feel sweetness from VA. There is no moisture from tobacco, need only few relights.

Have to say quality of tobacco is really high. I can lake-style of tobaccos, but this one is oscillating from 1 to 4. Finally, I would recommend somewhat.

I had few bowls of this fine tobacco as my friend gave me some to try it out. He smokes this a lot, and in his office you can always smell some of it's aroma. I liked it from the first puff, as it reminded me of the Condor and st. Bruno. Not exactly that Lakeland floral aroma, but there is something that resembles. There sure is a geranium rose essence in the casing. Maybe there is vanilla also, but I didn't smell it at all. It's a mellow smoke, because of the burley I guess. Still not as good and straight forward as straight VA's. As predominantly latakia and VA/Vaper smoker, I found this interesting enough, also satisfying, not overwhelming, and a smoke that can go perfectly in the morning with your coffee. It bothers however if you smoke it constantly. You get fed up with it and bored. There is something nasty about these Lakeland style aromatics that don't let you smoke them all the way. There is just a limit for the floral smell after which it gets not artificial, but just "too much". Add a bit of dark aroma (vanilla maybe?) to that, and it becomes heavy. As a treat every once in a while it's ok, but not for every day, not for a regular smoke. Just like the cake and the bread. You can eat bread everytime, but you get fed up with cakes and sweets easily.

But that's just my opinion as a LAT/VA/VA-Per smoker. Others may find it delightful.

Very strong tobacco. I have some trouble with rubbing out the flake. But thats due to inexperience.

The tin aroma is amazing but it is too much for an inexperienced smoker.

I will definitely try this again in a few months.