Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. No. 7 Broken Flake

#7 Broken Flake, yet another Gawith,Hoggarth floral blend. This one comes like a lot of G&H flakes end up anyway- broken. It smokes well just by packing as is. Though floral, it is much less so than, say Ennerdale or Bosun Cut Plug. The floral aspect quickly recedes, though it is detectable throughout the bowl via french inhaling. The Va flavor is very sweet and dominates in the second half of the bowl.

I agree with the above reviewers that there is a resemblence to Broken Scotch Cake and to Scotch Flake (very similar) as well. This seems to be a lot stronger in the nicotine than those however, and is best enjoyed in a small bowl.

I am still deciding which of the floral flakes I favor most, and this one is in the running.

Let's start on this tobacco's most obvious aspect: it is scented. When I got my GH sampler, I thought this would be as unpleasant as Conniston Cut Plug. I put the sample off until everything else had been smoked. In hindsight, that was an error.

Two things distinguish this from CCP. First, there is true Virginia flavor in the tobacco. Another reviewer mentioned that he recognized Scottish Flake-type characteristics, and I agree. This has that warm, cake-like flavor that makes so many GH flakes so satisfying. Second, the topping actually complements these flavors. The topping remains throughout the smoke, but recedes considerably, to the point where it becomes an integrated element of the blend.

I never thought this would appeal to me, but I was mistaken. Very tasty.

I love Gawith-Hoggarth.
#7 is a a bit of change-of-pace smoke for me, but no less brilliant than my favorites from GH. Soft and creamy in a way that isn’t typical for VA blends. Lakeland (and apparently some vanilla) topping is present, and I know that may dissuade some folks. But I find the Lakeland burns off not long after the true light takes hold, and what’s left is a cool, creamy, dreamy smoke. (Although, if I’m being honest, that first few minutes are sort of like sucking on Grandma’s ornamental soap. But get past that and you’re in for a real treat!)

I'd forgotten smoking this, but found my notes from years ago when I lived in Preston and used to buy my tobacco from the Magazine Shop by the station. They had a magnificent selection of the lake district baccies and I used to get something different every time.

I found this a bit more controlled in the perfume department than Ennerdale Flake, with subtle florals that didn't dominate the tobacco. The tobacco was mild, bite free and smoked slowly and cool. It seems people enjoyed the aroma too. Perhaps I should give this one another try!

It's been a while since i tried a new aromatic blend.once the tin opens a nice sweet floral smell comes out.A deeper smell reveals some vanilla notes accompanied with some spices.the mostly dark brown flakes are smooth and manageable either to fold as they are or to rub.Whatever you choose some drying time is needed.The lighting is easy with some relights required.while smoking you instantly realize that the virginias are the main ingridient.Lots of grasses ,citruses,bread notes and some fruits give a rich flavour.The dark fired burleys are mostly spicy without being overwhelming.last but not least the burleys add some froral,peppery and nutty flavours.The lakeland style topping is obvious from the first puff untill the last.the main flavour is soapy with rich floral flavours.the vanilla add is obvious but not strong.Generally i found the flavours rich,very well combined in a pleasant way.Burns cool and slow to perfect ash with some moisture left at the filter.No tongue bite happens even if pushed hard.It can ghost a pipe easy.the nicotine level is above medium wich is the weak point of this blend.The room note is pleasant.An easy going all day blend.Recommended.I would give it 4 stars if the nicotine level was a bit higher.

Aromatic tobaccos fall into the Danish scope or range, which is not the case here. Rather, No. 7 Broken Flake is a Lakeland blend, so I'd not class it as a true aromatic. Having said that, the Lakeland topping seems to wane pretty soon. Then, all you are being left with is a virginia/burley blend that is more burleyish than virginia like because of the flue curing process. Also, it seems to pack a little bit of a wallop in terms of nicotine strength, which becomes more and more apparent as you progress with your smoke. The burley leaf it contains seems to add a little bit of depth, but the backbone of this blend is the flue cured virginia thereof. The smoking experience is quite satisfying and cool. borderline full-bodied, but soft on the palate. On the downside, I really cannot see any drawbacks or shortcomings, but I am not overtly impressed, so a rating of 3 stars seems appropriate.

Another nice offering from GH. Medium brown broken flakes - similar to Rum Flake - and with a moisture content suitable for immediate smoking. Very mild cocoa scent from the bag and some florals and soap as typical of GH. Loading and lighting were a breeze. The overall smoke was one of a slight spice to the tongue (not bite). It didn't smoke hot or produce any moisture while smoking. A typical Burley Virginia mixture, moderately spicy. Mildly floral, not soapy, no discernible taste of cocoa, but this is picked up while lighting and in the side stream. No overt floral taste except for the slight bitterness (in a good way) that florals always seem to have from GH. Would be a good start for those trying out Lakelands. A little more flavoring for me would have been preferred. Overall recommended and definitely one for my weekly rotation.

As always, I recommend my beloved traditional soapy blends! This in particular could please even who usually doesn't like this kind of blend, because the flavouring is mild in the beginning and almost disappears going on down the bowl. The leaves involved are top quality, as usual with G&H, the burning cool and dry and without any tongue bite. Very good.

If you like scented flakes, you'll probably like this one. At the beginning of the bowl the scenting can be a bit over-the-top, but it quickly settles in to a lovely background for a really good Virginia tobacco. I prefer to smoke ol' number 7 in a larger pipe; it burns nice and slow and stays "in the zone" for an extended period. I like this one a lot.