Samuel Gawith Kendal Cream Deluxe Flake

This is a wonderful virginia/burley flake. Some topping but I think it really adds to the blend rather than takes away. I give it some drying time -- where I am it stays at about 15% humidity so I don't dry it too long, maybe 30 min.. I fully rub it out and generally enjoy it in a clay that holds about 3/4 of a flake. A real treat. No bite - lights easy, stays lit. Slightly sweet. Simple stuff. Reminds me some of MacBaren's Navy Flake or even Mixture Flake maybe a little sweeter and fuller, thicker flakes. Enjoy!

My first flake tobacco (I have since had two others, all by Samuel Gawith). It does have a certain creaminess to it, but the tobacco flavor is there and pleasant. The room note is wonderful and mild. I found that this particular blend has quite a bit of nicotine, which I don't mind, but it has got me craving the stuff so much that I've begun to use swedish snus to experience some nicotine in inclement weather or where I cannot smoke.

Very nice burley in this one, and the added essence was mild enough to just top things off, not overpower the tobacco. Another winner from SG.

update: going through my reviews here, i find that i'll have to downgrade a good deal of the praise i've given so many blends. 4 stars should, i feel, be reserved for the blends i find truly exceptional. so, this is downgraded a bit. end update.

tin aroma: mmmm. absolutely delicious, with a pronounced smell of well aged virginia; the flavouring subdued, and the burley only just recognizable.

rather moist, though not, perhaps, as much as other gawith tin flakes. lights allright without drying, but is easier after a couple hours drying in the pipe.

taste: the burley and the flavouring become a lot more pronounced than in the tin aroma, but are still tied together by the exquisite virginia. there's a slight sweetness, a little tartness, and first of all it's earthy and slightly floral/vanilly (in a tonquin-like way.

this is somewhat similar to "warrior plug" in the over all flavour profile, with perhaps a bit less virginia taste, a more pronounced burley, and a little less "chewy" mouthfeel. though it packs quite a punch, it's very smooth.

a fine blend!

This review is of a bulk purchase (8 ounces). The tobacco was moist but not overly when it arrived. It is much like best brown burley but with more high notes.

It hasn't burned yet and I am a hot smoker. The pipe seems to get richer and more flavorful as you go deeper in the bowl. If I am smoking on an empty stomach it can give a little light headedness but no problems under normal conditions.

Again my one complaint of SG flakes is that some get so thick as to negatively effect the load and the smoke. Variety of thickness is fine until it gets too thick.

All an all a favorite.

A good smoke if you want a decent tasting tobacco that gives a nice room note. I let this one dry in one of four clay sugar pots I bought at a secondhand store some time ago. It smokes MUCH better when dry.

I detect the flavoring more than anything else in this blend. It's nice, unassuming, but it is certainly not a pure tobacco experience. It has a similar feel to MacBaren navy flake, but with a bit more flavor, and that flavor is definitely there on the nose and the tongue, gently masking the burley.

This one is more "Cream" than "Kendal" and it's not so bad for it.

Incredibly delicious tobacco, it gives an explosion of thousands tastes and flavors during the smoking experience, tasty and rich, not soapy at all!

This tobacco is not intended for fast pipe smoke, it has been created for conscious enjoyment, it require you full attention, it is better to smoke this before bed, as your last smoke of the day, because any other blend smoked just after KCF seems to be tasteless .

It works better for me when folding and packing the flake in long narrow bowl, an extremely slow puffing is the only way to enjoy it; this is a wonderful late evening blend, contemplative smoke with your solitude, just laying down doing nothing but smoking KCF, in a relaxing and peaceful silence, wonderful experience!

It works great with sweet black tea, very good tobacco, Truly Exceptional! Highly Recommended!

Lakelands fascinate me, but Kendall Cream floors me - floral, soapy, buttermilky, anisette-tinged, nic-charged, burley-esque - individually things I would never claim to enjoy, but Gawith brings them all together in a melange that can only come from genius. Cream is one thing, but Kendall Cream Flake is Devonshire (that stuff comes from cows?). What ties it all together is the sweet-tart Virginia. I don't have the words. This stuff is a delight not to be missed. : j

I'm glad that I waited to review KCF. (saves an edit) Upon arrival I found it strongly scented, and not a very pleasureable smoke. I had the same impression after several bowls. I put the bag away for sevearl weeks, and revisited it today. What a change. The aroma has softened, and the taste is great. Mild, sweet, cool, lots of smoke. Dried, and rubbed out the pack, light, and burn is PERFECT. I will be getting more of this......lots more!Rate * * * *