Samuel Gawith Kendal Cream Deluxe Flake

This is from a couple of eBay tins dated 11/09. Pretty dry out of the tin, with a fair bit of whitish bloom on the bark-like flakes. Fold-and-stuff never worked too well, because the flakes wouldn't fold, they just broke in half. I had to rub out at least half a flake for tinder, and hit it a few times with the lighter to get it going. Once it got going though, I got that nice white layer of ash on top, it smoked very coolly, and bite was a nonissue.

Tin note is very distinctive: milk chocolate and powdered milk overlaying figs and smashed raisins, and beginning flavor follows the tin note with milk chocolate, powdered milk and a bit of figgy tobacco taste. Fairly one-note on the way down, although the chocolate and milk start deferring to the figs and tobacco. I would have preferred they didn't, given that this is a cream flake, but it wasn't unpleasant on the whole. The famous Lakeland flavor joins the party, and it comes through to me as "laundry powder". It doesn't sound good, and on its own or in large quantities, I don't think it would be. But as a team player with the slowly receding milk chocolate, it somehow works. A very mild, bright, spring-time sort of effect.

Smoked outside on a breezy spring day, this tobacco wanted a few relights, and that was unfortunate. Kendal Cream Flake doesn't like heat. Relit or puffed hard, a really disagreeable plasticky flavor comes out, along with an acrid ashen smell that burns the nose. If smoking inside is at all an option, I definitely recommend that. I don't retrohale this one either; the only flavor through the nose is burnt plastic and sawdust. Sipping slowly, you get cream, straight tobacco and a little ashy tang, among plumes of wispy but satisfying smoke. I came for the cream, but the honest straight tobacco is not going to drive me off. Tasty, if monotone. But monotone is not a bad thing, if the thing gets started off on the right foot.

The nicotine level is sturdy. Again, hitting this one too hard is not a good idea in my book. Sip it slowly, almost mincingly, and it carries you along nicely. Start sucking on it, and you'll feel it in the stomach and head. The bowl didn't burn all the way down, partly because I didn't rub it out as fully as I should have, but also because I didn't feel like finishing the bowl. It's just a little too much for me. A nicotine lightweight like me might get all they want from half a flake at a time, I think.

Kendal Cream is one of those things that is unmistakably itself. If what you want is Kendal Cream Flake, you're going to have to smoke Kendal Cream Flake, because there's nothing else quite like it (that I've smoked, anyway).

So I get a call from the local cigar/pipe shop here in Philadelphia and the guy at the other end says, "hey Jay, we just received a shipment of a new S. Gawith and I think you should come over and check them out". So I went over and picked up a tin of Kendall Cream Flake. Before I go any further, let me say that this is another example of the high quality Lake District blend. The burlies used are excellent. The tin aroma is a little scary at first but this was attenuated with a little airing out. The flakes are a medium speckled brown and rub out easily.

I packed a small Charatan billiard (which was a gift from a friend) and took a walk around the block. I noticed a very nice side-stream aroma and a semi-sweet/nutty flavor that remained throughout the bowl. It burned a nice medium/slow and left virtually nothing at the bottom. There was a little, and I do mean LITTLE gathering of strenght as the bowl simmered down to the bottom third, but nothing at all unpleasant.

If I had to draw a comparison, I would have to compare it to Esoterica Stonehaven though Kendall Cream is a little more aromatic. That is not to say that this should be pigeon holed as an aromatic. What it is, is a great smoke. There is definitely more of this in my future. Will it be my everyday smoke? No, due to the "added essence". Will I smoke it regulary? Yes. But I will be sure to dedicate a pipe or two just to this blend as I think it will flavor my bowl.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I'll give it a healthy 4 or 4.5.

Oh, Samuel Gawith! What do you have that I love you so much? It may be a question that I always ask myself, every time I open one of your incredible, and not cheap, references.

The "KC flake" (previously "Kendal Cream Deluxe Flake") is a masterful work... do I redound by putting SW and masterful in the same text?

This blend combines those virginias with a straw, wheat flavor. An earthy, woody, nutty burley. Now, added to the incredible quality of the tobacco used, we add an aroma of: whipped cream, flowers, tonka bean that, for me, makes me crazy smoking a pipe of this.

We have heard, on numerous occasions, great pipe tobacco tasters refer to the term "Samuel Gawith signature" because, friends, this stamp is here and very present.

It doesn't weigh me down and it seems round to me. The Va-Bur is perfect: sweet, with slightly bitter notes, not at all acidic and, with those flavors, the aromatic aftertaste of flowers, cream and tonka bean (perhaps, too, it has some very very very hidden liquor) which in my opinion makes me classify it as a work worthy of saying: "Samuel Gawith, very good work"

E.S

This is a not complete box, forgotten in a bag, which has not completed Bracken flake, because move, they should be sleeping in my memory for 15 years or so, KC inside each piece of covered with a layer of light frost, at that time I was a young pipe smoker, perhaps it is not on the character of tobacco, stopped to continue.

I found it today, KC is currently in production, I lit up a bowl, guys, this thing has been stored for a long time, absolutely good stuff, no complex fragrance of all those comments on it, just a thick, deep smoke, great!

This is one of my top three tobaccos. It works great as a substitute for my favourite va/per and I find the taste slightly milder and creamier. This does not mean it is the same taste, but rather in a similar category if you like that kind of stuff. It is quite clear that the Virginias had to make room for some Burley, but not enough to actually disturb a Virginia lover. Sweet, and maybe with a touch of citrus. I think there is som nuttyness in the external smoke (the smoke that go from the bowl straight to my nose to then blend with the drawn smoke).

Quite moist when cracking the tin, but I have no problem what so ever to have a perfectly pleasant smoke after just 5-10 minutes of rest in open air. No relights necessary after a good startup procedure.

The tin note is a lot about chocolate and raisin.

This is a difficult review. It certainly is a great VA Burley wilts a light aroma on top which takes away the earthiness you can taste with Brown Flake unscented. I consider it a medium strong sweetish and light burning flake. Even if I prefer unscented tobaccos it deserves my full approval. It’s a marriage in heaven with a good quality meerschaum may be a tad stronger in briar pipes. Enjoy!

My recently-acquired 8 ounces of 2009 vintage Kendal Cream is a stout affair. I don’t really detect a Lakeland thing, like many reviewers have mentioned. Maybe the years have helped it fade into the background. Or maybe it’s because I smoke an awful lot of Lakeland tobacco.

The years have darkened these flakes somewhat, into something that reminds me a great deal of the color of rough planks of redwood… an almost mahogany brown but with a reddish tint.

Anyway, this is a great change of pace flake for me. In the month or so it’s been in my possession, rare has been the day when I don’t have a bowl of it.

My recent obsession has been VaPerKys, in all their sweet-tangy-smoky goodness. And this one is certainly an excellent change of pace from that. The lack of any Kentucky or perique gives my palate a bit of a respite.

KC smokes creamy indeed. The burley and Virginia (and, I imagine, the flavorings) combine to produce a stout, earthy, woodsy, a little smoky, mocha taste… flavorful, quite flavorful. And creamy. Always creamy.

I realize this is Samuel Gawith, and not Gawith Hoggarth… but I’d place this experience somewhere between GH Dark Flake Aromatic and Brown Flake Aromatic. This is maybe somehow a little richer tasting. I suspect it’s a result of the added flavorings as much as anything.

I’ve found that Sam Gawith adds more non-tobacco flavorings to each blend than does Gawith Hoggarth. GH, therefore, tends to be my favorite in a head to head matchup, as a more natural tasting smoke. Maybe it’s just the way they use them.

But in this case, the added flavoring isn’t as “in your face” as with other SG blends. Maybe it’s a characteristic of Kendal Cream Deluxe Flake, maybe it’s because it’s a decade old. Maybe it’s a little of both.

Regardless, this is a rich, tasty smoke… not quite in the league of a Dark Flake or an Old Dark Fired, but not too far behind.

It smokes nice and cool. Employing the fold and stuff (or my variety of it), I find that it requires slightly more relights than normal.

Would I recommend it? Well, I certainly wouldn’t recommend against it. Will I buy it again? That’s a distinct possibility.

Because, to be honest, I do tend to find the Irish Flakes and Dark Flakes of the world to be a bit much at times. This baby hits a lot of the same notes, but in a less heavy-handed manner.

So yes, I can definitely see myself seeking this out in the future. The only thing that gives me pause is a fear that more recent stock could potentially suffer from a stronger—and harsher—presence of whatever flavorings S. Gawith is using here. That would certainly take away from the edge this decade old example has earned itself in my pecking order.

So until then, I’m giving this one a cautiously optimistic 3 & 3/4 stars, rounding up to four.

For now.

Prep: The flakes arrive on the wet side. I found leaving the tin open for a couple of hours sufficient. Rubbing out the flakes is my preferred method for this blend.

The Virginias offer a some mild fruity notes and sweetness yet more evident is a spiciness. I found the Burley more predominant, bringing the typical nutty and molasses notes it's known for.

The cream and lakeland essence additions are evident and push this blend into something unique. As with many SG blends, if you dont like lakeland essence, you'll probably not want to pick this blend up. I however do, and found this blend enjoyable. The nic content is about right for me and it burns fairly cool. No more than a 7/10.

https://youtu.be/Fskt96Tn3Ec

This needs a lot of age to smoke right. A light whiskey topping with some spices, and perhaps a little natural vanilla or oak sugar. New it is a bland, monochromatic and bitter smoke. Given a couple years, it gets a little floral, a little alcoholic, and a hint of cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or clove pokes its head out. If it did not need so much age I would rate it higher, but fresh out of a tin it is not very pleasant.