Samuel Gawith Firedance Flake

If you enjoy Lakeland Flakes, Firedance is a very satisfying treat for both the nose and palate. Akin to Grouse-Moor in the trait that it tastes like it smells, this Samuel Gawith offering is deeply seasoned with a dark berry essence that is very strong and over whelming in the tin. It lights easy and the berry taste and aroma are present from the charring light to the last draw. It is not sweet; the strength rushes forth in the aroma more so than the flavor, but it is always subtly present in the flavor. It sometimes reminds me of blackberries and at other times of raspberries, combined with the natural tobacco flavor of Best Brown. It becomes quite creamy and marshmallow like around the middle of the bowl when the vanilla begins to come to the fore. It finishes rich, smooth and creamy. It behaves very well and burns even, dry, cool and clean all the way down the bowl. In a word, ?unique? describes this flake best. A dedicated pipe is a must with this one.

Gawith's aromatic tobaccos are an anomaly in the world of flavor. Whether it's the floral/herbal or the tonka 1792 extracts, the tobaccos rarely sacrifice strength for artificial flavor.

Once opened, the tin was too moist to smoke. Nonetheless, I tried anyway. Gurgly blackberries requiring a pipecleaner every 10 puffs.

The blackberry flavoring comes across as alcoholic to me for some reason. This is a unique blend that "aromatic experimenters" should try. Following this tin I'll jump back to the Bogey ropes!

Images evoked include a monsterous red-black demon stabbing a pitchfork into the backside of a sinful, deceased orchard maid.

I've had a tin of this around for awhile and decided to have another offering of Firedance. I smoked it in a larger bowl, and it was fairly nice. Do keep your palette moistened as a helper. Actually, when a blend such as this has a revealed recipe of flavorings, one should know that this will be a what it is... a fragrant pipe tobacco. It's a bit like ordering desert at a fine restaraunt. The quality of leaf is good, as all Gawith is top notch, but the disclosed ingredients of berries, brandy and vanilla is a clear notice to all who partake. I would treat it for what it is, and enjoy the good quality dessert that it is.....and it is less filling. I prefer the naturals but once in a while it's nice to go elsewhere for just a change of taste.

Firedance Flake.23/02/07. This did not disguss me at all,though I think if you like abit of fruitiness in your tobacco then you'll most likely love this. Don't get me wrong its flavour is not overly done by any means. I do think some newbies to the world of pipe smoking would definitely appreciate this offering more. It behaves itself very well throughout the bowl and doe's not cause any trauma while smoking it. Easy to light after leaving it sit and air on paper for ten min's before smoking.

I don't see why this tobacco is getting the bad ratings. This is the only tobacco I've smoked thus far, that actually tastes the way it smells in the tin. It is purported to taste like blackberries and it does very nicely; not an overpowering sweetness, but the subtle taste of blackberries all the thru the bowl. The room note is pleasant and it burns pretty well considering it is a moist flake. I smoke it by bending the flakes and inserting in the bowl with sprinkles on top. It puts out a real creamy looking smoke (just like their Kendall Cream Flake). No tongue bite noted, just a smooth,creamy, blackberry tasting smoke. I give it 4-stars.

I smelled figs and berries in the pouch, but got no flavor at all when smoked. I cannot say that this is a bad tobacco, but it will not be revisited by me. It seems a waste of some good Virginia. My wife said the smell was awful as well.

Imagine Best Brown Flake with Brandy, and Blackberry. That's it. This is a high quality aromatic, but not in the flavor spectrum I enjoy. I could only get myself to try it in a cob for the rest of the tin, which did remarkbly well. This aromatic flake will flavor your pipes as I found after trying a bowl in a Peterson, so consider yourself warned. See my review on BBF for its burning and smoking qualities. Yes, it has a wonderful room note. Well done, but not my cup 'o tea...

I like best brown, so it's rather difficult not to like this for me. Best Brown Flake + Blackberries and Creame liqour scenting, essentially.

CAUTION: This -will- infect the briar. You will be tasting blackberries forever, so load this in your aromatic pipes/cobs, NOT your precious VA/flake pipes.

I absoloutely love this tobacco!

From the moment you unleash the raw, gummy strands of flake packed with their jammy blackberry aroma to the first mild sizzling at the top of the pipe this is a satisfying treat for nose and palate alike.

I generally smoke latakia blends and am not a huge fan of aromatics (particularly disliking overly cased "candy shop" blends) but this is something altogether different. For a start, the blackberry taste is not particularly sweet, but subtle and warming, the closest equivalent to smoking a well mulled wine.

No offensive floral overtines for me here either (if they are here you must forgive my jaded palate!). To sum up this is a fruity aromatic for those who don't like fruity aromatics - and that sublime paradox is at least enough to drive me back, again and again for just "one more bowl".