Samuel Gawith Firedance Flake

Definitively not in my -best of- list despite the good reviews and recommendations ive received about it from different smokers. Truth is that Firedance is perhaps never distinguishable as a good, bad or regular quality smoke, at times is indulgent and allows you to get a good bouquet of brandy, subtle notes of vanilla and keep it for some time, some other times it just get horrible, it is like a bbq that went completely wrong, like having a mouthful of coal inside your mouth and a really awful aftertaste, the kind that makes you want to wash your mouth afterwards.

This flake is good quality but the moisture level is never quite alright, you have to find it, and thats a trick, especially for all those who want to smoke it inmediately right out of the tin and enjoy the smoke without much complication. It may also get extremely dry very quick, so give it enough time and it will be a bunch of sand which is equally disgusting. Temperamental, complicated, demanding, bitey and stuborn. You have to relight it several times, and it tends to burn hotter and hotter, no matter how slow you sip it and as result you get the nasty flavours i described beforehand. If you manage to level and administer the temperature with much luck, then you get the best result, which is not bad at all, strong fermented flake in the typical vein of the English-Gawith tradition with a subtle but certain lakeland accent. Never sugary or flamboyantly scented, always with the character of the virginias that were fermented, with a decent and pretty kick of vitamin N. I think this was a good try on an aromatic flake but the result is doubtful, too much trouble to get through it, ill rather keep my hands off it and pick some flake that is not so damn complicated and bitchy.

Very strong smell of blackberry on background ketchup out of a tin. Pleasant, but intrusive. Flakes dark and very moist. When smoking, the taste is sweet, mild, creamy, but not fragrant as the smell from the tin. My girlfriend likes roomnote of Firedance. But my nose picks up some naughty notes, they distract and hinder enjoy the taste of tobacco. I could not finish smoking my 50g tin. Ketchup of SG is very strong for me. I'm not a fan of aromatics. If you, too, use a pipe for him not of your rotation. I give only two points, cause my pipe can't rest from the cologne of SG for several months.. And the smell from the bowl are a really unpleasant.

When purchasing this tin, I failed to realize it was berry flavored... maybe I was too distracted by the name "firedance" to realize it was a berry based flake. Not that I have anything against a berry aromatic but I already have some Devil's Holiday on reserve.

Regardless, when opening the tin I smelt a strong smell that reminded me of berry flavored vitamins... gross ones. Other than that, the smoke was just okay and the vitamin aroma lessened. This was defiantly not the worst aromatic I have smoked but if you're in the market for a nice berry smoke, go for Dan's Devil's Holiday.

Definitely not a favourite of mine: it is too close to BBF, which seems to be the basis of it. A drop of alcohol doesn't help to make a true character out of it.

It is not bad tobacco, however. Just boring.

Would not buy it again (but will keep buying BBF).

I don't know what the hell I was thinking buying this. Well that's not true, I do...it was payday and I wanted to try the last of the SG line that my tobacconist had available. I ponied up my 12 bucks, got it home and though the tin note was sweetly pleasing, the light up was disappointing. I was hoping for a subtle flavoring like Chocolate Flake, but this was much stronger and tasted like charred incense. Needless to say this wont be one I try again. In fact I dumped the whole tin in the garden after finishing what I could of the bowl. I hope the shrubs forgive me. TLOGSPY

I didn't mind this at first, but by the time i was half way through the tin i was thouroughly sick of it. I was giving me headaches and i ditched the last 3-4 pipefuls. Not somthing i do often. I'll leave this to the aro smokers.

I tried this at multiple moisture levels, in different briars, and a cob. I tried it rubbed out and as folded flakes in the pipes. I really wanted to like this tobacco and can say no matter how I try it folded and stuffed, rubbed and at multiple moisture levels to include so dry it turns to crumbs--it has soft and subtle notes and has the lakeland going on also--I find this tobacco to be one of the strangest aromatics I have ever smoked. It is a high quality tobacco but I had tried it in the past and wrote it off and decided to give an honest and VERY real second chance and evaluation. It is just not for me as a matter of fact being it is a flavored Best Brown Flake--its a shame as I just cannot seem to like it. I have several flakes left and am undecided whether it will become among the very few tobaccos I actually literally disposed of on the lawn or I may finish it off. If a rating of zero stars was possible that's exactly what I would give it. I have been through several tins and can say I am officially done with this blend. Do not get me wrong--it's a high quality tobacco and there is nothing wrong with it as far as quality. For those that like it--I am happy with and for you. Me I will leave this tobacco for those who really like it. You will not have to worry about me fighting you for this horrid stuff. It's a blend I gave every chance in various pipes and moisture levels. I have smoked a lot of flake tobacco and I WILL NOT be smoking anymore of this--I'm done with Fire Dance.

First time flake order, and I was expecting to be pleasantly surprised. I was surprised to a degree-I can definitely taste the berries to a very slight degree that everyone raves about. I found that it wasn't as heavily aromatic as I was expecting but I have come to expect that from the vendor I ordered from. I guess I will just have to keep searching for that perfect aromatic as this one doesn't fit the bill all that much-also this blend didn't pass the wife test which is would help to fit the overall perfect aromatic test....

Altogether this is a worthy aromatic flake offering from Samuel Gawith. I almost hesitate to call this an aromatic, by English standards it surely is, but by American standards it's barely in the ballpark. With Best Brown at the core it's hard to go wrong here, unless of course you just don't care for the flavoring.

Like most Sam Gawith Flakes, especially from the tin, it is very moist and I'd recommend liberal dry time prior to smoking it. When rubbed out and dried a bit, the topping dissipates and the tobacco is left smelling a lot like a blackberry or raspberry scented black tea. The smoke is semi-sweet, soft, creamy and quite delightful. The high note of the topping contrasts wonderfully with the warm Best Brown tobacco tone. The flavor remains fairly consistent throughout the entire bowl, although some bitterness develops towards the heel. For what it's worth, I also taste a skosh of Kendal florals in this.

As others have mentioned, preparation is key and you’ll be richly rewarded for your patience. Firedance Flake is not quite a love affair for me but it's pretty darn close and I can definitely see myself putting a few tins away for later.