Samuel Gawith Balkan Flake

This was much more enjoyable than Bracken Flake. Even with 30% latakia, the flavor of the VA comes through and provides a nice touch of sweetness. There seems to be no Lakeland essence flavor (tonquin) in this tobacco. Smells like latakia and VA. I know there are other Balkan tobaccos that are fuller, but for my tastes, this flake is perfect.

It was very moist in the tin, and so was the Bracken Flake. I leftthe tin opened for a day, and the mositure level was just fine. The flakes fold up nicely, and can be put right into the pipe. Smokes very cool with no bite, and burns down to a fine grey ash. Very enjoyable!

Highly Recommended.

Very cool smoking, fragrant, with a light sweetness from the virginias. Certainly not Balkan Sobranie or anything like a classic Balkan blend but it has the toasty sweetness that is characteristic of S. Gawith. Very nice. I enjoy it quite a bit but don't smoke it very often.

After only 3 months of smoking this tobacco it has entered my regular rotation. It smokes like Best Brown Flake with a pronounced Latakia taste and fragrance. It is a full bodied smoke with the fine VA blend forming the base of a cool, dry, and bite free smoke. I bought it in one pound bulk and found the tobacco needed no drying- the tin did. The Latakia is present from the first puff to the last, but there appears to be no additional flavoring or casing. I prefer it as my evening pipe and have dedicated pipes to it. The taste of the Latakia does come through in the cake and would ruin a VA or -horrors- an aromatic blend. My wife doesn't appreciate the room note, but since I was long ago banished to the back porch it doesn't matter. For the pipe smoker the aroma is great. It seems to take a few relights as opposed to Best Brown but perhaps that is because I am still new to it.

Reading all the reviews I am quite surprised that almost everyone seems to think that this very nice tobacco is unflavoured. It isn't but it is none the worse for it. There is some casing added, a bit cherry like but at least sugary that lends it the sweetness beyond that offered by the Virginia. Lovely dark stripes, quite thinly cut, of great quality VA and Latakia that is heaven for my palate. Be sure to fold the flakes in your pipe as opposed to rubbing them out and be prepared for the coolest, tastiest smoke I have savoured for a long time! Two more tins are already ordered, this stuff is addictive!

1 May 2006. I have just read Bigblends comments on my observation on the cherry/sugary note, thank you for including it and the blender's comment, I now believe to have been wrong about it.

The treatment of the Virginia leaf reminds me of another SG blend. Smooth and mellow in both the smoke and the room note, this complex mixture is an engaging addition to the diversity of Balkans. For me, the smoking experience evokes memories of simpler times and youthful zeal. My sample contained a token amount of leaf trash that did not require rubbing the slices out. With an easy burn it allows increasing flavor as the smoke progresses. The ritual of the smoke is best enjoyed indoors and leaving the slices intact so that none of it's nuances are lost. Serving well as an all day smoke for those so inclined, it has no single element of dominance, instead it demonstrates harmony and balance. I find no flaw in this blending achievement and recommend it without reservation to those who seek good things.

Meerschaum Man Smoking a signed Ural with Flourishes

This is another SG tobacco which has earned a dedicated pipe in my rack. It comes in very thin, moist, dark brown, six inch strips of flake. I buy it in bulk and transfer about 100g to a 1/2 litre bail topped jar which I use as a humidor. I rub out a fistful and let it sit out for at least twenty-four hours before smoking. The left-overs go back in the jar where the moisture is restored, an effective way of bringing the moisture of the jar's contents down gradually. When treated this way, the tobacco burns easily and delivers plenty of smoke and flavor with no bite. This is an extraordinarily smooth combination of Virginia and latakia. This is not a complex smoke of changing flavors and nuances. Instead, the tobacco achieves a certain clarity of perfection and maintains that taste from start to finish. With the relatively recent offerings of Balkan Flake, Navy Flake, and Tavern Tobacco's Laurel Flake and Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge, the Samuel Gawith folks have created some truly great tobaccos. Most highly recommended. Paddy.