Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Louisiana Perique Flake

Well,

my review is based in 50grms coming from a 500grms brand-new brick. I'm mid way to end those double length flakes, the rest will go sleeping in one of my small glass vases just to see if/how time will improve, supposed that LF needs ...

I'm just thinking why I haven't bought the whole brick; but it was a matter of choosing some U.S. blends (GLP, C&D) and those had my priority at the moment.

Preamble: I don't feel any chocolate/cocoa topping, no way indeed. This is just a VaPer of the best quality. Maybe something has changed during the time, if so it changed for the better. Medium in strength and body, very good combustion qualities, no need of drying time for me. It goes nice with DGT too. The combination deliveres a good volume of smoke with the biscuity/peppery flavour I like so much.

I would rate this 4* if only some more sparkles, neverthess this is a very solid smoke, no doubt that a whole brick will come with me as soon as I can put my hands on it.

The flakes are about twice as long as the normal tinned variety and the minute I opened the packet I got a strong smell of chocolate/cocoa... very nice.

For me the first couple of puffs still bring through the chocolate flavouring which seems to disappear for a while but return within the last quarter of the bowl. It is a very relaxing after dinner smoke, thoroughly enjoyable.

Review based on freshly bought and not cellared.

An interesting flake with a mellow pouch aroma akin to Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate. Unlike many reviewers, that's probably where Louisiana Flake's association with cocoa ended for me, but I have to agree with Dr Dyson review (see below) in that there's something in the perique blend itself which lends itself to tonquin, albeit the barest lick.

It's a moist a flake as I've had from G&H, and although I have succeeded in smoking it fresh, it could probably benefit from a little air time. It smokes earthy and grassy, with a rather spicy, prickly, pepper finish, which one can automatically attribute to the perique. It's not the strongest of flakes and the Vit N seems to be pretty mild too.

Rather like Ennerdale Flake, it's not particularly exciting in the first few puffs, but it really kicks in gloriously in the mid bowl, where it's at it's most flavoursome, releasing some great biscuit taste, coupled with the more savoury, meatier aspect of the pepper. It's really quite a strange combination, but it works.

Calming, intoxicating, and wonderful taken through the nose; G&H are beginning to win me over.

This is the unsung hero of Vapers. The flake rubs out nicely. and with a bit of drying, it lights and stays lit easily. A nice brown flake with a good touch of perique. It's not overpowering nor is it mild..it's just right. You get the lightest lakeland scent on first light which quickly yields to a mellow lightly sweet and spicey smoke. I don't get the chocolate flavor as others below have. To me this is an honest brown flake with just the right amuont of perique to spice things up but not so much as to make my nose tickle. 3.5 stars.

This is a nice Va/Per, produced from leaf of obviously high quality. It's one of the best of the G & H flakes, in my view.

So many people who have reviewed Louisiana Flake talk about a chocolate topping, but I have to say that I can't find it. There's a flavour of some kind, for sure, but it doesn't seem like chocolate or cocoa to me. I'd be more inclined to call it nutty, biscuity, malty or something along those lines, but it doesn't really lend itself to precise analogy. To some extent, the flavour is due, I think, to the Perique element itself; there is perhaps also an element of tonquin. G & H have something of a reputation for spoiling good leaf by overdoing the casing, but this certainly isn't the kind of floral 'soapy' Lakeland tobacco that so many reviewers dislike. It's a million miles away from Ennerdale Flake, thank God. Some people say that LF reminds them of the old Edgeworth Sliced.

Whatever it is, the flavouring of LF it isn't excessive. Far from it, in fact. Once the bowl is properly under way, the preponderant impression that it gives is of a natural tobacco that has been intelligently handled by the blender. The natural flavour comes through, and is enhanced rather than obscured or distorted by the topping. The flakes are thick and substantial and easy to deal with: best folded, with enough rubbed out at the top of the bowl to give you a good light. Thereafter, the burn is steady and the taste full and interesting: sweetish, but with a rounded, spicy Perique clearly making its contribution. DGT is rewarding also. The room note is quite pleasant. As always with VA flakes, it'll burn you if you take it too quickly, but I have to say that this is one of the coolest flakes I've ever smoked. Sipping will enhance the flavour, too.

This is a full-bodied, tasty, slow pipeful, with enough, but not too much, vitamin N. Recommended; a strong favourite of mine: nicest, perhaps, late at night by the fire, with a nightcap and a good book. Idyllic, in fact: this is what pipe smoking ought to be.

Nowadays I am smoking these dark colored flakes bought a while ago bulk. They are moistened well so I preffered to dry enough each time before smoking.

Louisiana Flake packs and lights well. It offers a long lasting smoke, with the peppery flavor of the Perique. I like VA-Per blends a lot. Although somehow I looked after for much Virginia sweetness in this blend. It has a medium nicotine strength which suits my needs and I think it would be much better for me if I could have some more pure, sweet Virginia flavor in it instead of the very poor Lakeland-like flavor. I think, just because of this reason the smoke was one dimensional for my tastes. I don't think this tobacco is as nutty as described.

The Virginia-Perique fans must try this one. It may be one of their favorites for sure.

About Louisiana Flake:

Once many aeons ago while ambling through the Mediterranean streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans I serendipitously chanced upon a dear friend I had not seen in many many years. We,of course spoke finally winding up at a sidewalk begniet(French doughnut) and coffe shop. It was nice.

Louisiana Perique Flake has somewhat the same interaction for me each time I smoke it. An unexpected meeting with a long unseen dear friend. I know this sounds a bit over the top but that's the feeling.

The strength of the blend is as near perfect as I believe is posible with the constituent tobaccos. Impeccable Virginia(no matter where they come from)and Louisiana Perique compliment one another----Dark roast Cajun coffee and fresh cream with just enough seweetner to marry up the two flavors. Like that! No use in asking for better.

Very good filling and burning qualites after a bit of judicious drying time.

Room note? Not really a concern for me with a very very indulgent wife and as far as other I personally don't worry about that.

Recommndation? I am ambivlent about this particular aspect as I do highly recommend it but don't encourage others to smoke it being rather selfish and a bit leary of the supply stratagies of most British blend houses. So try it but please don't get over-enthusiastic. Thanks.

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (A Native Son of Louisiana)

This takes some getting used to and no mistake...and that's probably where some of the comments below originate; inexperience and rushing to judgement. It's a long way away from your average Vaper. Still everyone's taste is subjective.

This has, to me, the merest hint of chocolate; smoked gently it reveals creamy and fruity depths...thinking on it while puffing away, it's somewhat like the effect of stewed fruit and nice Devon custard, that sweetness and tartness so close together. It's a beautifully crafted and sophisticated virginia and perique mix. I'd go for G & H's solid, understated expertise in tobacco blending over most of the USA houses anyday, with the honourable exception of McClelland.

A fine, subtle and enjoyable tobacco worthy of its 4 stars 🙂

Willy wonker got his hands on this one. A good introduction to perique i'd say. It should be mentioned that this is certainly not simply va/perique. It's definitely cased and chocolate is the culprit. I think this is a well blended tobacco but it is not my cup of tea. each to their own and an interesting experiment for me. i'll keep it jared and will maybe come back to it one day.