Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Scotch Mixture

This blend is somewhat similar to Samuel Gawith's Perfection Mixture without the Vanilla. I looked at the components of both and they really don't seem to be that similar... are my old taste buds letting me down? Anyway, Scotch Mixture has some backbone thanks to the Burley. And the discreet sprinkling of Latakia in this one simpy adds to the overall enjoyment. Another pluc, the fact that Scotch Mixture's cut makes it easy to load and presents a very even burn right down to the bottom of the bowl... Now, if I could just identify the sweetness that seems ever so slightly present with ever puff.

Pipestud

The Lakeland essence is not as strong here as in some of GH&Co.'s other blends, but it does tone down the tobaccos. The floral Virginias have some earth and grass, citrus and fermented dark fruit. The same can be said for nutty, earth, toasty, lightly molasses and cocoa sweet burleys, which occasionally takes a lead over the Viriginias. There's a very light sweetness, which I assume comes mainly from the black cavendish, and not the other components. I got a very mild hint of spice as well. The Cyprian latakia is smokey, woody and mildly sweet, but isn't very forceful. The nic-hit is a little past the mild level. No bite or harsh moments. Burns at a reasonable rate, fairly cool with a light rough edge and a slightly inconsistent flavor. Needs few relights, and leaves little moisture in the bowl. Not an all day smoke, but not so strong to prevent repeat performances.

-JimInks

Gawith Hoggarth - Scotch Mixture. Now, this is my kind of smoke!

At the beginning I found the aroma from the unlit blend captivating, it suggests every quality that I yearn for in a blend. It smells natural, rich, and full of class! I'll get the negative point out of the way now: it's far too wet! But, with that aside, I can't find another low point! The mixture's mainly medium brown in colour with a small amount of black specks, it doesn't look as though it's got a large quantity of either Latakia or Black Cavendish in there. That's enough about the un-lit blend, let's get on with the smoke:

It's like pure silk on the palate; the smoke is velvety thick, ridiculously cool and superbly flavoured. The Latakia is the tiniest addition, it only gives a VERY slight earthiness to the smoke. Strangely, I get more of a Latakia aftertaste than I do from the actual smoke! The majority of the flavour space is occupied by the Burley. Next in line is the Virginia: it's not too strong with the grass notes but definitely more discernable than the Latakia. That leaves the Black Cavendish: even though it doesn't give an immense amount of taste to the blend it gives a sort of creaminess to the smoke, it gives it the ultimate finish! The nicotine? Mild, enough said! Finally, the burn: incredible!

This is a brilliant smoke, I couldn't possibly score it less than four!

Highly recommended.

This blend reminds me of some 40+ year old Mac Baren Scottish Blend that I had the other day, thanks to the generosity of a friend.

This blend, in my opinion, reinforces the qualities of a matured Virginia. It has an "oatmeal porridge" quality, and the Cavendish and Latakia add spice, though you shouldn't expect them to be at the fore. If there is a topping, I can't discern what it is as it's quite subtle, and quite harmonious. Nice papery, lightly sweet, floral virginia.

I will definitely be buying more of this. It's quite affordable as a bulk offering so I'd recommend trying it (what've you got to lose), and my guess is that the tin offering is even better.

[Update: 10/7/2019]

I purchased a pound of Scotch Mixture, having cherished the fond recollection of the earlier ounces that inspired this review two years ago. You ought never be to blame for investing in a sizable stockpile of your favorite tobaccos, preferably now and not later, for the only reason that your favorites will invariably change with time. Sadly this blend isn't what I remembered it to be. It's drier. Thinner. The intriguing depth and mysterious essence are hardly there. I'd liken it to a very mild English interpretation of a "codger blend"---certainly not bad, but not quite what I wished my reacquaintance with it to be. My advice to myself, two years ago, ought to have been to buy up plenty of this blend to put away. In its current incarnation I'd only "somewhat recommend" it. I wish I had a bowl or so of the earlier stuff squirreled away somewhere.

This nis a blend that stands alone. The brother blend by Samuel Gawith is very similar otherwise I do not know a blend like this.I can describe it not as an englisch blend nor any so called scotish blend I know. It starts as va/bur with no seetness to speak of. A little latakia in the back adds more wood then smoke and the "emperor cavendish " is like nothing i have smoked so far. At midbowl a remarkable mint or herb flavour is detectable which is really interessting. There is no bite and the strength is mild to medium. I think the burley ,the special cavendish and the lack of oriental make it a englisch of its own. Now while I am smoking a bowl of it and I am almost to the bottom , the mint comes through very clearly. Unique but not great. Just good and recommended to all of you looking for a natural satisfying smoke without tons of latakia. One more unique blend from Gawith

Why do they call an english mixture "Scotch Mixture"? Well, that's not scottish blend type, although proportions of it's components are quite familiar. We've got tightly compacted and fairly moist contents: (according to the manufactor data) 53% Virginia, 17% Burley, 7,5% Black Cavendish and 12,5% Latakia. It tastes slightly sweetish , slightly bity, sometimes tight , sometimes severely and after a while cool and gentle at the same time. Finally, theres is also (unexpectedly) even a coffee flavor. Not good enough to be a trully scottish blend type, but also not so bad as for english one.

Re-visiting GH blends this month after >6 months [the 'summer' months] piping mainly G.L Pease Va and VaPers. A confirmed "english" piper of many years, I am puzzled by Scotch Mixture - almost NO Latakia [just faintly perceptible]. Slight spiciness though for most of a bowl. Non-descript Virginia tastes - I detect a "grassy" note in the tin but not in the smoke. The Burley is there, but again rather non-descript!! As for casing ...? Altogether a bland blend - not even "Lakeland Essence" to comment on. Maybe this is because my bulk stock is >12 months old [with no manufacturing date known]! But the tobacco is still moist and I have no reason to suspect it is 'off!' My guess is that, compared to other 'mild' "english" blends, this GH effort is just TOO ordinary. It's not objectionable - pleasant enough if all you want is to puff away - but has no character. I pipe it when I don't need to spend time immersing myself in the tobacco, if you get my meaning! SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE: GL Pease "Westminster" has good character, is mild enough not to 'injure' younger pipers, and rewards one who pays the price premium.

Somewhat baffling blend with a strong claim as Europe’s favorite Latakia blend. This is my second go round with this blend. First time I found the flavor of the blend intriguing, but there was a serious 4 stage fire on my tongue. All I really can recall was that Europeans must have a deep sadistic/masochist streak as this was an exercise in pain. The tobacco was thrown in a mason jar and a bit set aside for my neighbor to see if he experienced the same level of pain that I had experienced.

Shortly after gifting him an ounce of the fire weed I was strolling past his open garage and was greeted with what I can only say was the most classy, elusive room note I have yet to experience. I quickly asked what he was smoking as this room note was exactly what I expected quality pipe tobacco to have and whatever he was smoking must make its way into my rotation. Oh, he replied, it’s the tobacco you gave me the other day, Scotch Mixture.

The next day, out came the jar and again, 4 stage tongue fire!!!! Baffled, I re applied the lid and buried deep in my tobacco cellar.

Flash forward 2 years. Haunted by memories of the room note, I again dig up my jar of Scotch Mixture. Loaded up my 2017 Peterson Xmas Pipe that I had drilled out the stem to take a 9mm filter and much to my surprise, the gentlest, smoothest Latakia scent filled my head. Gently nudged forward and back by sweet Virginia’s and creamy burley....ohhhhhh, this must be why Europe loves this blend. It is delicious to the bottom of the bowl, Latakia present with floral hay sweet Virginia lurking in the background. Riding gently in the burley cream. No tongue bite but an occasional tingle when I’m pulling to fast for the next draw of what is, I have found, an almost perfectly balanced Latakia forward blend.

My 8 ounces in the jar is halfway gone so I committed to a 500G bag. I will see from the newest batch if the 2 years of banishment brought this blend under control or if really the key is using a filtered pipe. I suspect it’s 80% a filtered pipe and 20% some additional aging on the Virginia.

I think this blend goes to show, every blend has its ideal pipe conditions and personal chemistry. So this gives me hope that those other blends banished to the cellar are just in need of the right pipe combination and technique to bring out their bright sides!!!

'You won't like this', said my son, who was really into Latakia blends at the time.

I had to agree, before I'd even dared to open the tin. But I HAD to you see, to try it for myself. I don't care for Latakia per se. It reminds me of a hot summer day when they are asphalting the roads, back in 1975.

So this poor old blend was on a hiding to nothing really and well on it's way into my son's cellar.

A new pipe (thought it might ghost an old favourite) was used. Opening you'd expect wring-out wetness normally associated with Gawiths blends.

It was actually quiet dry. Promising I thought.

Yes there was THAT smell of old coach yards, of hot pitch or burnt leather, as expected. The look of the tobacco looked quite inviting - curly broad cut strands more golden brown than you's expect.

It doesn't do to squash this tobacco into a bowl. I found this out later. It seems to expand more than usual, and the 50g tin seems to go on forever.

Burning, it behaves itself nicely and I expected violent objections to lighting this stuff up in the lounge. No comment from Mrs RW. Hmmm.

The taste and smell of Latakia hits home as soon as you apply the light. Strong, dark, tarry. It was what I expected........BUT the Latakia suddenly did a nose-dive. It slipped into the background, still apparent, but just growling in the shadows.

I was rewarded with a rich toasty, mellow taste, which was maintained almost to the bottom of the bowl. Very nice. Very nice indeed. Mr Latakia stayed silent throughout.

Well what a surprise. I like this blend. I wasn't supposed to. Maybe as you fit the seven year itch on pipe smoking your tastes change, it would seem that mine are. Ok I am not going to dive into classic Latakia blends anytime soon, but this is part of my rotation and if another tin came my way it would be happily cellared and brought out as required.

Oh yes, my son has gone off Latakia now.....

I found Scotch Mixture to be very bland and not at the level that other G&H blends can reach. I also think that the Latakia in this blend could have been left out which would have let the other leafs shine, its as another reviewer noted almost like an afterthought and my sample had some sort of mild Lakeland essence either added or it was in close proximity to Ennerdale and I did not enjoy the Latakia / Lakeland combination. I enjoy Scottish mixtures and was expecting more along the lines of Davidoff Scottish or even Macbaren's Scottish IE: VIrginia, Burley and Black Cavendish, a slightly aromatic, easy going mild blend without Latakia. Had I read the description before purchasing I would have passed. Not a bad blend but again, boring to my palate.