Samuel Gawith Navy Flake

Good lord, this is a delicious tobacco. I think the good points have been stated well enough by others. It's meaty. I mean, it really has a meaty, sweet beef jerky kind of smell in the tin.

The first time I tried this flake, I expected it to be a lot heavier blend; in fact, it's pretty moderate. The flavor is rich and smooth, it burns beautifully if rubbed out and dried a little (it's downright moist on arrival), and it's got enough nic-kick to keep one going on a late night writing session.

Delicious. One of my favorites.

As I just recently finished what was left of my 250 g box of this that followed the tin I bought forever ago, I just realized that I have never reviewed this blend and what a shame that is, because it is so great.

Sam Gawith is one of the top two Virginia processers IMO (the other being the now defunct McClelland). This is a great example of another fine Virginia blend offered under the label.

Their Navy Flake is different from most others in that it includes Latakia with the standard ingredients of Virginia and rum. This blend does not have much complexity, but what it lacks in complexity, it makes up in taste. The Latakia is lightly applied just enough to take the Virginia sweetness in a different direction. The rum is applied even lighter still, which IMO is a good thing.

True to SG blends, the bulk is better than tinned. Like their other flakes, the tins have thick rubbery flakes; whereas, the bulk has long thin bacon like flakes. Both need some dry time, but after that, they will perform splendidly. This is one of my top blends and one of 4 SG blends everyone should try. The others being FVF, St. James Flake and Squadron Leader.

I have yet to find a Samuel Gawith blend I come close to liking, and for some reason I am desperately trying. Alas, I think this is it for me with SG. This blend has no idea what it wants to do. Is it an english with Latakia? Is it a virginia? Does it try to be an aromatic with the rum casing? Who knows, but for me it does none of the above and the three do nothing combined. Way to mild for me either way. Either I want a strong english or an aromatic where I can taste the casing. If you are anything like me, don't bother with this one at all.

My local tobacconist got some of this in a few days ago. I was on my last flak of Mac Baren's NF, so i thought I would give SG's a try.

The rum flavoring may have come out in the aroma a little... but not much. There is plenty of Latakia, but not overwhelming amounts. Seemed to be nice dark virginias mostly. Lit it up easily after "fold-n-stuff". Has a very nice spicy taste! I loved it! Definitely will be ordering some more of this! Highly recommended

This blend of Navy Flake is to puffing as a good grilled sirloin is to eating. Full yet not harsh. I love this smoke in the evenings outside by a fire. I don't understand anyone having a hard time packing and lighting this if they would take the time to visit the website. The instructions take all the guess work out. A fun friendly smoke. Three stars.

I really wanted to like this but no. I have smoked three bowls and don't feel at all inspired to try anymore. I detected no rum, very light Latakia and occasional nice Virginia's. To me it just seemed like a weak English tobacco. Very bland and dull. I wish I had tried a sample before buying a tin. I know some people love this stuff but its not for me.

Not real crazy about this one. The Latakia is more woody than smoky. Not much smokiness at all. The sweetness seems artificial in that it doesn't really show in the smoke, but shows in the mouth in the aftertaste. I don't taste any rum at all, but it is possible that the sweetness that builds in the mouth is from there. Just not my type of LatVa. I can smoke it without dying though so it gets two stars.

Medium in body and taste. Flavoring is extremely mild. Takes a few matches to get going, but burns well after that.

Bought a mason jar from a friend which was 5 years old. Smoked a few bowls straight out of the jar; moist. And a bowl which I dried out as some suggested. Generally I don't like dried out tobacco - in most cases I feel the defined tastes of the different elements gets lost and all that remains is..... a dull, generic tobacco taste. And so it was with this dried out bowl for me. I would therefore smoke it moist as is.

Tin: A strong lemony smokey smell which was pleasant. Did not smell the Rum at all. Taste (Moist): A nice dark chocolate, infused with lemon taste with a smokiness far in the background. As I progressed through the bowl, some leathery, mouldy tastes were also present with Rum very far in the background. Taste (Dry): Nothing of the tastes I recorded was present in the dry bowl. Just a generic tobacco which even gave me tongue bite. Smoke slow; to the point that your pipe will die 🙂

Overall: I will not dry it out again. Other than that, pleasant but will never be my "go to" tobacco. I don't like the tongue bite and would even have liked some more Latakia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_XFFR01pgA

******EDIT REVIEW: Dec 2015***** Again, I'm forced to review my review - not the first time though. Just shows you how we, humans, change and how our tastes change (and of course, the tobacco too). I have upgraded my rating despite the fact that I don't like additional (aka other than tobacco) additives/casings etc.; but tried a bowl recently which was so satisfying that I find myself smoking this tobacco more and more.

Why I said in the first review to add Latakia, I wouldn't know because here is enough Latakia to keep me satisfied. Its smokey, leathery, mouldy layered with that dark chocolate and lemony flavours I mentioned in the first review. This time, I barely noticed the rum; actually, not at all. If I didn't re-read my review, I wouldn't even mentioned it.

So, really nice tobacco. In short, reminds me of a smokey, old cellar, or old study, with years of history packed in those leathery mouldy aromas.

As soon as you open the tin of SGNF you know it's not like their more famous offerings- rich blonde Va with dark Lat ribbons. I'll be honest, I can't taste the casing- there's no inherent sweetness to my palate apart from that of Va. This is a tasty blend; the quality of the virginias definitely shines through. A good everyday tobacco, great to have around when you don't know what to smoke or you want something straightforward but not prosaic. A bit of an inspired offering from S.G. It's beige, but in a good way. 🙂