Samuel Gawith Navy Flake

Tin notes of tart plums, vinegar and sweet grass. The flakes are dark brown and dense, rubbing out takes some effort. Tobacco is a little sticky and may need some drying. Burns slow and with an average amount of relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. Flavoring seems mild, but I think it gives the tobacco some depth. Taste is medium and fairly consistent, with notes of stewed fruits, smokey wood, grass and floral. Room note had no complaints and after taste was great.

This is my favorite blend. The Virginia tobaccos used are really quality. Sweet and mild while still being very flavorful. The Latakia is noticeable but very subdued, same with the rum topping. This blend really starts to shine at about the midpoint when these subtle, sweet, floral(not perfume-y) flavors start to come out of the Gawith Virginias. I agree with JimInks that you should not completely dry it out for the best flavor even though I usually prefer my tobacco fairly dry (hard to do in South Texas).

In a word, splendid. A real nirvana smoke every time. So smooth and satisfying with all the flavours complimenting each other throughout the duration of the bowl. The flakes need a little drying time before packing, but it behaves well and if you concentrate on the smoke, it needs very few relights. I highly recommend this.

This one came after a hard day of work, I was kind of ambivalent because the state of mind always affects the smoking experience, but this time was very pleasant, relaxing, its complexity was a great treatment for stress.

Right out of the thin it is very moist, I would recommend letting it rest for a while before smoking it.

Although this blend has rum favoring, it is barely noticeable, which in my opinion is great because it makes rather than evident is complex. It has a certain sweetness and creaminess, that in contrast with the latakia makes a great smoking journey. Later those sweet and creamy flavours got mixed with some toastiness.

I have tried different ways of packing this tobacco, and in every way it tastes different, a total exploration. Although for my experience crumble it helps to bring out its flavours.

One con of this blend is that several relights are needed, but until the last relight the flavour is always pleasantly present.

It has a very long lasting aftertaste.

Nice, smokey, rich with sweetness that comes and goes. Sometimes a bit spicy here and there. In my opinion the room note is just a smoke version of the tin note. Taste is good and doesn't linger around too long. Satisfying smoke for sure. Smoke this one nice and cool. Very enjoyable. Will be buying this again. Very little moisture in the bottom of the bowl and smoked all the tobacco to ash without difficulty. I let one flake air out for 5 min prior to breaking it up and smoking it. Nice smooth relaxing smoke. I like it.

This is a fantastic smoke, and the finest navy flake, by far, that I have ever tried. In keeping with Gawith blends, this is really a horse of a different color, and not a cookie cutter navy flake. In relation to that, one could argue that the latakia component, which is generally not found, at least to any appreciable degree, in a navy flake makes this "not" a navy flake at all. If, however, you consider the navy flake genre to be the rum flavoring on a primarily VA flake, and see the addition of latakia as merely as an attempt to give it another dimension flavor (which it most certainly does) than this can fairly be considered a navy flake, and fly its colors proudly.

Some reviewers appear to be hung up on the latakia issue. I read at least one review that griped that this did not have enough latakia for his taste. In response I would point to paragraph one, and reiterate that the presence of latakia here is a pleasant surprise. This is not a "latakia" blend, and should not be reviewed as one. The latakia is here to add flavor and dimension to the mixture, but it is not the main attraction. Gawith does this masterfully (see chocolate flake) and the results are some of the most unique and tasty pipe tobaccos around. The latakia in this blend cools the smoke, and adds depth and richness which is simply lacking in similar blends (and I use the term "similar" loosely, because there is really nothing else like this out there that I am aware of).

Similarly, I find the rum application to be both one of the strongest, and tastiest, that I have ever tried. The tin aroma is delicious, and that odor is realized while smoking. In addition, while my general experience has been that alcohol cased tobaccos burn hot, this is an exceedingly cool smoke, like most Gawith flakes.

Some have noted, with varying degrees of consternation, that this is moist out of the tin. To this I say "duh!" Flakes are moist. I have a tin of Christmas Cheer from 98 or 99 that went about six years after opening before I needed to add a humidifier (I keep it for a special occasion smoke, so that it will last forever!). Further, tin moisture is not a relevant criteria for review, unless the tobacco is so dry as to be damaged. Most flakes are going to need to be dried out before smoking, unless you like your smoke exceedingly wet and hot. Have a little patience, dry that flake out for a couple of hours before smoking, and see what a difference that makes.

This flake explodes with flavor. The rum is present, the sweetness of the VA's is there, and the latakia rounds things out in a singular way. It is a cool smoke unless abused. The nicotine strength is medium to my tastes. It does not make me woozy like 1292 or Bracken flake do, and that is a good thing in my book, as it allows me to smoke more if this in a bigger bowled pipe.

Gawith has been making their singular products for literally centuries. No other company comes close in my book in terms of consistency and quality. People gripe about the Rattray's that used to be, or the blender who made Dunhill twenty years ago. Gawith has been cranking it out on the same machinery for a very long time, and believe me, they have the process down. I know I sound like a Gawith commercial, but after trying literally dozens upon dozens of blends from around the world, my experience is that Gawith products are usually a breed apart, and this Navy Flake is no exception. A super tasty, good smoking flake. Buy some and see for yourself! (FYI, there are still a few sources for Gawith blends in the USA right now if you look hard enough, and I personally have purchased six or eight tins in the last month. I am not telling where, though, because I am a selfish only child, and do not want to share, so there.)

This is another homerun for me . I pack this semi rubbed out in my ashton x pebblegrain billiard and smoke it slowly contemplating childhood memory's . This blend is not super powerfull but that does not mean it lacks taste. Sweet, and musty the perfect duo. Lots of white smoke make this a goto smoke on a cool night or a warm summer morning, pair it up with some fine columbian supremo and wala. That reminds me to order another pound or five. I found this smokes sweeter aged. Dribs and drabs of light cherrys, or plums as patty mentioned wait until you can see some white in the almost black flakes you won't be dissapointed.

Its my favourite VaLa . Frankly, Rum's smell is very noticable but it only slightly correlates to flavour while smoking . Definitely a good tobby, I personally love it and every smoker should try it. I dont think there is plenty of latakia in it, Virginia plays the main role . As long as you smoke reservedly, Virginia will contribute it's sweetness. Its actually fine everyday VA/LA blend and admittedly every smoker should have it in storage. Cheers

I taste a bit of cocoa, a sour grassyness, some oaky woody notes, and dark dried fruit, but what really brings this blend together for me is this musty, earthy, dank-basement type note that the light bit of Latakia seems to provide. All of that held together with a creamy finish.

This one is definitely a biter, and If I'm not prepared to fully relax and slow my caedence it tends to be rather unforgiving. It is, however, well worth it. Very low nicotine content, burns clean and dry, and makes for a lengthy smoke.

This is quite a well done and unique blend. I quite enjoy having Latakia as a condiment for VA's without any added oriental leaf. It has me on the hunt for other VA/Lat blends but nothing quite compares.