Samuel Gawith Navy Flake
(3.17)
Storm-tossed seas, a howling wind, a ship with full sail beating into the wind and Jolly Jack Tar at the helm with his trusty pipe. Images which are conjured up whilst smoking Samuel Gawith's Navy Flake. A traditional offering of Virginias, pressed with just the right amount of latakia and flavoured with rum. Medium strength.
Details
| Brand | Samuel Gawith |
| Blended By | Samuel Gawith |
| Manufactured By | Samuel Gawith |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Latakia |
| Contents | Latakia, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Rum |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.17 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 31 - 40 of 166 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 09, 2019 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
I have tried a dozen or so tins of this over the years and simply can't go along with the Virginia leaf explorers society nor the SG fan club that appears to love everything that is: 1. Flake 2. has the word 'Navy' somewhere 3. Tobacco from Britain (as in 'steeped in history')
SG has been available in Canada for at least fifty years if not a lot longer and I've smoked every SG blend that has reached our shore for decades. I am not anti-Gawith but neither am I weepy about the 'priviledge' some associate with access to SG tobaccos.
I smoke several SG tobaccos - three on a very regular basis and a three others every week or so. Samuel Gawith Navy Flake is not one of them. It is a bit of an abomination and certainly not to be considered a 'Navy Flake' despite what's on the label. What's wrong with it?
Firstly, the Virginia component SG chose for this flake is not the best they have. Secondly, their 'recipe' defies the historic blending conventions of a Navy Flake and the resulting taste is confused, just short of a shambles and completely misses the mark. Thirdly, even after considerable drying and working the flake, it's difficult to keep lit while smoking on land let alone at sea. Any real sailors would chuck this to the gulls in frustration. This is not just an exercise in academics either because I am not the type to write at length about a pipe tobacco because it is oddly made -- IF the end result is tasty. But it isn't good. It isn't even average. Latakia really has no business in something called Navy Flake let alone one produced in Britain by a company as old as SG. They should know better. Add to that mix a sprinkle of SG's Eau du Lakeland and you have an incomprehensible tangle your mouth can't sort out. Admittedly, I am old and cannot pick out all the nuanced tastes younger pipers believe thay can but good Navy Flake is simple and clean. This one is not.
Make no mistake; it doesn't matter how you air it, prepare it, pack it or what you smoke it in because for me, whatever small change that bring has never turned a sow's ear into a silk purse. SG Navy Flake is not getting any better over the years. I've smoked too many tins over time trying to like it, trying to reconcile myself with SGs approach to navy flake but it's a poor tobacco at best and does not deserve the high rating it has here. 1.5 to 2 stars from me.
SG has been available in Canada for at least fifty years if not a lot longer and I've smoked every SG blend that has reached our shore for decades. I am not anti-Gawith but neither am I weepy about the 'priviledge' some associate with access to SG tobaccos.
I smoke several SG tobaccos - three on a very regular basis and a three others every week or so. Samuel Gawith Navy Flake is not one of them. It is a bit of an abomination and certainly not to be considered a 'Navy Flake' despite what's on the label. What's wrong with it?
Firstly, the Virginia component SG chose for this flake is not the best they have. Secondly, their 'recipe' defies the historic blending conventions of a Navy Flake and the resulting taste is confused, just short of a shambles and completely misses the mark. Thirdly, even after considerable drying and working the flake, it's difficult to keep lit while smoking on land let alone at sea. Any real sailors would chuck this to the gulls in frustration. This is not just an exercise in academics either because I am not the type to write at length about a pipe tobacco because it is oddly made -- IF the end result is tasty. But it isn't good. It isn't even average. Latakia really has no business in something called Navy Flake let alone one produced in Britain by a company as old as SG. They should know better. Add to that mix a sprinkle of SG's Eau du Lakeland and you have an incomprehensible tangle your mouth can't sort out. Admittedly, I am old and cannot pick out all the nuanced tastes younger pipers believe thay can but good Navy Flake is simple and clean. This one is not.
Make no mistake; it doesn't matter how you air it, prepare it, pack it or what you smoke it in because for me, whatever small change that bring has never turned a sow's ear into a silk purse. SG Navy Flake is not getting any better over the years. I've smoked too many tins over time trying to like it, trying to reconcile myself with SGs approach to navy flake but it's a poor tobacco at best and does not deserve the high rating it has here. 1.5 to 2 stars from me.
Pipe Used:
Dedicated bents
PurchasedFrom:
Walper Hotel Tobacco Shop
Age When Smoked:
6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 24, 2010 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Very Pleasant |
Take a good English blend and a great navy flake. Put them together and you get a gem like this. A solid dose of Latakia. Love it. Sweet and smokey.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 08, 2009 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Reliable latakia flake. I've had my tin open for over a year, just getting around to it again. Imagine SG's Full Virginia Flake with a latakia leaf or two pressed into the cake before the factory cut it into flakes. It is meant to smoke on the dry side-- jam a couple flakes in a bowl without much method (no rubbing), and it smokes on its own.
Don't analyze it, just smoke it and get about your other business as you do. It is a companion smoke, not a religious rite.
Update 2022-04
Finishing the last bowl of flakes from the above tin. Same pipe, a full bent Savinelli. Tin seal was ineffective since opening, so it cycled between humidified and completely desiccated over the years. Impossibly cool and still as flavourful as ever with smooth Latakia, and hot pressed Virginia sweetness. Nicotine must be a highly stable molecule since it is still present in a 15 year old tin opened and closed over the years. Wish I had a bought a few more tins.
Don't analyze it, just smoke it and get about your other business as you do. It is a companion smoke, not a religious rite.
Update 2022-04
Finishing the last bowl of flakes from the above tin. Same pipe, a full bent Savinelli. Tin seal was ineffective since opening, so it cycled between humidified and completely desiccated over the years. Impossibly cool and still as flavourful as ever with smooth Latakia, and hot pressed Virginia sweetness. Nicotine must be a highly stable molecule since it is still present in a 15 year old tin opened and closed over the years. Wish I had a bought a few more tins.
Pipe Used:
Savinelli antique shell 604 KS Full bent
Age When Smoked:
15 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 06, 2009 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is a really interesting tobacco! i've had a real experiment with navies recently and this is a favorite. I came to realise with smoking this that the term Navy refers more to the process than to the archetypal rum casing. I'm certainly a latakia lover, and greatly enjoy smoking in public/amongst friends where Latakia isn't so appreciated by those around me. Well here we have a delightfully flavoured navy with a wee smidgeon of Latakia that satisfies the Lat-palette yet hides in the room note! for me this is fantastic and quite unique!
I especially like flake tobaccos when i want a long slow smoke or when outdoors where a ribbon or shag cut just seems to burn to fast with the wind. this is a good flake to walk smoking with. like i mentioned with squadron leader, a good amount of nicotine in this 1, so best on a full stomach.
there are a lot of complaints regarding the moisture content of this smoke, but all tobaccos required different technique and this is a wonderful tobacco if you simply fold with a air pocket and leave for 15mins before lightning up. treat it as it deserves and you get a lovely smoke! I must stress how unique this navy flake is with its splatter of latakia a real must-try.
I especially like flake tobaccos when i want a long slow smoke or when outdoors where a ribbon or shag cut just seems to burn to fast with the wind. this is a good flake to walk smoking with. like i mentioned with squadron leader, a good amount of nicotine in this 1, so best on a full stomach.
there are a lot of complaints regarding the moisture content of this smoke, but all tobaccos required different technique and this is a wonderful tobacco if you simply fold with a air pocket and leave for 15mins before lightning up. treat it as it deserves and you get a lovely smoke! I must stress how unique this navy flake is with its splatter of latakia a real must-try.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 15, 2008 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Full | Tolerable |
What a pleasure to smoke this ! I'm now having a great time with this tobacco ! In my opinion, this is the best flake I ever tasted. Although, it's a bit strong, the little dark chocolate aroma is excellent. It's a very well balanced tobacco. Very pleasant to smoke, I'm sure flake's amateurs will be delighted ! It shows well Samuel Gawith's experience in tobaccos.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 24, 2007 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
tin aroma reveals no rum, imo. only virginia and latakia. i rub the flakes out, as i find they light and burn too slowly i don't. the taste is rather different from the tin aroma. or rather, a lot of notes are added. this is a very spicy and complex tobacco. quite amazing, given it's simple contents. i wonder how the people at samuel gawith achieved this effect, as i don't feel that it's just the addition of rum.
anyway, this tobacco is a joy to smoke at any time of the day. bite free and lightweight, it's fine in the morning, and it's still got enough of interest to do fine in the evening. highly recommended.
anyway, this tobacco is a joy to smoke at any time of the day. bite free and lightweight, it's fine in the morning, and it's still got enough of interest to do fine in the evening. highly recommended.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 25, 2007 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Out of the three flakes I tried from SG, the others being Bracken and Balkan, this is my favorite. Navy Flake is very similuar to Balkan Flake, but with less latakia and real rum. The VA's are dark brown and the rum flavor is light and provides a nice sweet background. Don't get me wrong, this does not taste like a aromatic. Burns cool and down to a fine grey ash, with no tounge bite.
Fairly moist in the tin, so it needs some air time. My flakes had beautiful sugar crystals on the VA's. Unfortunetlly, since SG does not put any dates on their tins, I don't know how old my tin was. Nice price for Smoking Pipes. I will buy this in bulk on the next order.
Highly Recommeded
Fairly moist in the tin, so it needs some air time. My flakes had beautiful sugar crystals on the VA's. Unfortunetlly, since SG does not put any dates on their tins, I don't know how old my tin was. Nice price for Smoking Pipes. I will buy this in bulk on the next order.
Highly Recommeded
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 12, 2006 | Medium | Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
This is a great blend.....This is more of a Navy Flake than most other blends I have tried....Or at least to my expectations... The Virginia is typical S.G.- Nice, Sweet, flavorful...Just enough Latakia to make it exotic, and a great rum flavor that sweetens the whole effect. From begining to end, a smooth, tasty smoke. No hint of bite, no harshness...Just a good smoke. Definatly a doer....
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 26, 2006 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
I just love the taste of the tobaccos used in Sam Gawith flakes. I assume that it is a combination of where they are from and the processes used to produce the flake tobaccos. Almost a meaty flavor. Superb!
I have to leave a tin out for a couple days to dry a bit. I really don't mind, just wish they would pack a full two ounces per tin to make use of the space. But I have also been stocking up with pounds.
Rubs out easily, packs well. Navy flake smokes as cool as other Sam Gawith flakes. No tongue bite waiting here. Plenty of latakia and a nice chosen flavor. Yes, that could be rum, but it might just be good Virginia's and the process that makes a sweet tasting flake. The latakia is present and not overpowering. This could be an all day smoke for most.
This Podunker gives a thumbs up.
Enjoy, Carlos
I have to leave a tin out for a couple days to dry a bit. I really don't mind, just wish they would pack a full two ounces per tin to make use of the space. But I have also been stocking up with pounds.
Rubs out easily, packs well. Navy flake smokes as cool as other Sam Gawith flakes. No tongue bite waiting here. Plenty of latakia and a nice chosen flavor. Yes, that could be rum, but it might just be good Virginia's and the process that makes a sweet tasting flake. The latakia is present and not overpowering. This could be an all day smoke for most.
This Podunker gives a thumbs up.
Enjoy, Carlos
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 22, 2005 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
As a big fan of Balkan flake I anticipated liking this and I do. As with moist flakes, I rub them out pretty thoroughly and load them in the pipe bowl. After waiting 15 to 60 minutes I fire it up. If it doesn't light right away let it sit a while. I think if you smoke this too wet the rum flavor is too much. My only regret is the limited amount in the tin. Looks like about ten smokes to me.
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