Samuel Gawith Navy Flake

I don't know why I chose to order a bunch of Navy Flake tobacco recently. Perhaps because they all seem so different. I have read books, reviews, pipe board and pipe club "experts," etc, and I still can't seem to get a definitive answer as to what constitutes a Navy Flake tobacco. I've recently smoked three of these genre tobaccos from three different makers and gotten three totally different taste sensations. The only common ground seems to be Rum casing.

Gawith's version contains Latakia in subdued measure along with some varying types of Virginia. My tin was only six months old and perhaps that's why the Virginia didn't taste very "settled." The Latakia did come through lightly as did the rum flavoring.

Pipestud

This one took quite awhile to show its strengths. I did not like the first half-tin but eventually I caught up to it. Certainly it seems straightforward enough but it let go of its secrets with reticence.

Nice looking flake... thick flakes that took well to fold-n-stuff. It performed best in that state and with minimal drying out. Too dry and it lost its sparkle, but somewhere halfway between tin moisture and tinder was best. No nicotine overload with this one.

This tobacco has one of the best finishes of any blend containing latakia that I've ever smoked. Even during the first half-tin when I was bored out of my skull, the finish on this was gorgeous. I think this is why I gave it so much attention - in order to get to the end! Eventually the high quality virginia tang won me over, with the wisp of latakia to make things interesting and complex. Never did taste any rum but I could smell it in the tin. A light smolder on this one rather than heavy clouds is the way to go. The flavor seems to open up better with the least amount of heat. This then becomes an almost chewy smoke with incredible depth. I can't quite rank it as a "top dog" but this is one that any VA lover that isn't afraid of a little latakia should try. I will probably pick up a couple more tins (if I can find them) and smoke on rare occasions. Man, that finish is to die for! If the entire smoke tasted like the last few puffs, this would be in the top 5 of my rotation.

Few words to describe a navy mixture or a navy flake. Essential elements of a navy blend are: Virgina – some other tobacco (usually Burley or Latakia or both) – Rum, preferably Jamaican Rum (without any other flavor). Samuel Gawith Navy Flake is really a navy flake, with a harmonious proportion of the ingredients and a skillful dosing of the Rum. Latakia is in a leading role; Rum is perceivable in the background but it is well present; Virginia is the sweet humus on which the flavors of Latakia and Rum develop. This is a quite perfect navy blend but you have to remember that it still remains a Latakia blend. In my opinion a little less Latakia and a little more Rum and that’s it. Anyway an old “noble” navy flake with Latakia. In my personal rating system (from 1 to 10) my score is more than 8 and three stars.

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.

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. 🙂

Now this is an interesting one. Navy Flakes are one of my favorite types of pipe tobacco. The length of smoke, the soft spice from the rum and simplicity of it all adds to the experience. I credit smoking Navy Flakes for moving my taste from purely aromatic tobacco to more straight tobacco blends. This one in particular though is quite unique with the added addition of Latakia.

The tin is a classic, there is no need to guess what thus product is, or what sort of experience might be contained therein. When I opened my tin and removed the thick cardboard insert I found a nicely packed, and sort of firmly pressed black and brown flakes. The tin note is English forward: soft, sweet, smokey, tangy, but there is an inherent brown sugar sweetness and distinct spice from the rum. You may think that these flakes are not that wet, but they are. If you pack this in right out of the tin you may find that the muscles you use to light a match or lighter are quickly growing larger than a pro-wrestler's biceps. I left my tobacco in my pipe overnight as I do when it's usually way too wet for my liking, and it has drastically improved the amount of time it takes to get this lit.

When lit this tobacco is really engaging and relaxing. The soft woody and smokey Latakia is what I taste first. This isn't as light as Skiff Mixture but it isn't as heavy as Nightcap. It's more smooth and lingers in your mouth pleasantly. The Virginias are pleasant, sweet, slightly tangy, and very slightly bready. The rum is identifiable but if you are looking for an through and through aromatic topping you won't find it here. It tends to float through your smoke and soften whatever it touches.

The taste is a medium. This is a simple smooth blend that pleasantly lingers on your tongue. The strength is a medium, I don't notice any identifiable nicotine hit. The room note is pleasant and you may get a few compliments in public. A nice and slow burning blend to relax with. Easily recommendable. It does what it sets out to do.

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.

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.