Samuel Gawith Sam's Flake

Che buono! Ottimo Virginia (come sempre nei SG) con degli Orientali che svolgono un lavoro completamente diverso da quello tipico delle EM. Una fumata tranquilla, serena, da tutti i giorni. Davvero piacevole.

While Sam's Flake is of undoubted quality, it's left me ambivalent.

I found a largish pipe best (Stanwell 29) to give it room to unfold revealing the delicate orientals before turning into the Rich Taste of a well known cigarette brand.

Using the virginia benchmark, I asked myself ; Is this preferable to Red Orlik? But that was like asking if a Mustang better than a Charger when you need a pick up.

4 bright stars because it's good but too mild for me.

Undoubtedly one of the best tobaccos I've ever smoked. I really love VAs, in all varieties, and also when accompanied by Burley or Perique. When I bought it, I was looking for a good quality VA with some more sweetness and flavour in comparison to "purer" leaves, and I found it! In fact, I wouldn't compare this tobacco to BBF, FVF or any other unscented VA, because these are different products entirely. What I get from my smoke is the taste of sweet, high-quality Virginia, a subdued, delicate scent of vanilla and tonquin bean. I think I'll smoke this tobacco whenever I'd like to smoke 1792 without being kicked in the butt by Nicotine. It has some of the wonderful creaminess of Kendal cream, but without the floral essence of the latter, which is also more acidic. The taste of Sam's flake reminds me of some freshly baked pastry. I wouldn't dare saying that the orientals don't come out at all, even if I can't isolate the taste. They probably cooperate in the final flavour of the blend. I'd absolutely recommend this tobacco to anyone who loves to taste some real tobacco but doesn't dislike a little casing, which in this case (as it is usually with Samuel Gawith, at least in my experience) is superb.

I freely admit I bought this because I'm called Sam. However, whilst milder and dryer than my usual preferences I really enjoyed it. Just taken a break from working and I found the aroma delightful. This tobacco wafts up pleasantly. It is not strong, and usually that makes me yearn for a punchy virginia flake or a bowl crammed full of St Bruno (which whilst not strong is just right to me, as is Full Virginia Flake). I will be keeping some of this for when I get a week or so off over Christmas. (It's the only time Surveying students get to sleep, especially when they work as well....) Seriously though it is a rather nice tobacco for crisp days. It's one of those tobaccos which puts me in a contemplative mood. I like it.

Opening tin with this tobacco was a big surprise for me. Turkish leaves get some kind of exotic aroma to the whole blend. When tasting it, this is a very fine tobacco, pure natural Virginias, but easy to smoke and a bit fruity(?) because of Turkish tobacco. It can be smoked both by natural tobacco lovers and beginners who are making first steps with non-aromatic tobacco.

Among other samuel gawith offerings I've tried, I can easily say sam's flake is the only one I'd like to stock as much as I can. Gone through half of the tin in less than a week and at this rate I believe it won't take another week to finish of it all. It's so good I had to restrain myself from writing a review with my first bowl but as you can see I couldn't wait till I finish the whole tin already.

I've had the pleasure of being in the same room while other pipe friends smoked sam's flake. The room note reminds me of the scent coming off when roasting coffee, which is very similar to scent of baking bread. Through the half of the bowl I get slightly salty taste but other than that, it's like I'm smoking coffee from start to end. Obviously there's no coffee flavoring in this flake but either the addition of Turkish leaf or the Virginia itself or both of them combined, comes out as mild, semi-sweet, not so complex, clean coffee notes. Actually, Brazil yellow bourbon comes to my mind.

I got best results when fully rubbed and packed loose & wet (and when I say wet, I mean "just out of tin" wet) surprisingly it takes flame easier compared to other SG tobaccos I've tried.

This review comes from my first tin, so I think it could be updated after more.

Very dark flakes with fruity notes (it reminds me of apple and pears), quite moist like all SG. I rub the flakes and let them dry for a couple of hours and then load in the bowl and light.

Lighting the mixture you can taste and smell a mild flavouring (not fruity when lit), always very pleasant and never overpowering, very well balanced and never tiring. Dry and sweet smoke, with spicy notes due to orientals.

Something different from usual VA mixtures, top quality flakes. Great smoke for morning and afternoon!

I'll buy more and keep in my rotation.

Highly recommended!

Although I've found many excellent Virginia tobaccos available (McClelland, Rattrays, F&T), somehow Sam Gawith puts a spin on them that I find irresistable. The only thing that keeps me from grabbing Sam's flake every time is the incredible moisture content. I actually have to plan a day or two ahead of time to get it to be ignitable (same with Chocolate Flake). Ah, but the steam is delicious when I finally succeed! Don't go too dry.

Unlike several other reviewers, I find this to be every bit as sweet as MacBaren's VA#1 and Marlin Flake: pseudo-aromatic, almost. The label even admits to a bit of topping; I find it spicy and fruity, sort of a mincemeat taste. Yummy! Cinnamon toast aroma? I'll second that.

Pipe: big. Go big and prepare the flake by rolling it around in your palm so that it is not entirely broken up. In a big pipe, I get a wonderful easy draw through it and (once finally ignited)it practically smokes itself with no bite. For a LONG time. Nicotine is mild enough that you won't be swimming. Prepare for moisture either with a reservoir pipe or with pipe cleaners.

This changes my idea what turkish tobacco tastes like. Maybe it's the VA's or the topping, but there is none of the leatheriness I associate with them.

Highly recommended to smokers of flake Virginias who enjoy them sweet and rich. A good companion to Gawith's FVF.

Absolutely stunning blend. Moist brown flake flecked with yellow. Tin note is bread, pastry almost hot cross bun or Danish pastry. Tonquin is very faint. Flakes may be deemed by some to be a bit too moist but I prefer them like this as it gives the best flavour if puffed at a relaxed cadence. Takes a bit of lighting and I prefer to hold the lighter a good inch from the bowl and drawn the flame down rather than hit it close as this can dry the tobacco too much and spoil the topping. Flavour on lighting is exquisite with the Virginia's cradled by the first class Turkish tobaccos and the tonquin marries the two seamlessly. Silky smooth and creamy, with mild wood/spice undertones, giving the palate a milky feel quite similar to Kendal Cream before the QC went AWOL. Pairs beautifully with a black coffee a a great breakfast smoke, and also goes well with carbonated spring water. Leaves a lovely lingering aftertaste after the bowl is done. The tobacco behaved impeccably through the bowl and in the final third the woody spice of the Turkish became more pronounced. Has a nice room note and left a light grey ash at the bottom of the bowl. I would be happy to smoke this all day and would recommend to pipers of all levels. Don't be put off by the tonquin topping as it's applied very lightly and simply serves to carry a sweetness that weaves in and out. Puffed at a gentle pace a large bowl provided me with a generous hour of hedonistic delight! I love Virginia /Turkish blends and this one is pure class. 10/10