Samuel Gawith St. James Flake

Finally got my hands on a tin of this stuff. I've smoked full virginia flake and best brown years ago so I've had a fair amount of experience with Sam Gawith tobaccos. I've smoked some Gawith and Hogarth too. Sam Gawith are usually out of stock and my natural progression of sampling blends lead me to mostly McClellands which is where I have stayed. I still like to get a random tin or two though and love all things perique so I got a tin of Saint James Flake.

When I opened my fresh tin of Saint James Flake I was prepared to see the big, long flakes of quality tobacco. Indeed I did and they are beautiful. English blenders can really make a flake. I did cut up into American length flakes though then rub to smoke. It looked as if the tobacco had been aged for 5 years. They were covered in sugar crystals. It must be topped with some kind of sugar. The tin note smelled unnaturally sweet. It's quality tobacco with light perique. The smoke left my lips with a weird sweet residue. Maybe mine received too much of the secret sauce sugar treatment at the factory?

Seems to be a good rich virginia with a little perique. I was curious to see where I'd rate the perique level because there seems to be some debate on that topic. I'd say for the perique lover there's a little and maybe medium for those who like lighter perique. I love the stuff and have a very high tolerance level.

I'm not crazy about the sugar and the faint essence (light fruit of some kind, not floral...I really don't know). I may be wrong about the essence but I like my tobacco as pure as possible. Maybe I'll take it out for a sweet smoke occasionally. There's no denying that Gawith tobacco is first rate but I'm not crazy about it swimming in mountain dew or whatever. I'll stick to McClelland perique blends. If you don't mind the sugar casing go for it. It is by far the wettest tobacco I've encountered. I smoked at different stages of dryness to test the flavor. I wanted to smoke wet to get all of the flavors and tend like a bit of a wetter smoke than most people probably. It smoked best after a full day of drying. It's very gummy when wet and hard to work with.

I'm going to say strong flavoring for the heavy sugar frosting on top. With tobacco this good why ruin it with the toppings? My tin must have been a bad one. I feel like washing off the sugar but I'm afraid that would totally ruin the tobacco.

I am by no means a Va/Per fanatic. In fact, I tend to avoid them as they can often disappoint (that said there are many great Va/Per tobaccos out there). St. James Flake however is one I would definitely spend my money on repeatedly.

Opening the tin you are greeted with a well balanced looking flake. Not too dark virginias but with noticeable perique spread throughout. It smells pleasant enough. The sweet grassy virginias are offset by the perique leaving you with a nice tobacco aroma. Not pungent like a strong english and not sweet like a sticky aromatic. Just pleasant tobacco.

On first light you are hit with a mouth full of spicy perique (at least I am) which quickly fades and becomes balanced by the virginias. That said the perique in this blend is more at the forefront of any other Va/Per tobacco available today. Original three nuns territory (not meaning to offend any die hard three nuns fans). It doesn't have the kick of the original three nuns but there's enough Vitamin N in this blend to make ya feel it.

Overall, this is a nice spicy blend that I personally feel is a pleasant change from most other current Va/Per blends out there. Deserves a 3 out of 4 but no more.

I had intended reviewing this tobacco some time ago, but now will have to suffice. As other reviewers have noted, the contents in the tin are soaking wet, and take some time in drying. If I smoke this blend too wet it bites more than is worth the effort to keep it lit. After a few days drying, everything calms down to a tolerable degree, and I have found that nearly dried out is the best way for me to enjoy SJF. Unlike others, I don't detect a huge Perique kick; just a noticeable tickle in the nose and in the room note, after smoking. There is a casing agent of some sort here, too, but it is ephemeral, and soon recedes after lighting. I must say that sniffing the bowl of one's pipe, loaded with SJF, just after it has gone out, is a marvelous experience. I smell figs, prunes, caramel, and strong coffee. The taste, is, in a word, luxurious. This is a rich blend, albeit restrained. It isn't going to win over those whose prefer a lightning bolt virginia/perique smoking experience, a la Escudo or 633. No, SJF occupies a slightly different place in a tobacco niche where choices abound. 2015 is my gold standard for such blends, and SJF will not unseat it, but it is an excellent choice of an evening when you can partake with the attention that it deserves. Dry it, rub it out (or roll it up/break it apart), and enjoy.

The perique is the predominant note to me. Not a bad thing if you are in the mood for a smoke that has a bit of a sweet side. A very nice PerVa that has a permanent presence in my cellar and rotation.

This is very cool smoking Virginia/Perique mixture. I let the tobacco dry considerably and fold the flakes in half to load the pipe. Va/Per mixture with a softness that I enjoy. I finished a tin in one week, and bought several more. There are other great blends in this style but I really do enjoy this one for it's smoothness, and the quality of the tobacco.

For many years my primary daily smoke was Black Parrot. First the German production which was delightful and then the McClelland version which was decent. Six months ago I bought a tin of SGSJF, filled a bowl and said no not really to my liking. The perique was a bit overdone for me.

I tossed the tin aside and did not touch it again until a few nights ago. It had mellowed and was most enjoyable. The perique is still a bit sharper than I like but overall this is a very well made tobacco. VaPer fans should definitely give it a whirl.

Ben is so right, give it that six months!

I agree with Talonr1701: Take FVF and add about 25% perique and this is it! Not as great as FVF but a good, strong, peppery and bite-free smoke though!

This one is for the perique nuts...(Like myself)- Take FVF and add about 25% perique and this is it. You say this is a simplistic description? Well its accurate. A fantastic Virginia and my favorite spice....thats a receipe for something wonderful..... Warning though..Perique is strong, and the taste is steady from begining to end. I love it, but three stars as you gotta love perique like me to enjoy it. Use caution....

Traditional Gawith style flake packing. I smoked a full tin in an old, small Charatan. Just one or at most two bowls a day.

Bold is right. This baby has more LA perique or tastes like it does, than most Va./Perique blends. More than say Stokkebye's Navy Flake, C&D's Kajun Kake, Escudo, Wessex's Folded Flake, Solani's two flakes, etc. Not a bad thing, but a warning. You must adore real Perique to like this one.

Still not as potent as C&D's Exclusive (whoa baby -- I can only smoke the pressed/ extra Va. cut version of that one) or as strong as original Three Nuns could be. Three Nuns strength was in both the Perique and full virginias. SJ Flake is not sweet like Escudo or Three Nuns. Just different. Like S' Navy Flake on steroids.

Maybe as dark and spicy as Butera's Kingfisher, but that one is subdued with cool burley. Just Virginias in SJ Flake.

However, the high quality virginias and pressing subdue the Perique just enough to make the experience worthwhile. You don't taste their woody toastiness like in Full Virginia Flake by Gawith, but they do form a nice base.

I had to let it dry out for a few days to have a more mellow smoke. I found fully rubbed best. It started out a little bitter and took a few bowls to be more rounded in my pipe. Not hot, but somewhat spicy. Little or no bite if puffed slowly. Someone new or occasional to perique would say my description is too mild or the taste is more on the bitter than sour side.

Enough. Either you'll like it or you won't. A bold but true gesture by Gawith whom I beleive has never ventured in the Perique realm before. If you care for Perique, this is for you and at least it won't get you. Weaker of heart, who knows? Perique is not for the meek.