Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Dark Flake Scented

It appears my 2 oz sample was absent the day they handed out the "traditional British flavorings". Ok, not absent but apparently not absorbing the lesson. Readers should take this review with a grain of salt, since my batch appears different than the norm, but I'm reporting on what I tasted/smelled.

This would be a great tobacco for someone that loves the robust feistyness of Dark Flake Unscented but wants something they can smoke around others. Ok, "some" others! I got varied comments, but smoking DFU garnered one comment echoed umpteen times - "YUCK"! This had a heavily scented tin aroma that did not correlate to the flavor very much. What flavoring my batch possessed burned off within the first 20 or so puffs. From that point forward, it tasted exactly like my memory of DFU but gave off a more tolerable room aroma. In that sense, this could be the perfect tobacco for someone. I found it deep, dark and luxurious tasting, just like its unscented brother. Very nicotine-laden, and smaller bowls are recommended. This one lulled me to over-relaxation, both through the flavor and through the nicotine buzz.

I could not smoke this one all day or even everyday. Perhaps once per week. But this is a tobacco that I intend to have around for those times where it just fits in when nothing else will satisfy. This is a 3.5 star blend, downgraded due to its occasional status and not its flavor!

A medium, possibly for some, strongish strength, mainly dark fired Malawi Virginia tobacco from the established and renowned Lakeland blenders Gawith and Hoggarth. DFS is essentially Dark Flake but with the addition of flavorings which in my opinion do not transfer to the taste of the tobacco as one would expect from the bag aroma. The cut and press of the flake will be familiar to smokers of British flakes. Dark, heavily pressed and cut to six inch by a little over one inch flakes. The usual high quality leaf from established growers and suppliers have ensured that G&H have been able to maintain a consistent high standard of their products with in this case the addition of time honoured secret ingredients, some of which named may be less present than some would have you believe.

The producers Gawith and Hoggarth mention the presence of Tonquin and liquorice as well as other flavourings as being present but some reviewers have compared this blend to Sam Gawith's 1792 which I feel is a little misleading. Tonquin and liquorice play a minor part in this blends flavourings and aroma, but in 1792 these ingredients have a more forward, dominant role and transfer to the smoke of that blend much more than they do in DFS. The main or dominant ingredient/aroma of DFS is a very different and lighter middle note of either (I think at least) Geranium or Rose Geranium which may well remind smokers of the Lychee fruit. Being a middle note and not as heavy as Tonquin which is regarded as a base note, the sweeter, lighter flavourings remain primarily in the back ground to the smoker who is rewarded with the quality taste and strength of the pressed Virginia leaf rather than that of any over powering additives. I may well be wrong of course and setting myself up for criticism but these are my humble observations regarding the matter of the otherwise only mentioned as 'other/miscellaneous' flavourings.

DFS stands alongside Dark Flake and others from the G&H house as a very good dark fired Virginia and deserves in my eyes at least, simply on the strength of the tobacco's quality to come recommended. Although a favourite of mine there are others such as Coniston Cut Plug which I slightly prefer. If you find Coniston a little too strong for your tastes and / or prefer a lighter aroma to your smoke, then DFS will no doubt fit your needs.

Smoke it in an armchair, otherwise next time smoke it in a wheelchair.

Stronger that 1792 and much stronger than Peterson's Irish Flake, the scented version of GH Dark Flake is a dangerous and/but extreme pleasure. Arrived rather dry, so there was no need to further prepare it except for rubbing out, loading and lighting up.

I'll second loosewatches' opinion - although the DFS is scented, the taste and aroma when smoking is almost exclusively of the dark fired leaf. It's only when you smell it in the bag or wherever you prefer to keep it that you know it's scented. I would say I love the tin aroma, except that it's a bulk version in my case. And once lit up, the smoke reveals a hint of tonquin and a floral note characteristic of many GH flakes, but no other added flavors.

As with all weed of this kind, good drying and a small pipe is advisable.

The Dark Flake Scented is not as cloyed with tonquin as the acclaimed 1792 Flake by Samuel Gawith and more authentic and powerful than Peterson's Irish Flake, which makes DFS the right choice for me when I crave for a stronger tobacco.

I got a sample from a friend, and I have been smoking it in various cobs (fearing the ghosting). My sample came in long strips of flake, and it may have been slightly on the dry side. Rubbed out, the pieces are very hard and stick together with some determination. I smoked this rubbed out because I suspected that it would not stay lit otherwise. I am pretty sure the only other tobacco I have smoked that was this dense was McClelland 2025.

Smoked this is a Lakeland experience. There is floral and the first few puffs are a little soapy. Once you get into the bowl, the essence smooths out and I liked this more than I expected I would. It is a strong Lakeland flavor, and it has some of the spice of the right Honduran cigar. I get the same nutty, smoky and slightly sweet combination of tastes I found in the unscented Dark Flake. There is a creamy, thick quality to the smoke, and there is a pleasant slightly acrid quality to it at times. The slight herbal flavor in the unscented is there too but harder to find.

Be warned that this smoke packs a nicotine punch. I am fairly immune to nicotine, and I knew I was smoking something strong by half bowl. By this point, the flavors really sing, and I don't just think it has been the nicotine talking.

Smoking qualities were good, and it was no challenge to smoke slowly, smoke to the bottom, etc. It burned cool for me.

This is a solid 3 on the scale. I am glad I tried it. I think I might slightly prefer this to the unscented, and that was a surprise.

A dark, satisfying offring from GH for sure. Darker in appearance than BrFl Scented with a similar bag note at first sniff. After careful sniffing you pick up some flower notes. Now, I'm not a fan of going into a florist for the smell, but the folks at GH do it right. Never overbearing in my opinion. What I like about GH as compared to SG is that GH offerings are more readily smokeable when fresh with very few relights along the way. This one has the stoutness and taste of Irish Flake but it is more flavorful and is less harsh than IrF. No real floral taste, but a floral hint which I believe to be the licorice. The sweetness as compared to BrFlSc (my favorite of the GH offerings) is more bittersweet in nature. I am smokng it now in a new Peterson Rustic Tankard. No bite and no heat with this one no matter how fast you puff. Wonderful hints of cigar upon light up and in the side stream - subtle, but noticeable.

Nothing negative to say about DFSc and solidly recommended, but as compared to BrFlSc, there seems to be a more chocolatey note with BrFlSc that I enjoy very much. However, if you want strong, DFSc will certainly satisfy. As srong as, if not stronger than, and different than, 1792 by way of comparison.

If you ever wanted to know what the term "Lakeland" meant, you should give this a try. If you like Lakeland blends then this is one of the poster children blends.

Tonquin bean and Rose water(? or carnations? or?? well, some kind of flower) dominate the flavor. It says there is Licorice too but not to me. Maybe a little citrus.... Make sure you are using a pipe dedicated to Lakelands or heavy Aromatics because this tobacco will take 4-5 bowls of other stuff before you won't be able to taste it.

Don't get me wrong. It's good. It's VERY good but I find myself being able to taste in my head for days after. It has a haunting incense type aroma and taste that is hard to forget.

A good rubbing and a loose pack will make this blend behave better in the bowl. I found it needed a lot of attention while smoking to keep it burning.

It's not an everyday smoke for me but one of those nice changeup blends to break away from my usual suspects. Try it!

3.25 stars from me.

Whoa this powerhouse flake smells like roses and lavender. This is a love it or hate it flake being that the aroma is so strong. I didn't like it at first, kinda made me gag in that old lady too much perfume in an elevator way but its grown on me. Very full, strong nicotine wise and tasty. Flakes are huge soft and pliable, easy to rub out or dry and stuff whole for a long cool smoke. Be warned though this stuff is very aromatic, stinky or delicious depending on your preference but extremely aromatic....

Beautiful flakes of dark tobacco with excellent jar smell. Too strong of a casing/topping for many smokers, however it is a great blend once your pallet adjusts. I prefer chocolate flake, brown flake and rum twist over this, but it is still a tobacco in a category of its own. Try the unscented dark flake and compare the two, both are excellent as is most Gawith & Hoggarth tobacco.

Best smoked later in the day with some food in your stomach. Works well in a dedicated pipe due to an overwhelming ghost, but you could dedicate a lakelands pipe and do just fine.

Overall 3 star blend due to Gawith & Hoggarth having better tobaccos in their lineup. I will keep 4 oz of this around but won't be buying pounds.

I have found Lakeland Tobaccos to be excellent for my taste. This is one of them that has that "Floral" essence that Hoggarth is known for and is somewhat a tradition as their lineage goes back to the 1700's. This is the type of tobacco the old Parliament or high rollers of the old days would smoke.

The flavor is on the strong side same goes for the Nicotine. Would say it is a bit similar to 1772 but with a heavier Lakeland essence.

Bottom line, I find nearly all of the Gawith blends to be decent with top notch quality tobaccos. This is one I plan on cellaring if possible, Just wish it was easier to get ahold of as this 1oz is not going to last long.