Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Dark Flake Scented

Pipestud and others have contributed accurate assessment of DFS below. Should there remain any doubt in your mind, you may want to take the DFS compatibility test:

Which do you prefer? Select your choice of either (A) or (B).

(A)Guinness Stout vs.(B)Coors Light (A)Liver and onions vs.(B)Peanut butter sandwich (A)Cabernet Sauvignon vs.(B)Beaujolais Nouveau (A)Shad roe (fried) vs.(B)Tilapia fillet broiled) (A)Moth balls vs.(B)Lilac pomander

If you select at least four (A) items, you may be a candidate to try DFS.

As for me, this is as close to an 'aromatic' as I will allow, something other than tobacco burning in my pipe.

This is a beautiful, well balanced & deeply flavorful smoke that tastes charred, rich and bittersweet. The scented topping creates a marvelous high note that balances perfectly with the fullness of its flavor. Truth be told, I have a pretty low tolerance for nicotine, and quite frankly I have no business smoking this blend. However, I really enjoy it, so I smoke it exclusively in a long stem clay tavern style pipe with a tiny bowl. This helps me to keep from overdoing it, and the flavor that I get from the clay is quite articulate.

There's a pleasing mellow spiciness that appears about midway through the smoke, and there are so many interesting complexities that it's really impossible to describe them. The strength and the flavor-balance of Dark Flake Scented are a perfect combination and there’s a significant amount of both. There's no harshness and no bitterness, only sublime dark tobacco flavor with a sophisticated flair.

I absolutely adore this flake and I think it’s a terrific option for pipers who appreciate scented Kendal style tobacco, but are seeking something more robust.

EDIT: 09/14/2016 It's now been almost 3 years since I first reviewed this wonderful flake. It's still a 4 star tobacco and is the ONLY tobacco that I can say has completely satisfied each and every time I've smoked it. I've smoked over 3lbs of the stuff with 100% satisfaction. It's that good. If the strength scares you from trying it, just try it in a smaller pipe cut with some Brown Flake or similar. Then proceed to work your way up to 100% Dark Flake and Bob's your uncle, you're smoking a mans tobacco.

Original Review 10/17/2013: This tobacco was an eye opener to me. For years I have been able to enjoy most "types" of tobacco, but for my daily smokes tended to stick with light Virginia's and the occasional aromatic. When I first tried Dark Flake Scented, I was a little bit leery, due to the warnings of the strength nicotine wise. My fears were mostly unfounded. This tobacco does indeed pack a nicotine punch, but behaves if puffed gently. The benefit of the full flavor far outweighs the con of the nicotine (if you consider that a bad thing) when smoked with reasonable sense.

The flavor, again, is full. It's a nice almost spicy taste, maybe that's a tonquin or licorice coming through. I know this will sound odd, but the back of the throat/nose taste reminds me of Chaps cologne.

I love the smell of this stuff in the jar and think it does come through a little bit in the smoke for the first dozen or so puffs, but gently fades away after that. It's not at all a turn off for me. I've smoked it in a few pipes and find that it does not ghost a pipe anywhere near as much as I thought it would. I actually like the smell it leaves behind in the pipe the following day.

Again, this tobacco was an eye opener to me. It's really the first full strength blend I've thoroughly enjoyed. I highly recommend it if you're looking for something with a full flavor and with a bit of strength to it.

Now we're talking. I am an unapologetic Lakeland fan, but edging towards dropping the "Lakeland" label as all "Lakelands" I've smoked are very different from each other so they shouldn't be lumped together in terms of taste, only in terms of origin.

This one smells extremely strongly of geranium (the flower) for me, and I know this smell very well because it's common in Greek gardens. A similar-smelling plant (Pelargonium) may be what the actual source of the scent is, but I'll call it geranium because I can't be sure of the names. Geranium, come to think of it, has a heavier and sweeter smell than Pelargonium, which is more lemony and tangy - Pelargonium may be it!

I can't pick out anything else in the flavour of the smoke, only the room note seems to allow the various flavourings added to somewhat separate and be distinct.

The presentation is typical Gawith, thick cut very dark brown flakes, heavy and oily. Strangely enough it catches straight from the tin, but as you progress to smoke it it will need a relight for every puff at the end of the bowl.

I frankly don't detect tonquin, liquorice or maple in the smoke, or any discernible tobacco taste. It is all geranium: tangy, spicy, not floral or herbals, sweet but balanced by the inherent tangyness and underlying bitterness of the geranium. There's depth here and a fair amount of nicotine, but it is smooth and 100% consistent to the very end of the bowl. It is reasonably strong, but far less than Lakeland Dark or 1792 flake.

The real magic for me about this tobacco is that it really takes AGES to burn down, half a flake can keep me occupied for 1.5-2 hours, and the taste never wavers. It never burns hot either, does not bit. It just needs relights every puff if you're committed to finishing every last strand of tobacco in your bowl.

Very very satisfying smoke, if I hadn't had 1792 already it could have made my top 5.

This flake is truly a wonderful experience. It is as described——a full flavored and strong tobacco designed for the experienced smoker who wants a more traditional British flake with a Lakeland essence. Although not an all day smoke it deserves a place in any serious smoker’s stash.

This is probably as bold as any tobacco I have smoked in a pipe. It stands apart from the pipe tobacco crowd like the Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 or La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero do among cigars. Sit down.

I gather it is only available in bulk. My order came drier than most GH flakes. In the bag the aroma is pleasant and inviting. Scented, but not "soapy". I have not tried folding it, but I will. Rubbed out it stays lit, if you want it to.

In the bowl it is pretty much as described by GH. At first cool and sweet with hints of maple and licorice, then I noticed the tonquin flavor, and then the very mild floral flavor. I smoke a lot of Lakeland essence tobaccos, and I allow that mild to me may be different for you. The toppings are dominated by the Malawi and Indian leaf, smoky and cigar-like. Yet, it retains its sweet VA character. It is strong, but not harsh to me. In fact, the bottom third is pretty darn mellow. It burns cool and dry to a powdery, white ash.

I give it 4 stars because I enjoy it very much and with full knowledge that many will not. I can highly recommend it to ligero cigar smokers wanting something comparable in a pipe tobacco.

To be clear, this is, for me, an everday smoke. Not all day, but everyday. Along with maybe four or five other tobaccos (so you get an idea of my taste...that usually means Bosun cut plug, Lousiana Flake by G&H, St james Flake by samuel gawith, and F&Ts Cut Blended Plug...and often Long Golden Flake and Hal o the Wynd...even Solani's Aged Burley Flake and GL Pease's Triple Play). So..given thats my taste coordinates, you can gauge how this might work for you. I simply love this tobacco and while yes, its pretty strong, it is not insanely strong like Brown Bogie for instance. i dont even think its as strong as Irish Flake. But its strong, yeah. Smoke it slow and you will get all the flavor and there is a LOT of flavor. Nic hit, as stated, is above average. But I say less than Irish Flake. Rub it out a bit, it requires less relights and even rubbed out it will smoke very slow. It is pungent and rich, with an earthy sweetness. There are a lot of flavors...vanilla in places, cocoa, raisons and cloves and something like dates. Some people like this in a small bowl and i get that, but i like it in a big bent ODA size bowl. But thats me. G&H are the pinnacle of pipe smoking tobaccos IMHO. And this is one of their classics.

A top grade Va flake flavored with strong lakeland floral scent, licorice and tonka bean oil, tasty, strong and full bodied. this blend is highly aromatic in the British style. the tobacco flavor is close to Peterson Irish flake, the floral topping is strong and yet very elegant.

overall this is a very good Va blend, but not as good as SG 1792 flake.

Surely "scented" is a misnomer ? I remember Spanish Shawl cigarettes, now THEY were scented. Aromatic, although arguable, is perhaps a better description ? I can't differentiate between Dark Flake Aromatic and it's stablemate Dark Flake Unscented, because I haven't tried, and don't intend to try DFU as it may detract from my perspective of DFA.I have read derogatory remarks about the "perfume" of DFA, but frankly I don't understand what the reviewers meant. There is a definite aroma in my jars in which my baccy is stored, but is sure is NOT a disguise for "Piss" of any genre. Some of the common processed tobaccos in the UK have made me physically vomit at one time or another, and I would quit smoking if that's all that was available here (UK). But DFA ?? never. If it's threatening to anyone regarding strength, nicotine fix or whatever, then I must be Macho in my tastes. I smoke this, or alternatively "1792" before breakfast, FOR breakfast, and subsequently all day without a trace of the (very familiar) sweats, wobbles, shivers that others have given me.

Chac'un à son propre goût. (??)

Would one imbibe a fine red wine without letting it "breathe" ??