Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Grasmere Flake

I personally really enjoy this Lakeland scented flake. I keep several different g&h scented flakes, but I believe this is my favorite. I get it in bulk and I'm not sure if this is the case when and if it is tinned, but mine has developed more and more of what look like delicate and inviting sugar crystals all over it. Like, a lot of them. This wonderful tobacco reminds me of something that the hobbits in the shire would grow and smoke. Halfling leaf. Some people steer clear of these types of tobaccos, but I think they are just awesome and grasmere will always have a lofty status in my rotation. It's probably what I would consider my special occasion tobacco that I smoke more than occasionally and when I feel particularly whimsical. It smokes really well and it's merits should definitely be studied in great detail.

Very good smoke, but I cannot find much of a difference in between these flakes and the rest of the Lakelands, be it Ennerdale, Kendall or any other one that will fall into this category. Not that any of them will bite, but this is probably the easiest on the palate of the whole range. Despite the moist content, which is rather medium/high, you can actually smoke this tobacco straight out of the tin. The casing evokes roses, talcum power, etc., and it feels soapy on the palate, which is a feature you will probably appreciate if you like any of the Lakelands. At times, it feels tangy or citrusy, I suppose, because of the strong Lakeland essence. I am inclined to believe the burley tobaccos contained therewith have not been flue cured as the taste seem to be rather medium throughout the whole bowl.

I know I shouldn't review a tobacco just by having one single bowl smoked, but here I am, reviewing it after just having tried it. Today, some really nice tobaccos came and since it's lent period and I limit myself to one pipe a day, I chose Grasmere Flake. I smelled it from the bag, and what hit me in the first place, was that strange smell of old people. Once, many years ago, things used to smell that way. Geranium rose essence, the soaps were made with. Geranium rose is the cheap substitute for rose oil, and was used once to perfume things quite a lot. Including the "rose lokum" (turkish delight). It just smell like grandma's house in the country many years ago. That brings a lot of dear memories. Childhood memories are so beautiful, not because something worth remembering happened, but because of your perception of the world. As a child, you like everything, even the "lakeland" type of smell. Grasmere is not as soapy or nearly as strong as Condor, more like floral dark if I may say so. VAs lack sweetness, Burley rounds everything and mutes every sharpness, everything is about Lakeland "old grandma" note which is wonderful by the way. I never knew Lakeland smell can have so many nuances, it's pretty amazing. Room note is almost undetectable. While Condor perfumes the whole house for a week after smoking it, this passed undetected by my wife. Was a bit moist for my taste, but I didn't have the patience to dry it to the point of perfect burn/taste balance, I just lit it, and although wet, it burns OK. I suppose when dried a bit will burn perfectly. I'm balkan/english (latakia) lover, I love also VAs or VA/Pers, I enjoy sweetness in the VA, but here I didn't find any. I love also Lakeland floral tobaccos, unlike danish aromatics, they taste naturally. Grasmere is somewhere there. Floral style perfumed that goes along with VA natural aroma, and mellowed by the Burley. I give it 3 stars just because of sweet innocent memories of grandma's house in the village that almost made me cry. Otherwise it would be 2 stars. I have 8 oz of it, will last for quite a while.

P.S. I have no idea why is this tobacco rated as "Strong" and "Full". I had totally different experience. It's mild.

This gorgeous tobacco has similarities with other G&H baccies but still different. Beautiful Virginia interspersed with unique fragrance. I wouldn’t define it as aromatic but a tobacco with aroma (slightly different if I may). The palette has been described by other briar brothers with a property that I miss, unfortunately.
However, for me it’s an all day smoker as far as its strength is concerned. The aroma (I love it) is neither overwhelming nor tones down the tobacco. Rose and geranium topping is present as well as some whiff of almond/vanilla, delicious!
My puffing pace tends to be a bit fast nonetheless it doesn’t bite.
One of many G&H is my rotation and great esteem. May I say recommended? Pleonasm.

Got a sample of this from a friend, and, knowing that this will ghost a pipe, I decided to use a corn cob. Now, please understand that I have absolutely no knowledge of flowers, I even had to Google what geranium is. Also, I’m not an aromatic smoker, I rarely find an aromatic that I really like and would buy again. So with these things in mind, lets get to it!

Tin note is... well, like an old woman’s perfume. Indeed, flowers. What flowers? I don’t know. But it’s quite a strong smell.

Aspect: Well, even if it’s a flake, I got this as a broken flake. Light in aspect, yellow bright brown. Had quite a lot of sugar on it.

Taste: I can’t really say what it tastes like, but it’s full bodied. I can’t say it tastes bad. It’s very interesting and very different from all I’ve smoked so far. Has a bit of sweetness, flowery notes, nutty notes, honey. I believe this to have white burley in it. However, it is quite soapy and oily.

A very good burner, but that might be also due to the fact that I left the tobacco to dry a bit too much.

The room note is pleasant, but it’s not strong as you’d expect it.

All in all, I’ll give this two stars out of five, meaning "Somewhat recommended". Lakeland fans and aromatic smokers will surely enjoy this. But, it's not for me.

P.S.: I used a cob because I didn’t want to ghost a briar. Well, it ghosted the cob. I reamed the pipe then I put cotton balls and alcohol for 5 hours. It was still ghosted. I put salt and alcohol for another 3 hours. Still ghosted. I took the salt out and washed the pipe with water. Still ghosted. Now it’s staying in the sun. Whatever you do, don’t smoke in a briar pipe or a meer pipe!

Grasmere Flake is a splendid example of the perfumed Lake District tobaccos, heavily laced with Rose and Geranium - it is outrageously floral, and some may be horrified by this. Personally I think it's rather nice. Comparisons to rose Turkish Delight are apt, and if you like one, you will probably like the other.

The flake is a reasonably mild blend and not heavily stoved, it takes a light with ease and doesn't need much in the way of attention or relights. It's a smooth smoke, no bite or other misbehaviour, and as it progresses the floral essence will permeate ones taste buds. The nicotine is adequate if you choose a large pipe.

For me, this is a Lake District tobacco for the summer months, an equally good companion out for a walk or sat outside the pub afterwards. Nobody seems to mind the aroma, although surprisingly, given how unusual it is, I can't recall anyone passing comment on it.

3rdguy

My favorite G&H offering right now. I smoke OJK daily and I can see using this great Burley forward flake to mix it up. Strong in nic, medium in flavor. Geranium scent is pretty stout IMO but it does subside a bit. Easy to light once dried fully, no relights once it is going. White ash with a small amount of moisture left.

I believe I will cry once and get the next 500g box I can find and will have all that I need. Highly recommended to try if you do not mind Geranium.

This is the third Va/Bur flake from GH I try and it is so far my 2nd favourite (I still have the Kendal Flake to try, and Ennerdale Flake is my favourite so far).

The smell of the flake is a bit odd, too rosy I felt. But from the first puff, the Virginias and Burleys blend superbly with the rosy/geraniumy taste.

Honestly, who needs black cavendish aromatics when you have GH and SG offering the best Lakeland tobaccos.