Samuel Gawith Celtic Talisman

Since a long time, my first re-encounter with Samuel Gawith products. During early 1990s I found three of Samuel Gawith products in their line excellent value for money (one which was Commonwealth Mixture although too strong for beginner, another was more suitable, the Squadron Leader, and third was a fairly flavoured one). Then I thought, Samuel Gawith tobacco is always worth of the money and never let you down... (If they had done the same way last 200 years, they certainly can not be wrong)

Some time ago I heard that they had new tobacco, and finally local importer got some of it, the new Celtic Talisman... Old memories about excellent quality tobacco, kept expectations high as I opened the tin...

Indeed.., high quality tobacco and high quality cut, British certainly know how to cut the tobacco (instead of Scandinavian's too thin "shag"), and that contributes a lot to excellent burning characteristics, as will not burn too hot.

I found the tobacco in fresh tin too moist (as had also been the case with other SG products nearly 20 years ago), and had to let small amount of tobacco to dry for sometime. About 10 minutes after handling the tobacco, the cherry casing reminded about its existence, and although mild, fairly persistent...

I used my Peterson 303 system pipe (one without filter) to assess this tobaco, and first notice was that pleasant tobacco to handle, and easy to pack into the bowl. First layer loose, second more dense and third layer firmly pressed.

Lighted with first match (but needed after a while another flame to relight), although tobacco was still bit moist, did not have any attempt to bite, and not temperamential at all. Really well behaving tobacco, and remainded truly pleasant smoking experience... Afterwards.., I noticed that from first impression of relatively mild taste and feel, turned out later with fairly good nicotine kick, and that occured about 15 minutes after had finished the bowl...

Later experiences... Noticed that Celtic Talisman did not leave any sticky substance in the bowl of my 303, but fairly persistent "cherry perfume" appeared to 303 while finished the whole tin, and needed several bowls of another tobacco to be used before faded away from the pipe.

The Celtic Talisman tobacco should be allowed to dry slightly, as it improves while keeping it in tobaccopouch for while, moist tobacco fresh from tin will not burn well, and might even pack too tight into the bowl, if not careful.

Ladies liked the room note, although I mainly prefered to smoke outside. Apparently this is the type of tobacco with satisfies both the smoker as well as the others. Nowdays a certain way to get a favourable attention...

But one thing to remeber..., dedicate some aromatic pipe for this tobacco, as it really remains in the pipe some time afterwards...

Excellent high quality tobacco, neat tin and good value for money. This is the pipe tobacco which can be recommenned to those who like to impress ladies with "good taste" in selecting pipe tobacco. It is tobacco which never let you down... One additional masterpiece from Samuel Gawith...

Full four stars ****

Bright Virginias, Burley and Black Cavendish with a dash of Cherry and Vanilla flavoring. The Virginia is typical Gawith deep Lakeland style and the Burley was somewhat toasty in presentation. The light Cherry/Vanilla infused Black Cavendish made the overall presentation fun and not at all aromatic in the "American" style. I really like this blend.

This is the first sam gawith tobacco i have tried and i have to say im impressed very much. First of all i have a soft spot for aromatics, always have always will. Im glad sam gawith have gone the european aro route were delightful flavourings are added to great tobacco and both work together in harmony. Anywho opening the tin its a tart cherry and i swear i can smell rhubarb. The tobacco is very thick ribbons which pack and light easily. The cherry and vanilla flavours although they are there they arent in your face. And they work extremely well with the flavours of the virginia and burley. But this is an aro with balls. I wouldnt recommend this too total novices as the nic can creep up on you. All in all a great tobacco especially if you like a good aromatic baccy.

Update 8th may 2014. I would like to add some side notes to this review. I still class this as a four star tobacco but during my time smoking i have learned a few things. Packing must be just right not to compact as due to the tobaccos moistness will not smoke at all and not too loose as it will smoke rather too well and become hot and bitter fairly quick.

But once you have the packing right, the extra work care and attention this tobacco needs makes it all the more worth it. It is a truely delightful smoke.

People looking for a heavily cased american candy store aromatic wont find it here, it is in the same tradition of european aromatics very virginia and burley foreward with a dose of black cav to carry the flavours. The said virginia and burley taste wonderful as there flavours come and go during the smoke, the cherry is there to complement the flavoura not override them. I say cherry as i dont really get the vanilla but its no bad thing as the flavours i detect are more than satisfying.

The style of the aromatic as ive said is a european aromatic, think along the same lines as borkum riff, your looking at roughly 60%virginia/burley with the rest being cavendish.

To sum up my review and side notes, i think sam gawith have took the aromatic and reinvented it. There is enough tobacco flavour to keep the purist happy but also just enough added flavour to compliment the tobacco and keep the aromatic fan happy. The best thing about the tobacco is even though it takes the extra work care and attention is it pays dividends in the bucket load when you have it right. Yes it can be a pain but the fact that the extra work needed pays off so fabulously is the reason i havent downgraded the score. When it goes right it is an absolutely stunning smoke and has earned its four stars from me solidly.

Update 27th of may 2014.

I know this review may seem long winded and for that i appologise but i do like to share my discoveries which i feel makes an excellent tobacco better. Yesterday i went to the seaside ajd given it was a nice day i thought id take my pipe and the last of my celtic talisman. I carried it in my dual pipe and tobacco pouch. Anywho i had the bowl and the remnants that were left were about half a bowls worth. I planned when i got home to transfer the half bowls worth back to its little airtight tub. Well i forgot and tidying up this morning seeing my pipe pouch i took a look at the tobacco it had dried considerably. It was almost crunchy and was about to throw it away but something told me to pack and light and im glad i did. It was delicious the cherry was a touch subdued and the tobaccos fkavours were star attraction, zesty sweetness from the virginias and a touch of burley nuttyness meld that together with the tartness of the added cherry and you are onto an utterly exceptional smoke. That drying out although not intentional did it wonders. So i you find celtic talisman try it as is and then dried and im sure you will agree the resultsare exceptional as the drying time in my oppinion will make it a tobacco that will please the aro fan and pure tobacco flavour fans alike.

This is a great aromatic blend. The first one that I have found that I have really enjoyed. Opening the tin, I could smell the cherry as I opened the paper. It was a little moist so I let it sit out and decided to load another pipe with Black House. The casing at this point must have gotten on my fingers and it bleed over into a topping on Black House. Those of you who like Lat. and a good aro just think about Black House with cherry flavor over the profile but not overpowering it! What a treat and it was there for about the first 1/3 of the bowl. Anyway, back to CT. Loading was simple lighting was surprisingly simple too. Cherry at the match and cherry was about all I could taste. Oddly, while I normally like to taste the tobacco this was rather enjoyable. To get to the vanilla flavor I had to back way off and sip lightly and slowly. Then there was a faint cherry-vanilla flavor much like a cherry-vanilla coke. It smokes dry too! So well I did something with CT that I have never tried with any other aro. When the bowl was gone I just loosened the fine grey-white ash and dumped it and while the pipe was still warm loaded a second bowl. No need to run a cleaner down it just load and go. This bowl too smoked completely dry! Oh and I should also say that it tastes just exactly like how I remember my great-grandfather's pipe smelled. It took my back to my earliest childhood memory and kept me there for the whole bowl. Thanks SG for the great trip down memory lane!

Now for the lack of the 4th star. I smoked this for three days at night as my primary blend and had went through a little more then 1/2 of the tin but had to leave town and so I came back to it a week later. I am not sure if the tin lid does not fit well or what but that fabulous flavor of deep cherry was gone. Could this be why they never have released it as a bulk buy? I am going to buy another tin and jar what I will not smoke in a week as soon as the tin is opened to see if that will hold the casing better. If it will this blend is worth the extra effort and I will increase the rating to 4 stars. If not I would still recommend it to other cherry lovers.

Update 8/6/17 . . . The jar idea works very well. It will keep that fabulous deep flavor. No need to look further for a cherry blend (although I know I will). This is well worth the extra effort. Upgrading to 4 stars as stated above.

Only an inveterate and longtime hater of cherry aros can truly appreciate this cherry-flavored blend from SG. Because there is no tonguebite, the cherry flavor is not chemo-toxic or overwhelming, and allows you to appreciate the fine baseline tobacco, (i.e., not strongly or grossly cased to conceal the taste of cheap tobacco). The room note and aroma are the best in aroland, imo. The strength is accordingly mild to medium, and does not "turn" on you as the bowl progresses. Smokes very smooth and down to a fine clean ash, which in itself is notable for an aro. I normally smoke aros once a month or so, but am developing a hankering for getting deeper and deeper in this new (to me) blend. There are a relatively few aromatics that I consider quality aros: Sillems Black, Dan's Blue Note, and W.O. Larsen's Old Fashioned, 1864 and Signature. Now CT goes to the top of that list.

I remember when I was a kid, my uncle ran one of most famous pastry labs in Milan, and I everytime I called in, I was welcomed by delighting flavours of vanilla, cream, sugar, fruit candies etc hanging in the lab. Opening a tin of Celtic Talisman, stir these memories in me. It is really like stepping into a pastry lab. It's a ribbon cut tobacco, ranging from the yellow of Vas to the black of dark cavendish. It is flavoured with vanilla, cherry, etc as stated and Burley adds nuts, thought the preminent flavour is cherry. It is rather moisted but not so much to cause troubles. The smoke is wonderful. All the aromas you taste in the tin are there, not so strong in N so that we can enjoy it all day round, actually it is my favourite as "early moring pipe". Going throught the pipe, let's say after the first half of the bowl, is like someone has added very little caramel to a vanilla cherry cake. Last, but not least, your women will love the room note.

Another catch-up review from my notes in 2009 when I first tried this. Back then, SG & GH blends were readily available most all the time. I've since rejoined TRs under a different handle but here's my take on Celtic Talisman: This is about as fine a cherry blend tobacco as any on the market with a better price tag than most. Tin aroma is very prevalent & appealing.

The tin is packed full of loose tobacco and mine arrived fairly moist. I dried a bowlful out for about 25 minutes and stuffed it in me wee Peterson #317. It smoked cool with no tongue/palate discomfort. The marriage of sweet Virginia with the tasty cherry casing complimented each other.

CT seemed to have a bit more Vitamin N than most aromatics. This is a pretty darn good cherry blend and I thought the price was right... in 2009, $6.48 per 50 gram tin. If one likes a cherry blend, they might be well advised to give this a try. I was satisfied with CT and don't have anything negative to say about it.

Samuel Gawith - Celtic Talisman.

The aroma of the unlit tobacco is brilliant as it's a good balance of the tobaccos and the aromatics. The ribbons are very enticing and they have a great moisture level. It takes to the flame with ease and the smoke is sublime. I get a really nice taste of sweet black Cavendish which is complemented by the cherry. The vanilla requires a little extra attention as it is much less pre eminent than the cherry but can be identified if tried for. Nicotine level is about that of their Black Cherry and the room-note is also very sweet with a good cherry touch. As usual Sam Gawith does not disappoint!

Highly recommended.

I have been on a mission to find a good quality aero. I enjoy many Samuel Gawith's offerings and figured I would give this one a try.

Initial tin inspection revealed a wet tobacco with a fragrance of raspberry chocolate. The fragrance is very pleasing and enticing. The first bowl straight out of the tin was pretty wet which was to be expected. The burn was slow and required few relights. I did not experience tongue bite although I imagine it is quite possible without restraint. The tin note fragrances did not transition directly to the flavors but I did notice a sugary sweetness that was very enjoyable. The sweetness only seems to come through when smoked or sipped slowly. In addition to the sweetness, good quality tobacco flavors were quite prominent. When smoked quickly the flavors and sweetness wash out and are less enjoyable.

Subsequent bowls mirrored the first impression with the exception of the wetness due to proper drying. This aero does not leave a goopy mess in the bowl but does leave a noticeable ghost. The room note is very nice and most will enjoy its fragrance. There is an acceptable amount of nicotine as well.

Maybe it's me but I've had hard time smoking anything else recently. I guess I'm still enamored at this point. Overall this is a very enjoyable aero which I plan to keep in the rotation.