Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Bob's Chocolate Flake

I like most G&H blends but a few miss for me. This one missed but not by much. I get the chocolate and vanilla on the first puff. The whisky was very mild and way in the background. I also got some Lakeland floral essence too. The tobacco does come through but is mild. The Lat. is just noticeable and comes in and out. When it is present the chocolate is very present but the vanilla fades. When it is less detectable the vanilla is more prominent. The VA's add sweetness and depth and the burley's add some earth as well. Overall a good aromatic but it will burn hot if you don't keep a slow pace and a little wet toward the bottom of the bowl. What causes this one to be just an average rating is the lingering after taste which stays with you for hours. It affected my taste and as such affected other subsequent bowls of other bends. I like it as a late night smoke and anyone looking for a solid scented flake should give this one a try. The nic. hit is very mild. Let it dry for a while as it comes very moist.

Not entirely sure who the target market audience is for this one. This is probably the least chocolate thing I've smoked. This one didn't even smell remotely of chocolate in the tin or was even sweet once lit. It did however let you know it was made by Gawith, Hoggarth & co. with its telltale soapy Lakeland flavor (something akin to eating Violets candy). So why even advertise it as chocolate?

If you are going for that unmistakable Lakeland taste, just stick with their Ennerdale flake, or try Samuel Gawith's Grousemoor which does a much better job of pairing this unusual topping with another flavor.

Don't get me wrong, it is still an interesting smoke, just mislabeled.

I've had this blend on my shopping list for some while now after reading many favourable reviews so on my latest 'phone order from the Black Swan this was at the top of the list of new blends to try.

I have to say I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. Upon opening the bag the aroma was very interesting, plenty going on in there but not chocolate or cocoa. The flakes are longer than I expected and rather 'dirty' looking, not at all like the flakes of say Condor Long Cut. Whilst rubbing it all out I was able to get a feel of the moisture content which was rather high for my liking, also the rubbed out flake is somewhat chunky. I left it to air for a couple of hours.

Loading/packing was ok but I imagine it would be very easy to pack this too tightly if one is not careful. It took a few lights to get going then I settled down to enjoy the smoke. The first recognizable flavour was the Latakia but as soon as I noticed it it was gone! Only occasionally does it pop its head over the parapet during the smoke and then it disappears again. It states it contains a miserly 8% Latakia, if I was to be by the blender as he adds the Latakia I would nudge his elbow and force him to up it to 15%!

Throughout the entire bowl, not once did I detect chocolate or cocoa. Nor did I detect vanilla either. As for tonquin I have to confess I have no idea what it tastes like so on that count I remain ignorant.

What I did taste was a reasonably strong tobacco with just the right amount of nicotine for me, no tongue bite, a certain amount of gurgle (in a bent billiard) and very interesting flavours that I am unable to put names to but did enjoy.

Not an everyday blend for me but one which I will revisit as the fancy takes me. Also I was aware of my many relights so further airing is required methinks.

As other aromatics it tends to leave a bitter taste. The aroma is quite enjoyable, so for someone it could be a good choice aromatic blend.

First I noticed (or didn't notice) was that the aroma both pouch and room wasn't hugely chocolate (hence the flavouring marked as EM) the smoke I guess you'd call Lakeland, straight out of the packet although the flake smoked ok it did smoke quite wet...the Latakia taste was detectable but very much as a background only

There was a little tongue bite but nothing severe...I'm not saying this was a bad smoke but personally I wouldn't buy again when there's so much other stuff out there I prefer

Smoked again after cellaring for 3 months...little change, stayed lit very well but still that soapy almost Lakeland taste that I'm not a Hugh fan off. After reading the other reviews I,ll jar this for a while and may come back to it in the hope it may mature

Ps Bulk version

This didn't do anything for me. I have been smoking ennerdale lately which could have effected the flavors I got from this. I got very little lakeland topping, mild latakia and no chocolate at all. Way to bland for my still developing taste buds. For people able to pick up on subtle nuances this could be for you. Good quality tobacco that burnt a little hot, just not for me.

The jury is still out on this one for me. It is still kicking my arse on how to properly load it. I seem to either get it way too tight and it is nearly unsmokable, or it is way too loose. This is one of the few flakes in my collection and I guess I need to give it time. I agree with some of my fellow reviewers, it does seem to have a soapy taste at first, but that seems to subside for me as I work my way through the bowl. I have it aging in a jar right now, so maybe that will help as well. At its best, it is complex and satisfying. At its worst, it is frustrating and a turn off. The room note is better than I would have expected when smelling it in the jar, but there is just something a bit off kilter with this. I like it, but then I don't. I will give this some time and revisit this review with an open mind.

Describing the taste of this blend is difficult. Even though there is just a touch of latakia in there, you do notice it right away. As for any flavor of chocolate...I can't find it at all. The smell in the pouch is one of an english blend with something "Extra" that is hard to define. It's just a hard one to put your finger on, but the flavor kinda grows on you as the bowl progresses. Not sure what the blender was shooting for here but if it's chocolate you are looking for, this isn't it.

I just can't seem to taste the chocolate in this one. There is a strange taste to it that just does nothing for me. I wanted to like this but there is nothing here that gives it a chance to win me over. YMMV of course. Worth giving it a go though, it is just not for me.