Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Bright CR Flake

Nice presentation of light-colored virginia flake. This was a small bulk purchase. Very, very slight Lakeland aroma in the bag.

I agree that this is a light-tasting flake, probably the lightest in the G&H stable that I've smoked. Not a ton of flavor, this is a mild version of the basic Lakeland flake, minus the florals. Certainly less flavorful than any of the G&H or SG flakes that I've smoked. No bite even when provoked, although it can get a trifle testy and bitter. The flavor is grassy and lacks the usual virginia character I'm familiar with from this blender. It's also lacking anything resembling complexity. Just a nice, steady smoke for those who want to sample a virginia flake from this region without getting the floral, flavored character famously associated with G&H. There is the faintest trickle of that character but it goes away quickly.

There are many, many fine Virginia flakes on the market. This is far from the best but it's not the worst, either. Worth a sample for those that prefer a mild, grassy flavor that won't overwhelm. I'm giving this 3 stars for what it is but it's probably more of a 2 for my personal taste. Just not enough going on for me.

Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. - Bright CR Flake.

The flakes are medium in build, nicely hydrated, and easy to rub, but it smokes equally as well folded and stuffed.

The burn is faultless, as is the temperature from it. The smoke has a milder Virginia flavour, with a very mild Lakeland topping. It gives a recognizable character, without monopolizing the smoke. The delicately added flavour works pleasantly alongside the easy-going flavour from the Va: it isn't too sharp, but quite calm and sweet tasting. I can't see this biting anybody, it's comfortable beyond belief!

Nicotine: mild. Room-note: pleasant.

This is a nice enough smoke, albeit, it becomes a touch boring after a while. Still, for the quality it gets three stars:

Recommended.

I have a lot of hobbies, and I wish that each of them had so comprehensive a reviewing site as this one. The level of expertise (obviously indicative of the worldliness of the reviewers) to be had here is truly extraordinary. Read enough of these reviews, and you'll develop a keen sense of the particular tastes of the individual contributors. Whether I agree with them, from a strictly subjective point of view, frequently (Tantric, Inquisitor), almost always(Sykes, Eulenberg), or rarely (Pipestud), they, and scores of others, bring a compendious body of knowledge to the site.

Bright CR Flake is another unheralded tobacco that may lack the cachet and recognition of others, but yields little in terms of quality. Perhaps it is a victim of its own balance, as a lack a flamboyance is often mistaken as being pedestrian. Fans of the overtly sweet, heady, tangy, or what have you may have nothing to point their finger at. Rather, it serves as an archetypal blend incorporating many elements in an enjoyable, easy to digest form, along the lines of an Old Gowrie. Anyone who happens across this one should be satisfied, if not overwhelmed.

Update, 8/04- In the year since my initial review, I find myself smoking BCRF less and less, and enjoying it more and more. Perhaps I have too many selections of VA flake available (is there such a thing?), and find myself reaching for moment-specific selections out of habit. I don't know why, since Bright CR almoost always leaves me satisfied, and I find the ever so gentle presentation of the all too often heavyhanded floral component particularly endearing. Good stuff!

Addendum, 10/04- Undoubtedly, the questions regarding the unusual flavors to found in some of the English-style VA flakes are controversial. Some are enamored of the floral/soapy/Nivea components, while others are appalled by their presence. While the Condors,St. Brunos, or stronger expressions of the genre can be atrocious, if not downright disgusting, a light hand can nevertheless be endearing. When these flavors appear as wisps or hints, they can add a mystifying beauty to a blend. In this regard, Bright CR Flake makes for a gorgeous smoke.

A very light VA. Not much nic. so don't grab this if you have a craving. Still this is a very well made flake. The VA's are slightly grassy with light citrus notes. They have a little earthy note that comes and goes and there is a very slight woodsy note as well. Finally, I get a sweet toasted grain note as well. The VA's because of the region they come from do have a very slight floral note but this is not the "lakeland scent" that everyone talks about. All that said, the flavors are very mild overall and it will not blow out your taste buds and ruin any following bowls. I would recommend this one to someone looking to try a mild VA or just getting started on VA's. It was a very nice smoke in the late summer afternoons of August. I do not enjoy heavy blends in the heat and this was a very good blend for that purpose.

This is great stuff but not really my style of virginia anymore. When I first started smoking a pipe about 10 years ago I bought a bunch of bulk tobaccos- mostly english then moved on to McClelland, C&D style virginias. Anyway, I smoked some of this back when I started pipe smoking, enjoyed it but stashed a bunch of it away and forgot about. Now I have about 10 ounces that I jarred up and has 10 or so years age on it. It is awesome now. It's a mild sweet, hay tasting flake (golden virginia taste) with a light lakeland flavor. All of the G&H flakes are scented (the "unscented" are scented but more lightly). The scenting on this one is nice but takes a little getting used to. It's top notch quality tobacco and I love the way the flakes are pressed and sliced. I still enjoy some of the english tobacco on occasion. It's always nice to have some on hand. I enjoy the medium strength G&H lighter scented stuff. Definitely try this if you like virginias. It's been around for like 200 years! It's got to be good.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, who needed to dry their samples, mine came very dry, even a bit 'crunchy' in parts. This resisted any attempts to hydrate, and so burnt a bit hotter (but not anywhere near uncomfortably so) and faster than other GH flakes.

I could detect some faint florals, but if this was from a hint of Lakeland florals or from the 'bright' VAs, I could not really be certain. Otherwise, a pleasant, straightforward 'bright' VA flavor and room note. Since I know there are many tobaccos out there I would rate a 4, the question arises would I rebuy this particular tobacco, assuming my tastes don't change much more. In this case, the answer is probably not.

Found this blend at my pipe shop & bought a 2- oz pouch, of which is almost gone. Verdict, I like it. I'm not a big fan of Lakeland Scents, but the pouch note did not lend evidence to it's presence. The flakes are thin & easily rubbed out, which I prefer with this tobacco. The sample I had was ready to smoke, no drying was required.

The initial light is a lemon citrus sweet. The floral component quickly fades, but the lemon citrus sweet remains constant with each draw, throughout the entire bowl. It sounds monotonous, but to my pallet, each draft was tasty & reliable. Mid bowl, a very slight nutty flavor appears & runs it's course till the end. All that remains at the end of the bowl is a nice white, fluffy powdery ash.

It is a unique blend, and won't supplant my mainstay VA's, but has earned a permanent spot in my cellar.

A good companion to GH Brown Flake, CR has more top-range than its cousin, probably due to more bright Virginia. It can burn a bit hot if overstimulated, but a McClelland-trained Virginia smoker like myself had no problems in that area. While it is slightly more complex than Brown Flake, it has a smidge less of the earthy/cinnamony GH character that satisfies me so well. But it is very good.

Very good hay, grassy, flowery, light, slightly citrusy and sweet Virginia for hot summer days although it’s not my taste. I prefer the dark Va profile. I think that some age would really improve that baccy. Its obviously good. But not extraordinary