Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Dark Flake

Best quality. I got mine bulk which may be the only way to get this stuff. I love the extra long flake cut of G&H bulk. Somehow the G&H unscented flake still has some light scent to it which is disappointing. It's good stoved black virginia with that dark depth of flavor. I like smoking this at night. It's a very relaxing smoke.

It's stronger than Dark Fragrant. It has a light cigar smoke quality to it.

I don't think you can go wrong with any G&H blend. Their tobacco is the best quality. They have the history and experience to back up their blends.

This is Peterson's Irish flakes' little brother...

A no nonsense, full Virginia smoke. Not as creamy or smooth as FVF, but a more in your face kinda deal with a STACK of nicotine. I personally don't get head rushes from vitamin N unless I inhale the smoke, which I try not to do.....I did say try! That said though, I had the prickly 'back of the throat' sensation almost straight away with this blend as the 'N' word made it's presence immediately known..

The similarities between this and Peterson's IF are there though. IF is a grade or two stronger than dark flake, but the taste and burn qualities are similar.

(DF definitely has more moisture than IF when first opened though.)

A good after meal smoke I would suggest..

If you like simple tobacco with a high dose of nicotine then this is a four-star tobacco. If you favor complexity and subtle, yet discernible flavors, then you'll throw this out after a charring light. This tobacco doesn't pretend to be anything other than plain old strong tobacco. If you're a fancy man, then stay far, far away.

The flavor is one-dimensional. It tastes like tobacco with a subtle hint of something that I can't quite get my head wrapped around. It's sort of sweet and floral but not cloying. Is that the Lakeland essence I've read about? It's supposed to be unscented but there's still something there. Whatever it is, it agrees with my palette.

The room note will get you a divorce.

The aftertaste is strong, similar to a cigar. It will take two meals and a lot of mouthwash to get it out of your mouth. I highly recommend this tobacco if you love waking up wondering if a cat crapped in your mouth while you were sleeping.

The nicotine content is high. I have a huge nicotine tolerance and this still makes my head swim. I'll repeat that in case you're becoming convinced by some reviews that try to down play the nicotine content... it has a high nicotine content and makes my head swim even though I have a high tolerance.

It doesn't take well to relights or heavy puffing/stoking. When you do that, the flavor becomes hot, sour and kind of awful. Fortunately it settles back down pretty quick.

This blend has its place in my rotation when I crave nicotine. For that purpose, I have found nothing better. I often find myself craving the peculiar flavor of this tobacco but resist if I don't have a full stomach or want to kiss my wife in the morning.

Pungent, deep, rich, creamy, smoky, cigar-like, cool and powerful are just some of Dark Flake's attributes. These days, my brow is mainly crowned with wispy laurels from matured Virginias, Perique and Lakeland-style blends. Lakeland by birth, yet without scenting or floral overtones that commonly distract, Dark Flake is a good introduction to the sons' of Kendal tobaccos.

This could take the place of Stonehaven or Germain's Brown Flake for me in a pinch.

Excellent stuff! I generally do not like Virginia flakes but this was fantastic! My summation is the following: "1792" minus the Tonquin flavoring. Very cigar like and satisfying. After a meal only type of smoke. Must be experienced while sitting down . 3 stars.

In a blind tasting, I would assume this is a "cigar-leaf" blend. It has the depth and nicotine strength the likes of Cornell & Diehl's Billy Budd, without the Latakia. It does have a slightly smoked quality, but completely different than Latakia and certainly not as pronounced. It does not really have the "cigar-leaf" flavours, which a few do enjoy; nonetheless, it does have the "cigar-leaf" depth.

Is this a tobacco with subtle nuances that evolve and delight your palate as you combust your way down? . . . not at all. It's more of a meat and potatoes smoke and the meat might be goat or wild game for that matter.

The nicotine content did not knock me over, it's certainly noticeable but not overpowering. Mind you I smoke a fair bit of the old Billy Budd and switch-hit with cigars too, I maybe a bit of a stalwart. Regardless, I could care less about how much nicotine is in a blend. I am solely concerned with the flavours and combusting qualities. This stuff tastes great and does very well outdoors. Not many tobaccos have the "deep notes" to smoke well outside without losing something. Packing was a breeze and it took a bit longer to light, but who cares it burns cool and goes for a very long time. I generally prefer slices because of their burning qualities and the richness they deliver.

Pack-up and enjoy!

I picked some of this up on a whim when I was buying some of my more usual stuff. I am glad I did, but this won't be an all-dayer for me.

The usual big, rough hand-hewn looking flakes from Gawith & Hoggarth. I found this to be just the right moisture level too - probably a credit to the tobacconist. Easy to rub out, fold or whatever you want to do with it. Also an easy one to light and keep going.

Now this is strong stuff. Right from the first draw you are hit with lots of taste, lots of volume and lots of nicotine. It gets stronger from there. Head spin is a real risk, believe me! The flavour is at first cigar-like, but rounded out with some sweetness and body which I would guess is typical of a Virginia & Burley. Maybe there is some Perique in there too? I also pick up some fruitiness - not the typical Lakeland style of St. Bruno, but a nice rounded background giving some interest. A very satisfying smoke.

The closest comparison I can come up with is Peterson's Irish Flake or Gallaher's Irish Cake. This isn't as extreme as those ones though.

An after dinner smoke for me. A bit too in-your-face for the rest of the day - and way too much in the morning! Three stars from me.

This is a very robust, full-bodied Virginia/Burley flake, with a pronounced cigar flavour mixed in with its Lakeland fruitiness, and a serious nicotine kick. If you want a strong and tasty smoke, it's excellent: cool, slow, consistent; lights easily and stays lit. At certain points during a bowlful, it reminds me a little of St Bruno. There's a room note that is distinctive but not at all unpleasant. Sip it, though, or your head will spin: it's a good deal too strong for me, and I would recommend a small bowl for your first attempt at it. I smoked it in a Peterson 312 and felt distinctly queasy afterwards.

DF has an odd, tough consistency, though - I see another reviewer has called it 'leathery.' This is a small negative. The flakes don't either rub out well or fold well; it also tends to leave a lot of moisture behind. It would probably benefit from a little drying before you smoke it. Aging it would probably calm it down a bit, also, and maybe make the flakes more tractable.

I don't care for it much because I don't like the cigar-type notes and there's too much vitamin N; but DF is an honest and worthwhile baccy if you like a thoroughly masculine, 'outdoor' sort of smoke. Somewhat recommended, then. Not for the beginner, though; and beware of the ghost. Also, don't let it dry out too much; too dry and it smokes very hot; also, the cigar-type flavour becomes very prominent and the tobacco develops a harshness/bitterness that I find rather unpleasant.

If anyone, like me, has been searching to find a cigar taste in a pipe-tobacco, this may be for you.The description all but put me off. I would have said that anything but a mild tobacco would have me wretching like a schoolboy-behind-the-bike-sheds. Thank goodness I was wrong. I've tried a few tobaccos in my quest for Nirvana, and I have to admit to giving, or sometimes throwing some away. Like it's little brother "Ennerdale", keep a pipe just for this "one" and you will be handsomely rewarded. There are just as many variations in cigar taste as in other tobaccos, but this comes nearest to my ideal.Zero tongue-bite, zero afterburn, less tooth-stain, clean your teeth with impunity from the "burn-fairy." White ash, clean pipe,burns to nothing. Lights easily, burns very controllably. And the taste and side-stream ? mouth full of flavour, smell in my office ? to die for.And if anyone tried to part me from this tobacco ? definitely to kill for......... I don't launch into print easily, but to find this "Gem" at the age of 61 ? Surely I'm either re-born or I've died in the night and St.Peter offered me his baccy-pouch for a fill. Or Lucifer ...... what the H...