Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Ennerdale Flake

I'll give it four stars, though these flavorings might not be for everyone. I was struck smoking this bowl while enjoying a glass of cold Twining's Earl Grey tea on the side, how much the flavorings are similar. They are even more similar when the tobacco is unlit. Earl Grey has Bergamot, and I really don't know if Ennerdale has Bergamot or only gives me this impression due to its own particular array of Lakeland scents. Scents or flavorings? This is a scented flake, but the scents are strong enough here to almost make this an aromatic, though there is not the sticky goopiness of an American aromatic. I can still taste the quality African and South American Virginias under those flowery aromas, and am thankful for that. I really like puffing on this stuff, but then again, I like Lakelands. This flake is even more heavily scented than most Lakelands, but if you like that style, give it a try!

4-17-23 Bought an ounce sample of this to revisit it after twelve years, and after smoking that ounce in two days, turned around and bought the 500 gram box on the next payday. Jarred it, and will also case about five ounces in molasses and coconut extract, and stove it for twelve hours at 200 Fahrenheit, to make a cavendish. Lovely stuff, and though expensive, a good value, because a good-sized bowl lasts a long time. Bergamot...like smoking Twining's Earl Grey!

Well, it's slightly unusual and I can see why some don't like it but I can't help but enjoy the flavouring added to this tobacco. It's thick and heavy yet sweet and cool with floral notes, vanilla, a bit of fruit, nuts, some coconut and a licorace edge.

In terms of flavour and strength you could think of it as a cross between St. Bruno's and Erinmore Flakes but sweeter...and not like either of them...except it is.

I couldn't smoke this everyday but when you want a good dose of (a slightly bizarre) flavour and a decent amount of nicotine you could do alot worse than Ennerdale Flake.

It is inexpensive and readily available, weighed out loose, from many tobacconists in the UK, although I have never seen it sold in a tin. I bought my pouch from an unassuming little newsagents in Kendal. Where the lady behind the counter gave me the opportunity to smell each of the tobaccos they sell along with a precis of thier relative qualities and popularity. Altogether excellent service. I think the shop was called Robinsons or Roberts.

UPDATE...

having recently given up smoking for lent I was taken by suprise by how much I craved this tobacco. It was the only one that really tempted me and my subsequent bowls of it are forcing me to up the rating to four stars.

...(another) UPDATE...

Ok, so my craving has been sated and I can taste this tobacco objectively again. I like the flavour but, to be fair, it's not for everyone. Still, three solid stars for my money.

...(another) UPDATE (again)...

I've been smoking it alot again recently and I love it. Good leaf, good cut, great price and the added flavour gets more and more appealing the more I taste it. This stuff really does it for me. Back up to four stars then.

This flake is a combination of colors from medium brown to yellow with moisture content conducive to simplifying the rubbing out process which makes filling the pipe very simple and quite convenient. The in bag aroma is of almonds and while present, much less of the typical Lakeland essence than many. It lights easily, burns very cool, even, dry and complete, with no hint of bite. In my humble opinion, this is the light version of Kendal Flake, as its focus is on the Virginia component with much lower nicotine content than the GH&Co offerings that use dark fired leaf.

The almond essence does not interfere with the natural flavor of the leaf, instead it compliments it greatly. The flavor and aroma remain consistent from start to finish, smooth and nutty, rich and sweet. Not truly monochromatic but not complex by any means either. Ennerdale Flake is very well behaved in all aspects, which make it a solid candidate for an all day smoke, indoors or out. This is an excellent choice for those wanting to venture into the Lakeland realm without fear of being overwhelmed or giving up good tobacco flavor.

This is a romantic tobacco for romantic men. Floral-perfumed soapy essences enanche a very good tobacco base. Good burning qualities, full flovour and full taste. Medium to strong nic, but absolutly not overpowering. Not for everyone, because of the perfume (love or hate it) . I love it ! Long lasting in your mouth, absolutly unique. Ghost the pipe, so if you are not a fan of lakelands, use a cob or a cheap pipe to try. I love it too much ! I think every pipe smoker have to to try this flake, and even if dont like it, have to respect it, because of the old tradition of the little manifacture that has to be saved fron the globalized industrial market. Romantic tobacco....absolutly out of time ......

I'm generally a VAPer/Dark Fire Cured/Kentucky guy with a passion for extra strong and extra-full-bodied mixtures so I didn't think I'd love this flowery concoction. And I loved it from the first puff.

It reminds indeed of granny's perfumes. Exactly because the perfumes of old were made not of synthetic chemicals like nowadays but of the same set of high quality natural oils and essences as found in the topping of this blend. Ennerdale is a world away from those gooey, chemical-laden Danish, German or American aromatics. And it's good sweet natural Virginia that you taste in the 2nd half of the bowl.

Ennerfale is really full-bodied, its flavour and aroma are full to the fullest, which I rarely find in pipe tobaccos. That's why I love Ennerdale as much as my strongest and most pungent Periques, Darkies and Kentuckies.

A full on lakelands, but very sweet and not overly strong, just wonderful.

I had originally just passed this tobacco up since I'm not fond of vanilla and almond flavorings in tobacco. But, I was in the mood for a Lakeland floral blend and the reviews here persuaded me to try it. I was pleasantly suprised. The tin aroma was wonderful, profoundly floral and perfumed while not unpleasantly soapy. The vanilla and almond are in the back seat, more so rounding out the light sweatness of the blend. A good analogy of this blend is a cross between St. Bruno (or Condor for that matter) and Murray's Erinmore. I suspect that the wonderful perfumed agent is the citrus bergamot that flavors tea for Earl Grey. I was also suprised being a predominately virgina blend that is was cool enough without a sharp bite. I'm going to stock up and cellar this for my smoking rotation. A fantastic tobacco from Gawith & Hoggarth that has one me over.

Wow! This is fantastic stuff! Tin note is exquisite, perfumed, intense, floral. This is high quality aromatization... First light brought an old uncle to my mind. He was rich, a bon viveur, always well dressed with his cologne and things... He used to drive a Mercedes coupe with leather seats and he took me for a drive once in a while as a child. The aroma of this tobacco brought to my mind the aroma inside that car. The tobacco lights very easily and stays lit while burning evenly to a white ash. It has medium+ strength and you can taste the tobacco as well, especially during the last third of the bowl where both Virginias and nutty Burley are evident. This is stuff of very high quality in both the tobacco and the added aromas. Now, I really cannot understand how anyone would not like this tobacco but after all de gustibus...

Does it ghost the pipe? Most certainly, yes...

Ennerdale Flake is the king of English style aromatics. It's heavily flavored with almond and various perfumes, but somehow there's excellent tobacco flavor paired with the Lakeland essence.

It burns remarkably cool and is ready to smoke, bulk or tin, as soon as you open the package. It also burns slowly - a bowl of Ennerdale will give a sweet, perfumed smoke for a long, long time.

It deserves all the love and all the hate it gets - if you like this style of floral, nutty aromatic it's the best in the business. If you hate it, there is a lot to hate. I found it an acquired taste, it took maybe half a tin before I knew I was a Lakeland fiend. Once you're hooked, though, there is no substitute for Ennerdale.