Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Ennerdale Flake

From time to time, I am reminded that in life, the purity of truth often falls victim to the existence of popular myths. These myths can be so pervasive in distilling unfounded opinions that they become the commonly accepted reality concerning a matter in question. The tragedy of it all is, to a large extent, it is easier for us to pass on mere uninformed judgments versus acquiring an objective perspective for ourselves. Only through the pangs or possible discomfort of factual experience and direct observation can one’s personalized truth be obtained justly. Do consider that point the next time you decide to accept something at face value that has been told to you, especially concerning a pipe tobacco.

And now we have the legendary Ennerdale, a representative Virginia centric offering from the famous Lakeland area of Great Britain. Arriving from Gawith Hoggarth & Co., this hard-to-find aromatic tobacco brings a notable assortment of select Virginian strains from the growing beds of South America and Africa. Influenced by a flavorful bath that seeps of that controversial floral Lakeland essence, almond extract, fruit-based dressings, and a spritzing of spiritous rum, Ennerdale stands as one of the firm’s most favored productions. With a modest measure, the manufacturer has added an unassertive portion of basic Burley within the recipe, which most likely facilitates the optimum absorption and therefore experienced vibrance of the noted top-coatings.

As a typical flake configuration, Ennerdale shows an exceedingly impressive representation of thin well-manicured strips of finely pressed tobaccos. Ornately striated, this handsome submission projects a waxen palette of moving, interspersed hues that build up to a credible dimensional effect. Modeling a wealth of aged processing, the flakes mirror an almost tree bark-like appearance as a carefully constructed brindling of tinsels, strings, and hairs ranging from bright yellow, taupe, fawn, olive gray, chocolates, and deeply darkened fermented browns form its visual opulence. The tobacco itself feels of quality structure, pliable and texturally cultured by the ridged wealth of comprising layers.

In gathering a sense of the tobacco’s pouched persona, an energetic perfume tailored by the prosperity of strong bloomy sweetness, embellishing vanilla, and prevalent grassy tart entwined with general notations of sugary fruits serves to dominate the momentum of the fragrance. Hiding deep within there is a lower pleasant essence of well-bred spicey and herbaceous conspiring Virginian leaf-based aromas. All in all, this tobacco smells of the achieved and reliable efforts of intricately designed and finely developed long-standing craftmanship. As a qualifying statement, let me just say that to truly realize the merits of Ennerdale, first and foremost, one must acquire an appreciable affinity for its “unconventional” personality. Like many others, I had shied away from even considering a Lakeland style aromatic creation for an eternity. Yet, on a fluke, chance did give ground and so here I am.

Postmortem of that experience, despite the common malcontented language often heard surrounding the horridness of Lakeland style productions, objectively, my trials demonstrated that this tobacco rendered an overall experience that was nothing but pleasantly rich and robust. In fact, discovery revealed that Ennerdale offers a singular vitalizing complexity and weightiness of depth for an arguably straight Virginian solution, mind you, that proved to be exceptional by way of honest measured assessment.

With that it is fair to suggest there is a bit of a learning curve regarding proper preparation of the tobaccos, packing the pipe, and eventual smoking technique for optimum performance and enjoyment. This blend is not your average aromatic concoction to say the least. Is it a little fussy perhaps? Yeah, I think maybe so but the eventual experience is well worth the trouble. If you have ever had the occasion to fumble around with Black XX then you will come to appreciate the ritualistic similarities that will unfold with its undertaking. And always remember, those things that seem to be hardest to content with often end up being the sweetest of memories in the end.

Unusual by US conventions but not odd, this tobacco comes in a somewhat malleable state directly from the factory. As such, it can be kind of challenging to prepare the resident flakes for consumption. I suppose one could fold and stuff, but if you are like me in preferring to rub out the tobacco, working these thin strands into a pile of broken morsels is not the easiest endeavor as I soon detected.

Essentially the act of general rubbing requires a good deal more finesse, as the tobacco has definite memory and therefore wants to cling tightly to its original compressed state. At first pass what you end up with is a pile of broken strands that resemble a collection of homogeneous miniature sticks that are determined not to reduce further despite your applied intent. At this point, one must let the strands set up for an ideal observed period. And on that concern, I found the preferred window for proper maturation tends to be overly sensitive. Namely if you do not aerate and re-rub long enough then the tobaccos are difficult to pack and darn sure battle with lighting and staying comfortably lit. On the other hand, if your curing interim is too long then much of that characteristic flavorsome brilliance of the coatings seems to be reduced upon smoking. Subsequently, through several attempts I settled upon a most select standing time of at least five to ten minutes accordingly.

If I were to be totally honest, Ennerdale struck me as being a tad racy at first. In qualifying that statement, this was not so much that it was brash in nature, but more so my initial impressions stemmed from the powered animation of its registerable flavor. I did come to realize that the boldness of the coatings does in fact shine forcefully amid the first third of the bowl but found them to ease off in allowing for the resonance of those good Virginian strains to migrate more strongly forward. As it surfaced, the depth and the detail of the native taste is unquestionably excellent, dispelling any rumor of inferior tobacco strains or the blend being a distasteful posey poisoned abomination. So, in addressing the elephant within the pouch, yes, those illustrious Lakeland delicacies did fully shine within the onslaught of the initial smoking. In actuality, the complexity of the top-coated flavorings was quite entertaining and well-constructed. Of course, there is a definitive elegant floral essence that rides forward in the profile, posing its characteristic rose water and geranium like complexion. Yet in truth when this notation combines with the equally strong forwardness of a sweet toasty almond note, the rosy floridity is grounded into enhanced palatability.

Furthermore, the affluence of the tonka like additive injects some relishing complements of sugary hay and creamy vanilla that is buttery in disposition. What is more I did record a deposit of baked darker honey and what I perceived to be a melding of berries/orange fruity notes that extended the cultured confluence of the lilting floral note. There is also a discernable bottom accent of alcohol tinging from the rum, and one can feel it on the tongue and within the nasal cavity for sure. And finally, regarding one of the most defaming comments solicited on this blend, is there a soapy facet to the registration? Soapy, perhaps is an overstatement and erroneous label but indeed there is an uncommon highlighting on the trailing top layer that I would classify as intriguingly decorative more than it is detracting or reflective of a fresh bar of Dove.

As previously identified, in generalizing Ennerdale’s native profile it is an all-Virginia excursion as the Burley encouragement is slighted by design only contributing a spot of spicy earthiness and weakened nut. For the mixed Virginia strains, the tobacco exhibits a significantly strong recording of seasoned spicy toastiness and deeply caramelized wood from the Red varietal. Additionally, this hardy darker tone carried a spray of colorized nuancing that enfolded a neat herbaceous spruce-like tone, a ruddier zesty underpinning, and some fluid congealing tartness. And on that last observation, I would be remiss if I did not call that there can be a borderline cigarette-like quality to its force, especially if the pipe drawls are hard and fast. As to the Bright component, the leaf contributed a regaling line of crisp grassy hay notes, tasteful lemony citrus, a complement element of sweet bread and an indulging tangy finish.

The expended fragrance emitted by the tobacco’s light and airy plumes generated a very pleasant room essence that would be doubtless to most. Mainly, a delightfully sweet and aromatically laced floral perfume rolls generously forth, bundling the amassed woody-citrus grass essence of the associated Virginian leaves. Mechanically Ennerdale can get a little hot if an improper cadence is exerted thus defining the need to engage this tobacco with slow metered sips. The by product of that action is the obviously enhanced savor of the sheer complexity and strength of its total flavor package. So why not?

Assuming proper pipe smoking practice, Ennerdale renders a relaxing and captivating retreat. It will ghost your pipe that is a certain outcome so be selective on designating a particular vessel. With modest nicotine residuals this could be a frequent smoker for some. However, given the richness of its substance, and the manner in which Virginian tobaccos can and often do affect some of us hopelessly sensitive types, I prefer to smoke the blend on special occasions as a rewarding diversion, in half-bowl increments that is. Most definitely an acquired appeal to this one, yet it is so unique and for some that might be a fine designation for the merits of its underlying character. And the lesson of the day my good pipers is that a gem cannot be polished without some semblance of friction or resistance, nor can a tobacco blend be truthfully qualified without the onset of personal trials. Present company included most assuredly. Put that one and this one, Ennerdale, in your pipe and smoke it for what it is worth. 3.6 Pipes