Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Glengarry Flake

After smoking such other Gawith Hoggarth blends as Conniston and Ennerdale, I can't call this "soapy." Moreover, the fragrance in the tin becomes very mild in the flavor. It is present, but actually compliments the already-excellent steamed tobacco taste. I smoke this when I want a cool, slightly sweet, great smelling tobacco, which is pretty often. And don't be put off by the word "honeydew." I defy anyone to actually identify any melon flavor if they didn't hear about it first. Yum.

As I was targeting this particular blend for potential review earlier this year, I recall reading somewhere during my initial due diligence that this aromatic tobacco was comprised solely of Gold Virginian leaves. Having now partaken in the experience repeatedly, I sincerely question the accuracy of that limiting statement. Namely, Glengarry Flake, perhaps the lightest of the renown Lakeland series products, does in fact demonstrate a range of standard flavor attributes including the distinct Red varietal nuances. As such, by the merits of developed savoriness and colorfully rendered character, this blend begs of esteemed consideration.

Similar to their Bright CRF Flake, Gawith, Hoggarth & Co have crafted a base recipe constituted by the inclusion of all-Virginian leaves. In particular, the ordered strains are from select flue cured stocks that have originated in both South America and Africa. Presented in a well-balanced fashion, these tobaccos are then mildly flavored with a honeydew extract, common Irish Mist spirits, along with other choice sweeteners, including those singular Lakeland-centric enhancements. Love them or hate them, you bet.

Once this medium natured concoction is nimbly imparted with these fanciful elixirs, it sees an aggressive pressing operation and is then set aside for proper aging which evolves with a comparatively modest Lakeland character. What surfaces are four-inch-long strands of neatly pressed tobaccos that wear an endured multi-hued palette of complementing pallor. Expertly mottled with a delightful complexion, weathered tones of dim yellow to muddy grayish umbers, are expanded by moving browns filling a sheet of visual excellence. Texturally these cultured tobaccos are a bit toothy and barbed on the front facing and do feel to be of a moister conditioning. Therefore, drying time is an absolute necessity. Yet in truth, this tobacco seemed to set up splendidly on short order.

With an invited sampling of the pouched fragrance, the bundle of prepared strands reveals an exceptionally soft and genteel aromatic sweetness. Supporting this top airiness, discoverable evidence of a brightened suite of tarty aged grasses emerges, of which these aromas varied in individual character, actually quite exquisite in their felt expressions. And yes, there is a well-placed fruity fragrancy that emits tinges of some of that sweeter rose floral perfume that is certain. Yet furthering the depth of Glengarry Flakes’ native allure is a defined, warmly progressed woodiness and a colorful occurrence of general spirited spices.

As with a typical Lakeland flake, I opt to separate and rub the condensed tobacco accordingly. What amasses is a handsome mound of pithy thin stick-like filaments. As a result, the packing of the pipe generally proves to be somewhat of an easier process. Also, I find there is better performance in the ensuing burn as well. And on one observational note of importance, Glengarry Flake tends to favor being smoked within a smaller briar if not a Meerschaum to be more exact.

So let us get to the flavor, shall we? If I were to generally classify this experience on the whole, I would offer that Glengarry Flake is not your stereotypical aromatic specimen. More so, I deem this as a lightly flavored rendition of calming progressed Virginian luster. The smoking reveals minor movements in nuance but at the same time does provide a fairly consistent and balanced flavorsomeness. There is no brashness nor concentrated nuisance about the Lakeland tempering as it is in fact exceptionally reserved, that is true. Witnessing the influence of the noted additives is indeed an occurrence but they come about as less of a factor in the overall character that is imparted.

Being well rounded in its taste profile, the supporting bottom tier of Glengarry Flake is flavored with the character of fermented rustic spice-wood and softer matured tones of plum. For lack of a better description, there is also an abiding node of charred herbaceous zest that further enlivens this base note which actively stimulates the palate as though it were of the Dark Burley persuasion.

Within the proper lead middle band, the tobacco’s character is flushed with a cultured citrus note that borrows from the sweet tangy flair of a common mandarin orange twisted with just a tinge of white grapefruit bitterness on the edges. Still, it is the presence of toasty and tastefully weathered field grass/cozy hay that dominates the mid-tier overall. What is more the additional embellishments of a big smokey undertone, and some darker seasonable tart complete the fullness of this brighter character.

Respecting the top tier accenting, what emerges for recognition is of a sugared floral nature. No great surprise, right? Essential projections of a fresher spruce ambience and a modest tracing of that classic rosy notation center in the remarking. Moreover, supplemental colorization is arranged with the commenting of baked honied sugars and fruity melon-like temperance. Occasionally, the registration pops with a clean shot of the Irish Mist. This spirited notation carries an herby, creamy sweet liqueur base essence with complements of subtle vanilla and aged/turned banana of all things. Do keep in mind that although I have described these collective highlights with full recognition, their expressed forcefulness is once again of a decidedly softened magnitude.

As this tobacco burns quite coolly and with an even progression, it leaves a lovely white ash within the chamber of the bowl with no indications of troublesome dottle. The immediate smoking vicinity is imprinted with a spent air that is especially wispy and thin in scale. The production of medium gaged clouds of gray smoke vapors leaves a pleasingly sweet aroma of cooked grass, lighter zingy woodiness, and residual of the sugared floral. Still, at times I do manage to just catch a mild impression of the whiskey tinge as well. In general, the blend is pleasant in caricature with a diminished endurance in its degree of permanency.

With mild nicotine effects, Glengarry Flake offers no incident of stinging bite unless one gets too ambitious by Bogarting the drawls. In actuality, I think you will miss out on some of the tobacco’s engaging savor less the practice of slow metered sipping. In doing so, you will fully experience an enjoyable flavor that cannot but underscore the merits of this easeful and reposed Lakeland production. 3.5 Pipes

Comes in thick, moist, scraggly flakes that smell like ketchup or Bbq sauce. No Lakeland sauce present on my sample, at least by smell. I usually opt for a generous dry time, but it's far from unsmokable in it's wet state. I always rub the flakes out fully.

The smoke is somewhat monochromatic with just a bit of Hay, wood, and grass and just a touch of citrus and minimal floral essence. The essence reminds me of clover or wildflower Honey. The finish is very clean, leaving you with a somewhat freshened palate, if not a bit of soapy bitterness. No bite, burns slow and cool with a bit of moisture. Medium body, mild to medium strength.

Just a pretty little VA flake with a touch of the "sauce". Easy smoking, good for hot summer days. Ages well, and after a few years picks up some lovely fermented notes and the topping dies down a bit.

가윗호가스이집안 정말대단하다. 현재어떤연초든간에 모든게 품절이다. 사람들이 즐겨찾는다는 경제논리에 딱맞는 진리를 보여주는 상징적인회사이다. 이연초를 즐기다보면 아주 잘익은 풀버지니아와 골든그로우가 생각이 난다. 좀더 수분이 많이 함유되어있어서인지 불을 붙였을 올라오는 단맛과 젖은 건초향 그리고 건포도타는 냄새가 동시에 올라온다 한마디로 달큰하다 절래 츰이 츠릅!! 꿀의 향내음을 충분히 블렌디해서인지 정말 달큰하다 하지만 초보분들은 불관리가 어려울것이다 이유는 수분이 많아서 불관리가 쉽지않다 그러다보면 맛을 느끼기 힘드니 무조건 잘부수어서 5분정도만 기다렸다 즐겨보자. 나는 왠만하면 만들어진 그대로를 즐기라고 한다 분명이유가 있을테니 말이다 하지만 살짝 수분을 날리고난뒤 즐기니 나원참!! 이렇게 즐거울수가... 아주고급진 담배맛인 버지니아의 기분좋은 건초향이 베이스를 이룹니다 연무를 밖으로 나가자마자 오는 자연의 달큰함이 엄습하구요 마지막은 말린과일의 거을린맛이 느껴져서 부드럽게 새콤하고 기분좋은 달큰함이 어우러집니다 순수버지니아어서인지 맛은 최상입니다 방에서 즐기는 나는 룸노트또한 담배안태우는 사람들도 냄새가 구수하다고 하니 그들도 좋긴 좋나보다 . 나는 다행이 500그람짜리 벌크로 사놔서 다행이지만 또 판매된다면 무조건 사재울것이다 참으로 기분좋은 연초이다

Jubilant! I've just finished a bowl of one of the finest offerings by G&H that I have had to date! Perfect from the pouch, with a slight honey and maple aroma caressing a very good Virginia /Burley blend. Came in a broken flake that packed like a dream and smoked with one relight to a white ash at the end. I smoked this on an empty stomach with a black coffee for breakfast and enjoyed every puff! Gawith and Hoggarth seem to do V/Bur blends extremely well and it's rare that I get one that I dislike. The honey is never overpowering and is there if you take it very slowly and the room note is probably the best ever with a honey/vanilla breeze that wafts in the air. Nicotine level for me is a light to medium and put me in deep contemplation for a decent hour. I totally recommend this to all, although novice pipers may miss the subtle nuances in the flavour if the cadence isn't as gentle as a stream trickling over pebbles in a trout stream.

On my voyage of British discovery I purchased this when it came out a few months ago. There isn't much to say about packaging since I bought in bulk. When I open my bag there are some nice long brown flakes that smell of Virginia sweetness and hay, mixed with honey. They came pretty wet, so some dry time really helped me. They rub out well and pack well. They take a little extra time to light even when properly dried. I needed a few more than regular relights.

Once lit I taste the honey and Whiskey up front adding maltiness, herbalness, and sweetness. The Virginias are well married to the toppings here. I do taste some of the Virginias inherent grassiness, and hay, as well as some bakery-like flavors. On a really slow draw I taste some of the Lakeland floral notes. The toppings don't make this too sweet. Fast puffing will lead to a hot smoke.

For the taste I give this a medium. It's a nice soft smoke. The strength is a medium too. Not too strong, but strong enough to make me happy. The room note is pleasant and may earn a few compliments. This is a very smokable mixture when properly dried. It could be a repeatable smoke for some.

Glengarry Flake... how to describe this offering from my friends at Gawith Hoggarth? It’s a bit of an oddball in the world of pipe tobaccos, which in itself is a bit of an oddball these days.

Glengarry is marketed as an aromatic... but it’s certainly not an aromatic in the modern American definition of aromatic. No... this is more along the lines of an already-tasty, quality tobacco made even more tasty (at least, that’s the goal) via the addition of various (judiciously administered) flavorings. This was done with a light hand compared to others in the GH line of aromatics.

For comparison’s sake, take Gawith Hoggarth’s Coniston Cut Plug, a sister blend. Please. Please take it. It’s terribly overdone in the flavoring department. It’s so bad, so strongly perfumed, it should probably be quarantined a safe distance from all other tobaccos. I find it hard to comprehend the fact that both blends are products of the same company.

But here we are.

I can’t really pick out distinct flavors with this one. It’s just an appetizing smoke. I don’t see it as an all day—or even an every day—smoke for me. It’s still a little too... what’s the appropriate term here? It’s a touch too artificially flavored for my taste.

I’m perfectly fine with tobacco being sweetened a bit, but the flavoring used here distracts a bit from the natural awesomeness of the leaf. Just a bit... but enough to make it just an occasional treat for me.

I’ll still keep a little on hand... and could see myself restocking in the future. Unlike Coniston. That stuff... well, that’s another story for another review.

This one probably is more along the line of Brown Flake Aromatic, although I prefer the flavorings used in BFA (and DFA).

In the meantime, I’d give Glengarry two stars. It’s okay, but not exactly my cup of tea.

Update: 15 June, 2021 After careful consideration, I’m bumping this flake up to 3 stars. Since my initial review, I’d jarred my small stash of Glengarry Flake, socked it away, and forgotten about it.

But in the interim, I’ve been smoking Gawith Hoggarth flakes almost exclusively. I’m a GH man, at least at the present time.

And, while I’m still trying to come to terms with the more heavily “Lakeland-ed” flakes in the family, I’ve definitely gained a new appreciation for this one. The couple of months in the little fruit jar probably helped improve it too.

Strength-wise, I still lean towards things with a little more kick. And I also prefer a little more complexity/depth of flavor.

But this one is perfect for the times when I want to smoke, but don’t necessarily have the time to focus on what I’m smoking.

It’s definitely not in danger of being part of my regular rotation. And it’s not one of the flakes I fret over being out of stock. But I’ll likely order it again, and enjoy every bowl… even if I’m too busy gardening or reading or whatever to focus too much on it.

What a nice blend. This is kinda like a lakeland-lite. It is definitely a lakeland, but has nowhere near the potency of other lakelands (like my favorite ennerdale). If you are not a lakeland fan, don't immediately turn away from this one. You may be pleasantly surprised.

The tin note (or baggie note) is sublime. It is soft and light, but not in a weak way, in a reservedly delicate kind of way. I get honey, a floral lakeland smell, and a smell that vaguely reminds me of another favorite lakeland of mine, grouse-moor.

For such a delicate smell, the flakes are not delicate at all. These come in big, long, scrappy, scraggly flakes. Mostly dark with some light speckled in.

This one does not rub out easily, as the strands of individual tobaccos are surprisingly long. This also was a challenge to pack. Not impossible, but not easy.

These flakes are damp, even on my sample which has four years of age on it. Do yourself a favor and give it some drying time. Once it is packed, it was a little stubborn on the light, but once it is going, it functions just fine.

I really like the flavor here. On a lot of G&H lakelands, the topping is very prominent on the light, and fades away at about half bowl. For me, this tobacco does a nice job of balancing flavoring and tobacco all the way through. I really like it. All G&H tobaccos are of good quality, whether the flavors agree with you or not, they never produce a sub par product.

Give this one a shot. It is different than most lakelands, and a true pleasure.

Received a generous sample of this one from a dear friend as I refused to try Lakelands for a long time.

The flakes, cut rather big, broad and pressed solidly are from a dark brown color with brown and golden filaments giving a nice structure. The cold smell reminds me of freshly baken brown loaf with a bit of Grandmothers soap way in the background.

I rubbed it out a bit more thoroughly as the flakes are pretty hard, stable and of perfect moisture. If folded it's probably better to use a large bowl or a pan. Packs well and takes flames better than expected then burns cool and very slow.

In the first half there's a dominating floral (can't really detect) but not too soapy taste underlined by the sweet Virginia notes. A bit too much of that for my taste. As the smoke continues the tobacco flavors begin to gain the upper hand and a natural almond sweet Virginia taste comes through more and more; also some citric notes by the VA. You can taste the great quality leafs even if there's still a floral sometimes slightly bitter touch to it. No acidity or tongue bite in this one.

Glengarry might not become my all day but it's a nice and high quality Virginia Flake topped with interesting floral notes. Quite an exciting smoke - can't deny that.