Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Kendal Flake

Smells like a less aromatic version of the grasmere flake. Rosy, slightly spicy and fruity.

The tobacco once lit produces an excellent smoke (better than all other aromatics from GH), and the aroma is just as good if not better (roses, almonds mostly).

However, the plus side of this tobacco is that the nicotine hit is a tad bit stronger, something which I like more and more now.

Definitely worth trying...

This is an unusual smoke for me. It is hard to know exactly how to describe it. There is a floral, herbal thing going on. I don't taste almonds which other reviewers find. There is a quality balanced Virginia based that has tart and sweet and maybe a whiff of citrus - although it is hard to know just where the topping ends and the tobacco starts for me.

On first light, I get a whiff of soap. That is the infamous "lakeland" I guess. After that first whiff, it is an aromatic Virginia that is quite good. It is not something I will keep in stock, but if I had the chance to smoke it again I would. I can see how some people are very fond of this.

Edit: 8/17 I seem to have acquired a taste for the lakeland essence. I am working my way through a half kilo. That makes this a 3.5 on my scale.

A good introduction to scented Lakeland tobaccos. Kendal Flake has the honey sweetness of Glengarry Flake and is more floral than it is herbal. The rose geranium flavor comes through on the finish but not with the same conviction or clarity of Grasmere Flake. The smoke is smooth on the palate yet zesty to the senses and the added flavorings balance perfectly with the grassiness of the Virginias. The dark cured leaf adds richness to the balance and a light spice note comes and goes as do the honey notes that linger on the finish.

Despite the laundry list of added flavors, the floral notes of Kendal Flake are not as intense as Ennerdale. That said, Kendal Flake is a good smoke for those that enjoy a floral & mildly soapy English Flake. I would also recommend this to those that are curious about traditional Lakeland aromatics and are looking for that point of departure.

One other thing I will mention, is that after a few years in a mason jar the flavor of the rose geranium and heliotrope essences mellow substantially, and it becomes easier to taste the vanilla & almond extracts. So depending on how one prefers these aromatic flavors to come through in their smoke, freshly produced Kendal Flake may be preferable to smoking it aged.

There are a lot of scents listed to describe this baccy but there is actually only one - Turkish Delight (roses). Good flake, easy to smoke, not for people who don't like floral scents.

Put this in your pipe and everything will be coming up roses. Literarlly. This is one of the most highly flavored of the "British Aromatics", but it is not as strong, noxious or persistant as, say, 1792 or RB plug. Rather it is sweet, flamboyant, herbal and floral. There is probably a trace of soapiness, but if so, it's hotel soap scented with geraniums and I can hardly detect it.

I pack this in a large pipe, especially one with a large bowl diameter, mostly unrubbed out, such as a Bjarne giant, and settle down.

The first 1/4 of the bowl can be a bit offputting in its intensity of non tobacco scents, which is a shame, because the "zone" of this tobacco is a trip to heaven. The combination of flavorings and the high quality VA flake result in a sweet, bite free, intense, somewhat intoxicating experience.

Too profoundly flavored for me to be a daily smoke, I still have 3-4 bowls a week. I have found nothing like it.

****Update

I've now gone through a pound of KF in a little over a year. I'd like to add that I consider it an great hot weather smoke, and a possible alternative for those who do not like burley.

Yesterday the temp was 88 deg and high humidity, and, on the porch, a bowl of Kendal Flake was, as the other reviewer mentioned, like a glass of cool lemonade. The equal (in strength) and opposite (in character) of a heavy Latakia blend. Or to put it another way, if a heavy English is like a good single malt scotch, then Kendal Flake is a frozen Strawberry Daquiri (and not a wimpy one).

My pouch was about 6 month old when I decided to try. Flakes was bit dry so flavoring wasn't so strong. Overall I had very nice smoke, tobacco flavors was in the front and essences was playing support role. No tongue bite or harshness. Cool, relaxing smoke. Not an all day, but repeatable during the week. Reccomended.

Here's a classic lakeland flake with the floral notes that some would find overmuch. It is not an everyday for me, but it is great especially outdoors on a breezy day. The bold flavor holds up with all the air. Indoors, it is good. The room note has not sent the wife to the other part of the room so it is okay. If you don't like the geraniums, leave it. If you like zip in your virginia flakes, give it a try.

I am really starting to like British scented flakes and that is what this is. Almond out front from the start, the rose, etc. floral notes are very faint. A trace of cherry like sweetness from something but I am not certain what topping is reminding me of that and it is only an occasional nuance. The Lakeland scent is overall quite mild in this one. With so much going on in the topping/casing, I was expecting the tobacco to be muted but it comes through and is delicious. It is very earthy, with notes of grass and citrus from some bright leaf, a little sweet tangy note, and some smokey classic G,H, & Co. dark cured leaf that seems to be a hallmark for so many blends. A very well done scented flake. I still prefer Ennerdale Flake but I have smoked a lot more of it than this and it is worth repeating. I have kept back 2 oz of the 4 oz sample to see what a little age will do.

I purchased a full 500g that came in the G&H Kendal box. Nice soft light brown to gray flakes that broke up easily. I loaded an old Comoy billiard sandblast and lit the tobacco. It took the flame well and stayed lit. Billows of full to medium smoke started it's magic. I did not detect any "soapy" scent or any Lilac Vegital. I did get the almond and rose essence and it was remarkably nice. Laced into the tobacco, the almond, rose and whatever else is used in this blend works great and makes the taste of the smoke and nose scent friendly and tastey. It should be enjoyed slowly to really meet the floavours. Nicotene was hearty but not over the top. I really am surprized that I like this!