Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Rum Flake
(3.03)
The 'Christmas cake' of all our tobaccos. A very rich, sweet fully flavoured blend. The main feature is the high proportion of naturally sweet sun-cured tobaccos in the blend - over 40%. Only 30% Virginia leaf, with the rest of the blend coming from burleys and dark-air cured contribute to a strong, but rewarding smoke. The whole blend is cased in maple sugars to further enhance the natural sweetness of the sun cured leaf and then rounded off with a dash of rum.
Notes: Due to EU regulations, this is now sold in those countries as "Jamaican Flake".
Since 2016 and perhaps earlier, the tin label on the back states ”Virginias and burley with flavors of rum, licorice and vanilla”.
Details
| Brand | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. |
| Blended By | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. |
| Manufactured By | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Burley, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Maple, Rum |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin, Bulk |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Medium
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.03 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 51 - 60 of 138 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 13, 2023 | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
The flake is nice and thick but not an issue to rub out. I bought this as a sampler so I can't say much for the moisture content, other than mine was fine but needed a little drying out before hand.
On charring light and first burn, you're greeted with a rich and fairly sweet smoke but not overpoweringly enough to detract from the flavour of the tobaccos themselves in fact it works very well especially with the burley in my opinion. Further down the bowl the smoke gets richer and I get hints of chocolate at times a little grass from the virginia. A noticeable amount of nicotine and I'd that's a decent amount as I have a fairly high tolerance. I get small and I mean small hints of rum but it's so faint it could be simply a placebo effect as I read the description when buying said tobacco.
I kind of get when people say it's like a Christmas cake with its richness and sweet casing but I don't feel it as much, possibly because my palate isn't as developed as others. At the end of a day it's a good quality old-fashioned smoke which is to expected from GH, but it might be a while before I come back to it just as it didn't "click" with me.
On charring light and first burn, you're greeted with a rich and fairly sweet smoke but not overpoweringly enough to detract from the flavour of the tobaccos themselves in fact it works very well especially with the burley in my opinion. Further down the bowl the smoke gets richer and I get hints of chocolate at times a little grass from the virginia. A noticeable amount of nicotine and I'd that's a decent amount as I have a fairly high tolerance. I get small and I mean small hints of rum but it's so faint it could be simply a placebo effect as I read the description when buying said tobacco.
I kind of get when people say it's like a Christmas cake with its richness and sweet casing but I don't feel it as much, possibly because my palate isn't as developed as others. At the end of a day it's a good quality old-fashioned smoke which is to expected from GH, but it might be a while before I come back to it just as it didn't "click" with me.
Pipe Used:
Archway Bulldog Estate
PurchasedFrom:
Cgars
Age When Smoked:
6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 09, 2017 | Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
This review is for both the 50g tin and the 500g box. The only real detectable difference between the two is that the tin is fresher and the box is slightly more aged. This equates to a lighter Lakeland Essence and a fuller tobacco flavor in the box (yes, this baccy is scented ~ if it is not, you have an old batch of bulk). Rum Flake is one of my personal favorites from GH, as this blend is nearly identical to Glengarry Flake (another of my favorites). The primary difference between Rum Flake and Glengarry Flake is the toppings. Rum Flake has a rum and IMHO black treacle topping (I really do not taste the maple), where as Glengarry Flake is Irish Whiskey and Honey. Both RF and GF use the same floral essence. As with GF, the essence in RF blends brilliantly with the top dressing to provide lovely creamy smoke of rum soaked goodness. As a Gawith Hoggarth flake, this blends nicotine might be a shade off putting to some. However, this is a quite excellent blend that is well worth a go.
Cheers...
Cheers...
Pipe Used:
Various Billiards in different sizes
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
One Year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 14, 2016 | Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
There is no "essence" in Rum Flake, none of the floral or soapy flavorings that people object to. There is 40% sun cured leaf, and several folks have misidentified that as essence, but it's just Oriental or Balkan tobacco. The other components are 30% Virginia and 30% burleys and dark air cured. There's plenty of strength for a midrange blend, not as overbearing as the twists can be.
From the tin, the rum is strong. It behaves perfectly in the smoke, and the maple sugar casing doesn't burn hot at all. It has a good flavor, rich and satisfying when a lighter blend won't do. The flakes are a little wetter than many G&H ones, but after a little more effort lighting the pipe it burns perfectly.
Rum Flake is what I imagined Navy Flakes were supposed to taste like, stronger, plain tobacco topped moderately with rum. It's worth keeping around.
From the tin, the rum is strong. It behaves perfectly in the smoke, and the maple sugar casing doesn't burn hot at all. It has a good flavor, rich and satisfying when a lighter blend won't do. The flakes are a little wetter than many G&H ones, but after a little more effort lighting the pipe it burns perfectly.
Rum Flake is what I imagined Navy Flakes were supposed to taste like, stronger, plain tobacco topped moderately with rum. It's worth keeping around.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 06, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
For those of you looking for a GH flake with NO Lakeland essence, this is for you. Sweet, but not overly sweet and goopy. Delicious taste and aroma. Nice vitamin N lift. The Christmas cake analogy was correct. YUM!
Pipe Used:
Sasieni 4 dot
Age When Smoked:
week old.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 24, 2016 | Strong | Medium to Strong | Medium to Full | Unnoticeable |
Lovely smoke this. Lights and burns easily. Excellent quality. Simple flavours.
Tends to the monotonous but you know where you are.
Satisfying any time of the night or day.
Tends to the monotonous but you know where you are.
Satisfying any time of the night or day.
Pipe Used:
Stanwell billard.
PurchasedFrom:
Gauntley's of Nottingham.
Age When Smoked:
Fresh.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 11, 2016 | Medium | Medium to Strong | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Wow this is tobacco that should come with a sugar high. I don't get any Lakeland perfume from this blend, but the first 10 minutes or so I do catch a strong anise taste when I exhale through my nose. It's responsible for most of the spicy flavor, I think.
The sun cured tobacco is super sugary, and overwhelms the Virginia. The Burley and dark air-cured play well together. Everything mixes very well so that nothing stands out in particular, but I do wish I could get some stronger VA taste out of it. Personal preference, whaddya do.
It's ready to smoke out of the plastic wrapper, and props to GH for the little "Kendal Tobacco" sticker that holds the plastic shut.
Three stars if you've got a sweet tooth, but don't expect it to behave like anybody else's rum or navy flake. This is dessert tobacco.
The sun cured tobacco is super sugary, and overwhelms the Virginia. The Burley and dark air-cured play well together. Everything mixes very well so that nothing stands out in particular, but I do wish I could get some stronger VA taste out of it. Personal preference, whaddya do.
It's ready to smoke out of the plastic wrapper, and props to GH for the little "Kendal Tobacco" sticker that holds the plastic shut.
Three stars if you've got a sweet tooth, but don't expect it to behave like anybody else's rum or navy flake. This is dessert tobacco.
Pipe Used:
basket pipe
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 21, 2015 | Medium to Strong | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Well, we have no surprises here. We are dealing with a typical Kendal flake with lots of character, strength, and a nice, discreet casing. Rum Flake burns well and does not require much attention to be able to enjoy. Recommended for those who enjoy a strong and rich Lakeland aromatic.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 13, 2015 | Medium to Strong | Medium to Strong | Full | Pleasant |
I'll start by freely admitting that this is my all-time favourite tobacco. I just love the stuff.
I was recommended this one by my local b&m as I was after something with a fairly decent strength, being a cigarette smoker. I told the lady that I quite liked St Bruno and she grabbed the jar of Rum Flake off the shelf and suggested that I might enjoy it, so off I went with 50g of the stuff. When I got home I loaded my pipe and gave it a try. I was hooked by the flavour and aroma, plus it gave me a case of niccups by the end of the bowl so it satisfied the nicotine craving nicely.
Unlike some of the other G&H flakes I don't really notice the Lakeland scent with this one, just a nice "pipey" smell with a bit of sweetness from the rum and maple. I've smoked this fresh and aged 10 years and it's great both ways. I think the flavouring is more noticeable when fresh but it's still there when aged.
While I try other baccies when I get the chance I always come back to this one like an old friend.
PS: For those who try it and hate it, feel free to send your left-overs my way. 😀
I was recommended this one by my local b&m as I was after something with a fairly decent strength, being a cigarette smoker. I told the lady that I quite liked St Bruno and she grabbed the jar of Rum Flake off the shelf and suggested that I might enjoy it, so off I went with 50g of the stuff. When I got home I loaded my pipe and gave it a try. I was hooked by the flavour and aroma, plus it gave me a case of niccups by the end of the bowl so it satisfied the nicotine craving nicely.
Unlike some of the other G&H flakes I don't really notice the Lakeland scent with this one, just a nice "pipey" smell with a bit of sweetness from the rum and maple. I've smoked this fresh and aged 10 years and it's great both ways. I think the flavouring is more noticeable when fresh but it's still there when aged.
While I try other baccies when I get the chance I always come back to this one like an old friend.
PS: For those who try it and hate it, feel free to send your left-overs my way. 😀
Pipe Used:
Orlik 56071 bent bulldog
PurchasedFrom:
Branson's, Farnborough UK
Age When Smoked:
Fresh bulk/aged 10 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 2014 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This was a great tobacco. It was complex in flavor and yet simplistic in body. Every smoker could enjoy this. It is an all day smoke. The room note is pleasing to those around, it does not smell like cookies and cream but does not offend. Right out of the tin, it is ready to make any smoker happy. Highly recommend.
Pipe Used:
Butz-Choquin Bistro, Millard
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking pipes.com
Age When Smoked:
2 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 07, 2012 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Overwhelming | Tolerable |
I picked up a tin of this a couple weeks ago, was quite excited to get into it. Alas expectation causes some suffering. I really did not like this one. Tin note had a bit of recoil affect, not rum, but a hangover from rum kind of smell. The cut was interesting. Smoking it was not. Had a bit of a perfume (my wife tried it and claimed it tasted similar to the way "old ladies perfume" smells. I have to agree though I would have simply qualified the taste as perfume or soap? A low rating from me but I am no expert and it may have been a bum tin.
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