Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Scotch Flake Aromatic

Mostly dark brown and very long flakes that smelled of chocolate in the bag. This is based on about 1/2 oz, as I bought an ounce to use to blind test someone (who guessed Bob's Chocolate Flake - not a bad guess!). This stuff is made for fold and stuff but required a bit of maneuvering due to its length. But it was best loaded in that manner.

It's been awhile since I've smoked Bob's Choc Flake, as I strongly prefer the SG version. But this seemed more chocolately than BCF, the lack of flavor being why I didn't care for it. This adds a wisp of vanilla in the flavor profile that comes and goes. Also it has the standard Lakeland essence. The Scotch Flake non-aro was quite different, having much, much lighter flavorings. But once again, G&H shows how to make an aromatic pipe tobacco that doesn't skimp on the flavoring and definitely doesn't push the tobacco taste away. Indeed, this is more tobacco than flavoring, which is my preference in pipe tobacco since, after all, I'm smoking it and not eating it. Not short on true tobacco taste, this one, but still aromatic enough to smoke around non-smokers. And the flavoring lasts down the entire bowl, and without adding any chemical flavors. Most U.S blenders could learn a lot from G&H about how to make an aromatic. Good, flavorful blend that rewards the patient smoker, but not a rotation maker for me. Well worth a try, however - 3 strong stars!

To be upfront, I found the non-scented version rather boring but I am enjoying the aromatic version (also sold as scented I believe) and consider it a solid smoke. The cocoa, barely but continously present in the bowl, is slightly more present in the room note and gives the solid but (as I said above) slightly uninteresting tobaccos something to play off of. I am sure the vanilla is there supporting the blend, but I didn't detect it on its own. Unlike many blends I rate a three here, I am likely to rebuy this at some point, but still wouldn't have it as part of any regular rotation.