Samuel Gawith Spring Time Flake

I opened the tin to a small number of extra large flakes, each flake being nearly 2" x 4". The flakes are mostly light in color with some darker browns in the mix. The tin note is of honey and oats, like the smell of Honey Nut Cheerios without the nutty scent. I laid the flakes out to dry for a bit. As has been noted, the moisture content is not normal for SG flakes and they may require as little as an hour of drying time to be at correct moisture for smoking. Of course that depends on your individual moisture preference. The length is just a tad bit too long for a traditional half pint mason jar. I cut the flakes in half across the grain to fit them in the jar.

I packed a flake or two slightly loose, using a fold 'n stuff method, with a little rubbed out on top for kindling. The charring light brings a distinct sweetness to your palate. The true and first puffs continue with the honey-like sweetness and bring in black pepper in both taste and spicyness. The tobacco burns easier than most traditional SG flakes. Cadence is important, this can get hot and bite a little. Through the first third the two flavors continue to fight each other, sweet vs pepper until about midway. The pepper spicyness, but not flavor, settles down about halfway through and the flavors begin to meld together with the sweetness being a constant throughout. In the last third a new flavor I have trouble describing comes into play, and having reread the description above I think it may have been the Sherry which I completely forgot about! Overall the flavor was in the medium range. I found the nic level to be slightly under medium. I did post a mild flavoring, as most pipe tobacco is treated somewhat, and while this is not a heavily cased or topped blend, the honey sweetness is most likely from some type of treatment. It really is quite an interesting smoke with good potential.