Samuel Gawith Bothy Flake

This is a wonderful blend. I initially found out about this blend when researching the Kearvaig Pipe Club. This tastes how the Highlands look and feel.

I didn't dry it out before loading my pipe, but I probably should have. My eagerness got in the way. Therefore I had a few relights. But it burns evenly and completely. Lots of full flavorful smoke.

This rich latakia blend is mesmerizing. It doesn't punch you in the face with strength. It is wonderfully balanced and full of nuance. The light whisky topping is perfect and compliments the blend rather than overpowering it. First thing in the morning with coffee or late at night with a nice dram of single malt is the perfect time for this tobacco. This needs to be savored and enjoyed.

I guess I just don't get it. Sour, thin, musty, If whiskey tasted like this I'd never drink it. May revisit (I'm usually pretty mainstream.)

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Bought a tin of this on a whim when visiting Edinburgh. Glad I did, its a cracking smoke and it's how I found out about the Kearvaig Pipe Club!

So the baccy... Its the usual slightly messy Flake from SG, on the moist side, a mix of medium browns. The smell in the tin is of stout Virginias with a background campfire smokiness from the Latakia. The whisky topping blends in harmoniously with this, and seems to me pretty subtle. I like Ennerdale Flake of course, so may have a different tolerance for scented baccy.

It smokes like a nice slightly stoved, sweet Virginia Flake, the Latakia giving a nice smokey background. The scotch is subtle, but enhances the sweetness and smokey flavours. It burns to a shred of dottle if you've dried it a little after rubbing out, never gets sour or harsh. I didn't get any bite. I used pipes I keep for unflavoured English Mixtures, and it did not ghost.

In summary, a splendid and completely unique Flake, I look forward to smoking it in the Kearvaig Bothy!

Bothy Flake....opening tin,sweet darkish flakes. Little bit too wet,nice flakes though..drying time approx 30 min,good rub ,pack the pipe and ready to go. First things first,after few puffs you get that sweet Virginia taste, blended with hint of Cyprian Lat...Single Malt is playing minor key. Don't bite but slow smoking pace is needed to get most of the flavor out. It's easily all day smoke. Tasty stuff.

This tobacco is so good, it makes me wish I had a more educated palate. It is clearly a high quality flake but I can't really discern the latakia presence. All I can taste is the whisky flavouring. Don't get me wrong, this is a good thing, because I love good quality whisky but I love latakia even more. As a real nicotine wimp, I originally wrote this in something of a nic haze, which was a less pleasurable experience than I would want... Bothy Flake knocked me on my butt! I thought it was strong and woozy making. I enjoyed this blend, but I felt it was trying to kill me! Not sure what that was about. I don't usually mix tobaccos but I wondered whether it would be softened by adding some Holger Danske Black and Bourbon to take out some of the punch. Time has mellowed all of those opinions - this really isn't so strong, and is actually fairly mild. Adding HD BB does make it even more delicious, but it is flavoursome enough without!

It is moist from the tin and usually is served well by allowing some drying time - twenty minutes perhaps. After that? Flavour filled and less problematic to keep lit. A half time break doesn't do any harm and on relight, all the flavours immediately reappear.

Easy to recommend and always easy to smoke. Stunning stuff.

Great Virginia, as usual for a SG blend, good combustion, slow and steady. I do not notice Latakia. Even flavoring is very far. The taste is full and creamy but does not have anything special to say. 3,0/5 in my personal rating system.

This has to be one of the most interesting and unique tobacco's I have come across. I tried some of a sample during a pipe night from another piper. It was intriguing enough for me to purchase a tin.

Upon opening the tin for the first time you can smell the peaty scotch topping straight away. It's very strong, but not off putting. Over time that smell from the tin diminishes and instead one gets a sweet earth balanced by smokiness, probably from the latakia, with just a hint of the scotch.

I tried multiple methods in loading my pipe. I found that the air chamber method, after a flake or two had been rubbed out, worked the best for keeping it lit. This does require some relights here and there, but the air chamber method required the least amount.

The smoke was quite flavorful. The VA's were naturally sweet, like FVF, throughout the smoke and provide a decent backbone. The latakia is there in tones of smokiness and slight floral offerings. Now, bear with me on this, the combination of the malt, peat, smokey latakia, seemed to produce a flavor I have not yet experienced in any other tobacco....the best way to describe it for me is Sandalwood Incense. Now, I know this doesn't sound appealing, and my nose could be wrong, but I swear the components created this experience time and time again with this tobacco. It was actually very delightful. I can see why other reviewers mention the 'lakeland' essence, though I don't think it's quite accurate. The fragrance was great during the smoke and the room note was slightly sweet but gentle. Quite an enjoyable smoke. I think some will love it and others will hate it, not much in-between IMHO.

To be honest it doesn't smell like scotch or anything at all. It is a mix of dried figs/dates and wet dog. The aroma did not attract me at all. However the smoke was sweet/fruity and the smell quite oriental. It's ok, but I would never buy it again. I am not whisky drinker, but I own a bottle of chivas 12 and I notice no similarities in the aroma/taste.

In my humble opinion the latakia suppress the mild flavoring of this tobacco. Besides this factor the tobacco is pleasing and ok, but not my type