Samuel Gawith Squadron Leader Special Edition

Nice big fat ribbons of mostly tan with flecks of black thrown in. The perique was quite noticeable in the tin aroma, as were the other components. This is tin #368/2000. Not sure that's at all meaningful but as I also collect limited edition music software, the number is always listed. Don't know if it means much there, either!

Smoking a few bowls of this made me run back to not only my stash of aged SL, but also to pick up a few tins of fresh SL. I enjoyed this blend, but I do not recognize it as SL with the addition of perique. This shows me that simply adding a condimental tobacco to an already established mixture can yield unpredictable results. In this version, the latakia was more subdued, the Virginias a hair more prominent and sweeter and the orientals almost MIA, at least from a "hey there's the oriental" perspective - they didn't call any attention to themselves. The perique provided some pepper and spice and the whole concoction had an excellent nutty flavor underneath. This seemed both a hair sweeter and quite a bit spicier but also a different blend altogether. I found that interesting. They both were Gawithian, if you will, but seemed like different blends altogether. SL alone is no longer in contention for my rotation but I enjoy its pure English nature (heavier latakia and Virginia, very mild oriental) on occasion. This one should be very similar plus perique but the perique apparently changed the face of the original. This isn't worse - it's just different. I'm not sure if that was intentional but I'm guessing it wasn't. Try this if you want to try a "new" SG English blend containing perique. I liked it very much!

I got a tin of this when Smoking Pipes brought the blend back for a limited run of 2000 tins in May 2015. To me, the taste is something between original Squadron Leader and Dunhill Nightcap, probably due to the presence of Perique. Some of the mild floral note that I have detected in SL previously is present, but it is very mild and the taste is largely that of a good English with a Latakia flavor that is very balanced and a Perique flavor to finish that is pleasant and multi-dimensional. Very moist out of the tin. I'll be curious to see how it smokes once it has dried out a bit. Very good, especially if you like a more Lat-balanced English. The only thing that keeps it from being a 4-star smoke for me is the light-ish nicotine content compared to something like Nightcap.

Well apparently this sold out everywhere in a day. 4500 tins. I was able to sample one bowl out of the 121/4500 tin. It was a smooth English and about 1/3 of the way in it seemed to lose a little of its sweetness and I guess the Perique was kicking in. Hard to say. This is not a ‘review’ but a place holder until I can try some more if I am lucky. Obviously, this is the 2019 release. Maybe better luck next year if they release it again.

Tin notes of sour, smoky, tangy and sweet. The fat ribbon cut seems to be bigger than regular squadron leader. Color is brown, dark brown and black. The Tabacco is relatively dry, and no prep needed. Burns at a normal rate and required few relights. The strength is mild-med and nic is mild. No flavoring detected despite tin note. The taste is med-full, with notes of spicy, smoky, slightly sweet plums and floral. Latakia is driving with perique riding shotgun. The Virginias and Turkish are bringing up the rear. Room note is tolerable. Has a very great aftertaste.

My impressions of this blend are based on a 2017 limited release.

Like most Samuel Gawith blends, this comes moist. After setting it aside for 40 minutes, it’s ready to smoke.

Upon lighting, I sense a bit of smokiness, a mouthwatering sweet and sour tanginess, a citrusy sweetness and the distinct presence of peppery perique.

This is an Oriental forward blend, but the Virginia acts as a sweet and smoothing base. The perique is always noticeable and almost moderately spicy in the beginning. By the second half, it becomes less potent, but always present. The latakia (smokiness) quickly recedes to the background after lighting. It’s makes brief reappearances upon tamping.

It’s less then medium in body, and the nicotine level is slightly more then mild. It never gets harsh, even with fast puffing.

This is a good all-day smoke and will be appreciated by Oriental enthusiasts. It works best for me as a morning pipe. Unfortunately, it’s only produced as an occasional limited release.