Forums
So, my tobacconist just told me that Samuel Gawith will stop importation to Switzerland and European Union. I don't wanna spread panic, but I admit I'm quite in discomfort. Is it true?
Tragedy.
I think if I could go back in time I'd stop RJ Reynolds. The industrialization of cheap (at one time) cigarettes is in my mind a key driver of the demonization of tobacco and the resulting draconian laws to eliminate its use. It's coming to the US. The state I live in was the first to legalize recreational marijuana yet is doing everything possible to make tobacco impossible to get.
I really wish mommies would parent their damned children instead of screaming for laws that impede my ability to make adult choices.
Tailor-made cigarettes have a staggering 300 to 600 added chemicals, most of which are added for consistency of flavour [though I'm convinced that at least one of the chems is more addictive than the nicotine]
I've no idea who started the practice of adding chemicals to cigarettes but I'm guessing that we have RJ Reynolds to thank.
I'm sure that "mommies" are to blame to some degree for stringent tobacco laws but it's the rabidly vocal anti-tobacco wowsers who are mostly to blame.
Governments soon learnt that stringent anti-smoking laws and higher taxes did little to deter smoking.
It doesn’t sound true, but who knows?
My understanding is that a certain percentage of the product has to be sourced or made in the EU, in order to comply with their stupid protectionist racketeering regulations! That’s why only some of SG blends are available in Europe.
I cannot imagine the whole european market been not profitable for SG to sell there. Sounds crazy ...
That would be sad for Europe, but maybe it would mean a better supply for the US, it’s often out of stock here for extended periods.
I spoke with one of the owners quite by chance a couple of years ago and she said that they were having an awful time complying with EU regulations and that the costs were driving them to the edge. If accurate, I’m not totally shocked.
This is too sad to believe. 😮
Samuel Gawith and Mac Baren were among the very few brands present in the Spanish tobacconists during the six months of shortage we have suffered. Only Skiff, Squadron Leader and Commonwealth are out of the Spanish shelves from 2019 and were replaced by Gawith & Hogart Balkan Mixture. The rest of the range is available. I read an interview with Gawith owner and she insisted in the price increase and difficulties caused by EU packaging regulations. I would not be surprised if she got tired to deal with politicians that create stupid problems with things that are not of real general interest instead of working in the real and urgent problems we have in the EU. Just an example. Farmers in EU have to meet very strict regulations that caused many of them left their farms. Meanwhile EU is happily importing farm products from Morocco that have not the slightest health control. Imagine the kind of water they use to irrigate.
I’m sure we could complain about the EU for hours, days, or even weeks, Juan! But, the organisation is of just enough use to stop all member states from being forced, by voters, to leave! I don’t think any others will be following in the UK’s footsteps after watching how that went, (and, is going). So, we’ll just have to grin and bear it! 😄
EU regulations are designed to drive farmers from their land.
Ursula von der Lying is a close friend of Klaus Schwab; "You will own nothing and you will be happy".
If they succeed with their OWG/NWO agenda there will be little need for farmers since the WEF plan is to feed the 'great unwashed' insects.
I agree, I digested the shock, made an order to try to have some good tins to cellar (and digest the fact that I did spend quite a lot on tobacco 😬 ). Then pass on something else and enjoy what I can have. Pipe smoking is also about patience, I will try to be more philosophical and chill about the changes in the mixtures worlds 😊
I will get some Best Brown Flake, Full Virginia Flake and Sam´s Flake to prevent shortage.
I have just read that last year Gawith sent to Italy a 400% more tins than in 2022 due to the increasing demand.
I confirm that in Switzerland Samuel Gawith is no more available, so my plan to cellar my favourites, Squadron Leader and Full Virginia Flake 😪
I have asked to my two preferred tobacconists, possibly the very best in Spain, and both told me they have no news about this and are receiving supplies regularly, and even they are receiving new Samuel Gawith blends never available in Spain before now. One of these tobacconists sent me this pic of just received new blends.
Anyway, I will visit them very soon and I´ll purchase some of my preferred ones.
Lucky you!
The new SG blends are so new that there isn´t any review here.
These are:
-Louisiana Flake
-Rodeo
-North Star
Just to prevent supplying shortcomings. Do you know similar tobaccos to Best Brown flake and Full Virginia flake, available in Europe?. Preferably Rattray´s ( And rest of brands of the former Kohlhase & Kopp) and Mac Baren, that seems the brands easier to find here. Any suggestions, please?. Next week I´ll purchase some BBF and FVF.
I have heard very good things about HU blends. The problem is that at the moment they are not available in Spain.
I just checked Estervals Pipe House tecon-gmbh.de they are in the EU and they ship to Spain. They carry about everything, including HU. Great company as well, I’ve ordered a lot from them over the years.
This is on their website, though I don’t know what they do in practice:
”Delivery to Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Italy, San Marino, Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Hungary, Vatican City, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Cyprus, is not possible.”
I know some German tobacconists bend the rules, though. I can email details for those who are interested.
Do you mean the one I told you? I even work there recently,at the pack station,no joke.
You can believe Lee or send you can send me a mail as well. I know every tin which is in stock,
By the way hi Lee ,I answerd you to your new adress and hope it arrived. There is every HU blend as well as most SG at the moment
Yes 😊 Another forum member also has a contact, but they don’t have any HU Tobacco.
You might try MacBarens's HH Virginia Flake
Someone will correct me but I don't know that Rattray makes a straight VA flake. But their flakes I've tried are excellent.
Never tried them, I remember there's always some cavendish (a good one) in Rattray's mixtures. Right now I just discovered Orlik Golden Sliced and I'm quite happy with it.
Jeeez I hope I'll smoke again some FVF, someday 😞
If you haven’t found any by August, let me know and I’ll bring some with me to Switzerland and drop it in the mail to you. Doesn’t Estervals ship to Switzerland?
Thank you, but remember Switzerland is not an EU member, and all goods coming from Switzerland are subject to severe customs control. It´s like sending it from the US. I saw at eBay that some Swiss sellers offer to send the items sold from France, Germany, Italy or Austria to avoid this problem with customs.
I was offering to Pipozzo, who is in Switzerland. I already know how difficult it is to get things to you!
You could barter with cheese, watches, chocolate, and knives with too many blades. 😂
I should rename the thread, because Samuel Gawith is not available just in Switzerland.
Now I just had some informations on why we cannot have SG in the Helvetic Confederation anymore: prices rised from 15 francs the tin to 18 francs, there where some unexplained delays in the deliveries from the UK and apparently some tins with moldy tobacco were distributed and that ended with a dispute within the Swiss distributor and the Samuel Gawith house proprietors. So the swiss distributor decided not to continue to work with them...
So no more Samuel Gawith for us, for now...
All this is just information gave to me from a tobacconist, I don't know what is true and what is not 🤨
They told me since the sons of the last proprietor took the reins of SG it's more difficult to work with...
Granted it's a small sample size, but on social media they project an attitude of "We do no wrong, and you're an idiot if you question us. We don't care what you like and don't like. Just buy what we sell you. And don't buy our products to store in your cellar, smoke it right away and buy more."
Exactly that. When Spanish smokers complained about the huge price rise, more than a 50%, they replied something like take it or leave it. We have more demand than we can handle.
target="_blank"
