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All New Pipes
Details
- Components: Virginia, Latakia
- Family: English
- Cut: Flake
About This Pipe Tobacco
Samuel Gawith was the son-in-law of Thomas Harrison, a snuff manufacturer who moved his trade and equipment to Kendal, Cumbria, England from Scotland in 1792. Gawith inherited this equipment from Harrison, and the company has been crafting premium tobacco since, with one of Samuel's two sons continuing the brand while the other joined with Henry Hoggarth to establish Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Though offering separate blends, both brands remain forever linked and still share the same manufacturing facility in England's Lake District, utilizing processes and techniques that date to the brands' 1792 roots. In many of their mixtures, Samuel Gawith maintains the standards enforced by the United Kingdom's strict purity laws of the 19th and 20th centuries — such laws dictating how much and what type of flavorings could be added to pipe tobacco and ensuring that sub-quality leaf wasn't hidden under the veil of exorbitant toppings.
Marked by a distinctly smoky flavor profile, Samuel Gawith's Balkan Flake pipe tobacco combines Virginias and Latakia for a English mixture that forgoes Orientals to highlight the natural sweetness of Virginias and the campfire essence of Latakia.
Customer Reviews
And the longer version: The rating question here is how well this tobacco does as a simple, medium strength Virginia-Latakia combination. About half the reviews are about anything but. First, the only hint of even possible Lakeland essence I get is a little citrus on the Virginias, which can occur even in the absence of it. No old lady perfume. No detergent.
Second, with only two ingredients, we have those from both sides dinging the ratings a bit. The Lat hounds don't like it because it's a medium, and not a strong, Balkan blend, and the Virginia hounds want what amounts to Full Virginia Flake with a light Lat. topper, which isn't even a real Balkan. If that's you, buy some Lat. to sprinkle on your Virginia blends, because if this has too much Lat. for you, you won't likely find an English or Balkan blend you truly like.
First, with only two ingredients, you will indeed taste even the unaged Virginias more than in most English/Balkan blends. The typical Virginia sweetness is present. It's just in the background, as it's supposed to be (ironically, if you really want strong Virginias, go for the Burnt Ends version of this, which shortcuts the aging process and makes the Virginia sweeter and smokier, to meld with the Lat.) in even a light English/Balkan, and this is a legit. medium. Still, with no perique or orientals to confuse your palate, it's easy to pick out the Virginias.
Perfect balance, in fact, and will age well and to the thrill of Virginia fans. The flakes are moist and can be dried, but still burn well, and stay lit. Beautiful tin presentation. Flakes stay together for those of us who prefer to fold and stuff instead of rub out.
The overall feel here is of a tobacco with extremely high quality components and a simplicity that calls the mind back to a simpler time as well, so suitable for a company that got started in 1792.
You will probably only like this if you want a simple, classic, purist, medium Balkan (which by definition puts the Lat. out front at least a bit). It's what it claims to be, and it's what it is. If you want incredible complexity in all your English/Balkan blends, this isn't it, with only two ingredients. But this stuff is a high quality, smokey-sweet, nostalgic experience. And the smoke is the coolest I've found....Read More
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