Samuel Gawith: St. James Flake 250g Pipe Tobacco

Many people have only heard of doucao but haven't tried it. It's recommended to limit each person to one order on the first day so more people can taste it.

Sweet... grass, pastry, a sweet yeasty/malted raisin nuance, a slight tanginess akin to plums, caramelized sugar, coffee, even a few floral notes here and there. I don't get much black pepper from the Perique, but rather stewed fruit. The finish is clean and sweet and it leaves a decent room note, unlike many other perique mixtures. This is 'Top Shelf' pipe tobacco. Not much to add from what's already been stated; This is the pinnacle of a Virginia/Perique (VAPER). Hard to find, but worth the effort. Nicotine is 3.5 out of 5. *Update 2/20/25* Just cracked a jar cellared in 2017 (8 years). This has mellowed a lot and lost sweetness. The flavors have melded and each distinct leaf is now less pronounced. It's incredibly smooth. The Perique isn't as spicy but now exhibits a soft dark-fruit aspect; the VA is softer too but is still grassy. It has a citrusy edge, but it's minor now as compared to an unaged fresher version. I also notice the room note is softer too; more bread-like. I prefer the fresher version. If ya got it, enjoy it now. It'll mellow with age, but it'll also lose its sweetness when that sugar is fermented....Read More

Like it very much!!!

Tin note is tart fruit, raisins, vinegar and mildly sweet. The tobacco is dark brown, fairly dense and sticky. Rubbing out takes some effort and may need drying. It burns slowly and requires relights. Virginias leads the perique. The strength is med, nic is mild and no flavor topping discerned. Taste is full and fairly consistent with notes of tangy lemon, earth, sweet grass, slight note of vinegar and slight note of florals, lots of pepper. Room note received few complaints and great after taste....Read More

This stuff with just a bit of age is really good. sweet virginias and tends to be spicy. Really good. Can't wait to see it come into the country again.

I have a meerschaum I call St. James and she patinas only one. Once you tune the moisture and packing it’s over. Ask me anything while I draw on this.. I won’t hear a damn thing. (5yr Tin)

This is All-Time for me! I bought a box on a whim and dang, good purchase. Needs to dry more than I let it but I don't mind. Doesn't bit me, I have no complaints on this at all. On my short list for best everyday tobaccos.

Ordered it because i heard so much about it. outstanding rich and deep tones in the smoke. doesnt come on right away either. i tend to puff away and this one shouldnt be rushed--but savored. it will reward you for that. fruity in a deep way--raisiny slightly. liked it so much immediately bought the 250gm. Update: Cellared for 7 years. Upon reopening it had lost some of its savoriness and I had to work harder to find that sweet spot of perfect flavor. At the same time I had cellared PS400 which upon comparing the two I was surprised but that ps400 blew away the St. James flake. The more blends I try and the older I get the less interested I am in working so hard to get that sweet spot that St James flake gave me at the beginning. Still a great blend that needs to be tried when you can find it....Read More

Yes, the spicyness from the perique leaves are there, but maybe a tad in excess as the tartness almost becomes sourness. It's still very sweet and grassy, with a noticeable earthy, musty tone.

I knew I had Something special when I took the first whiff of the tin. Dates, fig, pepper and wet hay... awesome tin aroma that was unlike any Va/Per I have smelled. The smoke is almost perfect, I did let it dry a bit before lighting. The same tin aroma is in the entire smoke, from top to bottom... Absolutely beautiful. Very high quality tobacco. I’m going to buy a ton and age it, I can only imagine what this will bloom into in a year or more....Read More