One of the great unanswered questions that arises here from time to time is whether we enjoy a product because of the brand name and the associated hype, or because of it's inherent qualities.
To that end, I'll occasionally come across an unmarked container of tobacco. Usually, it's something that I've offloaded from a bulk jar, to be enjoyed on the road or at the pipe club. Today I found a Mylar bag of mystery flake. It looked like McClelland, but didn't smell like it. My sense of smell has been somewhat diminished lately, due to a long-running head cold, so I really couldn't tell what it was. The tobacco had dried out to that perfect point where it wasn't quite crispy.
I decided to depart from usual practice of smoking flake in a small bowl, and packed this large-bore GBD pot to the rim. After the initial light, as combustion temps dropped, I started getting hints of licorice. Rich, full flavors with a nice, very subtle overtone of licorice. It must be Gawith Hoggarth Licorice Flake, but I'm not certain. Either way, it is a great smoke. I'll have dry out some more GH Licorice and see how it compares.
I've always liked this pipe, but hadn't found a blend that really sings in it.
And here's a photo of one of my labs, Tula, who's laying down next to me on the deck. Just because she's so damned wonderful:
To that end, I'll occasionally come across an unmarked container of tobacco. Usually, it's something that I've offloaded from a bulk jar, to be enjoyed on the road or at the pipe club. Today I found a Mylar bag of mystery flake. It looked like McClelland, but didn't smell like it. My sense of smell has been somewhat diminished lately, due to a long-running head cold, so I really couldn't tell what it was. The tobacco had dried out to that perfect point where it wasn't quite crispy.