2 Questions on Lakelands

[64alex]

First of all I want to specify I am not a fan of aromatic in general. I am a Va/Per, Oriental, English blend guy. Said that I developed an interst to try in a corn cob some lakeland (I am aware they can ghost very easily). I have two questions:
1. Which Lakeland has the best tasting tobacco, in other words which is the one where you can still detect the underlying tobacco with the best quality?. I noticed that Grousemoor might be the oldest recipe in production but I am really looking at the one with the best detectable tobacco.
2. About aging. I found I prefer aged Virginia to the fresh ones, so on one side giving the Lakelands are based on Virginia it should make sense to age them. But on the other side being aromatic and cased it could be that with aging the casing could just disappear. So does it make sense or not trying to age them?

 

[Chasing Embers]

1) 1792 Flake, Bob's Chocolate Flake, and Rich Dark Honeydew.
2)The Lakeland essence will mellow, but I doubt it will totally disappear.

 

[sablebrush52]

You might like the re-release of GL Pease Stonehenge Flake. The Lakeland isn't overpowering and it recedes a bit when the flake is allowed to dry to almost bone dry before packing and smoking. I find it to be a well balanced blend.

 

[deathmetal]

Try the Dark Flake; it is by rumor 1792 without the dead grandma topping.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I don't care much for Lakeland essence..or latakia for that matter, but I found Bob's Chocolate to be reasonably enjoyable.

 

[mawnansmiff]

"Try the Dark Flake; it is by rumor 1792 without the dead grandma topping."
Not so Brett, you are thinking of 'Lakeland Dark'...
"Samuel Gawith's Lakeland Dark is a powerful mixture, as it should be; it is in essence a tonquin-less variation on the famed (and very robust) 1792 Flake. Dark, smooth, and strong, it's well suited to a satisfying after-meal smoke."
They forgot to mention that it tastes like burning rubber :roll:
Regards,
Jay.

 

[kodos44]

1) 1792 Flake, Bob's Chocolate Flake, and Rich Dark Honeydew.
2)The Lakeland essence will mellow, but I doubt it will totally disappear.

I highly recommend Bobs Chocolate, also if you really want the Lakeland experience Ennerdale is HIGHLY recommended. The underlying tobacco is absolutely first class and definitely comes thru in the complexity of the blend. I have some Bobs and some Ennerdale that has some decent age on it and the topping has indeed mellowed while the tobaccos have aged and turned into something similar yet very different from the blends when fresh. ENJOY!

 

[hawky454]

Dark Flake Scented (Pitchfork described it as a cross between Condor and Revor Plug, I like that description so I'm stealing it)
Best Brown #2 - this is an amazing VaBur that has just the slightest Lakeland sauce, in fact, I can't even taste it anymore but other smokers who I trust assure me that it's still there (Pitchfork) The Virginia's in this blend are spectacular are they come already well aged. They are tangy and sweet, ya can't go wrong with this one!
These two will give you a very good idea of what the Lakeland genre is all about.
People, 1792 Flake does not have any Lakeland sauce on it! How are y'all still getting that confused? I guess I could see how people could interpret the Tonquin as a Lakeland-esque topping but that's a stretch. It's much closer to Vanilla than perfume.

 

[sablebrush52]

So does it make sense or not trying to age them?

They'll age just fine. Lakeland isn't a push over like cherry vanilla bendover.

 

[deathmetal]

You're right, Jay, that's Lakeland Dark. I am easily confused by similar names.

 

[lasttango]

Rich Dark Honeydew, Ennerdale, Bob's Chocolate Flake, Peretti's Original Burley (A time-tested classic and American Attempt at re-creating a mellower version of rich dark honeydew)

 

[dochudson]

If you want to tiptoe into lakelands.. Try GLP Stonehenge or Pete's Hyde Park

 

[swb118]

I highly recommend Bobs Chocolate, also if you really want the Lakeland experience Ennerdale is HIGHLY recommended. The underlying tobacco is absolutely first class and definitely comes thru in the complexity of the blend. I have some Bobs and some Ennerdale that has some decent age on it and the topping has indeed mellowed while the tobaccos have aged and turned into something similar yet very different from the blends when fresh. ENJOY!

Completely agree. Ennerdale in a cob is a wonderful experience. One does not simply put a big toe into the Lakeland. You must dive in!

 

[mawnansmiff]

"What's Lakeland-ish about that?"
Deniz, unfortunately some folks confuse those blends with the famous/infamous 'Lakeland Essence' with any blend coming from either of the two Kendal houses.
Simply because a blend was made there doesn't necessarily mean it is a Lakeland tobacco by common parlance. A blend that doesn't suffer from the strong floral flavourings should rightly be called a Kendal blend in my book.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[cortezattic]

Kendal Schmendal! It all smells like a urinal cake to me.

 

[phantomwolf]

Ordering some Ennerdale. Seems to me this style is like it or not, so I may as well get something I can taste. Can't be worse than the caustic tar they top/case Half&Half or Velvet with.

 

[wyfbane]

I cracked a tin of Ennerdale for everyone to try at the PNW meetup last week. It was delicious. Even serious doubters liked the tin note and took some home to try. I have been smoking it ever since. It is great stuff!

 

[filmshooter]

My first Lakeland was brown flake scented and then dark flake scented and I expected more lakelandy-ness. Probably from all of the reviews I had read. I recently tried 1792 thanks to Buroak's sale. I love it but I actually wish it had a stronger taste. Next up is ennerdale. Either way they are all fantastic.

 

[kodos44]

Ordering some Ennerdale. Seems to me this style is like it or not, so I may as well get something I can taste. Can't be worse than the caustic tar they top/case Half&Half or Velvet with

Great decision! You'll either forever hate lakeland SAUCE or, like me, you'll be ordering by the pound!

 

[mso489]

Whether you try Lakelands or not, remember there are many quality tobacco-forward aromatics available without a ghosting component. There are many of these, and the list will vary wildly depending on your taste. My gemstones might be your turkeys, but there's plenty to choose from. Read the constituent tobaccos and flavorings at the retail sites and reviews by people you trust. Aromatics are 95% of the pipe tobacco market. Whether you smoke mostly non-aromatic, some of each, more mostly non-aro, you can probably find at least a few that you'd include in your rotation.