Best Brown Flake

[oppie]

Any opinions? I just opened some I had stored for over a year. Don't really know what to think of it. Kind of bland, kind of boring. Nothing really jumps out at me as far as taste. Maybe I'll store it for another year and then see.

 

[dudleydipstick]

I've got some Best Brown Flake that I've had for about 3 years. The sugars have kind of seeped to the surface and one might confuse it for mold. It's very mellow and seems to have more character than I remember it having when it was brand new. I didn't store it in a jar until recently, just the box in a Ziploc and the Ziploc in a thicker RYO McClintock bag.

 

[ghost45]

I felt the same way about it oppie, except it bit the hell outta my tongue.

 

[oppie]

Thanks Ghost. I'm glad I'm not the only one.

 

[python]

Best Brown Flake is decent, but there's not a whole lot there. I do really like Fire Dance Flake which is BBF with a flavoring added. It goes well with it because I think BBF is a good base tobacco, but it doesn't stand out very well on its own.

 

[shannonh]

It has a mild sweetness that develops gently. See my next post in the general discussion regarding DGT for a good way to enjoy this tobacco.

 

[jonesing]

Field Pigeons shot from a hide. Correct?
F&F your sort of the resident Gawith authority. What are you thoughts on G&H Bob's chocolate flake?

 

[sapo59]

I haven't tried BBF but I do like firdance flake quite a bit.

 

[dudleydipstick]

I find it works best in a larger bowl, and I find the sweetness increases further down, turning almost herbaceous, greener, grassier, more citrusy.

Couldn't have said it better. I've got a meer with a huge chamber and of all the blends I have on hand right now, I reach for BBF to fill it.

 

[igloo]

Have not smoked BBF but do enjoy Full Virginia Flake it is best if smoked slow and develops ever so gently to a sweet earthy , grassy flavor .

 

[python]

F&F, I will have to revisit BBF in a larger bowled pipe. I do like it as it is, but I just prefer other VA blends.
Jonesing, I love GH Bob's Chocolate Flake. And not just because my name is on it, lol!

SG Chocolate Flake is pretty good, but I like GH Bob's Chocolate much better. GH is a little sweeter, a little more of a chocolate taste, and it has a tad bit of the lakeland essence to it.

 

[shannonh]

Oppie,

Did you have better luck with BB?
I smoked some last week in a tall Oom Paul and it was loverly. Just the right amount of sweet and a long finish. I do recommend a tall straight bowl for it...

 

[jonesing]

I agree on the bowl Shannon.
I've been smoking G&H Flakes (and cut plugs/twists) almost exclsively becasue I got a whole bunch to sample and Bob's Chocolate has become my go to smoke when not experimenting.
I was lightly rubbing them out and rolling in a ball for air pocketing. I now found the result is much better if I roll the flak with the grain to break it and gather enough strands to fit snugly but fall freeliy into the bowl the longway. Think putting spaghetti in a shot glass or something like that. Then I fold the strands sticking out the top over and lightly pack them on the surface. Makes a good smoke everytime.
I also find a biggger tall narrow bowl(.75X 1.75 or so) works better for me than the a small bowl. I know everyone always leans toward small pipes as flake pipes. But I find I get a bolder smoke in a big bowl and don't find myself tempted to oversmoke it. Burn more puff less hard is my current motto. And the big bowl is perfect for DGT. Smoek half or so. Walk away and come back later for a nice surprise.

 

[chuckw]

After trying the first bowl and finding it bland, I rubbed out all that was left and mixed it with an equal amount of Carter Hall. It now has some flavor and I can stand up and walk down the hall after finishing a bowl without fear of bouncing off the walls.

 

[fred]

Samuel Gawith's Best Brown Flake is always in my open rotation. The older issue

is Zimbabwe leaf, which is a Virginia. The more recent issue is another Virginia.

For me, the real secret to enjoying this Flake is to smoke it on the dry side. I

prefer it smoked in the slice, instead of rubbing it out. Gawith blends are generally

wet when fresh and they really deliver the flavors when dried prior to smoking. If

it is smoked while still moist, the results are underwhelming.

 

[oppie]

Shannonh, Sorry i didn't see your question. I did try it in a bigger bowl and a briar and it was excellent. Thanks for the suggestion.