Now we're talking. I am an unapologetic Lakeland fan, but edging towards dropping the "Lakeland" label as all "Lakelands" I've smoked are very different from each other so they shouldn't be lumped together in terms of taste, only in terms of origin.
This one smells extremely strongly of geranium (the flower) for me, and I know this smell very well because it's common in Greek gardens. A similar-smelling plant (Pelargonium) may be what the actual source of the scent is, but I'll call it geranium because I can't be sure of the names. Geranium, come to think of it, has a heavier and sweeter smell than Pelargonium, which is more lemony and tangy - Pelargonium may be it!
I can't pick out anything else in the flavour of the smoke, only the room note seems to allow the various flavourings added to somewhat separate and be distinct.
The presentation is typical Gawith, thick cut very dark brown flakes, heavy and oily. Strangely enough it catches straight from the tin, but as you progress to smoke it it will need a relight for every puff at the end of the bowl.
I frankly don't detect tonquin, liquorice or maple in the smoke, or any discernible tobacco taste. It is all geranium: tangy, spicy, not floral or herbals, sweet but balanced by the inherent tangyness and underlying bitterness of the geranium. There's depth here and a fair amount of nicotine, but it is smooth and 100% consistent to the very end of the bowl. It is reasonably strong, but far less than Lakeland Dark or 1792 flake.
The real magic for me about this tobacco is that it really takes AGES to burn down, half a flake kept me me occupied this morning for 2+ hours, and the taste never wavers. It never burns hot either, does not bite. It just needs relights every puff if you're committed to finishing every last strand of tobacco in your bowl.
Very very satisfying smoke, if I hadn't had 1792 already it could have made my top 5.
The flakes in my jar
What we call "Geranium" in Greece.
What we call "arbaroriza" in Greece (official name is Pelargonium), and typically will include 1-2 leaves of it in fruit preserves, give a delightful flavour. I feel this plant is the source of the scenting.
This one smells extremely strongly of geranium (the flower) for me, and I know this smell very well because it's common in Greek gardens. A similar-smelling plant (Pelargonium) may be what the actual source of the scent is, but I'll call it geranium because I can't be sure of the names. Geranium, come to think of it, has a heavier and sweeter smell than Pelargonium, which is more lemony and tangy - Pelargonium may be it!
I can't pick out anything else in the flavour of the smoke, only the room note seems to allow the various flavourings added to somewhat separate and be distinct.
The presentation is typical Gawith, thick cut very dark brown flakes, heavy and oily. Strangely enough it catches straight from the tin, but as you progress to smoke it it will need a relight for every puff at the end of the bowl.
I frankly don't detect tonquin, liquorice or maple in the smoke, or any discernible tobacco taste. It is all geranium: tangy, spicy, not floral or herbals, sweet but balanced by the inherent tangyness and underlying bitterness of the geranium. There's depth here and a fair amount of nicotine, but it is smooth and 100% consistent to the very end of the bowl. It is reasonably strong, but far less than Lakeland Dark or 1792 flake.
The real magic for me about this tobacco is that it really takes AGES to burn down, half a flake kept me me occupied this morning for 2+ hours, and the taste never wavers. It never burns hot either, does not bite. It just needs relights every puff if you're committed to finishing every last strand of tobacco in your bowl.
Very very satisfying smoke, if I hadn't had 1792 already it could have made my top 5.
The flakes in my jar
What we call "Geranium" in Greece.
What we call "arbaroriza" in Greece (official name is Pelargonium), and typically will include 1-2 leaves of it in fruit preserves, give a delightful flavour. I feel this plant is the source of the scenting.
