Lakelands

[cosmicfolklore]

After trying quite a few of the milder Virginia based Lakelands, like the Kendal Flakes and such, I was very hesitant about approaching Stonehenge, but after someone sent me a sample, I fell in love with it.
There are some of the Lakeland scents that just don't appeal to me. I have narrowed it down to Geranium Rose oils. I just avoid any that have that rosey flowery scent. But, tonquin bean and some of the other scents that are less grandma's pink soap and more manly appeal to me. Dark Flake unscented is what I cut my teeth on. It has a tad of that scent, but now I don't mind the scented version too much. Plus, it seems to have a tad more strength to it. The ropes are all favorites of mine.

But, I think some guys get a hint of that grandma pink soap in a blend and write the whole genre off. Fair enough. At least they don't sell out quite as often as some of the other blends, ha ha.
I just have two pipes that are dedicated to the English scented blends. I am not really into selling pipes anyways, but these I just assume will be burned in my funeral pyre upon completion of my mission here. But, if you do dabble in the Lakeland dark arts, please just incinerate the pipes you use. It will save the rest of us the displeasure of trying to use that pipe for better tobaccos. ::

 

[craiginthecorn]

As you say, so many folks are missing out on some fantastic blends because they assume everything coming out of Kendal is perfumed when in fact it is not.

Thank Goodness for that! The SG blends are already almost completely sold out much of the time. GH is less problematic.
Seriously, I do think there's a lot of misunderstanding about the term. In addition, some are scared off by reports that unscented tobaccos are essentially ghosted by being processed in the same machinery.

 

[hawky454]

Dark Flake scented is my recommendation. The best of the lot in my opinion. Love that stuff!

 

[craiginthecorn]

Coincidentally, I have a couple ounces of DFS due to arrive tomorrow! Good to hear it's good stuff.

 

[kola]

G&H Louisiana Flake, light in Lakeland, quality Virginia and Perique leaf, and overall great flavors. A real sleeper blend and easily available.
http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/2203/gawith-hoggarth-co-louisiana-flake

 

[saltedplug]

Some guys latch onto the Lakeland phobia which is largely a product of the forums. The Lakeland scenting, if there is such, is very different than the toppings applied by any other blending house, but that doesn't make smoking them like smoking urinal cakes, etc. They have come in for recurrent bashing in the same way as P&C and Petersons. I used to try to overcome such by my facts but have given up as the phobia is here to stay. But wouldn't it be more factual to simply say that they don't appeal to you and thus you don't smoke them rather than resorting to metaphors that describe smoking them to be like sticking an icepick in your ear? The hyperbole obscures rather than clarifies the issue, which again is very simple: like what you smoke and smoke what you like.

 

[kola]

The phobia comes from some blends that are super overpowered with Lakeland scent/flavorings, which I dislike greatly...while others seem to love it. Heavy Lakelands I avoid. Personally I think newbies should try the lighter Lakelands first before jumping in the deep end and going phobic.
And then you have the dreaded ghosting problems which the Lakeland scent will induce into your beloved pipe/s and become diffulut to exorcise. Cobs and/or a few dedicated pipes are a must if you go into the Lakeland Forest.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

+1 Salted, wisdom is understanding the whole picture. Yes, some of the Lakelands are rather shocking, because we just have never smelled or known anyone that does/had ever smoked anything like this or that. But, that doesn't mean the whole genre is bad. And, no one should ever be made to feel as though what they are smoking is wrong or bad. Unless we are talking about a Lane cherry aromatic, ha ha. JK JK But, there are some blends that I had just rather someone not smoke in my truck next to me. But, I am certain that many wouldn't even want me in their truck, ha ha.

 

[saltedplug]

But, there are some blends that I had just rather someone not smoke in my truck next to me. But, I am certain that many wouldn't even want me in their truck, ha ha.

To go from unappealing aromas to being personally unappealing evinces a delightful humility! You can smoke whatever in my truck, but then again I don't have a truck.

 

[mso489]

As long as people know what they're getting with Lakeland aromatics and the pipes that have been used to smoke them, I think they're fine for people who enjoy them. It's people who try them unknowingly and ghost their pipes, or who buy estate pipes unknowingly that are ghosted, where the ethical questions arise. If everyone knows the deal, and designates pipes as necessary, or avoids these blends, no harm done. Smoke what you love.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I wonder how many Lakeland smokers out there fire up a new estate pipe, and think, "Blech, freak'n Virginia smokers!"

 

[cigrmaster]

Salt, so you are saying that my stick and ice pick in your ear is a tad over the top? Well I will disagree with you because the more people who smoke Lakelands, mild or fuller versions are ghosting pipes by the millions. Now there are millions of ghosted pipes on the estate market and enablers like you are the reason. So do me a favor, scrap the ice pick to the ear, and go for an ice pick to the brain pan. :nana:

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

In addition, some are scared off by reports that unscented tobaccos are essentially ghosted by being processed in the same machinery

There have been many such reports, here and elsewhere. They seem credible.
In my experience, smoking a bowl of Lake District tobacco in a pipe every now and then does not raise a ghosting issue if other things are smoked afterwards. And every now and then is about all I care to smoke them. Some I have found to be quite delicious and enjoyable on that basis. Bob's Chocolate is a long time favorite. I have recently smoked a few bowls of G&H Louisiana Flake and am so far very favorably impressed. I have also tried to work my way through a few ounces of G&H Rum Flake, a tobacco I had many years ago. It is completely one dimensional, not at all like I remember it. Five Brothers is more nuanced than the baggie I am working on. (hyperbole alert)

 

[kola]

I also find St Bruno Flake to be a nice smoke on rare occasions. And it seems much better with some aging on it.

 

[mackeson]

I'm a big "Lakeland" fan, but if you're looking to start light, Rum Flake in bulk has just a hint of that floral topping. For full on, I'd go with Ennerdale or Brown flake scented.

 

[seanv]

I have the rum flake but don’t notice any floral notes really. I will be ordering some of the ennerdale and designating a pipe for the duration of the tin and maybe more. Thanks for all the recommendations and reading lol

 

[mackeson]

I have the rum flake but don’t notice any floral notes really.

Yeah, the bulk is really inconsistent. Sometimes hints of floral, other times, just yummy sweet Tobacco. I like both, but never know what I'm getting- other than tasty tobacco- when ordering. The bulks are always a bit of a surprise for me.

 

[exbenedict]

I enjoy it but to each his own. Cheers!

 

[64alex]

[Try the Ennerdale Plug if you can find it. That stuff is wonderful with a few years age. ]
Where can be sourced a seller sending the Ennerdale Plug to the USA? For the SG/GH plugs/ropes unavailable in the States I use Synjeco but they don't have Ennerdale Plug.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

to be honest,I love some faint floral note in my tobacco á la St Bruno Ogden's of Liverpool.