Lakelands!

[solideogloria86]

My experience with lakelands is limited to GH Bob's Chocolate Flake and Rum Flake along with Sg's Cabbies and Navy Flake. In BCF and RF I can detect what could be described as a "floral" note which I find quite enjoyable and think that it compliments the tobaccos very well. I have never experienced soap or perfume. I'm beginning to think, as someone stated here in the forum, that lakelands are similar to Cilantro. Some people are biologically predisposed to love it or hate it. All of that to ask a question. What is a true Lakeland blend that will expose me the full effect of the lakeland essence so I can know for sure whether I've just been missing it because of my blend choices or if I'm in the group of lakeland lovers?

 

[curl]

I like Rich Dark Honeydew - a broken flake.
I think it’s similar to Bob’s in strength and and the amount of floral essence.

I’ve tried Gassmere Flake, but I didn’t care for. I don’t think it’s a Lakeland issue, it just doesn’t work for me.

 

[curl]

So far in my experience, the soapiness of the Lakeland blends manifests itself in the tin note but not in its flavor.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Ennerdale Flake.

Here is some further reading:

Lakelands: Let's Build A Sauce Scale :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion

OK, time for an update. I've had some Grousemoor. I found it unique, but relatively mild, although the sample I got was quite aged. I've bumped it down a few notches and, of course, it's still open for debate. I also placed a bulk order today which includes Rich Dark Honeydew, Grasmere, Dark...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[dcon]

I love Lakelands. I would say that GH Ennerdale Flake is the ultimate Lakeland experience.

 

[mingc]

I think folks tend to find floral in GH and SG, even when they're not there, just because of the reputation. If you want to know what floral is, smoke Ennerdale or Cannon plug. Then go back to the others and reassess.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Glengarry flake is a milder/medium Lakeland if you find Ennerdale a bit on the strong side.

Chris.

 

[Waning Embers]

Ennerdale Flake is ground zero for the lakelands. Stonehenge Flake is it's polar opposite.

 

[lightmybriar]

Yep, the above have got it. Ennerdale is where a lot of people (including myself!) jump ship in fear (I loved the underlying tobacco taste, but the flavor additions were too much for me).

I regret that now, as I realized later that even other “floral” offerings from Gawith are not like Ennerdale. I love Grasmere Flake, which has rose and geranium flavors added. I never would have expected myself liking that!

So, if you try Ennerdale and don’t like it, don’t let that make you think that all other Lakelands are Ennerdale. Gawith tobaccos cover a vast spread of the taste spectrum, and are well-worth exploring.

 

[mingc]

Yep, the above have got it. Ennerdale is where a lot of people (including myself!) jump ship in fear (I loved the underlying tobacco taste, but the flavor additions were too much for me).

I regret that now, as I realized later that even other “floral” offerings from Gawith are not like Ennerdale. I love Grasmere Flake, which has rose and geranium flavors added. I never would have expected myself liking that!

So, if you try Ennerdale and don’t like it, don’t let that make you think that all other Lakelands are Ennerdale. Gawith tobaccos cover a vast spread of the taste spectrum, and are well-worth exploring.

Please, no more converts. The stuff is hard enough to find as it is.

If you haven't tried some already, don't! They're horrible! You won't like it! It's like drinking Old Spice! Stick to McClelland Unobtaniums. Hunt for Frog Mortons instead! C&D and GLP are superlative! So are Russ Ouellettes! No need to go Lakeland! Yeah, that's the ticket.

 

[solideogloria86]

Thanks for all the help! Looks like I'll be getting some ennerdale flake and jumping in the deep end. I'll report back with the results.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

Thanks for all the help! Looks like I'll be getting some ennerdale flake and jumping in the deep end. I'll report back with the results.

Ennerdale Flake doesn’t have Tonquin. You should grab a few ounces of Dark Flake Scented and Brown Flake Scented, which have Tonquin, if you really want to rock and roll. Ennerdale seems to be out of stock most places. I like it as an occasional smoke and have always just bought tins. But I am down to one unopened tin, so next time there is a drop I am buying a 500g bag. Oh, there is Kendal Flake, which is said to have Tonquin, but I haven’t smoked that one.

If anyone has read this far, CupoJoes has a decent number of GH products up now still left from a small shipment they got Tuesday. They did not get Ennerdale. It is out of stock at the distributor. Never thought I would live to see the day.

 

[mingc]

They did not get Ennerdale. It is out of stock at the distributor. Never thought I would live to see the day.

Ain't that the truth. Back in the day when Frenchie was King, Lakelands got the same degree of respect that Mixture 79 still gets today. More often than not, the reaction was "bleah"! Now they sell out like Esoterica.

 

[upnorth1]

I really enjoy Ennerdale Flake. Unfortunately I didn't try it for the longest time based on what others said about it. I think Lakelands are something you have to try for yourself because opinions tend to be strong and extreme, but, like cilantro, (mentioned elsewhere on this forum) you will either like it or not, but only you can be the judge of that.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

Ain't that the truth. Back in the day when Frenchie was King, Lakelands got the same degree of respect that Mixture 79 still gets today. More often than not, the reaction was "bleah"! Now they sell out like Esoterica.

If people discover how good things like Dark Birds Eye, Conniston Cut Plug, Bosun Cut Plug, etc are, we are well and truly screwed.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

I really enjoy Ennerdale Flake. Unfortunately I didn't try it for the longest time based on what others said about it. I think Lakelands are something you have to try for yourself because opinions tend to be strong and extreme, but, like cilantro, (mentioned elsewhere on this forum) you will either like it or not, but only you can be the judge of that.

I was exactly the same ie reticent to try Ennerdale as I'd read quite a few negative things about it and it didn't sound like something I'd enjoy. I still had plenty of other things on my list so I put it off for a couple of years but decided to give it a go as you can buy a very small 10g - 12.5g amount in the UK if you wish and so I ordered a range of sample amount Gawith Lakelands of which Ennerdale was one.
When I opened the pouch and smelt the contents I could see exactly what everyone was describing and to be honest I wasn't looking forward to trying it that much, I smoked the first bowl and thought it was not too bad but by the end of the 12.5g I was really enjoying it and ordered more straight away, now it's one of my favorites as are many of the other Gawith Hoggarth offerings.

Chris.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Here's my three reasons why I better shouldn't get in love with G&H Lakeland blends, 1 I find them very addictive,2 most likely they will gradually ghost my pipes,and finally 3, unless one is not in the UK /U.S G&H Lakeland blends are pretty hard to find, countries like Spain and Russia have some limited availability of G&H blends but no tobacconist would offer 'international shipping there.

 

[solideogloria86]

Partial Update-
I got home late last night and a package with a tin of Ennerdale Flake (and some Union Square for the cellar) was with the mail. I opened the tin and was surprised by the tin note. While I can understand the grandma's perfume references, that's not what I get. All of the botanical and herbal "scents" smell fresh and natural. It reminds me of the floral additions to certain desserts. It isn't off putting to me, but it does leave me curious as to how the particular scents will interact with the tobaccos. It was too late for me to smoke so hopefully this evening I'll be able to pack a cob (I don't want geraniums in my Quiet Nights... Maybe?) and give it go. I'll report back with my results.

 

[danimalia]

I enjoy Lakelands, and I absolutely DO get scents and flavors that remind me of soaps and perfumes and incense. Granny's purse, strip club dressing room, Berkeley head shop? All true. That said, I do prefer the unscented or mildly scented versions, mostly. Gotta be in the mood to go past 4 or 5 on the sauce scale.

I hope GHC really is able to follow through with increased production.

 

[solideogloria86]

First third of the bowl is pleasant. The floral aromas translate faintly to the smoke and work well in harmony with the tobaccos to accentuate the natural flavor of the leaf. Definitely not the overwhelming floral/herbal flavor I was expecting. Honestly have to focus on the retrohale to detect a distinctly floral note