Samuel Gawith: Brown Sugar Flake, Brief Review

[iamn8]

This is a stunningly beautiful tobacco. It's perfect in every way. When I first read about it, the name and contents created certain expectations. A Virginia based blend with black cavendish and a touch of burley called Brown Sugar Flake. It presents far too wet to smoke from the tin. A good 30min drying and then cube cutting a flake seems perfect. Zero problems lighting and it burns without trouble. You'll be able to pick out those three components with relative ease. The orientals are just background. This tobacco exceeded my high expectations. The taste? Pure Virginia based brown sugar. Never has a tobacco been more aptly named. BUY SOME! This tobacco is brilliant fresh and I can't fathom what a beautiful, complex smoke this will become with some age... although it'll be VERY hard to preserve any for aging. I'd rate this a solid 9/10

 

[agnosticpipe]

Thanks for the review Nate. I have some coming in the mail, and now can't wait to try it!

 

[iamn8]

Let us know your thoughts Orley!! Anytime I come upon a tobacco that I consider to be a 9-10, I always wonder if others are as enchanted as I am.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Got my four in yesterday, cube cut it, and smoked it in my blasted Weaver blowfish. Reminded me of Angler's Dream×1000. Great stuff!

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'm wandering if SG Demerara Flake is in any way similar. You can buy it in bulk.

 

[newbroom]

I first heard of this blend watching a SmokingDagners youtube presentation.

It looks delicious as it sounds.

I would imagine that it might be best enjoyed intermittently, savored rather than 'consumed'.

 

[beastinview]

It certainly has an intriguing name, and I like most blends with the name "Gawith" in them. Thanks for the review!

 

[hawky454]

Man, I just smoked another bowl tonight and decided I really don't like it too much, nothing special (been smoking it on and off since the beginning of the year. Like I said before it tastes like FVF with a tad bit of black Cav thrown in (I don't taste the Burley or the Orientals), I have several blends I would much rather smoke before this one. Maybe my expectations were to high but the more I analyze this blend, the more I'm disappointing with it. Maybe I'll enjoy this more with age on it but as it stands, I'm not gonna rush out and buy more tins anytime soon. Glad to see others are enjoying it though, I just wish I could share your excitement.

 

[iamn8]

Sad Hawky... I'd be HAPPY to trade for yours

 

[yorkshirepipe]

Thanks for the review - I've been considering this one after seeing it in the Danish Pipe Shop and hearing good things - it'll definitely go on the (never ending) try list!

 

[hawky454]

Got any Condor or Revor Plug? : )

 

[bigpond]

Has cavendish thus it is unfit for human consumption. It's right there on page 12 of the tobacco snobs handbook you received with membership, right after the section about pairing your smoking jacket with the right loafer. Wait...please tell me you were wearing your smoking jacket...
This isn't looking good.

 

[mso489]

Saw the Brown Sugar Flake promoted in a PC email, but by the time I returned it was on back order. So it goes. For many, this experience whets their appetites and they're in the hunt. My customer psychology is a little different, and several "back order" and "out of stock" experiences just put me off a blend. I tend to like leaf that is maintained in availability. Chasing it around the websites isn't entertaining. But if Brown Sugar Flake resurfaces as an actual consumer item, rather than a fleeting unicorn, maybe I'll order a tin. Or maybe not. Sounds good, I admit. Yawn.

 

[iamn8]

Because of the nature of textual communication, I can't tell if you're mocking me, my smoking jacket, or both. Oh, and I NEVER wear loafers with my smoking jacket, only slippers. I'm not an animal!
I'm more than happy to chase unicorns. My existence is fairly tragic and the hunt gives me a purpose

 

[mso489]

Nate, not mocking you at all, smoking jacket, slippers or Brown Sugar Flake. Sounds like good stuff. Just think the marketing guys at SG should tool up their supply line. I think they're missing the demand, mine anyway. That's my only point.

 

[shutterbugg]

I've been put off buying any Gawith blends because every review I've read said they're too wet to smoke well without drying, and to me a hallmark of a top-rate blender is that they know the proper moisture level for smoking, and ship it that way.

This blend sounds interesting from the name, although I could do without the Burley in it. And I figure I could mix a little black cav like Lane's BCA in with some Dunhill VA flake if I want a change from straight VA. I mix Nightcap and Blood Red Moon 50:50 now and then, it might sound like crap but it tastes good to me.

 

[beastinview]

I've been put off buying any Gawith blends because every review I've read said they're too wet to smoke well without drying, and to me a hallmark of a top-rate blender is that they know the proper moisture level for smoking, and ship it that way.

I've always thought the moisture makes the Gawith blends more flavorful, though I don't necessarily have evidence to back it up. All I know is that SG and GH flakes and ropes have a much deeper and richer flavor than most of the dryer blends I've smoked.
Blood Red Moon and Nightcap actually sounds really good to me. I actually think a latakia component could soften out a good cherry blend.

 

[iamn8]

I was kidding... I know you'd never mock anyone! You're the consummate gentleman.

 

[deathmetal]

I tend to like leaf that is maintained in availability.

"I concur," he said, over a smouldering bowl of Prince Albert.

 

[ssavarimuthu]

Just received two tins today. Smoking my first bowl now, and am really loving this stuff. I intend one tin for aging, but I will probably have to purchase more tins since I'll be tempted to crack the second one open.