I’ve been finding Bothy and BBF pretty hard to smoke lately, either by folding or rubbing them out. Obviously if they’re wet, they won’t burn. But when they dry, they remain very hard, turn to hard sticks or dust, and still don’t smoke well for me. This is in contrast to something like Peterson Flake which is very soft when dried and smokes like a charm. What’s the secret?
Samuel Gawith Flakes are Hard to Smoke
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Rub them out, allow to dry overnight, and gravity fill.
Just to clarify, are you saying rub the flakes out while the flakes are wet, then allow the rubbed out flakes to dry overnight?
I would grab the amount of tobacco for 5 days, rub them out and place them into the tobacco tin.
Flakes are not easy to dry out, so you don't have to close it.
Smoke from it everday. Finding out how long would it take for the pecfect smoke yourself.
Because the climate is different everywhere.
My room is at 65% humidity. The flakes can last 4 days before dry out.
Flakes are not easy to dry out, so you don't have to close it.
Smoke from it everday. Finding out how long would it take for the pecfect smoke yourself.
Because the climate is different everywhere.
My room is at 65% humidity. The flakes can last 4 days before dry out.
A good rule of thumb for flakes is when in doubt rub it out -- I think this was borrowed from golf, in that version it refers to laying up. I try to open my flake tins ~1 week before I expect to start smoking them, I'll leave the tin open to allow the flakes to dry at their pace. Sometimes they get a bit crumbly; just collect up the bits and smoke.
SM flakes seem particularly fussy to me. Peterson/Dunhill flake, for example, seems like it’s easier to deal with. I think I’ll try rubbing them wet and the leaving them out. Thanks!
I just cube cut the whole thing and set the whole jar or tin on a coffee mug warmer for a few hours or over night. Then, reseal them for a few days, and remove the lid for a few more hours. Resealing them, allows some of the deep set water in the cubes to come up to the surface as it rehydrates itself from within. And, then openni8ng them again knocks some of that exterior moisture back off. This gives me the most flavorful smokes.
It's definitely some of the wettest flakes on the market. But, for me, just drying the whole jar or tin is the way to go. Once I pop the lid or top, aging has stopped anyways, so might as well make it easier to just load a bowl a go. All of this drying one bowl at a time is for the birds. I just don't have that sort of time to waste.
It's definitely some of the wettest flakes on the market. But, for me, just drying the whole jar or tin is the way to go. Once I pop the lid or top, aging has stopped anyways, so might as well make it easier to just load a bowl a go. All of this drying one bowl at a time is for the birds. I just don't have that sort of time to waste.
Ah! Thanks. This might save me time and a headache.
Without drying FVF, it's just impossible to smoke, for me anyways... and if I do get the wet tobacco lit, it's just a steam bath on my tongue... no good.
I hope you get it.
I know moisture levels are frequently commented upon here, but my experience with SG/GH flakes seems to be different. I can’t recall ever drying out their flakes—but I rarely need to dry out anything I smoke; if I do, we’re talking about 5-10 minutes, not overnight.
I also haven’t found them to be impenetrable. I just break them up and smoke them. But one of my early flake experiences was Dark Star! When I encounter something like Penzance, which feels like velvet and just crumbles at the touch, I’m astounded.
This!
I still like to try fold and stuff as well, for me that takes a little more careful minding of what the moisture level is, but it's just a matter of trial and error and feel. Sometimes you will pick up some flake and have a pretty good feel it is ready to go, sometimes you'll pick it up and know you can get a good result by a little turning between the palms and no need for more drying and as I've found out, sometimes you will be right, lol.
I agree with what Cosmic said except I don't put it on a coffee mug warmer. When I open a a tin of flake, I either cube cut it or rub it out and then put it back in the tin with the lid off for a day or two.
I've got the same problem. It's not that they are so incredibly wet but that it just won't stay alight. And then you are puffing and huffing getting tounge bite trying to keep it lit. Even when it is bone dry. Don't know what I have done wrong to offend fvf.
Must be really good since it's so hard to smoke, but everyone's getting it. Or pipe smokers are all sadomasochists.
I think that hoarders and flippers take the most at SG drops. But, I think you're on to something about pipesmokers being sadists.
I won’t go for Bothy Flake any more. I have a leftover still right now. Smoked it once in a while for over a month.
Same experience you made with it. It’s almost dry, and I rub it out excessively to small pieces some of it to dust. Also cube cutting didn’t do the job for me. Still it’s hard to get lit. Once that done it smokes well. And the blend with the whiskey is not my cup o tea.
Also the 1792 Flake needs some patience and care, and drying time. The Tonquin aroma is not to everyone, but to my liking.
In comparison the Peterson university flake is - once rubbed out - soft, the fibres divide to each on its own, and it smokes right out of the freshly opened tin like a Charme.
I haven't seen Bothy dropped in a while. It has been left out of the last few. A year or so ago, I had been told by The Briary that it was discontinued, so I ended up buying them all. And, others have said here that it has not been discontinued, but it hasn't dropped again either.
But, for me, what I like is that the combination of whisky and the latakia gives it almost a fruity flavor, instead of either latakia or whisky. I love when a blend comes together to make an entirely new flavor. Especially, since I am not very fond of whisky as a flavor.
But yeh... cube cut AND dry, rest, and dry again. works for me... YMMV