Shed musings

[cstephen]

Sat in my shed with a pipe of my beloved condor, I was having a read of tobacco reviews and seeing what people thought of my perennial favourite, and I kept seeing it described as a "lakeland".
It kind of puzzled me as condor actually was (is?) Made in ireland.
Lakelands are a term to describe the lake district, hence gawith and hoggarth and Sam gawith.
But the lines seem to muddle on what a lakeland is, is it describing where the tobacco is made or the flavours that permeate quite a lot of the Sam gawith and gawith hoggarth tobaccos.
Those of us that have tried it, will be more than familiar of the strong flavours of ennerdale flake, and it's ability to ghost a pipe like no other tobacco on the market, and I think this tobacco is a prime example of my question, is it a lakeland because of where it is made or because of the flavours that permeate this tobacco.
But "aha" you might say, it could be used to describe it's place of manufacture AND the flavours used, good point but what about commonwealth mixture, is it a lakeland because of where it is made or an English/balkan because of the latakia?
I will say that I have tried both ennerdale flake and condor, and I must say the two are quite similar both in taste and strength and composition of the tobaccos used, but I think this more fluke than intention.
So is condor a "lakeland"?
My personal opinion..... if basing the phrase lakeland on place of manufacture then no.
If based on the flavors, again I don't really think so, as I said, the likes of ennerdale and condor are quite similar, but I think lakeland style flavours are a lot more fruity and floral based, whereas condors flavor is.....well a bit of a mystery, it's tartness is something to behold and it has a certain alcoholic spirit taste to it along with a myriad of other flavours I just can't seem to pin down.
So there we have it my two cents on what a lakeland is, no doubt it's probably a million miles away from what others think, but hey, if we all the thought the same our hobby would be quite boring.
What's your view on this?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

So is condor a "lakeland"?

Nope

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Condor, which is a favorite of mine, has the aroma of suntan lotion, the type that is not supposed to have an odor but does.
And, Lakelands are less fruity and more based on the perfumes used in soaps that were popular from 1900-1960. Remember those pink rose-shaped soaps that were in everyone's grandma's bathrooms. You weren't supposed to use them, just look at them and smell them... or maybe they were to cover up old lady fart smells. Rose-geranium oils, tonka beans, nasty chemicals that give funny shaped soaps, ancient candles, and old old ladies perfumes their fragrance. Stuff that today's perfumeries would never touch. Real macho grandma smelling stuff.

 

[jpmcwjr]

A "Lakeland" describes the flavor, which is not necessarily made in the Lakeland District. Most Virginias are not grown in the state of VA, for example, and slightly similar, Condor isn't made from Condor excrement, so I am told.

 

[warren]

It's an appellation some use to define certain English made blends. Northwest England I believe. You'll now be visually assaulted by people who think all palates are the same and no one should be able to stomach such labeled blends as they taste like... wait for it... soap. As if all soap tastes the same to all palates.
Of all the soaps I've ingested, very few were similar tasting. I wish people would identify what soap taste they detect in Lakeland blends as I enjoy some soaps immensely. And, as point of fact, liquid Ivory is distinct different from the Ivory bar. I prefer the bar, cellared for at least two years in a cool, dark basement, vacuumed sealed in Mason jars.
Addendum: The were decorative soaps? Crap! No wonder some people think I'm gauche.

 

[cstephen]

To be honest, I don't think lakelands are soapy, maybe it's just me?

 

[philobeddoe]

In my opinion, no Condor is not a Lakeland....in either taste or manufacturing origin. Also I don't taste soap from Lakelands either, I taste flowers, often more yet different flowers, fruit and Virginias. From Condor, I taste Simple Green ~ Pine, a little bit of flower, but not the same flowers that mssrs Gawith use, Worcestershire sauce and Virginias. Condor and St. Bruno taste nothing like the Gawith offerings to me.

 

[mawnansmiff]

"So is condor a "lakeland"?"
No it most certainly is not a Lakeland blend. For a start it is not made in the Lake District and secondly the slight floral flavour is totally different from those floral flavours used by the two Kendal manufacturers.
Condor is pretty unique and cannot accurately be compared to any other blend from any region in my view.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[deathmetal]

Remember those pink rose-shaped soaps that were in everyone's grandma's bathrooms.

Cultural memory of these is quite long for Gen X and before.
Millennials never knew their parents, let alone grandparents, and if they did, their grandparents were trying for "forever young" instead of "aging with grace."
But there is something about that Lakeland scent that is horrifying to me. I opened a jar of Conniston Flake ("unscented") yesterday and had to fight the gag reflex. Too bad as the tobacco itself is pretty much ideal, sort of like University Flake's big brother without whatever grape juice they soak that in...

 

[newbroom]

Millennials never knew their parents, let alone grandparents, and if they did, their grandparents were trying for "forever young" instead of "aging with grace."

Interesting observation.

Families ARE different in the technologically enhanced (?) world in which we live. Time saving devices that virtually eliminate the need to interact on a personal level.

 

[cstephen]

Good discussions here gentlemen.
As I don't live far from the lake district (maybe an 2 hours drive maybe a little less), I have tried a few of their tobaccos.
Like I said, personally I think condor and the likes of ennerdale are similar, but similar in the way of distant cousins rather than twins.

It strikes a chord in certain ways, strength, certain nuances.

 

[oldmansmoking]

I like Condor and keep a pouch in my tobacco rotation. For an OTC it's the best available.

The old TV adds (which I remember actually on TV) can be found on the web and are great viewing.
Oldmansmoking

 

[cstephen]

oldmansmoking

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I like Condor and keep a pouch in my tobacco rotation. For an OTC it's the best available.
Excellent choice, relatives of mine are always in Europe so they bring me it back, so I always have at least 5 packets worth stashed, I think it is the only tobacco I have never ran out of in nearly 6 years of pipe smoking.