What a Samuel Gawith Tin Looks Like After 10 Years

[Terry Lennox]

Good news! Today I decided to open one of my 2012 tins of Skiff Mixture and it was in great shape. These tins have traveled with me across country, been stored in a closet in both the cold of winter and hot summer without temp control. The seal was still good, although I suspect some out-gassing occurred as there was always a faint smell of Latakia in my closet and in the plastic bin I used to keep the tins. That said, the tobacco had some moisture remaining, and was ready to smoke. It did not need any rehydration. But it was not as "wet" as I recall fresh tins from 10 years ago, clearly.

There was a tang to the tin note and the smoke itself was full of flavor. Skiff is more flavorful to my mind than Squadron Leader. A bit more Latakia, perhaps? Interestingly, the color of the various leaf remained distinct from one another. In my experience with similarly old Squadron Leader the entire mix turns somewhat brown/olive. Here we see many blond strands. Maybe that has to do with more Oriental being SL?

Either way, I enjoyed my first bowl. I probably prefer Skiff to SL overall, but that is subjective.

You will see in the photos how the oils soaked through the paper and the edges of the tin show oxidation (to be expected). But the tin did its job after more that 10 years. I would say it is peak right now. I'm not sure any further aging will add anything to the flavor profile. If anything the Latakia might fade past where you might want it. Right now it is smooth and mellow, but still there.

 

[Terry Lennox]

I should add that the SG tins from 10 years ago are somewhat different from the ones today. I have heard complaints about the recent seals. I have no experience with the more recent tins.

 

[bullet08]

Lovely. I'm just letting most of my tins to wait for me till it's their turn. Way I'm going, it's gonna take some time.

 

[Terry Lennox]

Also, there was no hiss when opened. As you can see there is rust on the edges so the seal may have been gone although when tugged on it appeared sealed and snug. You just never know.

 

[trouttimes]

I leave my square tins intact but I seal them in Mylar for long term storage.

 

[FurCoat]

I leave my square tins intact but I seal them in Mylar for long term storage.

Same here.

 

[ThermionicScott]

I've got a tin of Squadron Leader that's somewhere between 8 and 11 years old, from what I've gathered. Can't remember exactly when or where I bought it. Still feels well-sealed, but perhaps I'll open it next year and share pics.

 

[Singularis]

Very interesting: thanks for sharing!

This is a perfect opportunity to report on one important finding about the 10+ year old tin of SG Squadron Leader. I tared a good kitchen scale against an empty tin (with paper insert) of the 4 year old SL, and then weighed the older unopened one: it came out to 50.2 grams, which means it apparently hasn’t lost any volume to dehydration! So I feel good about the contents being as moist as the day it was packed.

 

[rmbittner]

There’s been a lot of talk/panic/fear here about the seals on SG/GH tins. I can’t speak to the new iteration—I only just picked up some 2022 tins—but I have never had one of the older tins fail, whether they had 5 years or 20 years of age. That’s just my experience, of course.

Interestingly (?), I have had the seal fail on a round tin of Esoterica’s Margate.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

There’s been a lot of talk/panic/fear here about the seals on SG/GH tins. I can’t speak to the new iteration—I only just picked up some 2022 tins—but I have never had one of the older tins fail, whether they had 5 years or 20 years of age. That’s just my experience, of course.

Interestingly (?), I have had the seal fail on a round tin of Esoterica’s Margate.

The reps have actually been on here explaining why they do not seal their tins. They send them out with a plastic wrap around the edge to put blame for open tins on the customer. Of course it couldn’t be their fault, right? But yet, they do not seal the tins closed with vacuum because they hear complaints that sealed tins are too hard to open. Their words, not mine. So, in my opinion paying more money for the tins over bulk is idiotic. The logic of these guys… They make a good tobacco, but their PR and company logic leaves much to be desired.

No other tobacco company make a tin that can easily pop open without using a coin to twist off the lid. It must be the English that thinks that using a coin is just too complicated.

 

[coming to_falling too]

The reps have actually been on here explaining why they do not seal their tins. They send them out with a plastic wrap around the edge to put blame for open tins on the customer. Of course it couldn’t be their fault, right? But yet, they do not seal the tins closed with vacuum because they hear complaints that sealed tins are too hard to open. Their words, not mine. So, in my opinion paying more money for the tins over bulk is idiotic. The logic of these guys… They make a good tobacco, but their PR and company logic leaves much to be desired.

No other tobacco company make a tin that can easily pop open without using a coin to twist off the lid. It must be the English that thinks that using a coin is just too complicated.

Hell you can open them with one hand nowadays haha

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Hell you can open them with one hand nowadays haha

Mine just come pre-opened from the factory. That plastic band just helps keep the lid with the appropriate tin. I’ll never buy a tin from these guys.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

 

[coming to_falling too]

Mine just come pre-opened from the factory. That plastic band just helps keep the lid with the appropriate tin. I’ll never buy a tin from these guys.

You'd think with how much people complain about it they would do something to change it.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Here's a tin of Sams Flake from 2006. I don't recall seeing this kind of light paper instead of the gold foil, even in older tins.

 

[jcsoldit]

I'm smoking some FVF from 2009 that I opened last year and then placed in a mason jar after enjoying a couple bowls.. It has been an amazing smoke.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Mine just come pre-opened from the factory. That plastic band just helps keep the lid with the appropriate tin. I’ll never buy a tin from these guys.

So they aren't vacuum sealed? I've bought a few Gawith tins this year but they were all special editions. Their Summer Reserve, Jubilee Blend and Christmas Blend all come in round tins and they're definitely vacuum sealed.


Must be just the square tins that come with these new plastic seals.

Why wouldn't they vacuum seal them? Weird.

 

[kcghost]

It's all good if you take the necessary precautions.

 

[gawithhoggarth]

The reps have actually been on here explaining why they do not seal their tins. They send them out with a plastic wrap around the edge to put blame for open tins on the customer. Of course it couldn’t be their fault, right? But yet, they do not seal the tins closed with vacuum because they hear complaints that sealed tins are too hard to open. Their words, not mine. So, in my opinion paying more money for the tins over bulk is idiotic. The logic of these guys… They make a good tobacco, but their PR and company logic leaves much to be desired.

No other tobacco company make a tin that can easily pop open without using a coin to twist off the lid. It must be the English that thinks that using a coin is just too complicated.

Actually the company owner (not a rep) is on here to constantly put right the "folklore" and other misrepresentations spread as well as answer queries. I have no idea where you apparently read the above as its complete nonsense. Not my words....you completely misconstruing what I have said. We don't have a PR team or person. Just one of the actual company owners bothering to come on here, mostly in my own time to answer posts.

I have never once said we DO NOT seal. In fact the opposite - hundreds of times. EVERY SINGLE TIN IS VACUUM SEALED - each tin is placed by hand into the vacuum sealer and sealed, then it is heat shrink wrapped as a security feature.

And there are very few other tobacco manufacturers that use rectangular tins like SG and GH do, most use round tins which by design are much easier to get a very tight seal on.

The 'English' have been making top quality tobacco for hundreds of years, so us 'English' will stick to doing this and not worrying about whether a tin needs a coin to open it or not, or whether the tin is going to seal for storing for 10+ years.

 

[gawithhoggarth]

So they aren't vacuum sealed? I've bought a few Gawith tins this year but they were all special editions. Their Summer Reserve, Jubilee Blend and Christmas Blend all come in round tins and they're definitely vacuum sealed.
View attachment 190187

Must be just the square tins that come with these new plastic seals.

Why wouldn't they vacuum seal them? Weird.

We do vacuum seal, every single tin.....as I have stated many many times. Yes only the standard rectangular tins have the heat shrink tamper seal (security feature - not a sealing device) as the round tins are limited edition only.