BryGuy reviews navy flakes

[BryGuySC]

Ok, a while back, I started a thread inquiring what exactly constituted a "navy" tobacco. After some valuable feedback, I decided to travel down this path of navy tobaccos, and see what I can find out for myself.

As I smoke them, I'll post my reviews in this thread. If I've reviewed one of these before, I'll review it again for this thread.

Here is what I'll be working through:
PS Luxury Navy Flake
Escudo
Mac Baren Navy Flake
Comoy Cask 4
Samuel Gawith Navy Flake
Newminster No. 400 Superior Navy Flake
McClelland No. 2035 Dark Navy Flake

I decided to start with the offering from what is fast becoming my favorite brand, Samuel Gawith.

Date: 4/6/15
Tobacco: Samuel Gawith Navy Flake
Age: delivered about a week ago
Blend Contents: Latakia, Virginia
Pipe: MM Eaton
Tin Note: like a less-sweet Full Virginia Flake
Prep: Dried a flake for about an hour. Cube cut and gravity fill. The draw like a thick milkshake.

Notes:
On the initial light, and first few minutes, the hay from the virginia was very present, and the mild latakia came through in a pleasant way. I’m usually not a fan of the oriental & latakia mixtures, but this was not too strong.
After a few minutes, something magical happened, the smoke became smooth, buttery, and sweet. It is difficult to nail down. The image that came to my head is kind of like brown sugar and butter heating on the stove, but with an added “coolness.” Maybe like a buttered rum or a caramel popcorn. Again, this is hard to discern, not an in-your-face flavor.
This flavor was only in my mouth. It did not come through the retrohale or the exhaled smoke.
About halfway through the sweetness faded, and the virginia shone through again.
Every exhale that hit my nose popped with the mild latakia.

I think I should have let it dry some more, as it wanted to go out. I enjoyed it so much, that I had a hard time not puffing too hard. I get the feeling it would bite pretty good, with too much puffing (as I am prone to do).

I really enjoyed this smoke. My next order will have a bulk box of this.