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Date: 4/19/2015
Name: JustTroItIn
Tobacco: Yellow "i" Vacuum Sealed G&H Brown Flake
Pipe: Sunrise / GBD Sable/ Flower Print Billiard Meer
Smoked both in and outdoors.
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Observations
This is a dark flake tobacco resembling beef jerky with tiny sugar crystals all over. The bag note is extremely light and reminds me of a watered down soar wine. Extreme dry time was necessary before packing a bowl. I have had several bowls in three different pipes. Some were fold and stuff with a pinch of rubbed out tobacco on top and others were completely rubbed out. I had to keep a pipe cleaner on hand to absorb moisture in the bowl during smoking and when folded and stuffed many relights were necessary. The ash itself was quite powdery.
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This tobacco kind of threw me for a loop as I found it so mild it was difficult to taste anything. I preferred it rubbed out as opposed to fold and stuff not only because it burned better but also the flavor was a bit more pronounced. The flavors being so mild it was difficult to put my finger on what it taste like. It has a very light molasses like sweetness with the occasional tangy note.
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Comments and conclusion
This tobacco really has the appearance of something I would really like, but from sight to smoke didn't really pan out as I thought. To me this baccy was not bad, but it was bland. I did get the smallest bit of tongue bite trying to get some pronounced flavors from it.
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1 Attachment(s)
Attachment 1997I didn't get my samples in hand till Saturday. For the benefit of some of you that might want to compare impressions here is the last 3 samples I reviewed Sunday aft. I wrote this in my notes so here it is.
Details
Date 4/20
Name pink H G&H Scotch Flake Aromatic
Tobacco variegated blend of dark brown and yellow pressed into cake and cut into long strips
Pipe MM Country Gentleman(not Mizzou shown)
Indoor / Outdoor: indoor
Observations
Examination (how it looked, felt and smelled): This was a very moist combined stack of sliced strips smelling strongly of sweet baking cocoa
Preparation: (how did you prepare and pack it): I seperated strips, cut into 1/2" pieces. They where rubbed out and then dried in my warming tin, then cooled dry. They where packed with the Frank method lightly as they still had a good bit of moisture.
Burn: Charring light and relight was all that was needed until the sides needing tampering like a big bowl may require. No other relights required.
Flavor: This tobacco opened with a blast of Dial soap. Ugh! It settled down but without the promised cocoa in the prelight aroma. It really did not present any definitive flavor other than some characteristics I associate with Burley. I had hoped for more after getting punished for swearing.
Comments and conclusion. Not much to say, I'm not a Lakeland fan. Wish I could say more but there was no overwhelming flavor profile.
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1 Attachment(s)
Attachment 1998
Details
Date: 4/20
Name: madbricky
Tobacco: yellow U C&D Exclusive
Pipe: MM Flame finished Mizzou
Indoor / Outdoor: indoor
Observations
Examination (how it looked, felt and smelled): This came out of the bag fairly "squishy" like a sponge flake. The ribbon cut exuded an aroma of Sweet floral, vinegar, and hints of cocoa.
Preparation (how did you prepare and pack it): I warmed it up in my ever present drying tin and was welcomed with an eye watering vinegar chemical fume. So much for sticking ones nose into a warming pile of mystery baccy,! After it comes dry from the tin I loaded it first with a musketball twisted into the bowl, smoked it and then a 2 step pack and smoked that. Results where nearly identical with a stronger flavor coming from the musketball load.
Burn: lit and burned really nice thanks to drying prep I use with nearly every tobacco.
Flavor: I was greeted with a very strong blast of tobacco right off. Flavor was Nutty like Burley? Also got a good Nicotine hit from this. It was too harsh to retro so I was contented to just hold it in my mouth and roll it around the palate. More nutty! The finish was a bit of baking Cocoa. This must be Little Debbie nutty bar blend, lol
Comments and conclusion: This would be a good after dinner blast for a relaxing full in your face smoke session. I'm sure it would be more mellow in a larger pipe.
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1 Attachment(s)
Attachment 1999
My last sampler review! A day late thanks to the USPS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE SOME OF YOU GOT BALKAN SASSIENI TO TRY! $16 an ounce too. I had a great blind review time, thanks!
Details:
Date 4/20
Name madbricky
Tobacco: pink N Newminster 400 Superior Navy Flake
Pipe: MM Legend
Indoor / Outdoor: indoor
Observations
Examination (how it looked, felt and smelled). This came like the other cake cut strips fused by vaccum into one chunk. It was much coarser and variegated with a larger amount of lighter yellow bits. It was pretty dry already so it was not prepped in the warming tin. It had a light smell of cocoa.
Preparation (how did you prepare and pack it). I peeled a strip off the chunk and rubbed it out into a fluffy pile. It was packed in the Frank method.
Burn: It lit easily, char, tamp, relight. The burn was nice and slow with no relights other than after tamping.
Flavor: The first draws where a tad harsh after which it settled into a sweet hay flavor, very full in body with a rich tobacco flavor to the end.
Comments and conclusion: I wouldn't kick down the door of your cellar for this. Lots of cake and plug out there just like this to smoke. I had to sip this slowly to keep it mellow and my style is more like the little train that could. Lots of big puffing for big clouds of rich smoke that I could not get from this gentlemans blend.
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Date: 4/15/15
Bum: Emperor Zurg
Sample: “Orange i" Vac Packed G&H Brown Flake
Pipe: MM Freehand Natural
Environment: Vehicle - windows down, highway
Observations:
Appearance: Brown flake with lighter streaks
Preparation: Dried for a couple hours - fold and stuff almost 1 entire flake. This pipe holds quite a payload.
Burn: Burned beautifully after I got it going. No relights unless I put it down for a while.
Tin Note: Sweet hay and raisins.
Flavor:
False light tasted of Lakeland soap. I puffed it a bit and it changed to a creamy soap, then I let it go out.
True light took a couple tries with quite a bit of fire and puffing - got pretty bitter but I finally got an ember going.
Once it got under way and settled down...
The first thing I noticed was dry hay. Dry hay with a touch of soap. Soon this took on a pretty dry, floral profile that stabilized for a bit. After about 10 minutes I got some sweetness creeping in that continued to build throughout the bowl. About 20/25 minutes in I would describe the flavor as sweet dry grass with a light floral component. Eventually the floral started to fade a bit, giving way to a hint of pepper. The pepper was welcome because I was getting bored with the floral grass flavor and hoping to get a shift to citrus or dried fruit (which never came). The pepper built for a while and the smoke eventually took on a bit of an almond flavor once in a while, although never loosing the floral component. This seemed to be the dominant profile because it lasted for the majority of the bowl. Toward the beginning of the last 1/3 the pepper had faded out quite a bit (was never really strong in the first place) and I think I picked up a touch of apricot or something once in a while - the floral component seemed to be coming and going at this point. I was getting dizzy so I set the pipe down and grabbed lunch. After I recovered a bit, I lit it back up and once it settled down I was getting a pretty delicious caramelized sugar flavor on the tongue, although the smoke was still pretty floral out the nose. I was liking the caramel much more than the floral at this point so I didn't retro much anymore. The caramel also made a sip of my coffee taste a bit like butterscotch. I was enjoying this quite a bit but alas, the vitamin N was getting to me again and I was pretty near the bottom of the bowl so I set it down for the last part of the trip, fearing any more and I wouldn't be fit to drive.
Comments and conclusion:
This was another interesting and enjoyable flake. I didn't care so much for the constant floral profile but it changed around enough that it stayed interesting. I'd classify this as a medium strength that probably wouldn't have bothered me much had I smoked a usual-sized bowl but this was a long delivery trip and the Freehand holds an enormous payload - way more baccy than I would usually smoke in 1 sitting; about 2 hours in and I still have some left in the pipe. I did enjoy the previous, sticky flake more as I like the citrus flavor that one had, but I wouldn't turn this one down.
Thanks to Pete and Tobias for making all this possible! :)
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Musings of Sample "Y" (green) McClelland #14 circa 1996
Saturday, April 25th
Smoked indoors.
First off the appearance is very dark, ribbon cut..or what once was. Fine texture, very crumby. The scent is lovely, very dank muskyness, and reminiscent of cow manure (I like the smell actually). Moisture was prefect and I only let it stand in the open air for a few minutes to dry and then swirled it into my Big Ben dublin. This blend takes to flame easily with minimal expansion from heat. The first flavors that come to the senses are very deep, rich, and sweet. Flavors of cavendish and stoved virginias, a whisper of spice, possibly from perique, and a subtle smokiness. The flavor stands firmly down the bowl, gradually becoming more and more homogenized into a deeper version of the sweet and spicy notes. An absolutely delicious smoke! It reminds me of "bayou" and "cajun" genre of tobacco blends like C&D Mississippi Mud.
Nicotine was present but only noticeable as a slight tingle on the tongue, no apparent head change.
Overall, I have no scruples with this blend. I think it's exactly what it's meant to be and I'd definitely smoke it again. I'm sensing this has some years on it but then again it could be the deep, rich scent throwing me off. Definitely a recommended blend.
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May 3rd, 2015. Sunday.
Impressions of Yellow "K" (Vac) GH Glengary Flake
A handful of flakes came vacuum packed and at first thought the packaging to be unnecessary. But now that I have procrastinated this long I am happy these little guys were frozen in time. Upon opening the bag, my nose told me of another reason for this vacuum sealing...the Essence. While not heavily laden with the sauce, I can tell it was made in the same factory as the famous Ennerdale.
Judging by the cut and smell I can say quite confidently that these come from Gawith & Hoggarth. I let a flake dry for about 45 minutes until just barely pliable without crumbling. Folded it, gave it a good thorough rub and then swirled it into a Savinelli 920 ks. I enjoyed this smoke indoors. A match reveals a smooth, mild, fragrant, creamy smoke. Delicious virginias and a smell reminiscent of sandalwood and Lakeland. The smoke is quite cool, even when pushed, and remains sweet throughout the entire bowl. the flavor stayed true and did not change drastically as I progressed through this experience. The sweetness stayed with an oh so slight WHISPER of tang about it, the Virginia grew in depth and developed a more spicy character, and the lovely fragrance wafted about the room as a bulwark to the rich tasty smoke reminding me of its origin.
Lovely smoke, absolutely delicious, and always recommended. I'd be so bold as to say I was smoking Scotch Flake, one of my favorites.
