Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake

A classic.

Been trying a wide variety of tobaccos for RYO. This is the most expensive I've tried and I understand the price. It was excellent. Slow burning, rich, fruity with wood smoke notes and just a little bitter. Has a very nicely balanced, round, full taste. Too moist to roll right away. Blended with other drier blends until it dried enough. Made everything it was blended with better. Easily the best of what I've tried so far.

Best pure Virginia Blend I have had. However, the younger bite could be pretty bad if I puffed fast

When I started my journey into non-aromatic pipe tobacco, I tended towards like Englishs: The Frog Morton series, Daybreak, Early Morning Pipe, etc. For some reason, I hadn't given Virginias much thought. So, I started researching some the more celebrated Virginias. This brought me to Sam Gawith's Full Virginia Flake (FVF). I picked up a couple of other Virginias along the way, but this is the one that intrigued me the most. The idea of a darker Virginia, which I had previously experienced in Dunhill's Elizabethan, pressed into no-frills flakes had my attention. The other thing that drew me to FVF was the sort of lore surrounding Samuel Gawith. Being one of the few tobacco manufacturers still located in the UK, using centuries-old techniques to make their tobacco, and all that talk about "Lakeland Essence" hooked a sentimental sucker like me. Now, the tobacco proper. When opening the tin, your nostrils are hit with that quintessential darker Virginia scent of raisins, prunes, dates, and figs. While I'm not personally a fan of the flavor of these fruits, their scent is pleasant. The flakes themselves

This and Dunhill Flake are my favorite Virginia tobaccos.I wish it where in more often and or that you could pre-Order it I've only got a few Flakes left so I need more soon.

my absolute favorite tobacco and most trusted provider.

Love this blend of Tabacco I highly recommend this blend to the most sophisticated Pipe Smoker...

Full bodied flavor! And in this way, it is better than Best Brown Flake. More flavor when rubbed out as opposed to stuffed.

I have never had a more naturally sweet Virginia than SG Full Virginia Flake. It is extremely wet when first opened so allow for plenty of dry time or you're gunna have a bad time.

I had read about FVF while most outlets were out of it due to a fire. When it became available again I quickly bought some. When it is fresh it can be hard to light and goes out quickly, but that is when the flavor is at its peak. After it starts to dry out, it burns well but the flavor gets pretty dry and burns hot. Overall it's a high quality tobacco, but not my favorite for flavor.

I let the flake dry overnight. It was still hard to keep lit. I could not tell if I was getting a nicotine hit or just hyperventilating. When I finally got it to stay lit it had great flavor. Best smoked outside on a windy day.

Several years ago, I purchased SG FVF along side some maple aromatic as my first ever pipe tobacco's. Both resulted in tongue bite and terrible experiences. With practice and research, I tried the tin of FVF that had sat on my shelf for almost 2 years, eyeballing me with disdain. A little drier, rubbed out, packed properly and smoked slowly, this flake gave me that moment that I hope other pipe smokers have had. 'This is amazing! This is why people love this!' No tongue bite, no ashy taste. A deep, rich, semi-sweet smoke. Not complex at all. Most would have to say, a little one note or simple. But that simplicity is perfect. I have kept several tins of this tobacco aging and jarred up. When I am given a nice long session of pipe smoking to myself, this is the stuff I reach for. It deserves it's praise, but comes with a steep learning curve. For Virginia lovers, this is probably the one tobacco you need to have in your stash.

The characteristics of this tobacco are well known. I can best share my first experience with this flake, as allegory to what I can only assume are the first experiences of many pipe smokers upon coming to know Gawith's FVF. Upon opening the tin i was greeted with a very matured virgina smell. This wasn't bright and grassy but deep, plummy, and dank. I was awash with intrigue and excitement as i pull back the paper covering the flakes. Amazement gives way to bemusement quickly as i realized i had just payed full price for a half a tin of wet tobacco. Having done my research, i rubbed out a flake immediately and set it aside for an hour to dry while my mind set about machinations of exposing the House of Gawith for the outright scammers they clearly are. I had visions of confronting Samuel Gawith himself. I would decry their house from the highest hilltops with all of the thundering condemnation befitting a man who payed for 50 grams of tobacco and got 35. How could this "venerable" house have, for over 200 years, fleeced what I considered to be a group of people above average in intellect and rooted in a brotherhood of eternal integrity? These ideas simply stunned me as my flake dried, as I packed my Country Gentleman, and as i set about the alchemy of lighting the bowl and having the veil of confusion lifted. One hour later, after finishing my first bowl of FVF, I decided to come to terms with my own inner discord... and discreetly, quietly, and with all of the determination of a child who has just discovered candy, ordered 10 more tins. Despite the remarkable eloquence of my pipe smoking brethren and their inherent talent at describing the most subtle feelings and flavors of this leaf. There is no greater representation of this tobacco than the tobacco itself.

This is my first Virginia and I enjoyed it. It's fairly wet and I have to let it sit out for 40-60 min. I'd recommend it.

Cant seem to get this to burn properly. When I got a pretty good pack and a decent light, I just wasn't wowed. For all I know, it's probably top shelf but not "me".

was somewhat intimidated by reviews I read. Was pleasantly surprised with how truly good this is. I like full flavour and this really delivered. Yes, I have purchased more.