Summer of Sammy G Series – Tobacco #1

Established in 1792, Samuel Gawith tobacco company, an offshoot of Gawith Hoggarth and Company, is one of the oldest and most well-known producers of pipe tobacco and nasal snuffs in the world.  It comes as no surprise that their tobaccos have remained highly sought after by luxury tobacco enthusiast for 232 years.

As I came across a recent drop of their pipe tobacco blends on smokingpipes.com, I had a crazy idea to purchase one of each available tin and do a simultaneous review of the entire portfolio (or at least those I could access and purchase).  As of the writing of this review, the Samuel Gawith pipe tobacco portfolio, according to tobaccoreviews.com has included 117 blends since their inception.  For this Summer of Sammy G Series, I will be smoking through and reviewing 15 of these blends in search of the best of the best in their current production portfolio.    

The first tobacco we will examine in the Summer of Sammy G Series will be Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake.  For reference, I plan on doing pop-the-top tin reviews on The Pipe Professor YouTube channel and following up those initial impressions with a full review here on The Pipe Professor website once I finish each tin.  If you would like to view my Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake first impressions video prior to reading the following full review below, the video may be accessed here: https://youtu.be/Wfm-8KQZgFM?si=usBOVO2ZqfMwYdxN

Continue to check back as I will be posting reviews of the Samuel Gawith pipe tobaccos on a regular basis throughout the summer and beginning of fall. 

Info & Overview

On to the review…  

From the Tin: Beautiful presentation of thinly stacked dark brown flakes.  The colors of the tobacco remind me of a mosaic with hints of light and medium browns sprinkled throughout a canvas of rich, dark Virginia tobaccos.  The smell from the tin is a dry grassy straw barn with mild earth and dried prunes.  The flakes are extremely moist and need plenty of time to be prepared and dried out. 

Tasting Notes: The tobacco is very deep, dark, and rich for a Virginia flake.  When the name says full, they mean it.  The body and strength of the smoke were both in the full range with a noticeable nicotine punch being present.  Note, if you are a veteran tobacco user, and have established a nicotine tolerance, you will be fine, however, newbie pipe smokers be warned.  This one can, and does, pack a punch in the nicotine department.  

Flavors of the tobacco were very enjoyable with tastes of ripe dark fruits, earth, tangy citrus, and new oak barrel to match an aroma of baked brown sugar, biscuit/bread, and molasses. The tobacco burns down to a nice white, gray ash mix and due to the high moisture content level, this tobacco must be smoked with a slower cadence to avoid tongue bite.  There were several instances, when smoking, where my tongue reminded me that he is no superhero, and that I needed to slow down or pay the price.      

Overall Impression: Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake is a classic tobacco that continues to perform at a superior level.  With a market that is constantly being assaulted with new blends that are “the best ever” or “super rare and small batch” any sensible pipe smoker would be silly to not gravitate toward Full Virginia Flake.  I guarantee you won’t be dealing with mold issues due to poor manufacturing practices and will enjoy the savory smoke that this tobacco offers in every time.  I recommend that all pipe smokers try Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake at least once and am confident that more will be purchase once its classic characteristics are experienced.  I will certainly continue to have a few tins in my cellar for rotation and enjoyment for many years to come.  If you come across this tobacco, pick a tin or two up.  I believe you will be pleasantly surprised at the distinctions this tobacco has to offer.  Excellent start to the Summer of Sammy G Series!          

Tobacco Score: 4 out of 5 pipes

Interested in seeing the video review for this blend? Visit The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at the following link for a first impressions video review of this tobacco: https://youtu.be/Wfm-8KQZgFM?si=usBOVO2ZqfMwYdxN

This review is a part of the Summer of Sammy G Pipe Tobacco Review Series.  More information on this project and other Samuel Gawith pipe tobacco reviews can be found here: https://youtu.be/bniYy0MJmwI?si=lBjqfkSe5iPcSnLB

Until next time, don’t forget to slow down, simplify, and smoke a pipe.  Cheers!