Woah, woah, woah. Hold on a sec.

Perique, I'm proud to say, can be delivered via Rattray's fine tobaccos any old time to my pipes. I'm also optimistic about what Greg can do with some Periqueweed in his mixtures, as well.

Lakeland on the other hand, I'm pretty leery about. Perique, as sensitive to it as I am, seems to overwhelm my palette rather than offend it like Lakeland...

...but, also as a glutton for punishment, Dark Bird's Eye, eh? *chinscratchy* Perhaps. A challenge.

Is Squadron Leader, besides origin of make, considered a "Lakeland?" If that's the case, then yes, I'm a fan. If we're talking simply about the "essence," well then... keep granny's sock drawer closed.

I bought an ounce of SG Dark Flake Scented to give it a go. Unfortunately I don't really like the stuff. I can stand the "old lady" smell, but it really just bites too much (the tobacco not an old lady). Now I am beginning to associate that smell with a negative smoking experience...so if other lakeland blends are like this, I am not a fan.

Old ladies can often remove their teeth to eliminate bite, that is, if they're kind. Heh.

I'm a big fan of Lakeland blends as well.

Ocelot...there are many Gawith blends that are not so powerful as the Dark stuff, the twists and the like. Many are based on the likes of Brown Flake and they are about half the N level as the darks.

Best Brown Flake is one that has little to no Lakeland in it - very nice.
Bright CR is another.
Medium VA Flake and Full VA Flake are 2 more.

Then for a medium N hit and some milder Lakeland, try Coniston Cut Plug (my favorite too), #7, Glengarry. That should get you started.


Know that many of these flakes are related. If you like the flavoring used in Coniston...look for other blends that use the same scent profile. The same with 1792 (which has a number of offspring).

There really should be a chart showing the base flavor profile in the strongest blend and then the derivative blends in their different forms. I've never seen anything like that, but it would be fantastic. Like a family tree thing.

I love the Black Irish X and the rum twist. I haven't tried any of the other twists but I'd like to. I don't think those are considered lakeland though.

I don't know if any twist, rope or pigtail (just different diameters of pretty much the same stuff) that has a lakeland essence.

To me...the black ones are too smokey. I love the Rum and Whiskey, the Cocoanut is WEIRD...not tried the Maple, but assume it's good.

Lakeland flakes are some of my favorites. Ennerdale Flake is tops IMO, and it's a great blending tobacco also. Glengarry Flake is milder as someone previously mentioned but personally it fits my palate as an all day smoke. G&H Rum Flake has little floral essence IMO but it tastes just as they describe it as their Christmas Cake Tobacco. Delicious.

Okay, it seems the indirect answer to my question has been answered. "Lakeland" has more to do with the manufacturer's/blender's location than the "old lady stank."

BBF, Kendal Plug, Squadron Leader are my favorite Lakelands and are among my favorite tobaccos. There, see? I was already a fan, and in the club.

OK - so in today's world, "Lakeland" is a traditional designation that is applied to blends that reflect the type made in the Lakes District of Great Britain...Northwest of London I believe. The blends were typically embued with powerfull scents that make them unique. These include Rose Geranium, Rose, Treacle, Anise (licorise), Clove, whatever it is on 1792, etc. Though the blends made by the Gawith cousins are what folks are normally referring to, other blenders both in the British Isles and in the USA make "Lakeland" blends as well...so the designation, while once pertaining to the district in which they were made, now refers to the style - meaning to powerful floral scent as well as the typically strong tobaccos used to make the blend. But just because a blend is made by the Gawiths that doesn't mean it's a Lakeland! It takes that strong or moderate (their rating, not ours) scent to make it so. I wouldn't consider Kendal Plug, the various twists/ropes/pigtails, Kendal Kentucky, Dark Birdseye, etc. to be Lakelands...so the "Kendal" term used in the name of the blend is no indicator of it's being a Lakeland. So, is it the geography? Well, lots of blends are make in the Lakes District that are not floral or scented...so...I would say it's the style and not the area. Just a few thoughts.

I still hate Old Lady Lakeland. She's a wretched rose gardener who touches all of the tobacco without washing her hands.