So I got a question for the assembled intelligence (such as it is)...


I bought, among a vast amount of other items, a blend referred to as Gawith #7...from the Great and Fantastic Liquidation Sale going on now. I've bought it in the past from a couple of different vendors and have received it in two cuts. One is a standard flake or perhaps slightly broken flake (but the whole flakes are in there and obvious)...the other is an almost shag cut blend. I prefer a flake whenever I can get it, as I like the vesatility and since I smoke outdoors 100%. But a shag is fine, it has it's time and place.

So while I thought there was only ever the one Gawith #7...but I guess there's the #7 Broken Flake...and the shag, called Kendal #7. The question is...are they the same other than the cut? One says cocoa, (etc.) the other is listed a having a vanilla (etc.) flavor/scent...but that's from Gawith and there have been occasions in which the official descriptions have been 'slightly' misleading as to what's really being done.

So...the SEVENS...the SAME...DIFFERENT...and if so...WHAT?

Actually CCR contains mostly curlies, and is accompanied by a bit of loose stuff. I have bought over 2000 G of the stuff over the past few years and it's always been mostly perfect little curlies. The CCD is larger in diameter than the CCR, and is somewhat lighter in body, and I believe it has a touch of perique in it as well. The CCR is a little curly - about the size of brown pigtail, and is pure Virginia. At least that has been my own experience with the two over the past 7 years or so. I got tongue bite from the CCD but never from the regular, and the regular tastes darker and richer than the deluxe, for me at least. I agree with the European Virginias notion, very good way of looking at it, although that leaves FVF as a statistical outlier as that stuff is very unike the rest.

Blackhorse, I did want to ask you since you have tried the Rich Dark Honeydew. Do you prefer it to Glengarry Flake? I enjoyed the Glengarry that Natch sent me but wanted to inquire about RDH since I will ordering some G&H offerings from Mars Cigars in the next week or so. The Glengarry Flake does bite me a little, so I am curious how RDH compares since they seem to use a similar topping in both blends.

Thanks,
Scott

BTW, has anyone seen GH & Co Grasmere Flake for sale anywhere in the US? If so, please post here or PM!

Scott - Glengarry is a flake...Rich Dark Honeydew is almost a shag...or close. That results in huge differences in how they smoke. I could write volumes, but won't. GF smokes slow & cool for me the RDH is like a flash fire...but I use a smaller pipe and really watch how I pack it. As I recall RDH is just a bit stronger in scent, but similar. The biggest diff is the cut I think and all that falls from that tree.

Since you already have the flavor of The Glen...I's sub one of the following for tbe RDH:

Curley Cut Regular
Coniston Cut Plug
Lousiana Perique Flake
Dark Birdseye
Kendal Plug

Dr T -

I've NEVER seen and Grasmere Flake available over here. Maybe it has been and since I might not have been seeking new and different Gawiths at the time, I didn't notice. Has it been carried by vendors over here to your knowledge?

Up the stink wattage and keep the octane medium, eh?

My suggests would be Kendal Flake, Brown Flake Scented, (and for something completely different) Firedance Flake from the SG side (which instead of floral is blackberry brandy cream...it's like blackberry cobbler with clotted cream...fantastic in all regards). It's what Pete's University Flake SHOULD be...but isn't even close.

Number 7 Broken Flake & Rich Dark Honeydew, which is a much finer cut, are also good IMHO.

And I think Bosun Cut Plug is still kinda medium. But check at the review site. (tobaccoreviews.com)

Ennerdale flake. http://www.smokingpipes.com/tobacco/by-maker/gawith-hoggarth/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=4000

Grousemoor is the most ridiculously over the top old lady perfume scented disgusting abomination ever to have combusted in my briar, which I immediately had to smash into splinters, burn to ashes and then bury. You'd prolly like it


Seriously, I think Grouse must be an olde English phrase for Stank. Stankmoor, that's about right....