Both Samuel Gawith and Gawith Hoggarth & Co can trace their origins back to 1792, when Thomas Harrison, who, already successful in the manufacturing of snuff (the most popular form of tobacco used in the late 18th century), added pipe tobacco production as the use of smoking tobacco became more popular. After a few decades of success, Harrison brought his son-in-law, Samuel Gawith, into the company and the company eventually passed to Samuel and his wife, Jane Harrison Gawith in 1841. By 1878, Samuel’s sons, Samuel Jr. and John Edward Gawith split the company, each maintaining their own operation. It was a friendly split, with both brothers simply following the individual specialties, side by side — one snuff and one pipe tobacco. Gawith Hoggarth & Co has remained owned and operated by a direct descendent of Thomas Harrison and his son-in-law, Samuel Gawith, for all of the 230 some odd year history of the company.
Samuel Gawith Tobacco (the company), however, passed out of direct family ownership in 1962. But, in 2015 Gawith Hoggarth & Co bought back the business, trade marks and products, thus once again re-uniting the two famous Gawith tobacco companies.
The two companies continue to operate, separately but share the same factory space in their home in Kendal, Cumbria, England, using some of the same techniques and equipment originally built in the late 1700’s.
The products that come from each of the subsidiaries are widely know to be some of the best pipe tobaccos in the world and are coveted by pipe smokers “in the know”.
Tobacco | Type | Description |
1792 Flake | Aromatic | Samuel Gawith’s 1792 Flake is rich, dark, and full-bodied pipe tobacco marked by its strong character and beautiful tonquin notes. Fire-cured Tanzanian leaf and steamed and pressed Virginias are pressed then steam-pressed to further marry and caramelize the flavors before being cut into decadent flakes. Available in 50g Tin, 8 oz Box or Bulk (Plug form available as Cob Plug.) (Tonquin / Tonka Beans are used as a vanilla substitute and are thought by some to hold magical powers.) |
Balkan Flake | English | Fans of Latakia who are looking for something different should try a tin of Balkan Flake from Samuel Gawith. Balkan Flake combines Virginias and Latakia (about 30%) for a distinctly smoky flavor profile that highlights the sweetness of the flue-cured leaf without additional Orientals. Pressed and sliced into flakes using some of the oldest operating machinery in England. Available in 50g Tin and Bulk. |
Balken Plug | English | 8 oz packaging. Balkan Flake in Plug form. Available in 8 oz bag or Bulk. |
Best Brown Flake | Non-Aromatic | The Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake is a delicious mixture of hand-stripped straight Virginia. The bright leaves are pressed to create cakes and steam pressed until the leaf darkens and matures. The result is a distinctly nutty flavor that is presented straight to showcase the leaf’s naturally sweet profile. Available in 50g Tin, 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
Black XX Rope | Non-Aromatic | Black XX is a “British-style” rope tobacco, something you may or may not be familiar with. A unique mixture of of heat-treated and partially Cavendished Fine Virginia’s are twisted, stoved and allowed to mature. Be careful though, this blend, if you’re not familiar with it packs a punch! The taste is fairly mellow, but there’s a punch of strength ready to hit you — BAM! — hard if you’re not prepared. Consider yourself forewarned! Available in 50g Tin, 8 oz Box or Bulk |
Brown No. 4 Rope | English (Cigar Leaf Based) | A big, strong blend, but not harsh. Samuel Gawith Brown No. 4 is a complex evening choice for the experienced smoker of English-style blends. The rope cut tobacco comes ready to smoke — no need to dry it out, despite what the moistness might indicate. We recommend starting slow with this one, it’s smooth as silk, but packs a serious punch. Available in 50g Tin, 8 oz Box or Bulk |
Canon Plug | Aromatic | Samuel Gawith’s Cannon Plug is a delectable mixture of hand-stripped, flue-cured Virginias — indeed the same tobaccos used in Best Brown — flavored with the manufacturer’s signature honeydew topping. Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk |
Chocolate Flake | English Aromatic | If you’re an Aromatic smoker looking to try something with a little Latakia, Chocolate Flake from Samuel Gawith might be just what you’re looking for. It’s subtle on chocolate flavor, with a Virginia forward base, nutty Burleys and just a whisper of Latakia. It’s the perfect transitional blend for those not yet ready for a full-on English. Wet out of the tin, this flake needs a bit of drying out time for the flavor to be at its best and for an easy lighting experience. Chocolate Flake is an entry to Samuel Gawith’s Kendal Mayor’s Collection, honoring Samuel Gawith’s legacy as the mayor of Kendal. Available in 50g Tin, 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
Cob Plug (1792 In Plug Form) | Aromatic | We’re not sure why this tobacco’s plug form is completely renamed, but it is none the less. Samuel Gawith’s Cob Plug is rich, dark, and full-bodied pipe tobacco marked by its strong character and beautiful tonquin notes. Fire-cured Tanzanian leaf and steamed and pressed Virginias are pressed then steam-pressed to further marry and caramelize the flavors Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
Commonwealth Flake | English | Among Samuel Gawith’s oldest blends, Commonwealth is a full-flavored English blend composed entirely of Virginias and Latakia, resulting in a bold, full-bodied smoke with just the right amount of sweetness and spice. The quintessential English blend! |
Fire Dance Flake | Aromatic | Samuel Gawith’s Fire Dance Flake is a delicious, Lakeland-style Aromatic featuring a blend of straight Virginia tobaccos topped with notes of blackberry, brandy, and vanilla. The result is a sweet treat with little bite, a delicious room note and a memorable taste that gets better and better the more you slow down and savor it. Fire Dance will remind you of summertime, no matter what time of year you smoke it! We recommend smoking Fire Dance in a large chambered pipe. Available in 50g Tin, 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
Fire Dance Plug | Aromatic | Same Fire Dance blend, but in plug form. Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
Full Virginia Flake | Non-Aromatic | Renowned as one of the finest straight Virginia blends on the market, Samuel Gawith’s Full Virginia Flake is a dark-brown, sumptuous flake-cut pipe tobacco. Flue-cured Virginias are taken through a multi-step process of cold-pressing and heat-pressing process, which deepens the flavor of this straight Virginia blend. It’s an all-natural smoking experience that Virginia fans will enjoy, but smoke it slowly and after a meal if you’re used to lighter blends. It packs more punch than regular Virginia blends. |
Full Virginia Plug | Non-Aromatic | Same Full Virginia blend, but in plug form. Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
Grousemoor | Aromatic (Lakeland) | Grousemoor isn’t what you would expect from an Aromatic, or from a Virginia for that matter. Samuel Gawith has created a blend that’s mild in strength and could be unrecognizable to the indoctrinated pipe smoker. Grousemoor is a “Lakeland” style blend, which involves the use of floral and other elements in a casing, prior to the tobacco blending. Unlike topping, which is coating the tobacco with flavoring, casing is more of a marinade, which infuses into the tobacco. Same Full Virginia blend, but in plug form. Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
Grousemoor Plug | Aromatic (Lakeland) | Same Grousemoor blend, but in plug form. Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
Kendal Cream Flake | Aromatic | A lighter version of the “Lakeland Virginia” than Grousemoor, Samuel Gawith presents this unique way of processing Virginias once again with Kendal Cream Flake. The tobacco leaves are deveined by hand, and then double steamed to create a complex flavor profile. A bit of famous flavoring and Burley round out this blend. Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
Navy Flake | Non-Aromatic | Samuel Gawith Navy Flake is a classic blend made with a classic formula. Virginia tobaccos with a very small amount of Latakia and a few drops of Rum are pressed in flakes that are thick and stunning to look at. Subtlety sweet, medium bodied-smoke that is easy to enjoy all day. A tobacco that should be stocked up on as age can do incredible things to the flavor of this spectacular blend. Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
Perfection Mixture | English Aromatic | Samuel Gawith’s Perfection is a unique blend of Virginias, Orientals, and Latakia elevated by a touch of vanilla to complement the natural sweetness of the flue-cured leaf, as well as the inherent smoky character of the Latakia. The addition of the topping flavor improves the room note and adds a pleasurable layer of flavor on your palate. This is an English-style tobacco that won’t put-off those around you. Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
Sam’s Flake | Non-Aromatic | A stalwart Virginia /Oriental mixture, Samuel Gawith’s Sam’s Flake combines flue-cured Virginias with heat-pressed Orientals and the company’s traditional tonquin casing, resulting in a delightful room note and Gawith’s signature Lakeland character. Sam’s Flake is an entry in Samuel Gawith’s Kendal Mayor’s Collection, honoring Samuel Gawith’s legacy as the mayor of Kendal. Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
Skiff Mixture | English | Samuel Gawith’s Skiff Mixture is a traditional blend of flue-cured Virginias, fire-cured Latakia, and sun-cured Turkish leaf, offering a smooth, natural, Oriental-forward and completely satisfying take on the classic English mixture. Skiff Mixture is a daily choice for smokers around the world! Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
Squadron Leader | English | Samuel Gawith Squadron Leader is one of those almost-perfect tobacco blends that every fan of the classic, quintessential English style tobaccos should keep in their cellar. Medium-bodied, featuring Bright and Dark Virginias, combined with Latakia and Turkish leaf, it’s smooth and easy to smoke, while still giving enough strength to satisfy. This blend won’t knock you out, but it will knock your socks off — the perfect balance in our humble opinion. Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
St. James Flake | Non-Aromatic | A staple for Virginia / Perique lovers, Samuel Gawith’s St. James Flake is one of those rare pipe tobacco blends that can please smokers across the board. The blend joins sweet Bright Virginias with tart Acadian Perique and then presses them together to yield a flavor that is slightly spicy, slightly grassy and entirely delicious. Using some of the oldest operating machinery in England. St. James Flake is an entry in Samuel Gawith’s Kendal Mayor’s Collection, honoring Samuel Gawith’s legacy as the mayor of Kendal. Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk. |
St. James Plug | Non-Aromatic | Same St. James blend, but in plug form. Available in 8 oz Box or Bulk. |