REVISITED | Samuel Gawith "Squadron Leader"

[@bikkies]

I think you're exactly right. Squaddie and Skiff are two of my favourites. Being in the UK I can actually get these easily; it's the likes of Plum Pudding, so often discussed in American reviews, that I simply can't get here and have never tried. So the transatlantic frustration flows in both directions I'm afraid :(

[@johnosborne9323]

Well we did dump a shit ton of tea in Boston harbor… you do anything like this to piss us off after ww2?

[@johnosborne9323]

Jokes aside dm me I’ll send you some plum pudding and it’s different varieties.

[@murrayeldred3563]

Good speed + Continuity is his Presentations. Informal + Informative.

[@CyrilViXP]

The style and aesthetics of these reviews are so amazing. I'm feeling relaxed and comfy while watching the videos of Stuff & Things! Thank you for a years of great videos, Bradley.

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Thank for watching all this time!

[@darktimbercustomknives6248]

Bradley, I am a long-time subscriber and have a deep love of pipery. While our taste in tobacco somewhat differs I want you to know that I trust your reviews more than anyone else’s over the last five years. You have an incredible pallet and an amazing way of articulating the flavors in each blend. Your videos have brought me many hours of joy and just thought you should know that over this holiday I am thankful for you.

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

It's really gratifying to hear that! Thank you so much. I'm thankful for you as well.

[@overapipe1121]

Ahhh the old apartment. Takes me back. What’s a revelation you have received by doing these revisiting videos? I don’t have Twitter, otherwise I would make it a Sunday question. 👍🏻🔔📦 Martin

[@campCrystalLake3D]

I was lucky to get two tins of this, almost two years old now and I cant bring myself to open one of them cuz I never see it back in stock 😕

[@Hosunlee89]

I know this is a year late, but holy, it’s been hard to get this the whole last year. I was lucky to pick some up every few months…I just picked up 4 tins from tobaccopipes. Felt lucky. I also ended up picking up a few tins of FVF and NF as well from SG. Edit: fixed autocorrect mistakes…

[@chrismorley3074]

I AGREE WITH YOU..!! It is one of my Favourite blends along with Skiff Mixture...

[@PeterJ-de4wk]

Bought a tin of this yesterday, but haven't tried it yet. I've always steered clear of latakia, so by the sounds of it this is a good place to start. You're right about the Full Virginia Flake though, I adore it. As you said, availability is what it is. Gawith is easy to get here in the UK, but there are loads of US blends I'd love to see this side of the pond, especially from C&D. The grass is always greener as they say. Cheers for all your reviews!

[@soundhobo]

Squadron Leader is quintessentially English and it’s just perfect 👌

[@moorwatch9654]

I like it a lot, but I prefer Skiff Mixture, both great though :)

[@soundhobo]

@@moorwatch9654 ...yep I like both 👍

[@p_o_r_k_y_p_i_p_e_r9316]

I think you got it right in that you mention the "balance" being the key here. I think this is the case with most Gawith blends; essentially the expertise and heritage they have for blending means that not one tobacco type sticks out above the others which makes this a truly successful product. I have a theory about the moisture content historically, and also why it is now dryer, and it has everything go do with the new insert. This enables a very moist blend, so important in enabling the different tobaccos to truly combine, to dry slightly in the tin by the moisture being absorbed into the cardboard insert but equalising and maintaining a healthy moisture content throughout, keeping the tobacco in good condition and yet at a more appropriate level for most people to smoke right out of the tin. The moisture content in SG tobaccos has always been a bugbear amongst the US pipe-peeps. Just a hunch. Cheers for another great review. J.

[@PiraticalBob]

I bought a tin of Squadron Leader about a month ago - - my comment on Ask S&T probably was the trigger that started the ball rolling on you acquiring it again. I loaded up a pipe of it and smoked it along with the video.

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

I finally got my hands on some! FVF will be coming up soon as well!

[@kbbl102.5]

My man in washington! You got me into pipes a couple years ago. Been learning on a rotation of cobs and yesterday, I placed my first big order on smokingpipes.... a Savinelli Miele 316 KS, along with Nightcap, Maple Street, Dreams of Kadath, Crooner, Three Nuns, and Luxury Navy Flake. Thanks for the guidance and advice. Also, wish I could find ANY Gawith blend these days... good find brotha Also also, the video quality is FANTASTIC! L'chaim

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Sounds like you have some good times coming your way! Cheers!

[@richardhannay4253]

Yup, I like this tobacco. I wouldn't call it an "all-day" for me, but it's a good one to have on rotation! I should get it out again... maybe tomorrow.

[@kennethjohnson5856]

39 steps to smoking pleasure?

[@MelodiousThonk]

Thank you sir, always a pleasure !

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

My pleasure!

[@rlukas1073]

Hey Bradley I found your channel watching your videos on your daniel defense m4a1 build. I was building one myself. Then watched a few of your pipe videos and now I'm hooked on being a pipe smoker. Guns brought me to your channel and became a pipe smoker. Love your channel!

[@BillBallRealtor]

I went through the same thing with this blend. Was underwhelmed at first, because I was looking for the prototypical English flavors. But the more I smoked it the more I appreciated it. Totally agree with your “salt” flavors. It’s almost like a light caramel candy with sea salt.

[@jdzasta]

Well done. I love Squadron Leader. One of the first English blends I ever tried so many years ago, and it’s always been a favorite.

[@VidTrent]

Now it’s time to revisit Skiff! I think it’s by far the best English/Balkan blend ever created, past and present. Amazing stuff that just can’t be duplicated by any other house.

[@josefeld7164]

My first English blend, bought a tin and sat down on a fallen tree in the wilderness. I was stunned by the mixture of orientals/Virginia and Latakia. Cherished memory 🤤

[@VidTrent]

@@josefeld7164 glad to hear you like it as much as I do!

[@josefeld7164]

@@VidTrent Unfortunately one year later it's still super hard to obtain in Germany, might be due to that damn Brexit 🙃

[@stratman3771]

I've been nipping at the heels of this blend and fvf for a bit. Still haven't landed any tins yet.

[@razorbackpiperguy2898]

tobaccopipes.com has some SL in stock. No FVF though.

[@sandman6617]

I have fvf, was going to list on eBay. Well aged. If you have faith in the honor system please respond!!

[@someflake2dry771]

Expecting some soon, excited to try it! Thanks for all the reviews man!

[@davetuttle9701]

Thanks for the videos. Keep up the great work!

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Thanks, will do!

[@davetuttle9701]

@@stuffandthingsyoutube As a request Sutliff Cringle Flake for a review? I just got a tin, let it dry out "drowned rat", first light, letting the pipe rest. I'm trying it in a large bowl bent Falcon.

[@Sleezyleisure14]

Just cracked a tin of this, really liked my first bowl. If you haven't tried Gawith & Hoggarth #12, i would suggest it. Its a bulk blend, but I'm loving it. Just Virginia and Latakia.

[@j.s.3753]

I've heard that the Gawith blends are not as moist anymore. The flakes are apparently cut thinner as well.

[@BlackAdder665]

Both true.

[@ReferenceFidelityComponents]

Not true at all..they need drying before use. I have recently bought about 10 tins of Gawiths and all of it on various blends was wayyyyy too wet...all except Squadron Leader. The better all day blend for me is Peterson's Early Morning Pipe...my go too blend.

[@KINGKINGSTON42]

Great review once again. Have you tried old Dublin which I actually prefer but this one is great too, coming to you from the U.K :)

[@Cheeseybacun]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJCaZWyPl7BkqtE

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

You beat me to it!

[@willw3900]

Going on my list. Thanks again.

[@Cheeseybacun]

The cut and moisture content have been improved on a lot of Samuel Gawith tins for a while now. I definitely think the acquisition by Gawith and Hoggarth had something to do with it.

[@rb343]

Bradley, thanks for the vid! A friend gave me an 8.0 Oz box of Samuel Gawith Black XX rope for Christmas. I had seen it before but never tried it. OMG, it was great! If this makes sense, it was very potent, but very smooth. Yes it was wet and required about an hour to dry.

[@smashingartful]

Very cool 'revisted'! Also, I can't get past how nice your videos look with the new camera, and I love the 24 fps hope you keep it!

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Thanks so much!

[@ashesofthephoenix4605]

Thanks for the review Bradly! I've heard of it, never had it, but now I want some.

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

It's so good!

[@situation_zero]

The secret is the Orientals. I love the stuff.

[@julialandin6441]

I go to a tobacco store in Sweden. And they have had the same pipe tobaccos fore a long time. But the day before yesterday i went there and they had four new ones. Squaldron leader beeng one of them. Ive seen its popular on you tube, so i baught one. Looking forward to trying it.

[@jungleno.]

I have over 45 popular blends. Gawith’s Squadron leader is by far my absolute favorite.

[@bingbong7316]

I have 2 or 3 bowls of this in a small no-name with my morning tea, it's becoming ritual. I see mention of a perique edition, but even in the UK it's a unicorn - I can't get St James Flake nor Cabbies Mixture at the moment, so I wonder if perique is scarce or if there's a seasonal limitation? I've been enjoying Navy Flake, FVF and FV plug today as well, it has been all SG.

[@stephenharrington4621]

I received this as a gift a year ago, but I haven't opened it. Can't bring myself to crack open this beauty of a tin

[@suehirogaribright]

Man, your new camera makes such great images. Money well spent!

[@31plemoine]

I have the same opinion about Squadron Leader. Since you're happy revisiting it, you should do the same with Skiff Mixture, which to me is a kind of "Squadron Leader with orientals".

[@matheusdanielsson8884]

hey, nice video man really like the sound of this blend so I'll probably try to find it online. I also wonder if maybe you could do a review on Old gowrie if you havent, and also what is your favorite style on a pipe rusticated or smooth?

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rISUqqOur9Sebqs Hmm... I really like both for different reasons!

[@zacazac4013]

Sounds like a must try! Happy Thanksgiving my friend!

[@EVS2585]

This is possibly not that uncommon, but I found it interesting how when I come back to a half smoked pipe of SL even over a week later, it tastes... much better.. much more together in all the flavours.

[@schnerrydog]

Thaks Bradley for another great review! I don't think you can go wrong with a Gawith blend. Skiff has been my favorite for years, in large part due to that briny character you were talking about! Funny, I've recently been exploring the world of Scotch Whiskey, and this review makes me want to load up a bowl and have a wee dram of Talisker to accompany it! Cheers!

[@nilsrother1334]

Any news on when the full Review of your latest Sutliff first impressions will be posted?

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

For Barrel Aged? There won't be a full review of that blend because it's so limited.

[@derekvedenoff1021]

This is on that’s newly on my list of English Blends. Merry Monk, Standard Mixture, Maltese Falcon all rate really high with me !

[@tombrown1898]

Bradley, I just had a thought about the briny taste. Is it possible that some blends are cased with salt water? There are plenty that use sugar water, after all. The Presbyterian Mixture of fifty years ago (nothing like the stuff of today) LOOKED salty in the tin, so I stuck the tip of my tongue into it. Very salty. When I was smoking it one time, a non-smoker said, "That stuff just smells expensive.". Interesting comment.

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

I suppose it's possible. I would love to get in touch with Gawith directly to ask.

[@vintagepipesnightmares]

Gawith Hogarth Balkan mixture is the best salty savory English/Balkan tobacco ever. It is amazing!!!

[@pryhosm]

I think our pipe journey’s may intersect. Things I thought had no flavor now have depth and complexity that I never knew existed. While I still like some of the “in your face” blends, yes you Gaslight and Pirate Kake, Skiff Mixture went from zero to hero; just like that

[@banditbeggers533]

I love this tobacco. It’s a great everyday smoke as it’s easy to smoke stays lit and not overpowering. Taste amazing to me. But I am still very new to pipe smoking so not got anything to compare it to. I got some in a sample pack and had to order a tin as soon as I tried it. Great review well sed mate

[@alexweisstrost]

a very sharp review, thank you. in my opinion SQ is a perfect english mixture, very pleasant and never boring.

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@arvidwahl]

Gawith is one of the few brands I can get my hands on in Sweden. Most of the "Dunhill" and Petersons are out of the question, but I intend to go to Copenhagen to buy a few tins. Skiff Mixture is my all-time favourite tobacco. I haven't tried this, but I will.

[@intriguedpipeman6478]

I would be happy if this is all I could get haha! cheers!

[@Goetz-von-Luthringshauser]

I'm discovering this tobacco blend currently, and I must say: I love it! Very delicious! A little sweet, but not so sweet like the French tobacco Chacom 5 I'm discovering currently too, but woodier somehow ; It's exactly the kind of tobacco with Latakia I love to smoke!

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Thanks for sharing!

[@rob_odd]

Thanks for the video! You got a new subscriber! :) Wish you a relaxed Christmas season!

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Thanks for the sub, and Merry Christmas!

[@masonrawls4017]

Hey man, have you had Ashton's Consummate Gentleman blend? Curious about your thoughts.

[@asahelnettleton9044]

I'd love to hear Bradley's comments on Cornell and Diehl's Epiphany - one of my favorite "balanced" blends. I need to get my hands on some Samuel Gawith blends!

[@aiarch]

There is a bit of tongue bite in it otherwise an awesome blend. It is in my regular rotation but I prefer SG skiff mixture or GH Balkan Mixture over it

[@methanesprings4085]

You can smoke it right out of the tin because it’s not sealed. I think the new tins are a thicker metal, and don’t vacuum seal very well.

[@soggyhoneycomb]

SG blends are readily available in tobacco stores hereabouts. I wish I could buy Cornell & Diehl blends, though.

[@kennethjohnson5856]

Some time ago GH had to change tin suppliers, I believe the old one stopped making them. The tins they sourced (from China, quelle surprise) are not as rigid and needed stiffening with the heavy card, to maintain a seal.

[@corradogiorgio]

I hope you got also a tin of SL with perique I hear it has an extra something to the smoke.

[@JohnSmith-tz7iy]

Skiff mixture is the quintessential english for me

[@johnosborne9323]

Honestly its always at my local b&m for a very reasonable price… this might be my go to or my special occasion blend.

[@Mausmussi]

Great stuffs Bradley 😁 would you do a review of Magnum Opus from Hearth and Home? Cheers from Brazil

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

I'll check it out!

[@Mausmussi]

@@stuffandthingsyoutube thanks!

[@BlackAdder665]

I'd say it's only "fair" that you have a tobacco brand that's hard to come by. ;-) In Europe it's hard (and expensive!) to get almost any American brand. We miss out on C&D, G.L.Pease and many others you guys consider staples. On the other hand, as far as I can tell, you have almost everything that we have, too. Please, correct me if I'm wrong. I recently lost a 3/4 of a Squadron Leader tin. It fell off the shelf and mixed with glass splinters and dirt so "perfectly" I couldn't safe it without risking serious health and taste hazards. My only solace was that it was rather old and had lost some of its taste anyway. I hoovered it up and until I change the bag I have a nice smell in the air whenever I hoover. :-) But, yes, I agree, it's a very nice standard English!

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

That is very true. I’ll try not to complain!

[@mountainlover8167]

Can you revisit Escudo?

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Soon!

[@Nathan-zw7nq]

Squadron leader has semi replaced Presbyterian for my morning blend. Not always just like 2/3 of the time

[@OrtziLanda]

Samuel Gawith Commonwealth revisited please! =)

[@gemmanewman2869]

May I say try hacico store Germany that have big selection of samuel gawith can be shipped internationally

[@planexshifter]

Aged Scotch that is stored near the ocean, it gets a salty quality to it.

[@nabilghafar9150]

If you can find a tin of SG Full Va Flake, please do a revisit on the blend.

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Coming up soon!

[@tukangbobo]

Always lucky to get Gawith but bad luck in Esoterica.

[@subsadventure]

The camera is splendid Bradley, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Thanks again!!! ~ Roger Y.

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Happy holidays!

[@zaurike]

Has anyone tried adding a dash of perique (such as McConnell’s pure) to it to replicate the impossible-to-get reissue? If so, how do they compare?

[@HaydenHero]

There’s a perique variant of SL Gawith also sells.

[@zaurike]

@@HaydenHero thanks, actually, that’s the one I was referring to as the impossible-to-get reissue.

[@daviddixon6408]

I live in Ohio and they usually have squadron leader at the local brick and mortar cigar lounge that I frequent and I have to say that it is very enjoyable blend.

[@wisconsinwoodsman1987]

And with one more video, it’s even harder to get. 😂

[@bratva23]

1 of my top

[@mohsenostah4661]

I just got a tin of this stuff …. The best tobacco I have ever smoked , I can’t put this stuff down . Just perfect

[@AliothSenator]

Squadron Leader is great. Offtopic: is this 30 fps?

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

24! I was limited to 30 or 60 on my old camera, but I enjoy the more “cinematic” look of 24.

[@Cheeseybacun]

+1 for the 24 fps.

[@kbbl102.5]

Looks great.

[@wainair]

I hope you had a chance to try Squadron Leader with Perique. It was limited and it was very good!

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Unfortunately I didn't!

[@wainair]

@@stuffandthingsyoutube Well that's no good, hopefully they will produce it again!

[@panrobutka1767]

Will you ever try nasal snuff🤔 I’m very interested on your thoughts on nasal snuff

[@justthinking4573]

(Kara and Nate KZbin Channel 1.9M Subs) where super close in your area they stopped in Seattle and near Olympia Washington? But because of Health Restrictions they had to stop their Vlog road trip. 💙🏈💚🤗

[@bkfw000]

Salty? Sounds like the same quality seen in Germain blends. My guess it’s how the Virginia is processed. Also, my theory is those subtle nuances you touch on are more apparent when smoking a Castello!

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Yep! I was actually conflating Germain and Gawith in this video when I was talking about the blend being made near the sea, but Squadron Leader DOES have that briny quality as well.

[@ismailalsaber8386]

You should do SG Balkan Flake!

[@johnosborne9323]

Didn’t get that insert in mine… can’t find a date on mine… maybe there’s some age to mine!

[@OriginalBatman]

Now it comes with the same price of cardboard- now with a factory picture on it.

[@jeffsmith50001]

Hi Bradley. In days gone by you could "Travel" buy just buying a ticket, and one for a friend. On the "Planet Killer Metal Bird". Land in the Pea-Souper Covid ridden atmosphere of Manchester or even the Leeds-Bradford airport. Hire a killer CAR! Drive to your hotel in the lovely "Lakelands" (CLOSED) and see. See the landscape of the tobacco you are smoking and love. Have a pint of bitter beer with your "Beef and Yorkshire Puddings" in Kendal. But you cant!. And its making a lot of us very, very cross. One for your back-burner mate. atb

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Travel? What's that?

[@jeffsmith50001]

@@stuffandthingsyoutube I'm in Englandland Bradley. It's a word we dare not utter. Our police now wear baseball caps schhhs

[@pacificcoastpiper3949]

I could go for a good bowl

[@stratman3771]

I would like to see how you do at guessing a blend without even seeing it.

[@asahelnettleton9044]

That'd be a fun series. Make it like a tongue-in-cheek game show.

[@campCrystalLake3D]

Dude ! that would make a great episode or episodes ...

[@rossonero99]

I'd love to see this in the style of Frasier and Niles' Wine Club.

[@brazenbull636]

Was excited when i finally got a hold of this. Wasn't for me tho and I was disappointed. Not a Virginia guy, and the proportion of latakia leaves me wanting. Not bad. Just not aimed at me..

[@treeofnoreturn3238]

Great, another tobacco that I really really want to try but may not ever find 😂

[@subsadventure]

tobaccopipes.com

[@treeofnoreturn3238]

@@subsadventure And there it is! Thank you 🙏

[@Moon_Dog_]

Squadron Leader is my “Elizabethan.” Love it but hate that I can never get it.... thanks for doing this wonderful blend justice! Using the quote from your first review, I do believe it is the “quintessential English blend.”

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Yes. I wish the Gawith blends were more readily available!

[@siredith8846]

Salty? Not sure I like the sound of that. Maybe you mean a sea breeze character?

[@robertolanza7249]

Hi Bradley, your Castello 55 is beautiful, a greeting from Italy

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

Thank you!

[@dongiles4031]

Totally off topic... Please make sure your camera is level and square to you when shooting. This is most apparent when using a background such as a brick wall. It appears you may have the camera pointing to the right, not dead head-on to you. The background is distorted. With all the rectangle bricks and artwork, having the camera not square and level is quite disturbing. (to me, a rather OCD photographer) Just a helpful hint to improve your composition. :)

[@stuffandthingsyoutube]

It was NOT in this first video. My tripod tends to wander! I also have an issue with the backdrop not being perfectly plumb either. Hopefully, I'll be able to make it look less wonky in the future. :-)

[@fredricful]

Husker dere sigarettene som het congo?

[@fredricful]

Fra krigen.

[@PaladinPiper]

I know its an iconic tobacco but its a bit too soapy (lakeland) for me. Good to see you re-visiting these blends.

[@joeo8058]

Nice tobacco

[@revengense7604]

SGSL ages exceptionally well. I hid 8oz away from myself back in 2014. Had a bowl for the first in 9 years. All I can say is, chef’s kiss🤌