I had a quick look through the review section, it seems that most of the reviews are written on US blends and few on Sam Gawith. I shall start by stating I am an ardent Sam Gawith fan of most of their blends flakes and mixtures but not all.

First off, contrary to popular beleif, the aeroplane on the tin is not a Sopwith Camel, it bears more of a resembelance to the Hawker Hart or Fury of the 1930's having said that, being a fine English blend of Virginia, Latakia and Turkish of a medium body, it is not difficult to see how this blend would have been appreciated by aircrews flying in open cockpits in 1914 - 1918, for myself, I love this in the cold winter weather. Sweet, without being cloying. With no one tobacco trying to grab attention, I was supprised as to how the taste of this changed with different pipes.

I finally settled on a Hardcastle (large bowl), this for me, brings out the various tobacco's flavours in very fine harmony but with enough interest to make me want to smoke the tobacco and think about what I am smoking and enjoy.

Burns down to a nice white ash with very little maintenance. Sadly, I have almost no sense of smell, so tin aroma is of little consequence to me and room note, well, I smoke alone in my cave.

For those who have tried English / Latakia blends and found them to their liking, Squadron Leader is one that will not dissapoint.

Your review is just in time. I've been enjoying a tin of Sam Gawith Full Va Flake that I won in a wager with a brother here, I searched their web site and settled on Squadron Leader as my next tobacco aquisition. Just made a trade with another brother for a tin of it, should be here soon. I can't wait to try it.

Funny, I'm smoking it right now. Once in a while I'll buy it.

I'm not very good at deconstruction so forgive me, but the Virginias don't seem to have enough body to balance the rest of the excellent tobacco. They kind of get lost to the Turkish and Latakia.

But that's not altogether bad. Sometimes that's just what I want.

Thanks for the review!! I haven't tried SL in quite a while; but enjoyed it immensely when I did!! Have, I believe, two tins aging on the shelf FTRPLT

SL's a staple in my cellar. Great stuff!

Smoked a bit of the Squadron Leader this weekend. A nuttyness seemed to prevail, but not too much. I'll need a few more bowls to make a good determination. So far I like it.

I really like the tin, and the smoke's pretty good, too

SL is one of my favorites. Have some going as I type this.

Just bought a tin of it today. Had my local B & M order it for me after reading a review. Haven't cracked it yet. Probably will tomorrow.

Last May at the Chicago Pipe Show the reps from Samuel Gawith sold 500 tins
of a limited edition Squadron Leader that was blended with perique.This limited edition will never be produced again.I bought a few tins,it has the original artwork and colors.People that have smoked it have rated it highly and commented that the blender did a fine job.



Winslow

I'm planning on purchasing a new cob at my local tobacconist today so I can try out this SL fresh & without contaminants from other baccys in my briars.

I have a number of meerschaum pipes which I use to get a first impression
of a blend.I never realized how a pipe that has been only used for heavy English
blends can ruin the taste of any other tobacco until I bought one off e-bay and tried to smoke Va.'s in it.

Winslow

Just finished a bowl of SL in a cob. It was a very satisfying smoke. I had a little trouble keeping it lit at first but I think that was a clumsy job of packing it. The last half of the bowl left me wanting more.