Samuel Gawith -- Squadron Leader

Brand: Samuel Gawith
Blend: Squadron Leader
Style: Oriental
Pipe Used: Peterson Aran #150 Bulldog
Price: $7.50/1.76oz.

Appearance: 8
Taste: 8
Room Note: 6
Value: 9
Overall: 8

Samuel Gawith's Squadron Leader was one of the first two tobaccos I purchased a few years back after deciding to embark on this adventure we call pipe smoking (the other was Penzance -- not a shabby way to start off, eh?). I'll admit that the snazzy tin art lured me in as I'm a huge aviation history buff but it was the almost universally positive word of mouth that really convinced me that this tobacco would provide the perfect introduction to the sublime wonders of the pipe.

Well, like many beginning pipers, I had a world of trouble at the start and promptly quit the hobby. I tossed my opened tins of tobacco and my two cobs into a box in the garage and marched right back to the safety and security of my humidor and the more forgiving cigars nestled within.

Fast forward about nine months and as I was cleaning out the garage I stumbled upon that same box of discarded pipe stuff. I figured what the heck, I might as well give it another go before tossing it all in the trash so I loaded some dried out Squadron Leader into a cob, gave it a light, and boom! -- angelic singing, rapture, bliss, and all that jazz ensued. I finally "got it" -- the perfect smoke, pipe nirvana. It would take me many months of tinkering before I could consistently "get it" on a regular basis but now that I knew what was possible I was off and running.

So if Squadron Leader was my very first pipe smoke and the tobacco that brought me back into the fold then why did it take me until now to get around to writing a review? Well, as soon as my slide down the slippery pipe slope began I started accumulating new blends like cat hair on a black coat. The same Squadron Leader that started it all was lovingly sealed up in a Mason jar and promptly forgotten at the back of the cellar.

Sure I've always known that it's there but the constant search for the "new" placed the blend very much on the back burner. It was only while watching the recent tobacco shortages unfold that I was reminded of old Squadron Leader. If every online shop was sold out then it must have something going for it so maybe it was time to revisit this old friend.

Upon opening that same Mason jar, now with about two and a half years of age on it, I was greeted by the slightly spicy and pungent aroma of the Oriental tobacco. Being a very fine ribbon cut, Squadron Leader loaded easily into my Peterson Bulldog and after a quick light I was off and smoking.

In the interim since my first taste of this blend I've come to enjoy many heavy Englishes and one of the first things I noticed about Squadron Leader was that the Latakia that is usually a front and center component of traditional English blends was very muted. By tempering the impact of this smoky flavor, the spice of the Orientals was allowed to shine. And while the blend never quite hit the same level of zest as some Balkans that I enjoy, by moderating the spice the blend allowed the Virginias to offer up their own sweet and tangy flavors.

As I was enjoying my smoke I kept catching whiffs and the taste of cigars and while there's no cigar leaf in this blend there's something about the combination of tobaccos that reminds me of a light Connecticut wrapped cigar. Not something I was expecting at all but it was certainly enjoyed.

As for the room aroma, that same essence of cigars came and went while for the most part the aroma was similar to expensive cigarettes which isn't surprising given the presence of the Oriental tobaccos.

Squadron Leader provided an easy smoke as it burned steadily from start to finish and only required two relights. All I was left with after an hour was that much sought after fine white ash.

To my mind and palate, Squadron Leader is a perfectly balanced blend that refuses to allow any one tobacco component to outshine the others. Some may label this a light English but to my thinking the tamed Latakia and prominent Orientals define this as an Oriental blend first and foremost. And while there are other blends out there that provide more of this or more of that, there's always a place in the rotation for a tobacco that provides a consistent, mild smoke with a range of flavors.

Samuel Gawith's Squadron Leader is a classic blend that can be had for a song when, and if, it's available. My advice would be to buy it when you can, cellar it if you must, but please don't forget about it like I did. There will always be the allure of the latest blend but there will also always be a place for the tried and true Squadron Leader.