It all started in Kendal, England in 1792. Thomas Harrison was a successful snuff maker. Jane Harrison Thomas’s daughter, eloped in 1838 to a young man of Kendal, Samuel Gawith. When Mr. Harrison died in 1841, he left the business to his daughter and son-in-law, and over the years Samuel Gawith continued to prosper.
In 1865, Samuel Gawith died prematurely at the age of 48. His eldest son, also called Samuel, was only 22 and his father had wisely left the firm in the hands of three trustees, one of whom was this son. The elder trustee was Henry Hoggarth, a boyhood friend and neighbour in Lowther Street who had founded a Kendal firm of land agents and surveyors.
In 1878, Samuel and his younger brother, John Edward Gawith decided amicably to go their separate ways and so the two Gawith firms came into being. Samuel took over the snuff mill and business at Mealbank, and John stayed on in Lowther Street.
The firm in Lowther Street went through some troubled times but, in 1887, a new partnership was founded between Samuel’s youngest brother, William Henry, and Henry Hoggarth junior, to be known as Gawith Hoggarth Company.
Gawith Hoggarth Company continued to manufacture tobacco products and snuff at the Lowther Street works until 2009, when they moved to new business premises.
Then in 2015, the two companies returned back together under one roof.
"Another Samuel Gawith original, Skiff is for the pipe smoker who appreciates the fuller flavour of an oriental blend. Blending a variety of different styles of flue-cured tobaccos gives Skiff its characteristic yellow and brown features. Its real identity comes with the addition of Turkish and a beautiful black Cyprus Latakia giving the blend its full, round taste." - Samuel Gawith Website
Please note: Pipe used is for illustration purposes only.
Pipe Featured: Savinelli Mega BrownBlast 611 Fishtail 9mm Filter Pipe (SAV842)
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Skiff is one of Samuel Gawiths most popular Oriental mixtures and it’s clear to see why so many people love it.
Built on a base of mixed and flue cured tobaccos, for a balanced and cool smoke. There is all so an added addition of steamed Izmir and Latakia. All this has been said to give the Skiff Mixture that classical English “Oriental” flavour profile.
Many praise this for being a classic “English Blend” and a kin to the highly sought after and missed Balkan Sobrane of the olden days.
Form the pouch you are greeted with the distinct, slightly fusty aroma of Orientals, with some sweet and grassy notes from the base leaves.
The tobacco starts off a little mellow and subdued, but like all good tobaccos should this blend progresses through the bowl and gets richer as you go.
While this isn’t exactly a powerhouse of a tobacco, it still carries enough strength and flavour to keep even the most hardened veteran satisfied from match to ash.
Strength: 2/5
Aromatic Taste: 2/5
Room Note: 3/5