Gawith & Hogwarts Velvet Hammer

[Blackhorse]

OK..so I made this one up myself. Or, I'm making it up as I go along...or SOMETHING!

I've got a BIG glass bale top container in which I keep Dark Flake Scented. The DFS kind of muscled into the jar one afternoon when it's original occupant, Dark Plug, got kind of low and housing was needed for a pound of the DFS. Kind of like distant relatives needing a place to stay...and then not leaving...the Man Who Came to Dinner...etc. Anywho, I noticed a subtle but nice shift in the Plug, toward the scented side, so I just ended up keeping them together.

NOW I just add new DFS into the jar with a good mixing session and get the aged (usually I add about a half pound every six months) and fresh together. Other posts have talked about this mixing of aged and fresh recently and I just thought to post it here as I just got a fresh halfer of DFS from 4N's to blend into the mix.

To me, this is about the peak of what Dark Flake Scented can offer - a blending of 12 month, 6 month and fresh components is (IMHO) about ideal. This is a total guess, of course, but given time and consumption rates, etc. I'd guess the ratio of new to old to be something like 50% fresh, 33% six month and 17% 12 month. But there could easily be orts and smidgens of 18 month and 24 month in declining percentages. Whatever the mix, it such a cool smoking, savory and yet ham fisted blend I refer to it as "the Velvet Hammer".

Keeping a fairly fresh infusion of scenting to osmose (or whatever) the Dark Plug ain't hurtin' that none either!

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

I am a recent convert to "The Velvet Hammer," and I have to say it's a very satisfying smoke. However, for me the nicotine factor is quite daunting and DFS often leaves me feeling like I just had Thanksgiving dinner with an extra piece of pie. :drunken:  I think a pound of DFS would probably last me a life time, but I do love the fullness of its flavor and it's exceptionally balanced.

If I had the constitution for it, I'd smoke it with more frequency but at this point I don't think I can ever be comfortable with its strength so I have been smoking it in a dinky little clay pipe. I smoke it about once a week and I tread lightly.

I agree though, it's great tobacco.

 

[Blackhorse]

I agree, as do most sentient smokers, that DFS is very potent...requiring the same level of caution as a Spring bear hunt. lol

I credit my taste for this, and other potent flakes, twists and ropes, for my penchant for small pipes...chief among them the noble Prince. But I've found that these flakes, etc. seem to do as well or better in tall narrow bowls. Whichever, I have a nice and slowly growing collection of small bowled pipes, dedicated to the Gawith bad boy blends.

 

[juanmedusa]

DFS is an awesome baccy. Never gotten involved in this Velvet Hammer method. My smoking rate is probably too low to do this effectively. Love the post though.

 

[Blackhorse]

Juan - even though it might not be half pounds of DFS in a big baletop jar...it might be done with tins of some Dunhill Light Flake or Greg Pease's Cairo (I've done it with Samarra) or 2oz bags of C&D Night Train or Riverboat Gambler...or whatever!

Just a little sumthin' suumthin' to add interest and get the membership playing in their tobacco labs (official BoB white lab coats are sold out at this time, check again later).

8)

 

[williamcharles]

I lucked out with DFS. I like the taste and my wife likes the room note. BINGO!

 

[AJ]

I often mix a little Dark Plug into some of my own mixtures for a little added kick but one day I decided to mix it with some DFS and it was quite good. The scented flavor had hardly changed at all, maybe just a tad weaker. It made for a nice nicotine kick for sure. I usually have 3-4 ounces of the DP/DFS mix on hand for a change of pace. It certainly isn't a boring smoke by any anyone's standards.

Dave I think it was you that got me to try the Dark Flake Scented. I've had many enjoyable smokes since. Thanks for your encouragement.

AJ

 

[Blackhorse]

AJ - you're most welcome. If you ever want a very similar (to me) flavor experience but a lesser nic hit try No. 7 Broken Flake. It has about half the nic and as an added benefit that it DGT's quite well...whereas DFS and DP don't DGT well.

Just a thought.

 

[puros_bran]

Doing something I rarely do these days and firing up a pipe.. Perhaps it's the autumn in the air.

Dark Flake Scented. 2004. In a little group 3 Sav second, pipes probably 30 years old or so guessing from the markings.