Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Bright CR Plug

The various Virginias are grassy/hay-like with some tangy citrus, a little earth, wood, darker fruit and some vegetation just as they are in the flake version. The differences between that and the plug is the latter is a little sweeter, and a little more floral, though the Lakeland strength is just a percentage point or two more noticeable. The flavors are deeper and stronger due to the pressing of the plug, which is common. It requires some prep and dry time, but I found it better if it’s not completely dried out. Otherwise, you’ll lose a little of what makes this even better than the flake version. The strength is medium, while the taste is a couple of steps past that mark. The nic-hit is nearly medium. Won't bite, and and has no harsh or bitter notes. Burns slow, cool and clean with a very consistent sweet, grassy floral taste that translates to the pleasantly lingering after taste and room note. Not quite an all day smoke, but it is repeatable.

-JimInks

I’m a fan of Bright CR Flake so the plug was a natural transition. This is a tightly pressed plug and if you don’t like messing with plugs of this nature, the flake is a better choice as there is definitely some work involved with this blend. If you are willing to take the time though, the rewards are worth it. I prefer to smoke it by gravity loading the lower half of the bowl with very small chunks, and then some thin shavings topped off with a small amount rubbed out to get things going. BCRP is pretty straight forward with little in the way of complexity, but I’m OK with that because the flavor is deeper and richer than the flake version. I also find it to be a tad stronger than the flake as well. There are mainly high notes and my feelings with the plug, as with the flake, is that “Lakeland style” flavoring is more a result of the leaf and/or processing rather than an applied topping. BCRP is lightly sweet and a touch earthy in taste. For whatever reason, I really enjoy the flake on the dry side and I like the plug that way too. But, I do keep a tad bit more moisture present in the plug in order to keep the shavings from turning to dust. There is no bite, even when pushed and I would expect this to cellar well and develop faster than the flake when cellared.

Gawith Hoggarth - Bright CR Plug.

It took me quite a while to cut and prepare this, it's a very firm/hard pressed plug but on the plus side it's easily worth the hard work! As I mentioned, it's a very firm plug so a good sharp blade is imperative to slice it, if the knife isn't any good be prepared for a laborious task! Once I have a small pile of the prepared tobacco I take a smell of it, it doesn't state that there are toppings of any kind but along side the Virginia aroma there is a slightly disquiet musty fragrance detected.

Because I spent a good proportion of time on the prep' it afforded me the opportunity to create quite fine pieces and once lit I am glad I took my time. The burn is decidedly good, it burns consistent and only needs a 'boost' with the flame if I allow it to sit un-puffed for too long. As it is smoked it accumulates a crust like ash which needs sporadic tapping/scraping otherwise the smoking will be impeded. The flavour of it summarizes what a Virginia tobacco should taste like, pleasingly the musty tang found in the aroma has been vanquished and all that remains is an honest, true, full Virginia flavour. I have heard how this can bite if smoked voraciously but it hasn't bit me once, regardless of how enthusiastically I smoke it. The Nicotine in Bright Plug CR could possibly be a bit heavy for some, it isn't the strongest but it is easily recognizable. Room note? A straight forward Virginia one, not heavy, not light but a very middle weight one.

I normally tend to steer clear of plug tobaccos but this really remunerates the time spent getting it sliced and ready, hence four stars!