Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Brown Irish Sweet Chocolate Rose

This seems to only come in small bagged samples. From the description, I was looking forward to this. I was a bit disappointed with the two samples I've tried. It was certainly Brown Irish; based on memories of Brown Irish and similar ropes, most recently of Brown Bogie, it was smoother than I expected but it wasn't sweet and the chocolate was fairly faint and the rose even less so. They were there, barely, for me. Perhaps I smoke too much Grasmere to appreciate a lighter touch with the florals. Recommended for fans of Brown Irish and similar ropes who might enjoy some light Lakeland flavors as well. Others stay far away.

The Virginia is boldly earthy with a dark fruit taste. I believe some Kentucky burley is also present because I continually sense a nutty earthiness that I associate with it. I get a little cocoa, not as much as I expected, but it's smooth and creamy in a rather minor role. The floral rose essence is very noticeable, more at the front than the finish, but even at the end, its presence is obvious. While the toppings do mute the tobacco flavor, you'll definitely get the latter in every puff to various degrees. Has a decent nic-hit. Needs some dry and prep time as G&H ropes normally will. Burns slow and requires relights. The moisture level in the bowl depends on how you dry it. I leave a little moisture in the tobacco, but can smoke it to ash. Will ghost a briar. Not so strong that you couldn't repeat it during your smoking day, but it's not an all day smoke. Has a very pleasant after taste and the room note doesn't scare away your women or your cats. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks

Gawith Hoggarth - Brown Twist Sweet Chocolate Rose.

The smell from the pouch is mainly roses, I can't really pick out any cocoa. I find this easy to prepare, although it's thick once sliced into coins they rub out easily. If I draw through the filled pipe whilst un-lit it gives a very floral taste, almost like a warning of the smoke that's about to follow! When it's lit I struggle to identify any chocolate, the rose taste is too much to allow anything other to come through. At the beginning the flavour is quite straight forward, granted I don't like it but it gives a simple rose taste but sadly after the first ten minutes it develops a bitterness which is most unpleasant. Again, due to the strong floral note I can't comment on the tobacco flavours as they too are masked. An area that I find easy to notify is nicotine. Oh my, it has a kick to it! The room note has the same quality I have found the whole way through, all roses and nothing else! Do no smoke this in a favoured pipe as the ghost is sure to taint it for a while.

The easiest thing to do with this blend (apart from binning it) is score it.... one star.

Worst tobacco I've ever purchased. A pure nightmare to get going and requires constant relighting. Dreadful taste and room note. I can only taste nicotine. I've tried it through a briar, pearwood and corncob. Burns best in corncob. Tried blending with other tobaccos but just ruined them. Someone had written that it taste like a stripped down cigar. They are obviously not cigar smokers. Do I regret purchasing it? No. You cannot comment on something you haven't tried. I wanted so much to like this.