I prefer to buy this stuff pre-sliced, although the preparation of the unsliced rope has a certain charm and the rope is easy to carry around. The disks that result from slicing (whether one does it oneself or has it done by the vendor) look like dabs of tar. They are rubbery, an impression that is enhanced by a clear phenolic whiff that they give off that is delightful. If you are a drinker of Islay scotch, that smell alone will set your mouth watering! Packing is easy--just stuff the disks into the pipe, perhaps with a bit of a crunch-and-rub. A bit of drying helps, as is usually the case. Frankly, I've never had the guts to try this in anything but a small-bowled pipe (preferably a churchwarden), but I am still comfortable saying that this is what it is best in. Don't pack too tightly or you're in for impossible relights! It takes the match well and burns slowly and evenly, producing copious smoke.

The flavor is rich, rugged, and pure. And, yes, there's plenty of nicotine, but only a small amount of self-discipline is needed to ensure that this doesn't become overwhelming. I've never gotten even a slight bite from this stuff. While there is a small amount of background sweetness, it is very slight (frankly, I'd like just a wee bit more--I've got a couple of pounds aging and hope that a few years in the jar will augment the sweetness).

This is a regular go-to for me. As an accompaniment to a strong single malt it cannot be beat. Solid, strong, and deeply satisfying, this is what pipe smoking is all about.

I will also say this... If you DO mix this, be prepared for the burned beef flavor.

I will give this blend a 3 of 4 simply because of the flavor. If I could find a similar blend in aromatic, 4 of 4.

I was on the look-out for a strong yet good-mannered tobacco with a lot of nicotine. Thought I'd give this one a whirl after reading the reviews here (I'm a noob smoker).

Upon my first few puffs, I said to myself "This just isn't going to be strong enough for me". By the time I had smoked about 2/3's of the bowl, I was zipping along very nicely on one of the best nic rides I've ever had; and yet, it is not a "kick you in the face and make you hiccup" nic punch. What I mean is: In your mouth, you really never taste any harsh nicotine, as you do with some strong tobaccies; and the nic effects don't jump out at you right away. It seems very subtle- but yet the effects of the nic become very apparent, gradually. In my opinion, this is exactly the way a quality tobacco should be- and indeed is, with Black Irish X.

The smoke stayed cool (You just can't heat this one up- and I'm a fast smoker) and no hint of tongue bite. It produces a thick, rich creamy smoke all the way through the bowl.

I usually don't taste what other reviewers taste, but in this case, as others have stated, it truly does have the flavor of a beef-jerky beefsteak- yet not overpoweringly so. That taste is rather subtle. You taste it readily upon lighting...and then just get teased with occassional little treats of that taste every now and then as you work your way through the bowl [Personally, I wish that that flavor was more in evidence in every puff]

This has replaced both Peterson's Irish Flake and SG's 1792 as my favorite smoke. It's about the highest quality tobacco I've encountered. It looks like a turd; feels like a hunk of Slim-Jim brand Beefsteak beef jerky; is fast and easy to prepare, and is just the ultimate pleasure to smoke. Can't wait till all my other tobaccos are gone, as I'll be buying a big quantity of this and it will be my main smoke. After smoking this, it is going to be nigh impossible to find something else that I can use as a #2 to switch off to.

This tobacco HAS IT ALL!

PS: An interesting thing about this baccie: Even though it's a rather strong and earthy tobaccy, amazingly, it leaves your mouth feeling clean and refreshed! Not minty or anything....just nice and clean and fresh. Amazing! Must be the fact that this is a good ol' old-world tobacco. Give me a bowl or two of this while I'm watching Columbo, and I am in heaven!

Black Irish X is shocking far more rounded at the edges in terms of body than the brown ropes; this, of course, from being stoved somewhat, makes it a better all-around smoke in my opinion.

I never slice this cord, but rather, I sheer off about 1/2 to 3/4 in (around 1cm) of it with a pair of cigar scissors, then I gently unwrap a few strands, rolling those up to put at the bottom of my clay tavern pipe, and shove the rest of the log straight in.

After this, I use a pick to spread it out a bit on top, and light it directly. I will say up-front that this means it will easily go out, and you may need a dozen relights over the next two hours: Oh yes, this smokes cool and long.

As with ny very strong tobacco, you will want a dedicated briar for this type of rope or plug, or a clay. I prefer the latter, as I feel that the level of nicotine and tar leeched out by the clay smooths the smoke further, and this was the type of pipe around when plugs and twists were predominant, so the two mesh well together.

If you use a briar, you will need to let it rest properly, as it will sour quickly with any strong VAs. Try it however you prefer, but clay is really your best bet for the full experience.

If you have a large bowl, you will need to slice it. I find this not as enjoyable, and this is the sort of stuff that begs for a light spreading, rather than slicing, so a small opening and medium depth bowl will suit you best.

This is also a tobacco that ages exceptionally well, and you can expect to see plume develop in a couple years.

If you are not a fan of stronger tobaccos at all, then you want to stray a good distance away from this, however if you occasionally enjoy something more authentic and classical, and have had issues with being overpowered, you may wish to consider Black Irish X, as it is more mellow and easy-tempered than its cousins.

On the other hand, if you enjoy plug and rope regularly, this will be a welcomed addition to your rotation.

I smoked this stuff at a local village fete and had people looking around asking where they could find the barbeque. Bizarrely, someone thought I was smoking a sausage (Uncanny! Almost as if they'd seen it before I'd sliced it into coins).

Definitely not an everyday smoke. This is a "meat aromatic" novelty.

It's sold loose, so I'd recommend buying a couple of inches and trying it for the experience.

As a reasonably heavy cig smoker I wanted a late night or possibly whisky evening smoke that could finish the night off with a bit of kick but this blend took it too far for me.

The light is not as difficult as some would make you think if you give this bacci 20 minutes to breathe but may need a few relights during the smoke as its hard to keep puffing away on this monster.

The initial taste and room note are of burnt meat or the opening light of a coal fire, hard to imagine until you taste but take your time and you find the mid bowl is very smooth.

Leaves a strong ghost in the pipe.

Hardly bites despite strength.

Would avoid unless you are after something different or a challenge.

Still, despite my review and the others this is a quality tobbaco if not all that enjoyable.

It must have been meant of chewing at some point. It looks like it would be much better for chewing.

I cut several 1/8 thick disc from the rope, and tried to smoke them without any drying time, mistake. First of all I could not keep them lit, they were too moist, and what smoke/steam I did get was NOT very good, to say the least, nothing like any Virginia I ever tasted before, yuk. So I did the obvious, I crumbled up a disk, and let it dry out, until almost breakable. Now things got interesting. To start with, light up and burn went without a problem, the initial smoke was mild, with a faint taste of something anise like, tasty, but very unique for a almost pure Virginia blend. As the bowl burned down the strength increased to what I would call medium strong, producing a mouth feel ((not taste)) of a stronger Honduran cigar. The taste seems to improve as the bowl burned, providing a faint sweetness and some interesting, if not unusual Virginia flavors. Really quite expectable.

I never encountered any tongue bite or harshness, but be ready for some vitamin “N”, in my case not a big problem, because I used a very small bowled cob pipe, dedicated to crazy tobaccos like this one. Overall, not nearly the monster I imagined, just a basic somewhat strong tobacco, not too different from many other old time plugs. Actually with a little experience and patience it’s a respectable smoke. I would recommend to anyone that would enjoy stepping back in time, preparing his own smoke from a basic shoved plug. For THAT person, 3 stars. But If you tend to be a little on the anal side about details, forget this one, and move on.

Black Irish X presents itself as a dark, dense rope of tobacco, a bit thicker than an index finger, comprised of a stout solid core of tobacco wrapped in a few leaves that are thin as onionskin.

To smoke this tobacco, it is best to either cut it into coins or shave it into curls with a sharp knife. It is my understanding that tobacco in rope or twist form was usually chewed first, and then left to dry before smoking it.

This tobacco is best enjoyed outdoors, early in the morning, on an autumn evening, or on the porch during a summer storm. I would recommend it not be smoked indoors, unless you want your house to smell like a burning chicken coop for several days. The room note is very strong, and far from pleasant.

I recommend this tobacco because I feel it is an edifying and bracing experience to smoke. If you want to experience a bit of history, and test your mettle as well, give Black Irish X a try.

Even if it turns out not to be to your taste, having a twist of this black rope tobacco around the house makes a interesting subject for starting a conversation.

Pipes used in testing: Savinelli 606 KS, Saint-Claude basket pipe, Peterson Tankard

Replace the name Russia with Black Irish Twist (or X) and you have a good description. I don't love it. I don't hate it. Yet, I don't feel it's neutral or boring. It is very different. Not your grab it anytime smoke. I can't really find words to describe this tobacco or even how I feel about it. I'm usually pretty wordy.

I suggest taking a small, clay pipe and working your way slowly through an ounce of this stuff under various conditions and environments, moods, and other variables and see where you come out on the other end. Then decide. I'm working on it myself.

If nothing else, this is one tobacco every exploratory pipe smoker should at least try, and preferably observe in the wild over time. Dedicate a clay to it and let it be a walk away from the regular world for awhile. Not something I will reach for often, but when in the mood for something a little surreal perhaps.

Update 10/04/10: (A one star downgrade) Well, I've been playing with this a little more and the intrigue wears thin. I actually got a bit nauseous from it one day. Not a Nic Mulekick kind of bleh. Just bleh. It still has a tiny moment now and then of "interesting." It has just grown into a relationship much like with our grown daughter. Nice to see her for a few days once or twice a year, then happy to see the plane leave with her on it, knowing it will be at least another six months or more before we see her again. Anything else is just too taxing.

Yes, the flavours and texture of the smoke are both full and rich and yes, it contains nicotine (but not in the HUGE doses some would have you believe). And I can see how the combination of these factors is overwhelming to some but I find it an abolutely delicious experience.

There are no fake flavourings to muddy your encounter with the top class leaf which forms this oily black coil.

Laid on a solid chopping board, a sharp knife will slice perfect roundlets of tobacco which rub out easily and require little if any drying time. Being in a rope seems to keep this stuff alive for longer (in terms of moisture) so you can buy it in large amounts without worrying that it's glory will have faded before you get a chance to smoke it.

The taste is, as some have commented, vaguely reminisant of engine oil (but in a good way)although the meatiness others have mentioned, I experience somehow more in the texture of the thick plumes of creamy rich smoke than in the taste. There is a slight background sweetness, as in a strong malt beer, which is enough to give interest and depth to the flavour without becoming overpowering or cloying.

This is a Tobacco's Tobacco. If it were human it would be 6'2" have a thick beard, wear check shirts and possess the kind of chest which makes you stand back a few paces if you want to see it all at the same time, it wouldn't speak much but everyone would know when it did and it's hands would be thick and rough from a hard days graft. But it wouldn't punch you without enduring the kind of provocation that would leave most people in the hospital. This tobacco would never steal your wallet and it would give up it's seat for a lady...I don't really know where I'm going with this anymore...

It's strong and plain (but not boring) and I absolutely could not get it to bite, at all. I honestly don't know why everyone doesn't love this stuff. You need to try it, even if it's just once.

I must say that I whole-heartedly agree with every review. I see how this could be a horrible experience to many. I can’t actually say that it was a good experience, but I have just shy of 4 oz. left, and I promise you it will not go to waste. One comment on many of the other comments, the nicotine isn’t THAT strong. The burning flesh taste and smell aside, which I somehow liken to the Lakeland soap taste (something that probably should have no business in a tobacco smoking experience, but I’m glad it does) this is a generally smooth smoke. But I still dare you…

The smell of the tobacco in the pack is excellent. Deeply woody, almost earthy with quite a smoky, cigar-like overtone. The appearance is mildly off-putting, resembling a bent black cigar, but the aroma makes up for that.

Preparation was easy enough. I have an excellent French made Opinel knife which made short work of slicing up a portion into pieces the size and thickness of a penny (a UK one that is). Based on the reviews I have read I expected the tobacco to need some drying but no, not at all. It rubbed out very easily making packing the pipe a breeze.

I smoked it in a Peterson 317, which has a suitably small sized bowl (for those who aren't familiar with Petes). It lit very easily and required only one more light to finish off the bowl. It smoked good and clean all the the way leaving only grey ash and no dottle.

Now for the flavour. In a word, wow! Most impressive. It smokes dry so the flavour stayed pretty much the same all the way down. The flavour of the smoke mirrors that of the tobacco in the pack; earthy, woody, smoky and altogether just as a plain tobacco should be. I had expected it to be stronger tasting. In fact, based on those reviews I expected something like Irish Flake but more so (and I am not over keen on Irish Flake - it gives me heartburn!). While Black Irish is certainly strong in flavour is is exceptionally smooth and tasty, cool smoking and quite unique in my pipe smoking experience. I did make a point of going fairly slowly with it and I am sure that was the right approach. Nicotine level? Fairly high but not excessive, though I think smoking it in a larger pipe might be a bit over the top.

To sum up, this is one that I would recommend to anyone. Four stars all the way.