Update 2/11/2013: After enjoying an overly large bowl of this filled to overflowing I have updated my strength rating to 'Very Strong' for the nicotine. I need to remember to enjoy this one in modest volumes. Yikes.

Fortunately, I did heed his advice. After a few puffs, I could feel myself turn blue and nauseous. This tobacco is STRONG. Not only was it strong, it tasted like I was smoking burnt steak – like smoking charcoal. Much as I tried finishing the bowl, I could only finish a third of it. I discarded what was left in my pipe and traded my nearly full tin of SG Black XX Twist (Rope) for my friends half consumed tin of SG Best Brown Flake.

Is this a bad tobacco? I don’t think so. Maybe one can argue that I’m not used to smoking strong tobaccos. I would strongly disagree with that as part of my regular rotation include Gawith, Hoggarth & Co.’s Dark Flake U/S, Brown Flake U/S and Dark Bird’s Eye. Maybe I was a little bit off that night that may have caused such a distasteful experience.

The fact that Samuel Gawith has this on the market means that there are people who do like this blend. If ever there is a pipe tobacco that would make me raise the white flag, THIS IS IT! This tobacco is definitely not for the faint of heart. This is for the more EXPERIENCED SMOKER. I've been smoking for 5 years and still consider myself a newbie at this. Even my “veteran” friends treats this tobacco with great respect. I strongly suggest that you do the same.

Will I ever give it another chance? Maybe in the future… the distant future. For now, I would SOMEWHAT RECOMMEND this.

The tobacco laid there, looking at me with a cantankerous grin. Like a pretentious turd. (Sorry, everyone is right, this looks like poop.)

The tin note was strong, oily and heavenly.

Man, this stuff is thick! I sliced off a couple of coins, and proceeded to disassemble them completely. This left me with a lot of nice thick ribbons, maybe too thick because they wouldn't stay lit, even after a night of drying. The tobacco had a wonderful silky texture to it, and packed effortlessly.

I got some good smoke out of this bowl though, much better than the first. I just don't think I grasp the preparation yet. I mean, at least it smokes, but practice makes perfect.

The first few puffs upon lighting reminded me of a strong cigarette. Not entirely offensive, seeing as this is a no holds barred, straight up tobacco. As the bowl progressed, and tamping ensued, I was beginning to finally find the charred meat flavor. This stuff is definitely not for wimps. Thank god I have brass balls. Nicotine and I are the best of friends as it is, so that cantankerous grin faded to brilliant white ash. Just beautiful. I smoked this on an empty belly, which I filled with coffee as I smoked. Not that scary. I even inhaled a little bit and it wasn't too bad. I try that with everything I smoke. If I can't stand it after that, it's bad, but this is glorious.

The flavor doesn't waver too much in this, but my god, I haven't been in such a blissful state since my first CC which was a Cuaba soloman. I could smoke this before bed and sleep for a day, why do I have to go work?!

The overplayed reviews of being similar to motor oil, burnt meat and other lack luster phrases have been swept away. I even found some raw sweetness here, it was wonderful. I think this is a creeper.

I can certainly see how many puffers would not smoke this every day. However, I am not one of them. This is going to become a staple I think, if I can ever get the prep thing down pat.

If you have a problem going #2, this will help. It's strange how tobacco does that. EDIT:

Oh sweet Jesus! Just finished the most perfect bowl of this stuff! I used a thinner cut on the coins this time and didn't rub them like I did last time, I actually "rubbed" them instead unfurling them, and let them dry for a couple of hours in the open.

Once again, because I fear nothing, this was on an empty stomach with strong coffee!

I feel simply euphoric. I definitely cannot smoke this if I have to work on the same day. Too much euphoria and a heavy desire to slumber.

I can't believe I forgot to mention this, but there is absolutely NO lakeland essence in this either.

Robust, greasy, beefy, earthy and smoky, and it’s just a VA blend, no more: Samuel, how could you create this??? You’re the undiscussed Lord of blenders!!! SG comes first, all the others follow….

This baccy is simply fantastic, unique, nothing similar yet. First of all we have to say that black is not brown: this rope is really different from the other SG one (BRN4). A bit lighter in N dept and less earthy and more smoky.

Opening the tin you can find a greasy black rope, dark as the night, very thick and with a deep complex aroma, rich of nuances: earth, grill smoke, burnt oil and in the background dried fruits as raisin and fig; just a hint of nut.

I slice the rope in about 1 mm slices, let them dry out for a little while and then load my bowl. It is very easy to light and burns very well, for a rich smoky and cool smoke. At first puffs I find it a bit harsh but just a little while later it gets round and going throgh the bowl the sweetness of VA comes out, so its nuances of dried fruit.

It’s strong and rich in the N factor, but not as its big brother BRN4. I never find it overwhelming or sicking, rich for sure, but always pleasant. It got at once one of my favorites. Not for the morning, but perfect after a good lunch or dinner. Pure tobacco taste, not for aromatic lovers, only for straight tobacco fans.

Very good mixed in equal proportion with BRN4.

Simply fantastic, if possible I’d rate it more than 4 stars!!!!

This is definitely a strong tobacco. I had a good night's sleep and a full meal before enjoying it, and I'm glad I did. There's plenty of nicotine in here. To me, it tasted of salted meat with a good dose of pepper, with slight notes of a sweet, buttery nut flavor. The flavors stay consistent to the bottom of the bowl.

I've smoked it the way it would likely have been smoked by most mountain men, cut into coins and jammed straight into the bowl, with a single coin rubbed out and put on top to aid lighting, as well as completely rubbed out. The whole coins last a whole lot longer (in a pipe that generally lasts 30 to 35 minutes, I get over an hour), but are a genuine pain to keep lit. The rubbed out bowls last quite a while, and burn smoothly straight through.

The significant other can't stand the smell of the heavy smoke as it whirls from the bowl, and I can't say I blame her. It's just about as strong as the tobacco itself.

I don't count this among my favorites, but I'll definitely be keeping some on hand for when the mood strikes me.

It actually reminded me of my favorite cigar: the Partagas Black.

I cut 1/4 inch thick medallions and rubbed them out. I smoked it in a small-bowled Capri pipe. It did take a few tries to get it lit. It also required numerous relights. However, it may just be that I didn't allow the tobacco to dry out enough before smoking.

It's not an all-day smoke. It's to be sipped and savored after a heavy meal. It's a sweet, meaty, muscular tobacco; a real man's tobacco. It definitely has a high nicotine content that may catch you off guard if you are unprepared.

Overall, this has instantly become one of my favorites.

However, I have a tendency to smoke a bit too fast so I got a bit carried away once I was able to keep a light, and consequently I was floored by the nicotine hit. The flavor is smoky, though not in a latakia sense. It is a much deeper and darker flavor. It brings to mind the flavor of a nice grilled steak. I enjoy it best after a nice helping of corned beef and cabbage. Amazing! My wife doesn't agree with the room note at all, so I make sure to burn strong incense while I'm smoking this stuff.

This is definitely not a tobacco for the meek and will readily break its foot off in your ass if you don't give it the proper respect. Give it the space it needs and it will reward you with a beautiful, rich smoke. Definitely recommended, especially to nicotine lovers!

P.S. Don't let the ugliness of the rope turn you off. It DOES look like something that my cats would leave behind in the litter box, but smells more like chipotles and motor oil.

Of course everyone has varying tastes, and like many, mine from the word go, was for the full flavored hearty stuff. And if you have the same tendencies for strong traditional tastes, this is definitely for you.

You may have noticed the frequent mentions of difficulty or even awkwardness in preparing and smoking the stuff. Don't fret. That's what this site is for! Learn from what others have done, or 'standing on the shoulders of giants'. I have, evidently, stood on many here, because all that's necessary to enjoy this stuff is to simply cut slices to your own preference, (and you'll learn that quickly,) and let it dry out for a while. Take your time with it, and you'll get your hazy-dream-like camera effect thing to help you progress to the next scene with Audrey Hepburn.

Soli Deo Gloria!

I recommend using this by mixing it with a milder blend, perhaps an aromatic. Notes of creosote, charred oak, fusel oil, and gunpowder. Very strong when smoked alone. But adds stoutness & body to milder smokes. Not for the faint of heart. But awesome in its own way!

I received encouragement from some and goading from others to give it a go, so I did. Black XX was definitely a surprise! I liked it and hope if you have not tried it, you might give it a shot anyway. Some of the descriptions may be due to how different Black XX looks, rubs out and tastes different than most any other pipe weed.

I cut a 1/4" disk off the sample piece and had to shred it with my fingers. It did not seem to want to rub out very easily for me. I loaded it in a MM Diplomat cob and went out to the back porch.

It was a little difficult to light, but once going, easily stayed lit to the bottom of the bowl. I found many surprises from Black XX. The flavor is smooth and nice. It tasted like a combination of dark ale w/o the sweetness, the crispy end of a smoked brisket and a maduro wrapped cigar rolled into one.

Also surprising was the fact that it burned very cool. Cobs generally emimate quite a bit of heat from the bowl for me, but Black XX barely caused my Diplomat to get warm. There was zero tongue bite through the entire smoke. The flavor was consitant from top to bottom.

I wouldn't smoke this in the house due to the pungent room note, but it's not offensive to some as you would believe. My wife, who is picky about what tobacco smells she likes & doesn't said, "It smells like an older man's cigar". She said it wasn't intollerable, but would not approve it for the house (expected).

If you haven't tried this, don't be scared off by others. Smoke a bowl and form your own opinion. That said, I would not recommend this for a newbie pipe smoker that does not have a developed palate for toby yet.

Open tin appearance:looks like a greasy turd,dark and oily,or a small diameter skinny black pudding sausage(dried pigs blood in intestines skin)

Tin aroma:licoricy diesal engine sump oil,,no beefy meaty aroma,,(well i bought this hoping it would taste like a pepper steak apparently)...Also this doesn't have any creosote aroma because this has no oriental in it,,;this is pure engine oil..

Handling:this is quite moist and hard to tear(felt like my dick in my hand except smaller and less heavy :¬) I cut a few 1/4" thick discs with a stanley knife and rub them out to produce a small pliant bundle that feels what i imagine cut up bat wings would feel like,,,..It doesn't crumble like "revor plug" which has a simular feel of moisture.. (very rubbery like an oily jiggler dangler skeleton or cabbage)

Loading pipe:Using a clay 6" georgian(my favourite allrounder pipe),loaded about 3/4 high for a trial, i try lighting with my pipe zippo...:It doesn't want to burn on its own,,so basically this is definately a prepare and let dry first type of tobacco... its not instantly smokable,,,um,,,i believe that is partly due to this being marketed as a chew as well as a smoke.(might try chewing but fear over exposure is harmful)

Reloading pipe:Tipping it out again and leaving it for 1/2 an hour its ready and dryer,,;but still didn't ignite as well as i hoped,i gave it a bit more tempering and used a hotter gas lighter this time..

Flavour:Of a dark monotone(but likeable-ish)tarry full flavour with obvious nicoteen,,;i hyperventilate purposely to see what its got,;slightly sweet,burning oil couldron flavour with slight burnt beef, but more carbonic,,,;this is ok with me because it tastes industrial in a tasty way as opposed to a burnt bitter lard fat/greasy manky oven flavour, which "dunhill nightcap"had, which i tried and failed to like once...I can't say i was blown away by the flavour or taste,;but i had recently been using the clay pipe i had to smoke some "irish flake"(which i quite liked) and so perhaps there was some cross over ghost hiding the subtle "black xx" flavour?(i hope) To be honest i was expecting a mega beef stock punch to come with this and it failed to deliver in tin aroma or the first bowl...:¬/ (i was already spoiled by tasting "G,H kendal twist large DARK XX plug 25g " first(Note:there is no category of this tobacco mentioned here on this site yet;i contacted gawith and hoggarth for product information but i haven't got a reply yet,i really want to recommend that tobacco because it is the most strong tasting meaty beefy nicoteeny baccy i have ever smoked! but i currently lack information on it to introduce it to this database)

Room note:OIL,like machine tool gear cutting oil that smokes a bit on the hot freshly cut metal swarf shavings,,(i smoke this in a factory i'm working in as i review this)

Post pipe aftertaste:OILY;not neceassarily moreish,but there is a slight liquid "baxters beef consomme with sherry"stock flavour going on with black pepper and olive oil perhaps,,,but its no oxo cube gravy or a packet of twiglets addiction...Will try it again later.

More:There is no soap whatsoever and no tongue bite either,,Full bodied for sure;and this has stout ala guiness or dark treakle and a density factor,but in someway its not massively flavoured in taste(strong but one dimensional);its strong but not really a flavour as much as a sensation of diesal in the mouth after syphoning some..... ! ...... Its tobacco but it doesn't taste like cigarettes,cigars,or pipe tobacco,,,;this is my first rope so i have no comparison by which to judge,,,i bought some "brown #4" to try as well(perhaps it tastes like smoking chewing tobacco?) To be honest i am smoking this wishing it was "gawith&hoggarths kendal twist large cut dark xx plug" which i thought this was a rope version of ;-it is not and so i got it wrong (differnet make as well)and i will try to judge this "black xx" on its own merit..

I can't be bothered to try chewing it because i can't be arsed to be spitting everywhere like a dirty bastard...(probably ok if working outside or in a coal mine)

One virtue it definately has in its industrial room note is that because i smoke it in a factory on night shift where i am not actually supposed to smoke by law,,,;it doesn't leave a lingering aromatic odour in the balcony office area where day staff will say"who's been smoking a pipe in here?" Its room note is as perfectly camofluaged in my working enviroment as tobacco can get in an engineering machine shop...It doesn't cloy my overal overcoat either like an oriental-esque "balkan mixture"

Its strength is perfect for somebody who works and wants a good nic fix to get working with,who doesn't want a long satisfying aromatic flavoursome smoke..

A few bowls later:-sliced thinner and put into a bud grinder to tear into smaller raggy pellets for better bowl airflow brought about a better burn and taste(same as before but stronger) What was noticed with this as well as the "peterson irish flake" which i had tried about 4 flakes worth the same night was that; they both produced a slightly peppery parafin-esque/white spirits/turps/ vodka nicoteen spirit vapour aftertaste which i was not sure i liked but could tolerate in "irish flake" better because it had more flavour to disguise it(the liquid nicoteen),,,this maybe because i had really smoked these wet and not given a chance to try out dried,,,:to give a fair review i will dry this out incase i am missing something better.

For now this review is pending further reviewing(note:i have just tried my first sample of "brown #4" which seems much more mild and friendly than this , while i have about 25g of "black xx" shredded and drying out as much as i can so that it hopefully smokes better)

FINAL OPPINION : Letting some preshredded totally dry out and then stored in a jar with a few intact peices has greatly improved the smoke,,,,;gone is the spirit aftertaste and it seems more mild. It burns a lot easier now as well;i think it came in the most vacuum packed tin i have ever seen;it was practiacally imploding which means the baccy inside was being stretched;this is charecteristic of all tinned baccy in that it will light at first, then get harder as it returns to normal pressure by shrinking;you then have to wait for the moisture in it to go before it will light easy.. Its a stout flavour (oil and black pepper;quite peppery like on a pepper steak)and would accomodate a stout drink with it,,,;its aftertaste is a bit burn't and bitter(imagine roofing pitch if that helps)but its ok while you are smoking it,,,,;i found cola the best chaser to go with it to be honest.

I have also blended it 50/50 with "brown #4" which gives more depth of flavour and together they fill in eachothers holes in tastes,,,like a good mesh of gears..

I have found myself craving it for its strength factor in small doses,,:i think its a great workmans strong smoke who needs a kick and is thinking about something else completely other than tobacco tasting..

Would i buy this(or simular) again? That will depend on if i cannot get hold of "gawith and hoggarths large cut dark twist xx plug" which has a pure roast beef flavour as well as the stout factor(steak and ale).. This is ok though, but i feel that i am smoking it wishing it was something else,,,;some people prefer coke and others pepsi if you get my drift,,but then again sometimes my mood is such that i fancy the blackest of blackness of which this is the quintessential stout example..

UPDATE 12/04/11 I think this is a sound purchase and i have grown to like it for its cut down pure no compromise potency,being stored in a glass jar and allowed to air has emancipated it hidden qualities,this is as strong as pipe tobacco gets as far as a combination of total stout and strength can get,,,i still like other tobacco's of course,but this has a stand alone quality and unique individual personalty to be an honoury member of my tobacco in crowd..

Update 21/05/11:Having had some jarred for a couple of month i can say that it gets milder and more approachable.. The tobacco has lost its rubberyness and cured into a more leathery licorice consistany.. While this like the Brown #4 rope which i also have,have got milder and easier to smoke;the strongest tobacco i know is Irish Flake which has got even more stronger out of the tin..

It takes a lot of preparing, and isn't easy to keep alight. Smoke it in a small bowl; take it slowly, or it really will floor you; beware of the ghost: this will stay in your pipe for a long time.

Great luck, and don't say you weren't warned. This is strong stuff that'll kill you quick if you don't approach it with caution.

I am a big S&G fan, I thought the could not make bad baccy, I was wrong

It taste like smoking rubber

I can't think of any one I hate enough to give the rest of this tin to. OK maybe I'm exaggerating it would be a great gift for Politicians, especially the Anti-Smoking Nazis