I prepared Brown rope Number 4 by using a razor blade to slice off thin "coins" from the rope, then rubbed them out and let them sit on a paper plate under a ceiling fan for about thirty minutes to dry. I noticed a peppery mouth feel upon lighting, which may have been the tobacco or may have been the nicotene. Either way, it was not unpleasant. The taste was a full pure tobacco taste, and it did remind me somewhat of smoking a cigar. I smoked most of the tin, but still have a couple of pipefulls of tobacco left. It was a good tobacco, and I would recommend it for someone seeking a strong tobacco with pure taste. However, I won't purchase it again (or any rope tobacco for that matter). There is just too much preparation involved in smoking a bowl for me, I would rather choose another good tobacco that I can just load and light my pipe.

If it looks like scat, and smells like scat...it must BE scat. I have no knowledge whatsoever on whether it tastes like scat.

It looks like something my Rottweiler leaves in the back pasture. The only thing missing is the steam rising in the morning chill. Similar scent.

Sliced a few coins with my trusty Ginzsu, rubbed out and dried thoroughly. Lightly loaded a cob, fired it up. Thick, noxious clouds of white smoke that caused the cat herd to haul ass for fresh air, and me to ponder "why am I wasting my time smoking tobacco that reminds me of something I stepped in?" I threw the cob and turd in the Weber kettle, closed the lid and hoped nobody showed up for a BBQ.

Diagnosis: Feces. Therapeutic Regimen: Glenfiddich Gargle, repeat as needed for relief of symptoms

I got this tobacco out a sense of curiosity and nostalgia. I feel adventurous to smoke this out of a clay pipe as an 18th century colonist or old tar might have. I?m happy I tried it. If you like this I'd recommend Gawith?s Brown Irish Twist: I found it more mellow flavored and less temperamental.

Some friends and I, and our girlfriends, went on a long drive out of state, and I brought along the rest of the rope as I was out of Rum Flake, and wanted something strong to keep me awake while driving.

I made a real discovery: It was blowing fairly hard and I didn't have a windscreen handy, so I decided to chew it instead. Brown Rope #4 really shines is in chewing it. Slice off a coin and break it up, then stick it in your lip. It might be a little disorienting the first time so take it easy. But after 15 minutes, it mellows down and you feel a good buzz and very clear.

I'm going to buy some more of this. It's been around for a long time, and I am starting to see why.

I find that the taste of this tobacco depends a deal on the shape of the bowl from which it is smoked. I find that an apple shaped bowl offers a much sweeter flavour than say a dublin which will offer a more spicey flavour.

The smoke is creamy and thick. No tongue bite whatever, and a great tobaccoe for the ex-cigarette smoker.

Complexity: Not a lot of complexity. Very consistent throughout the bowl.

Aroma: Pungent Virginia with a hint of cigar smoke. It will be very enjoyable for those who like stinky pungent tobacco.

Tin Aroma: Strange, somewhat earthy and cigarish. Obviously smells of Virginia but it is definetely way more pungent than, say, Virginia flakes.

Room note: Well, it depends. If you, like me, enjoy the smell of burning tobacco then you'll love the room note. It's somewhat cigarish.

Burning characteristics: Although it doesn't burn hot it does burn a bit fast. You could cut thicker coins but it changes the flavor. Burns dry and to the bottom.

Cut/Looks/Moisture content: Comes in a rope, somewhat inconvenient to prepare but not a big deal since it's not something I'd smoke every day. Moisture content is fine if you plan on buying a 2 Oz. tin and smoke it over a period of 2 or 3 months, otherwise I'd say it's too moist.

Overall: This is different from what I'm used to. It isn't for the faint of heart since the flavor is very full and even spicy. Not something I'd smoke every day. I enjoy it every couple of days or so.

Not much tin aroma, but what there is reminds me of bread baking in the oven.

Appearance:

It?s a rope.

First Light:

Peppery, lots of smoke. Hot mouthfeel. A little bitterness.

First third:

Some background sweetness. An incense quality. The pepperiness recedes into the background. Marked Virginia sweetness when exhaled through the nose. The palate tingles. There is a good volume of smoke. The sweetness deepens. I could be wrong, but there?s not even one small hint of Burley or Cavendish here, just Virginias. There?s an orange peel-type bitterness here, not at all unpleasant. The nicotine is making itself known, and I put the pipe down to cool off.

Middle third:

The re-light brings no surprises. The Virginia sweetness is there, weaving its way in and out, along with a nice tang that one expects when smoking fine Virginia tobacs.. The pepper is there, too. There?s nothing floral or soapy about this tobac, but there is a smoky flavor. This isn?t smoky like Latakia or barbeque. It?s just, well, smoke. The sweetness deepens, becoming caramel-like. The nicotine is there, but it?s not overwhelming.

This tobac is burning very well, and the pipe stays cool.

Final third:

The mild, caramel-like sweetness is at the fore now, with the pepper only weaving through occasionally. Exhaling through the nose brings a mild sweetness very like that of Best Brown Flake. There?s not much of that trademark Virginia tang in this third, but the smoky quality still shows up some, mostly as a background note. The nicotine is present, but still not overwhelming. I?m enjoying this tobac very much.

The pipe goes out, and I try relighting, only to find nothing but ash.

Recommendation:

This isn?t like any other Virginia I?ve ever smoked. If Full Virginia Flake is black coffee, this is espresso. Virginia lovers should give this one a go, unless they are overly sensitive to nicotine. English and Balkan lovers might enjoy it as a real change of pace. Those that enjoy uncase Burelys might find something new to enjoy. Aromatic smokers should give it a pass.

This is one very rewarding smoke, and it has made its way into my permanent rotation.

There is only one way to describe this...even with a very full stomach, it will knock your d#%K right in the dirt. The first time I tried it was in a smallish pipe because I had at that time recently tried the 1792 and was expecting to be toasted. Boy was I right. To me it has a great sweet taste of the Virginias that SG uses in all the blends I have tried by them and everyone that has been around me says it smells good. It leaves only a fine ash in the bottom of the bowl and burns very dry. However, I can not express to you enough how STRONG this is. And this is coming to you from someone that likes XX Black Rope!

I obtained this in an already sliced configuration so I don't know how it is fresh sliced off the rope. However, I have tried Irish flake and can say that this is much stronger for sure. One night after a long hard day I smoked two bowls in a row...as I fell softly asleep I had to wonder what I was thinking...I was surprised I woke up the next day...

So, if you are wanting something STRONG this is for you, but do be wise and go with a small pipe...

Upon opening the tin I was greeted with a wonderfull natural tobacco aroma and 2 pieces of rope.

Packing: Being that this is a rope it will require some special preperations. I usually take a cigar cutter and cut off some coins. Once sliced, simply rub out the coins to desired consistency. Fill up the pipe using your usual method. This rope may seem a tad moist, however, that doesn't seem to affect its burning properties.

Lighting: This one may take a few lights to get underway..oh well..matches are cheap. :)

Smoking: mmm..This stuff is great. A strong, full, natural tobacco taste. Smokes smooth & cool. Puff it up if you wish..there's no bite. I don't find much variation throughout the bowl..just a consistent natural, creamy smoke. Depending on your prep method you'll probably find yourself re-lighting more then usual..no big deal imo. DGT's well also.

Finish: Smokes cleanly & dry all the way to the bottom. No bitter ending. Nice & smooth..just like the rest of the bowl. Ash is almost completely white.

In my opinion this is a keeper..I see myself buying a pound or so for the cellar and a few tins for use now. 4 of 4 Thanks Sam G. !!

My first attempts at smoking it resulted in an unpleasantly strong nicotine rush. I was only able to get through about a quarter bowl in my smallest Dunhill before the room began to sway. A friend who was brave enough to tackle it turned positively green and has sworn never to touch it again.

The rope sat untouched for years until I finally worked up my courage and decided to see if age had tamed it. I filled my pipe with partially rubbed out slices. I found that the first few puffs brought to mind a strong cigar such as the Opus X. My mouth was soon tingling with a peppery flavor, and so far I'm liking it. About a quarter of the way down, the nicotine starts to kick in. The tobacco burns well, resulting in a fine gray ash. The flavor is dark, spicy, and the incense smell and taste is noticeably and thankfully absent. Tongue bite is also nonexistent. Smoke is copious and resembles a full bodied cigar more than any pipe tobacco. I'm a fast puffer and I had to make a conscious effort to pace myself.

I made it halfway through the pipe before I ran out of time. I think I could have finished the bowl without ill effects if I smoked it slowly enough.

I believe it would be no problem for a tobacco chewer or cigarette smoker, but for an occasional smoker like me, it is strong medicine. It's a tobacco that I'd love to explore more, but its strength is a detriment and gets in the way of enjoying it.

To be fair, if you can tolerate the strength of this tobacco, you may find a winner. But I suspect you will be in the minority.

Flavoring, this is the unscented, the U/S.

Room Note. Not too sure. I don't smell it while I smoke it and it doesn't stain the room. My wife says it's not so good.

Taste is cigar-like. It does not taste like a cigar, but has the body and range of flavor of a good cigar. Not a great cigar, but a good one. And that is, in a pipe, a very Full flavor.

I recommend this because it is a good smoke. And, to speak well of the dead again, Brown rope reminds me of Balkan Sobranie. Doesn't taste a bit like it, but the two do share a campfire storytelling sort of soul. Tastes like smoke and a head full of night sky. Gotta go feed the kids, now. Smoke it if you got it.

This is a unique experience in smoking a natural tobacco. I have smoked it on occasion, usually in a small pipe, but once in a medium sized bowl. Cut the rope as fine as you can (maybe a razor would help?), stack it into the bowl and rub out a bit of it at the top of your bowl before lighting. Puff it slowly!

It is somewhat difficult to keep lit. However, with practce and perseverence, it can be done. Relighting does not seem to diminish the strength or flavour.

When I smoked it last, and because I was feeling a bit sleepy (it was both the tobacco and the lateness of the hour), I left the bowl for DGT. When I picked up the bowl the next evening, I noticed that the flavour and strength had mellowed out and become more enjoyable!

Will time mellow the rope? Something to look forward to!

I don't find the strength objectionable since I smoke it in a small pipe when I want a very strong smoke. Perhaps with a great Port wine or after a big meal. A little goes a long way. I smoke it slowly with small puffs and find it to be a bit more complex than the majority have indicated. It's not something that I would ever load into a big pipe though nor do I ever smoke the real strong stuff that way for both taste bud preservation and the nicotine.

The only way I smoke it is by slicing the rope into thin coins and then gently rubbing them out coarsely, which is quite easy. I pack it gently with a firm final tamp. My experience is that it requires some relighting even with light rhythmic puffing. Nonetheless, it never lets me down. I always know exactly when to reach for it; and more importantly, when not to reach for it.

Cheers, VC