Samuel Gawith Black XX Twist (Rope)

The reason I write this review, is that while browsing some tobaccos, i suddenly get nauseated. Then I remembered that this is how I felt when I smoked this tobacco. It's so strong, that after only a 1/4 of the bowl, you start sweating like a horse, you feel dizzy, and feel like you'll vomit all of your intestines. I have tolerance for the nicotine as much as a heavy smoking person would have, but right now, I feel sick, and that is far more bearable than when I smoked Black XX Twist. So, to begin with, the appearance resembles dog poop, not exactly the most pleasant look I would say. That apart, it takes a bit until the tobacco gets into your pipe. Cutting is not that much of a problem, since plugs are like that, they require a little bit of a preparation before you lit. Smell out of the tin. Not pleasant at all, not that bad either. But certainly different from every other tobacco that we're used to. I guess that's because of the olive oil used in the preparation of the ropes. Now the smoke. It smells literally like barbecue. If you chase citrus notes, earthy, tangy, smoky, leathery, campfire, nutty, sweet notes usual for other types of blends, here you can discern burgers, chicken fillets, steaks, meatballs, bacon, veal, pork chops, and so on. It's literally like that. Fried chicken also and similar stuff. I don't relate this to any tobacco taste at all. There simply isn't any. In all, it's a manly smoke. Not in the way latakia is, but still a smoke for tough men. For the Nic hit, see the beginning of this review. As a 240 lb (120 kg) and 190 cm 6 ft 3 inch guy, only half a bowl was enough to put me down. And because of being such a badass mothe@#ucker, I'll give it 2 stars. It will knock you off of your shoes.

Wow. This is strong stuff. I had to try it though I knew it would be robust. Not my cup of tea, harsh, but pure tobacco taste, which I respect. Pretty easy to prepare with a very sharp, thin blade. Nice amount of smoke. One cannot help but think this was how it used to be done many years ago and feel a very nostalgic effect. JS

One word, love! I love the preparation to smoke this. I love the quality of the leaf rope. I love the flavor and strength. I love how this ages.

I have smoked this on and off for the past three years whenever I feel like punishing myself. When sliced into coins with a cigar cutter and rubbed out, an easily packable ribbon is obtained. The greasy, heavy, earthy pre smoke aroma translates exactly to the taste of the smoke. The smoke is remarkably smooth on the retrohale, and even gives some vague suggestion of sweetness. Most smokable when paired with a sweet beverage to overcome the nic hit and to balance such heavy, dark flavors.

While smoking this tobacco I realised that i had never had a real Nicotine kick, until that moment. How do I get the taste and smell of this stuff out of my pipe? i am not kidding, i can smell my nice pipe from across the room now. I need no more.

I recommend it only as an interesting experience. We smoke this tobacco as a dear out of a clay pipe now.

Tried something new with this stuff. Try mixing this with some Best Brown Flake. Not too bad. Still knocks the poop out of you though...

Well this one is unbelievable. Wow! Strong is an understatement. Not for the faint of heart. Kicks like a mule. At first the taste is something akin to burning cardboard, but then you get a subtle sweetness. No bite, but after about a minute, it brought back some memories of a Santana concert I went to in the seventies, where I smoked something that made my head swim. I wouldn't recommend this on a daily basis, but if you want a major change of pace, that kicks you in the butt, this oughta do it. If only it didn't look so much like a big dookie...

I've been mixing this with a bit of Prince Albert. Makes it a whole lot easier to light and to keep it lit as well...

I was gifted a tin of this for my birthday a few months back. I was extremely excited to smoke it that I invited a friend and fellow pipe smoker over for dinner one night. Cracking the tin open, I could see that the tobacco (rope) was as black as tar. After clipping off a few discs from the rope with my cigar cutter, my friend, a veteran pipe smoker of 25 years, forewarned me not to fill up my bowl as I may have a system shock from this tobacco. He explained to me that this tobacco is not quite the same as the rest of the SG blends I've smoked. When asked how different it was, he simply replied: “you have to try it yourself”. Being a neophyte at pipe smoking, I heeded his words of wisdom.

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.

This is combustible Marmite, and you'll either love it or hate it: it really is as simple as that. Smoking stuff that tastes like this and packs this kind of N wallop (see previous reviews) is certainly not for the meek. Personally, being a little on the meek side, I think it's awful. Smoking enough of it to write a fair review was an ordeal that I wouldn't want to submit myself to again; but I recommend it because I know that it's exactly the kind of baccy that some people like, and you don't know until you try. For what it is, it's right on the button - if you like that kind of thing.

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.

This tobacco is certainly unique, dont be fooled by the dark color it is actually lighter than the brown no.4, it takes a while to prepare but its an enjoyable activity (it certainly is not an out door smoke, you need to sit and slice and dry) but the hard part is drying it. If you dont mind lighting your pipe more often it will not be a problem. Room note is bad, the nicotine is good, burns relatively well. Taste like a stake that was over cooked. It really needs a good meal before you indulge in it. Choose a small pipe and work your way up. My worst mistake was choosing a KS savinelli and the next thing i know is i was vacuuming the house at 2 am.