Samuel Gawith Black XX Twist (Rope)

How does something that looks like a canine crunchie and tastes of petrol rate four stars with me? It's counter intuitive. Yet, I love this stuff. Strong, yes. Monochromatic, maybe. But not sweet? Well, maybe not like a typical candy coated VA, but I tell you, it's there.

The nicotine isn't an issue either, so long as you respect it...in my case, a small bowl insures no palpitations. A 1/4 to 1/3 inch coin, rubbed out is plenty. I like mine fresh from the rope too...my one attempt at drying it out made for a barfy smoke.

This tobacco doesn't have the typical 'high notes' as you would get from a lemon VA, obviously. So don't try it with that expectation. This is subwoofer tobacco through and through.

Definitely a manly weed.

Four stars.

Fantastic and real, campfire scents without Latakia, an intoxicating amount of nicotine. If there is any flavoring in this, it's very subdued, just multiple iterations of darkly pressed and stoved tobacco and it's expected cogeners. Almost a roasted spice scent once it gets going. I find that shaving the disks thin enought that they become like a shag cut when rubbed out gets the most goodness out if this stuff. Preparation is more than half the fun...I find that a utility knife with a fresh blade makes this a snap.

A wonderful dusky turd to be sliced and diced and enjoyed in a SMALL bowl...did I mention a SMALL bowl...

This is drug 'baccy, wonderful and addictive. Fantastic after a big, spicy meal...

i smoked cigarettes for 10 years and stopped 3 months ago and started smoking pipe and just found my self inhaling the smoke from the pipe i was just about to quit until i ordered some of this stuff. when i opened it up the smell was nasty. but i loaded it up just for a taste. and it was what iv been waiting for from the moment i picked up a pipe a strong but not to strong of a taste. like a strong black cup of coffee. so i tried to inhale it but i couldn't the smoke was to much for my lungs.after a week of smoking this i realized i was in love with a tobacco named black xx i threw all the rest of my tobacco away. every time i smoke this stuff i start to wonder why i smoked cigarettes for so long. its very enjoyable. if your trying to stop smoking cigarettes and start smoking pipe buy this tobacco. its got the nicotine rush you want, it taste pretty good and you cant inhale it, if you can you might want to go see a doctor

An excellent Virginia tobacco. Full of natural sweetness, creamy as whole chocolate milk on mouth and tongue. Room note lingers about freely reminding you that you have just smoked a bowl of historic leaf once enjoyed by our great-great grandfathers. Absolutely wonderful.....no cigar could ever provide such satisfaction or joy...a Macanudo robusto comes within yelling distance but no further.

This is one of my everyday smokes, I just love it. Sliced thin, rubbed out, and dried well this burns very easily. This taste is quite full, something of plums in there it seems but mainly just good tobacco. Samuell Gawith does a great job with their ropes and this is no exception. If you enjoy a strong tobacco then this is certainly worth a try.

truly a mans smoke ..it is a classic English rope...but be warned it makes women faint.. recommended !!! WARNING ...BLACK XX WILL PUT HAIRS ON YOUR CHEST OR TAKE THEM OFF, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE , truly awesome JUST AWESOME .

UPDATE....GOD GIVES PLEASURES IN MANY WAYS...AND THIS IS ONE OF HIS GIFTS TO MAN.

This is pure tobacco taste, yes it is strong but it is a wonderful smoke. Really nice with a strong cup of coffee, tea, bourbon or scotch. I enjoy this cut 50-50 with Kendall Plug also.

"A cigar smokers pipe tobacco."

I'm not sure I understand all the fuss about this tobacco. It's sounds extremely imposing and reading the reviews would lead one to believe smoking this could possibly change the way you approach smoking a pipe.

The presentation reminds me of chewing tobacco twists I had seen in my travels through Kentucky. The smell was mildly reminiscent of your basic chaw, Redman, Levi Garrett, etc... mild smelling with a nice pure tobacco scent. I began by cutting 4 coin sized pieces off the twist. They were easy to rub out into ribbon. I expected more moisture, but this was ready to go, so I packed my corn cob (as a precaution). It lit easily and stayed lit. Right away the flavor reminded me of a medium to strong cigar. Very nice. I was waiting for the nicotine punch experienced by many, but found it no more powerful then your average cigar.

I believe this is an excellent smoke, full bodied with no flavoring. The more I smoked this blend the more I liked it. Caution should be taken to smoke this slowly and not get it too hot. If you are a cigar smoker, you will be very pleased with this blend as it taste very much like a medium bodied cigar.

This is, truly, one of the tobacs out there that fall into the "love it or hate it" category. It comes in an oily rope...strong and, at times, even a bit overwhelming..even for the experienced smoker. This is a tobac that brokes no argument. It is strong, full bodied and ready to satisfy even the most base nicotine desire of any smoker. Yet, unlike it's cousin, the brown rope, Black XX has a lot to recomend it. It is smooth, burning down to a fine, gray/white ash without even a hint of a bite, even if puffed with a heavy hand. Upon first lighting, it gives a hint of the Lakeland soap which quickly burns off leaving the smoker alone with nothing but the deep flavors of the stoved tobacco itself. This flavor matures throughout the bowl, burning clean and dry all the way down with ocassional hints of Lakeland flavor showing through, though never overpowering the pure, tobacco taste. The finish is long, the pipe is cool, and the overall experience is thoughtfull and to be relished long after the last ember has died. I truly find that Black XX is NOT the one dementional monster that many portray it as, but a strong, not-so-subtle, and flavorfull example of dark, stoved weed at its finest. Not a smoke for the neophite or the faint hearted, Black XX is a true treat for the studied smoker searching for a full and rich tobac that stands apart from the established ranks of the smoky, latika greats. ~Monk~