Samuel Gawith Finest Kendal Twist Black XX

I thought I was tough, but this tobacco made me collapse. They said it was strong, so I had to try and ordered a 25g piece of rope from Synjeco... The look is incredible: a large rope, so tightly pressed that it looks like a piece of leather, very smooth , oily and shiny. I cut four thin slices and rubbed them in a little pipe, then lit... WHAM! It immediately struck a devilish blow, so strong that it made me wonder if it wasn't better for me to lay down the pipe and raise the white flag of defeat: this stuff made me cough like hell! I persisted, in pain (my throat hurt!) and suffocated by the thick smoke... The taste is not very deep, under the strong surface. Some sweetness, some spicyness, some licorice hints. After five minutes I had to give up, not much for the nicotine, but for the aggressiveness of the smoke to my throat and mouth... Subsequent bowls were a little better: no more dizziness and less harshness, but this is still too strong and tickling for me. A word of caution: don't underestimate this tobacco! Those who say it is overwhelmingly strong are not joking! This stuff is made for killing rhinoceros, not for smoking! I suggest Samuel Gawith's Brown Pigtail, instead, if you are looking for a nice rope tobacco.