Samuel Gawith Brown No. 4
(3.17)
Brown No.4 is a full flavoured full strength tobacco made by Samuel Gawith in Kendal. It is spun from Dark Fired Virginia's and is a slow burning tobacco. Despite popular belief, the brown twist is a stronger strength and flavour than the black twist. This tobacco is definitely not for those new to pipe smoking!
As per Gawith&Hoggarth the only components in this rope are dark fired and dark air cured leaf. There is no cigar leaf, that taste comes from the dark air cured tobacco used. The outer wrapper leaf is a dark fired variety.
Details
| Brand | Samuel Gawith |
| Blended By | Samuel Gawith |
| Manufactured By | Samuel Gawith |
| Blend Type | Virginia Based |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Rope |
| Packaging | 25 grams pouch, 50 grams tin, bulk |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Strong
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Strong
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.17 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 91 - 100 of 142 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 05, 2008 | Very Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Very Pleasant |
Flavor: Pure Virginia but not the type of Virginia we are used to. Very strong and somewhat reminiscent of a cigar. The flavor changes depending on how you prepare it. Cutting small thin coins, rubbing them, and letting them dry for about an hour usually mellows it out. Try this in a corn cob pipe first because it will definetely leave a ghost.
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.
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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 15, 2008 | Very Strong | Strong | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Hmmm...this is a difficult one to review. Probably its the number of years I've smoked a pipe, but I am rarely affected by the nicotine rushes these days lol....having said that, this is a strong smoking cigar like flavoured tobacco. First time I bought it, it came straight from Sam Gawith in a plastic bag and resembled nothing more than a raggedy bent cigar, albeit about a foot long! It has a strong, cigar like smell, not particularly pleasant to be honest. First few times I smoked it, I didn't really enjoy it; there didn't seem to be anything there other than dark pungent tobacco. No sweetness, no interesting flavour, just a hot smack in the mouth and a lingering after taste. Partly cos I bought a bloody great amount of the stuff and not wanting to waste it, I persisted; and now its the tobacco I keep in my pouch in my pocket. Strange that, how things can creep up on you. Bit like the first few times you drank english bitter as a lad...it tasted pretty nasty, but you stuck at it so as to be one of the lads, and then one day you suddenly found it was the only beer worth drinking. Soooo, I give Brown Rope 3 stars cos you might have to persist at it, but in the end you just could enjoy it rather a lot. But it'll never be the only tobacco worth smoking.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 03, 2007 | Very Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Very Strong |
Having enjoyed GH Sliced Brown Twist, I wanted to give this a try and found it to be pretty similar in character. I feel the Sliced Brown is stronger but that could be because this being a rope and having some moisture I can control the cut and burning rate depending on how much I dry it beforehand. I don't let it get as dry as the Sliced Brown so it burns cooler and slower. Anyway you slice it this it is a potent smoke. A side benefit of it is that it seems to have a somewhat repellent effect on mosquitoes (and most other life forms). It should be sufficient to satisfy the nicotine cravings of just about anyone, but I haven't had any difficulties with overdosing as I utilize a small briar pipe and go slowly. The taste is of unadulterated tobacco, with a slight natural sweetness. It doesn't bite me at all, either. I think anyone could learn to like this if one keeps in mind that this is a concentrated product best enjoyed slowly and in small quantities.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 21, 2007 | Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
I'm enjoying a bowl of this wonderfull weed as I type this review..
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. !!
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. !!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 17, 2006 | Overwhelming | Very Mild | Overwhelming | Overwhelming |
Inquisitor and Lois Kelly have said it all. I wish I had deferred to their evaluations instead of the others on these pages.
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.
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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 03, 2006 | Overwhelming | None Detected | Extra Full | Strong |
Not for the faint-hearted, or the fast puffer! Best enjoyed after a heavy meal, and DO NOT drive or operate any dangerous machinery.
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!
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!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 11, 2005 | Very Strong | Mild | Full | Very Strong |
Nicotine? Well it's strong, but smoke it appropriatly in moderation in the right pipe. I also like to drink very strong coffee in a small cup as opposed to very weak coffee in a big cup. This tobacco burns slowly and can be difficult to light - but once started ,it's very nice! It tastes earthy and has a natural fragrence that reminds me of the stables near a horsetrack. In fact, the only time I have ever smoked this wonderful tobacco in the house has been when my wife has gone out of town for a day or two...but it's such a good smoke...I have thought about encouraging my wife to take more trips - and more often! I merely jest...but it's a good smoke. A pretty girl is wonderful, but a well-manicured tobacco like this - is indeed a pleasant smoke! If only I could convince my wife to take up the habit ie. I have a utopian vision of us sitting together by a fire sharing a nice bowl of Brown No.4...but alas I awake myself and realise I was only dreaming! If this tobacco was a beverage , it would be a fine 20 year old malt whiskey. It is meant to be smoked slowly and it is meant to be savoured; otherwise you will miss its purpose in life. It's not something I smoke frequently...but when I do - I enjoy it!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 14, 2005 | Very Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Strong |
Wow! Strong stuff. The rope has a tightly packed cigar-like look to it. I cut into thin coins and layered into a very small bowled pipe. Very cigar-like in the richness of the smoke. Not like a cigar in taste. It actually has a very good flavor to me, but it is so full of flavor you must go very easy. It is hard to keep lit using the stacked coin method but I would be afraid to cut it any finer. I will update this review after a few more bouts with this powerfull smoke. I have to recuperate first!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 31, 2004 | Medium to Strong | Mild | Full | Very Strong |
While 1792 is my Holy Grail of tobaccos, Brown Rope #4 is an old standby. I love the straightforward earthy flavors. Brown #4 is a no-nonsense tobacco; beginners...beware. However, if you love a strong earthy cigar and a fine scotch whiskey, give this rope a try.
UPDATE: October 2004. After a couple more years smoking this wonderful tobacco, it seems to have reached beyond the "One of my favorites..." category; it's one of the best tobaccos out there. Now, be careful comparing Brown Rope #4's aroma to other tobaccos with a more standard "pipe-like" aroma. Keep an open mind; this rope's aroma doesn't fool around with any artificial flavorings or fruit extracts, etc. but just give's one an honest to goodness strong natural smoke. It provides another aspect to consider when defining the wonderful art of pipe smoking.
Samuel Gawith has done a wonderful job with this tobacco.
UPDATE: October 2004. After a couple more years smoking this wonderful tobacco, it seems to have reached beyond the "One of my favorites..." category; it's one of the best tobaccos out there. Now, be careful comparing Brown Rope #4's aroma to other tobaccos with a more standard "pipe-like" aroma. Keep an open mind; this rope's aroma doesn't fool around with any artificial flavorings or fruit extracts, etc. but just give's one an honest to goodness strong natural smoke. It provides another aspect to consider when defining the wonderful art of pipe smoking.
Samuel Gawith has done a wonderful job with this tobacco.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 16, 2004 | Very Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Strong |
Overpowering? Perhaps for some. Flavorless? Not true at all, unless the potency of this excellent tobacco has rendered the faculties of some of the above reviewers inoperative.
There is a refreshingly woody taste to this tobacco that intrigues me and keeps me coming back for more. It reminds me of the smell of freshly stripped Cedar bark in its incense-like qualities. I've found that some of the best tobacco is subtle in flavor, and SG Brown Rope #4 is a great example of this. While it may not be as obvious or multifaceted as some more accessible blends, there is an immense depth to this tobacco, with many layers of smokiness, spiciness and woodiness present or absent at any given time. I attribute this to the interplay between the wrapper and the varieties of Virginia leaf present in the rope.
I've never been one to agree with the critics of "empire" leaf, I find that they have a unique, if subdued, character that makes them just as rewarding to the smoker as their esteemed American cousins. This 'Finest Kendal Twist' is a most enjoyable composition of these dark-fired Virginas; one that will amply reward those with the patience and constitution to sit back and examine this noble weed's less obvious treasures, which are indeed many.
Rating: 8.5/10
There is a refreshingly woody taste to this tobacco that intrigues me and keeps me coming back for more. It reminds me of the smell of freshly stripped Cedar bark in its incense-like qualities. I've found that some of the best tobacco is subtle in flavor, and SG Brown Rope #4 is a great example of this. While it may not be as obvious or multifaceted as some more accessible blends, there is an immense depth to this tobacco, with many layers of smokiness, spiciness and woodiness present or absent at any given time. I attribute this to the interplay between the wrapper and the varieties of Virginia leaf present in the rope.
I've never been one to agree with the critics of "empire" leaf, I find that they have a unique, if subdued, character that makes them just as rewarding to the smoker as their esteemed American cousins. This 'Finest Kendal Twist' is a most enjoyable composition of these dark-fired Virginas; one that will amply reward those with the patience and constitution to sit back and examine this noble weed's less obvious treasures, which are indeed many.
Rating: 8.5/10
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