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 11 - 20 of 35 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 03, 2019 | Extremely Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Off the bat, I should say I have had a very complicated relationship with this tobacco. I bought a one-pound box three years ago, and every now and again I play with it. After chopping it into three-inch chunks, I jarred it. A few of those chunks got essentially candied in bourbon, and were an interesting smoke in their own right. I've shredded it, blended with equal parts Latakia, perique, and shredded cigar leaf, then doused the whole lot in dark rum (don't ask me how I came up with that combo, but I smoke a lot of it and I love it. I call it "Death Rattle"). Tin note (or jar note, in this case) is not much to give warning; a bit smoky, leathery, mostly just clean tobacco. To prepare, slice it into thin discs with a cheap cigar cutter and rub it into almost a shag. Smoked straight, it is... An experience. There is sweetness, nuttiness, mild smoke (as compared to the Black ropes), some raisiny notes, Earth, musk, and red pepper. The flavors are rock-steady throughout the bowl; all the flavors come at all times, without shifting or ebbing. Smoke is heavy and creamy, more cigar-like than anything I've come across in a pipe. Smokes cool, bone-dry, and never offers to bite. If prepared correctly, lighting isn't too much of a hassle; two matches, no more. Room note is suprisingly inoffensive; a bit Woody, a little musky, dissipates quickly. I've had people ask if they could borrow some to roll cigarettes, but I've never had the courage to let them. I might be charged with Negligent Homicide. The nicotine content is... Well, I thought I was immune to Vitamin N. Commodore Flake, Ten Russians, Chenet's Cake, 1792 Flake; I smoke them by the fist-full. I chain-smoke La Gloria Serie Rs, Don Pepin Blues, and LFD Double Ligeros like I'm about to face the firing squad. I suck down 55 mg vape juice like water. This stuff closes my throat like a hangman's noose and puts my head in a pneumatic press. Even smoked in a kiseru, a little "clinch" can be felt. Oddly, I love it. This is an experience that every piper should try, just so you know what "Strong" really means.
Pipe Used:
Icarus Stubby Apple, Kiseru
Age When Smoked:
1-3 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 28, 2018 | Strong | None Detected | Full | Very Strong |
I enjoyed this a lot more than the black rope XX. It was smoother, more cigarlike, and the room note while still offensive, was not as "dirty wet dog" like.
I could not tell much of a nicotine difference between the two, they are both strong. Brown rope no. 4 has a lot of interesting tangy notes as well as a burley like earthiness which made me wonder if it didn't contain some, or if it was air cured to some degree beforw being lightly toasted. Toasted it definitely has been, as there are many lightly bitter, almoat smoky notes present, as what you get from dark fired.
I find this blend works best for me as a mixer to add some nicotine and earth to an otherwise boring aromatic, albeit I smoke this on occasion all on its own out of a ser jacopo oom paul which I have dedicated for ropes.
I will give this 3 stars, as it has no complexity whatsoever, but has a lot of potential in other areas. I would love to try the scented versions of this rope, but alas, they are not available currently.
This is a very bite free blend and is the place to start when trying stronger blends the first time, as it won't make you sick from nicotine as the even stronger blends like dark flake can the first time. And it has no strange flavors nor overtones. Just strong tobacco.
Be sure to slice the rope very thin and then fully rub it out, or you will miss the flavor.
I could not tell much of a nicotine difference between the two, they are both strong. Brown rope no. 4 has a lot of interesting tangy notes as well as a burley like earthiness which made me wonder if it didn't contain some, or if it was air cured to some degree beforw being lightly toasted. Toasted it definitely has been, as there are many lightly bitter, almoat smoky notes present, as what you get from dark fired.
I find this blend works best for me as a mixer to add some nicotine and earth to an otherwise boring aromatic, albeit I smoke this on occasion all on its own out of a ser jacopo oom paul which I have dedicated for ropes.
I will give this 3 stars, as it has no complexity whatsoever, but has a lot of potential in other areas. I would love to try the scented versions of this rope, but alas, they are not available currently.
This is a very bite free blend and is the place to start when trying stronger blends the first time, as it won't make you sick from nicotine as the even stronger blends like dark flake can the first time. And it has no strange flavors nor overtones. Just strong tobacco.
Be sure to slice the rope very thin and then fully rub it out, or you will miss the flavor.
Pipe Used:
Ser Jacopo Oom Paul
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 19, 2016 | Very Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
Conclusion: A lovely smoke, this has been produced for centuries for good reason. Brown no 4 immerses me into a contemplative state in a way few other tobacco blends do. As a campfire smoke or a late night bowl this is fantastic, it is complex and deep and calls for one's attention. But be aware of the strength or it may knock you out.
Taste: A deep, dark and powerful flavour of earth and leather with a spicy tingle greets att first light, with a slight sweetness adding to the leather in the finish. I can understand why people tend to allude to cigars, this is pure tobacco with no topping or added flavour that does resemble a cigar in some ways (surely due to the cigar leaf in this blend). It is however clearly a pipe tobacco in it's rund and lightly smoky notes that I would guess comes from the kentucky. Retrohale reveals further spice in the vicinity of black and cayenne pepper. Now, depending on the size of the bowl these different notes are more or less pronounced; a smaller bowl presents a sharper and spicier smoke and a bigger bowl brings forth the leather. If pushed the nuances will blur and the pepper will take hold of the picture, this calls for a controlled cadence. Also, due to the strength, slow puffing is recommended.
Mechanics: This is a twist, and as such it needs some preparation. I cut it in coins with a cigar cutter and rub them out and let it dry for at least twenty minutes. After that it burns clean to a light grey ash but it still requires some relights. Does not bite. It is full body and full strength, but not like a burley blend (like Big n burley or Burley flake #3); it does not hit one over the head but rather builds over time and sneaks up if one is not careful.
Taste: A deep, dark and powerful flavour of earth and leather with a spicy tingle greets att first light, with a slight sweetness adding to the leather in the finish. I can understand why people tend to allude to cigars, this is pure tobacco with no topping or added flavour that does resemble a cigar in some ways (surely due to the cigar leaf in this blend). It is however clearly a pipe tobacco in it's rund and lightly smoky notes that I would guess comes from the kentucky. Retrohale reveals further spice in the vicinity of black and cayenne pepper. Now, depending on the size of the bowl these different notes are more or less pronounced; a smaller bowl presents a sharper and spicier smoke and a bigger bowl brings forth the leather. If pushed the nuances will blur and the pepper will take hold of the picture, this calls for a controlled cadence. Also, due to the strength, slow puffing is recommended.
Mechanics: This is a twist, and as such it needs some preparation. I cut it in coins with a cigar cutter and rub them out and let it dry for at least twenty minutes. After that it burns clean to a light grey ash but it still requires some relights. Does not bite. It is full body and full strength, but not like a burley blend (like Big n burley or Burley flake #3); it does not hit one over the head but rather builds over time and sneaks up if one is not careful.
Pipe Used:
Cobs and briars
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 11, 2015 | Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
Zow wee wow wow! First time smoking a rope so was curious to actually see what it looked like. All the descriptions posted are accurate: It indeed looks like turd or perhaps a dark brown dry aged sausage. Not offensive unless you are squeamish about natural objects. Initial odour is that of smoked fish you would find at a European deli counter but without the fishiness, or that of smoked oysters in a zip top can. It is robust and full bodied.
Now to the smoking. The rope was sliced into coins, teased apart and rubbed out. It was loaded into the pipe via the Mc Grane method (James Fox). It lit well producing abundant amounts of pillowy smoke, nice. The aroma and taste is that of a cigar. I find this to be very attractive as I do indulge in cigar smoking. My palate in not sophisticated enough to detect fruits or nuts or any other items as such, but my body is capable of detecting nicotine. And here it is...wham.
A quarter of the way through the bowl Mr. Nicotine made his entrance. During the colder months, living in north-eastern climate does not allow one to indulge in the contemplative art as often as one wishes so when warmer weather finally arrives, it's like starting all over again. I find I need to ease into the season by progressing through the nicotine ladder, from mild to strong. Starting the season with a strong Cuban will quickly overwhelm your nicotine tolerance and send you off to bed with the room spinning. Brown No. 4 can do just that to anyone reviving from their winter slumber.
I enjoyed every aspect of this blend starting from it's appearance, preparation ritual and aroma - both pre and during. But the nicotine level is something you need to work up to, for someone like me anyway perhaps not so for those who enjoy year long. Just like a hot bath, after you get used to it, it won't be so hot - but do enter gingerly.
I look forward to smoking it again when I've toughed up a little more.
Now to the smoking. The rope was sliced into coins, teased apart and rubbed out. It was loaded into the pipe via the Mc Grane method (James Fox). It lit well producing abundant amounts of pillowy smoke, nice. The aroma and taste is that of a cigar. I find this to be very attractive as I do indulge in cigar smoking. My palate in not sophisticated enough to detect fruits or nuts or any other items as such, but my body is capable of detecting nicotine. And here it is...wham.
A quarter of the way through the bowl Mr. Nicotine made his entrance. During the colder months, living in north-eastern climate does not allow one to indulge in the contemplative art as often as one wishes so when warmer weather finally arrives, it's like starting all over again. I find I need to ease into the season by progressing through the nicotine ladder, from mild to strong. Starting the season with a strong Cuban will quickly overwhelm your nicotine tolerance and send you off to bed with the room spinning. Brown No. 4 can do just that to anyone reviving from their winter slumber.
I enjoyed every aspect of this blend starting from it's appearance, preparation ritual and aroma - both pre and during. But the nicotine level is something you need to work up to, for someone like me anyway perhaps not so for those who enjoy year long. Just like a hot bath, after you get used to it, it won't be so hot - but do enter gingerly.
I look forward to smoking it again when I've toughed up a little more.
Pipe Used:
Brigham Voyageur Apple
PurchasedFrom:
Lightertime, Seoul, Korea
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 24, 2009 | Very Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
No poetry here, only prose
but while cutting tobacco with my rasolino knife, I think to miners (often children) who found solace chewing something like this one and a shadow of emotion pass me on the eyes.... But it's only a moment, there is no time for reflection...
No lyricism here, just epic
so I put the feather and I run to clasp my pipe, I'm going to fight a new battle with this dragon.
but while cutting tobacco with my rasolino knife, I think to miners (often children) who found solace chewing something like this one and a shadow of emotion pass me on the eyes.... But it's only a moment, there is no time for reflection...
No lyricism here, just epic
so I put the feather and I run to clasp my pipe, I'm going to fight a new battle with this dragon.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 16, 2002 | Strong | Strong | Full | Strong |
This tobacco being akin to all of Samuel Gawith's rope means a fare share of strenght. A larger size diameter means it will farther than a pigtail. A deeply brown color, a tightly woven mixture of quality tobacco's, processed in an olde fashioned method. This tobacco, after slicing, I break up for a smoother smoke. Lighting brings to the senses a mixture of Virginia's and other dark tobaccos. Charring process is easily passed and then it's showtime. The tobacco will make your head spin if smoked to fast, so just sit back and enjoy. I cannot overemphasize this or other ropes, in reference to strenght. Smoking down the bowl remains the same, and obviously toward the bottom the intensity increases. This is a well done tobacco, not like a steak, but similar in that it's a full, and pronounced tobacco.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 27, 2018 | Medium to Strong | Very Mild | Full | Very Strong |
Samuel Gawith’s Brown #4 is an old-fashioned, rope style tobacco twisted from rough, strong “VAs”, along with some KY and some cigar leaf. Tin note is similar to the only other brown rope I’ve smoked (G, H&C’s Brown Irish X), being muted, deep, musty, and a little menacing, with cigar spices over the earthy, pungent VAs and KY. I opened mine, then jarred it, then “set it aside” to smoke later, then I forgot about it. It was too dry when I revisited it, but I smoked some anyway, then I re-hydrated it prior to evaluating it. I slice thin-ish coins off the rope and rub them out roughly, then I pack the tobacco loosely into my favorite cigar blend pipe, which has about a group 5 bowl. It lights and burns down well with minimal but regular tamping and some stirring at the end. No surprises here. This is straight forward tobacco that reminds me of a “good, cheap cigar”, if there were such a thing anymore. It is not quite as smooth as BIX, nor is it as strong, but it is similar. The tastes parallel the tin notes and the aromas in the smoke. Overall, it’s earthy, musty, and spicy, and any sugar is pretty much subsumed by the pungency and the intensity of the smoke. There might be some anise. Strength is just over medium. Tastes are full, even unrelenting. Room note is rank. Aftertaste is like a mid-quality cigar.
SGBNF is actually pretty good, but IMO it does not rise to BIX level, nor that of other cigar-type blends I most favor. Rather, I put it on par with G,H&C’s Dark Bird’s Eye, which is to say, try some if you fancy a straight ahead, tough guy smoke. 3 stars.
SGBNF is actually pretty good, but IMO it does not rise to BIX level, nor that of other cigar-type blends I most favor. Rather, I put it on par with G,H&C’s Dark Bird’s Eye, which is to say, try some if you fancy a straight ahead, tough guy smoke. 3 stars.
Pipe Used:
cigar blend briars
PurchasedFrom:
Liberty Tobacco
Age When Smoked:
from bulk to jar
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 03, 2017 | Strong | Mild | Full | Pleasant |
This solid full bodied/full strength rope has creamy and cigar notes to it. It can have a rough edge at times the more you progress with your smoke, but that is not a problem if you have a drink on the side. As you reach you mid bowl it develops peppery qualities giving you spicy undertones. At times it feels like a Virginia/perique blend, but this is probably down to how this tobacco has been manufactured. Because of its properties, I recommend using this rope as blending tobacco to spice up other blends, but it is not a bad smoke on its own either. If you like ropes just give it a go as it might please you despite its price tag. I think it is only fair to give it 3 stars.
PurchasedFrom:
Turmeaus
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 31, 2016 | Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
My second rope tobacco. Spicy, aggressive, harsh even. Yet I love it! Smells dreadful unlit and only slightly better while combusting. I prefer Black XX slightly.
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