Samuel Gawith Brown No. 4

Brown #4 is an awesome tobacco.

Presentation is of two curled up Pomeranian turds crammed into a tin. This isn’t a joke, it looks like sh*t in a can.

It comes wet and oily.

Tin note, as others have stated, is hard to define...but the Kentucky is there in spades right off the top.

As far as my favorite preparation method, I like to take a cigar cutter and snip off coins about 1/8” thick, rub them out, and then do a little tearing and mixing of the longer strands until I have a nice-if uneven-ribbon, then set it out to dry for about 30 minutes. I don’t like this stuff too dry, but it needs a little bit of airing to take and hold a light well. I find the flavor is best for me if it’s still a bit oily to the touch. Since I’m currently working from an old jar that has dried a little, I will say that things may be different from a new tin and it could require some more drying to your taste, but personally I recommend not going TOO far with the drying out.

Right off the bat, I find that just like the tin note, the Kentucky is front and center. That lovely Smokey, sweetly floral, reminiscent of BBQ flavor hits like a freight train. The Virginia is there but its role is to break the edges off the powerful DFK-I can sense a muted sweetness, hard to pinpoint but an essential element to keep things tasty and out of the torture realm.

Things stay this way for about half the bowl, then the cigar leaf shows it’s face in a creaminess and, for me at least, subtle spice notes that meld more and more into the DFK-taking the Dark Fired’s woodsy smoke farther into the background and accentuating the sweeter, floral side of things. Here, the Virginia also becomes a louder player-I can’t pick out many subtleties attributed specifically to it other than a general sense of sweetness amplified.

Originally, I didn’t know this blend contained cigar leaf, and assumed this flavor shift was just due to the Virginia “stoving” a bit as I smoked-and I’m sure that that aspect does play a part, but now that I see there IS cigar leaf in here, I can pick it up in the smoke.

The smoke is remarkably cool, but if horsed a little too much I can sometimes get an ammonia-like flavor, just like with a cigar smoked a little too hot-so I recommend going a bit slow with this one, but not being too conscious of speed as this stuff seems forgiving in that regard.

The nicotine-yes. If you’re sensitive, smoke on a full stomach and go slow, because this blend has plenty.

#4 isn’t a smoke I reach for often. I have one jar left, and it’s pushing ten years old. Since Gawith is getting so hard to come by these days, I want to save and savor what I’ve got, for as long as I can.

This tobacco was the definition of Theodore Roosevelt’s infamous phrase. ”Walk softly and carry a big stick”. This tobacco has a medium amount of Mesquite and hay flavor. After you finish, I must recommend that one simply sit down and collect themselves to get hit with a ”big stick” of nicotine. Beginners beware.

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.

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.

A rather thin twist/rope compared to the Motzek ones. I got granted a generous sample of this by a pipe friend along with 11 other UK and US blends, and even tho Brown No. 4 is also available here, I wanted to dig into this one first. Came back from (evening-)school, wanted a smooth nightcap, grabbed for Brown No. 4.

The note from the bag is nice. Little smoky, cigar-ish and earthy-woody. Even tho this was a sample from a cracked tin, it could make use of some drying time! But oh well..that's the (former) purpose of twists and ropes...keeping the tobacco fresh for long(er) times.

Contrary to Black XX (which is said to be just harsh and one-dimensional) this one has a better reputation and I see why people like this rope! It has some decent strenght to it, from the first puffs on. But also some smooth, creamy taste! Cigar-notes from the first puffs, creamy, spicy and woodsy. Also some decent earthiness, with a minor sweetness in the background this is very tasty and reminds me a lot of Tom´s White Twist (White Burley, Perique, Virginia) with its nutty-sweetness in the back, this one also has. Also a little dark fruits in the back.

This is really, really close to Tom´s White Twist by Motzek! And I love White Twist! I'd love this one too, if it wasn't that pricey...16,50€ for 50g...whilst Motzek Twists cost 19€ per 100g I don't have a hard time chossing White Twist over this one, but really only because of the price! If it was cheaper, I'd buy some tins and add this to my rotation. Like this I'll have to treat it as a "rare candy" by times.

Better to be puffed slow, not only because of its strenght, but also as the flavors are quite fragile when puffed too fast. It can get hars and bitter when puffed like a train.....but if you take it slow and smooth, you'll get surprised by tasteful Not most complex, but solid and honest.

Well done SG! Deserves 4 stars to me.

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.

I love this stuff. Powerful and mellow!

Just buy it, and smoke this! You will never be disappointed.

I really hope I can buy 500g package again...in somewhere...

Ok, this is a fine tobacco. No argue about that. But be aware of what is going to happen when someone offers a pinch of this one. It feels like some big fat cat is sitting on your chest, while flames are coming out of your ears along with hick ups. It is not easy, it is not tolerable, but it feels good once in a while to challenge yourself. I had to fire it up several times, but it burns really smooth. I liked it!

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.