Samuel Gawith Brown No. 4

It looks like a cigar, and tastes like one, too. There is not much typical virginia sweetness in it, which is the downside to me. If I am in the mood for cigar flavor, I will go for a cigar. I guess it is for the experienced smokers who crave for strong nic.

Alright, so my first rope tobacco. Here we go.

I'm generally a fan of medium strength tobaccos, but for some reason I've lately been buying the strong stuff. I guess I like to experiment.

I opened up the tin and was greeted with a handsome roll of tobacco. Smells nice - earthy, leathery and of course, quite strong. But it's no bullshit, straight up tobacco.

Cut a few coins with a sharp knife, shredded them up, and packed my smallest pipe. Took a few relights to get it going but once it did it was fine.

Very, very strong. Makes 1792 Flake seem like candy in comparison. Take it slow and easy with this one, as even with a small bowl I felt the nicotine hit quite well.

The flavor is pretty one dimensional though. It's just tobacco, and as the bowl progresses it doesn't really develop into something overly interesting.

I would not buy another tin. It just has far too much nicotine to be enjoyed by me. Though I'm sure some people will love it.

I bought this because I felt I should try what a majority of the pipe world calls the strongest tobacco around. I was not disappointed ... in the strength. Yes, it's strong. But I also made the mistake of smoking a lot of it in a large pipe.

Tin presentation is nice -- if not funny. Tin aroma was that of fresh cedar and cigar leaf. I used a cigar cutter to knock off some slices, which I then rubbed out fully. Some have suggested leaving the slices intact will deliver more flavor. The light and burn were fine. Where the rope lost me was in the flavor/nicotine ratio.

The nicotine is off the charts, but the flavor is nearly absent for most of the bowl. Top third was plain and boring. The mid-bowl gave what flavor it could, which reminded me of baking a loaf of cinnamon bread inside someone's walk-in cigar humidor. Even then, I had to struggle to find these notes. It was around this time that I noticed the nicotine in a big way. I should have put the pipe down for a few hours, but I pressed on -- determined to find some depth of flavor.

End bowl was as forgettable as the top. By this point, I was feeling the effects of the nicotine. I didn't get the spins; nor did I get sick. I just felt uneasy overall and very lightheaded. I pretty much had to lay down and sleep it off.

I gave this tobacco the "Might try it again, but will not keep it on hand" rating because I still have some left in the tin. I will revisit this rope as long as I have it and try smoking MUCH less of it in a sitting, whether in a large or small pipe. I'll also try leaving it sliced, in case that really does bring out the flavors.

This piece of tobacco's yesteryear was interesting, but there are far better full-bodied smokes out there.

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.

Brown #4 seems to be either adored or reviled. I'm going to buck the trend and go straight down the middle. It's got its merits and a few drawbacks, in my opinion.

First of all, Brown #4 isn't half as frightful as some of these reviews make it out to be. It's plain, strong tobacco and nothing more. Apparently that puts some people off.

As far as the nicotine goes, yes you can definitely feel it. I'm a slow smoker so it's never thrown me for a loop, but if you're sensitive to nicotine you might want to approach with caution.

I love ropes and plugs. They offer the pipe smoker complete control over the texture of the tobacco. Brown #4 doesn't feel overly moist. I've tried it rubbed out and cube cut, both straight from the tin and dried out to varying degrees. The main problem I have is that it won't stay lit for me. The only way I've been able to keep it lit is by drying it too much, about 12-14 hours, and when I do that, the taste goes out the window. I'd like to try smoking it as thinly sliced coins but if I can't keep it lit rubbed out or cubed, I doubt coins are going to burn for me.

So that's a huge drawback. I'm willing to admit that part of the problem could be my technique and perhaps I haven't mastered the preparation or discovered the right cut yet. I'll try not to hold that against it, but it's hard to recommend a tobacco that won't burn.

As for taste, this is not a sweet Virginia. It's rugged, strong, and a little bitter. If you're a cigar smoker, think full-strength Nicaraguan. It doesn't taste that much like a cigar but it's got that same hard-hitting flavor profile. Not peppery like a Nicaraguan cigar but kind of sharp. When I'm in the mood for it, I like Brown #4. Especially in the afternoons, which is when I typically start dragging ass. I really wish I could figure out how to smoke it more successfully.

For now, I'll have to rate it 2 stars. Wish there was a way I could give it 2.5 stars. If I figure out a way to prepare it so that it will burn better without having to dry it to a crisp, I'll come back and upgrade it to 3 stars.

Black XX is supposedly the same rope as Brown #4 but stoved darker, which should mellow it out and sweeten it. Not the case. I don't find these two tobaccos to be similar at all (see my review of Black XX). I find it hard to believe that they're related. If Brown #4 is the somewhat plain Jane but curiously beguiling girl next door, then Black XX is her ugly, gap-toothed, slutty little sister.

Not bad, but too plain Jane for me. Might try blending the rest with something else.

I have one pipe, a meerschaum. I'm a tradesman who drives, on average, an hour and half to my first job of the day. I smoke strong tobacco to stay awake. I've been smoking Irish Flake for this purpose and love it. My first bowl is at 4:30AM.

Using this site, I have been experimenting with other tobaccos to see if I can find others I like. I purchased this based on its strength.

I tastes like a cheap cigar and I hated it. My pipe tasted awful for days afterwards too. It is strong, but I cannot stand the taste so I have not smoked a second bowl.

I usually do not smoke at all on the weekends because my wife does not appreciate me disappearing outside to smoke long enough to finish a bowl.

This weekend I decided to cut a piece off to chew and thought it was great. The taste was natural and the nicotine kicked in within three minutes.

I'd recommend it for a chew but not a smoke. I probably won't use it much as I don't usually chew but will use it on the weekends so the tin doesn't go to waste. I may even order more for chewing on the weekends.

Looks like chopped piece of cigar, light smell of iodine and cocoa from pouch, very easy lawyers separation. Taste - kendall sauce w little sweetness, fried mushrooms, well coocked white bread, burning autumn leaves. But taste was very weak, m.b. 5 years - too much. Interesting tobacoo, but I wouldn`t use this one for everyday smoking.

Wrth trying just to say you have tried them all. This was my first rope tobacco. I am an experienced smoker and I am pleased I have tried it, not least to know I have done so. 🙂

This is freaking strong, I smoke big bowls of it as I am a risk taker. HUGE vitamin N hit! The biggest I have ever had.

Need to brush teeth straight after and drink lots of fluids.

I recommend you try if your experienced, its worth a shot, who knows you might love it.