Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Brown Irish Twist

This was my latest challenge on my adventure into Rope City. It has been described as a thicker iteration of GH's quite tasty Brown Bogie, aka Happy Bogie, an attribute not completely without merit.

The aroma in the pouch aroma is very much the same as BB, no surprise there really. The thick rope, this is well thick, slice reasonably well and don't need a great deal of prying apart to turn into something packable. This is a little damp, to be expected of a GH rope, so some drying might be advisable.Even without it though, it is not that difficult to light and keep lit. The taste isn't too dissimilar to BB either, though it is perhaps a little sweeter and less earthy than it's slimmer cousin. Nonetheless, it is still a very satisfying smoke. I cannot say it is a particularly strong encounter with the old Vitamin N, but, as mentioned in other recent reviews, I have become somewhat attuned to this after a string of ropes in the immediate past.

Given my love for BB, it will be of no shock to your good selves that I find this an incredibly enjoyable smoke. Would I smoke it over BB? Not necessarily, one is equally as good as the other and there is only a modicum of difference in the respective flavours. You pay your money and you take your choice. I do have about 100g of BB in my so called cellar that now runs the risk of being smoked straight off the bat after trying this. This is definitely worth a repeat purchase though, and thoroughly worth four stars.

One the my favourites. Going right to the point, this rope is Strong but at the same time smooth and mellow (for my taste). The Rope cut (or twist cut for that purists) requires a ritual for to start the smoke, the flavor are bitter and are not for all types of the smokers. Maybe this tobacco can not be for you dear reader, but, if you like of the strenght this is your tobacco.

Since this is a thicker version of Happy Brown Bogie, I'm copying most of my review from that since I really can't distinguish between the two in the pipe.

Brown Irish Twist and Happy Brown Bogie are the strongest of the G&H ropes that I've tried (they are the fullest and strongest tobaccos I have ever tried for that matter). This tobacco was very moist when I cut it. I took a cue from pipestud and used my coffee grinder to chop up a chunk and then microwaved it for about 20 seconds first which did wonders for it. All the favor remained but the gurgle was gone. The flavor is full, rich and deep as others have mentioned but it's not sharp or overwhelming. The nic level is high - higher than most pipe tobaccos. If you have smoked cigs in your past it probably won't bother you but if you haven't, or are nic sensitive then go slow. People have said this is cigarish, which I didn't get at all in the taste but oddly I did get a very cigar aroma from it briefly at first. It does have the same warm, earthy richness of a cigar but this doesn't taste like any cigar I have ever had.

This is a great tobacco if you enjoy this particular niche style. They say not for the inexperienced but I'd let a cigar smoker try this for the similar depth of smoke.

Very strong, very plain. Earthy, leathery, very "brown". Nothing sweet, fruity, bright or "green", absolutely no aromatics to get in the way or goop up the pipe. No appreciable smoky notes. Even after eating a big breakfast, the nicotine is punching me in the face. I've seen so few options which fit this bill, I've got to call it a 4.

I got this as much out of curiosity than anything else but I'm very glad I did. This is a really solid, textbook example of GH tobacco when they dont use that topping. Sweet, earthy, and satisfyingly strong. It comes in a loose rope like a badly rolled cigar which you cut into thin coins. Rubbed and dried the long thin ribbons smoke cool and slow perfect at the end of a day.

As I'm an infrequent smoker so I have completely wrapped the rope in parcel string tightly to press further it while it ages like a Navy Roll. We shall see how that goes.