Samuel Gawith Grousemoor

Grouse-Moor is a very often maligned tobacco and this is simply not fair. It is a carefully produced blend of the finest ingredients and a consistent blending tradition going back over two hundred years. I would proffer that the reason so many would thumb their noses at it is because it is the sort of blend that we serious pipemen are told to shy away from because it is not laden with manly amounts of Latakia or smoky stoved Virginia.

For my part, Grouse-Moor is one of my favorite tobaccos, representing, as it does, the pinnacle of one of the most venerable traditions in the realm of tobacco, that of the English Lakeland. Only the finest steamed and stoved bright Virginia is employed, cut into deliciously long ribbons that pack easily and are perfect for slow, relaxed puffing. It is the top casing that truly defines Grouse-Moor, and the sauce used is the very best blend of essences of any that are employed for Lakeland-style aromatics, managing to be floral and herbal and fruity in delicate balance all at the same time. The essence used by Samuel Gawith is a secret blend of all natural components known only to one employee of that historic blending house. I can recall the time that I visited the factory in Kendal and the reverence with which the bottle of Grouse-Moor essence was brought out to be sprinkled onto a batch of leaf to fulfill my request for a pound of Grouse-Moor direct from the factory floor.

Oddly, to me, at least, it is the extra flavoring that people seem to dislike in this blend. The few people that like Grouse-Moor here have attempted to justify it by saying that it has been around for so long that it must be good. I believe there is more to it than that. The floral essence of a Lakeland aromatic is, in my opinion, one of the greatest innovations in the realm of pipe smoking. The specific flavor notes of Lakeland aromatic essences serve to heighten and exemplify the nuances of a fine Virginia and even cut out some of the excessive sootiness to be found in many examples of the leaf, as opposed to German and American style aromatics which only cover up the true tobacco flavor. Consider Earl Grey, among the most popular tea blends in the western world: the oil of bergamot with lavender notes with which the basic Ceylon/Assam blend is laden helps to better marry and mellow the invigorating bitter-sweet flavor of the tea. This is the same sort of relationship of taste that is to be found in Grouse-Moor and so many other fine tobaccos of the Lakeland tradition.

Forgive my rabbiting on for so long, but I have enjoyed this sort of tobacco for years and became tired of listening to a lot of brutes and cads guffawing and casting it aside for 'serious' tobacco. Grouse-Moor is serious tobacco. The Virginia leaf is not only of the finest quality, but also quite strong. The affect of the top dressing is perfect if approached with an open mind. This is a tobacco for real men, and by that I don't mean John Wayne and Mike Hammer, but guys who truly deserve the title like William Wordsworth and Thomas Hardy.

Regards, A. Morley Jaques

Grousemoor was one of the first blends that I fell in love with as a new pipe smoker. Now, nearly three years later, I still really like it. It is a tobacco that has a very unique taste that is sweet with a strong floral note and I can taste the lemongrass. I think Grousemoor is something you either like or dislike, but I do enjoy this blend, it could be because it is so unique and different from anything else I smoke. This blend doesn't seem to change at all thought out the bowl for me and doesn't have a bite. Reminds me of being in a field of freshly bloomed flowers on a warm spring/summer afternoon.

Well, the tin does have a handsome retriever on the front. This flue-cured Zimbabwe leaf is incredible, and needs slow smoking to bring out the unique flavor. This is a very light, fully rubbed out Virginia blend. I can see how our great grandfathers could have nearly worshiped this one!

Grousemoor has the distinction of being the only tobacco I have ever discarded.

I pitched my first tin after only one bowl (half a bowl, actually). Vile stuff, I thought.

And then a funny thing happened. I began smelling Grousemoor in my mind's nose at random moments throughout the day. I began smelling it (I'm not joking) in my dreams.

I would fish the heavily ghosted tin (how is a tobacco heavily scented enough to ghost metal?) out of my desk, where I was using it to hold paper clips... and I would inhale deeply.

I bought another tin. And when I'd smoked all of that, I bought another.

Its scent haunts me. I love it. And Grousemoor has become a regular.

There is a variety of reviewers...I’ll be brief...as a former upland bird shooter I was, of course, attracted to the English Setters on the tin cover... the smoke is not unlike upland bird hunting...SURPRISING...there is a glorious tin presentation and visual appeal to the flavorful golden tobac, it is a lively smoke with savory, deep and rich taste, yet not heavy; it is resonant and satisfyingly complex. Some reviewers report “ghosting” in their briars...I have not experienced this...yet... I’ve smoked dedicated briars. This is a harmonious smoke that highlights a good spot of hot tea! I’ve smoked Gawith Hogarth & Mac Barens tobac 40+ years and find this a treat....i recommend it to the experienced or newer pipers....

There is no other pipe tobacco remotely like this blend to my knowledge. A real one off stand alone baccy.Having been a 40 + years smoker of English blends and the occasional foray into Aromatics I can safely say this is 'different'.In a very good way.I have smoked a good number of tins over the past couple of years or so and every pipeful has been a joy. Better smoked in a large capacity bowl...usually my Billiards or 307's lets the baccy expand and work its magic. Never one to get going after the true light and usually needs more.Beautiful lemony zesty tang from the smoke even when re-lit after letting the pipe rest awhile.Flavour pretty much unchanging throughout the bowl.No bite.Very clean smoking.Fine grey ash with very little dottle.Aftertaste lingers for a long time.No doubt this tobacco doubled up as a room deodorant in Victorian times before the advent of room sprays....the room note is divine! Best to leave out on a large plate overnight as quite moist straight from the tin.

In search of a different experience, I bought this tin. I got one.

Grousemoor is unlike anything I have ever put into a pipe - and I immediately declare myself shockingly impressed. The idea of lemongrass in a pipe should have me running for the hills with my tail between my legs, but hoping for a new aromatic tobacco to add to the stable, I have hit upon an absolute winner. I understand that not everyone likes Lakeland style tobaccos, and I would be the first to name myself in that number - I don't enjoy the odd, cloying, pipe-ghosting sicklyness that many identify. If you are similarly inclined, don't let this put you off! The tin note is lemony, floral, citrussy and with a whiff of that lakeland oddness in the background but to the match, I can't detect it.

This is one of the best aromatics I have ever had. It has a quality and taste profile that doesn't tire my palate and is a pleasure to smoke. It is really addictive as every time I tapped out the fine ash from one pipe, I immediately wanted to pick up another to continue this intriguing journey with this cool-burning, spring-summer tasting blend. There is something special and enduring about this longstanding blend that once tried, certainly can't be forgotten, and has the potential to reach greatness when I look back on the myriad bowls that I have smoked over the last thirty years. I know it is easy to exaggerate and to stray into hyperbole when you find something you like, but like or loathe, this is genuinely unique and should be experienced at least once in your pipe odyssey. It is fresh and lively - not sherbetty like Cube, or chemical-laden such as can be the case with heavily cased aromatic goop-monsters, but infused with a unique and light floral experience that can only be experienced and not described. Excellent quality tobacco.

I do give you a significant caveat - this is a blend that ghosts. Many, if not most warn of that, but I failed to listen, and I foolishly went ahead with smoking it in a much loved pipe that if ghosted, I would be really sad. My next bowl of latakia in the pipe carried none of the overtones that others have found, so I pressed ahead with more. Unfortunately, it ghosts. It REALLY ghosts. I now have an ex-Latakia pipe that is given over to Grousemoor. If I didn't love it, it would be a disaster.

Thankfully, I do. If you are less certain, get yourself a cob and dedicate it to this fine, fine blend. I doubt you will regret it.

I had read the reviews, who hasn't? I noted the love or hate people were giving it. Well on opening the can, overpowering smell of flora. But stunning brightly colored tobacco. Lovely packaging. First smoke, super strong flavoring, but creamy smoke. Second and consecutive smokes, super smooth and yummy. This is addictive, like others I am lusting after it and can taste it just by thinking of it. Often it calls my name and I cannot resist. Strangely tastes like a green tea Oral-B toothpaste that is available here in Hong Kong. Thats a good thing, if a slightly acquired taste. Will I buy more - YES, I am addicted. Its 200 years old for a reason. Unique and recommended.

First let me say right from the start; this is one superb smoke! Always intrigued by the love-it-or-hate-it reviews, I finally decided to try this but it was out of stock for months here in the USA. Fortunately it has resurfaced and I ordered 2 tins.

This is the most "blonde" colored tobacco I have ever seen, like sunshine in a tin. For some reason my first thought was that of a goddess from Greek mythology, ala Jason And The Argonauts! Perhaps it was the all ribbon cut that looked liked golden curls of hair. I was surprised at the subtlety of the tin note; primarily lemon and other, non-descript fruit essences. No Lakeland aroma or flowers to my nose (think Gawith-Hoggarth). Considering the freshness of the tobacco, it loaded and lit quite easily; maintaining the smoke throughout the bowl with a few relights. It smoked clean and dry to the heel with a light grey ash residue and no dottle. Can smoke a tad hot, but there was no tongue bite at all - even with fast puffing. It didn't burn too quickly either; for example as compared to Germain's ribbon cut Plumcake. I might add that the pre-draw light tasted of a superior manufacturer's production of a hard lemon candy sucker. The overall taste sensation was the same, but subtle, and mixed with a background of sweet honey/vanilla, also subtle. Overall almost biscuit like with a slight incense-like aftertaste similar to Germain's Plumcake. It was the creamiest of smokes I have ever had. There was plenty of tobacco flavor and a good mouth feel with this. I usually find straight Virginias too vapid with regard to mouth feel; I'm sure the casings have added to the experience for a fuller smoke.

In no way did this taste Lakeland in the traditional sense or like some of the previous reviewers' comments of perfume laden grannies underwear! Unless they changed the formulation, there was none of that to my sense of taste or smell.

This can serve as an everyday smoke and will do so for me, so I better had snag a few more tins. 5 stars.