Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Seasonal Reserve 2020

Gawith Hoggarth & CO. - Seasonal Reserve 2020.

I got this when it was released about a month ago but couldn't write a review straight off as at the time it was still pending approval. No worries, I had more time to think my review through, first!

Removing the lid, which included a decent 'hiss', presents a ribbon cut blend incorporating more brown than black; it's about 25% black Cavendish. It smells more of cherries than anything else, but seeing as cherries have, naturally, more fervour than nuts and vanilla this isn't a surprise! Perfectly moist, ready for a smoke without airing.

As I prejudicated the cherries are on top where the toppings go. That doesn't mean the others are bullied into total submission, I get a pleasing, slight viscidity from the vanilla and a light dose of almonds. Where the tobaccos are concerned I get more of the dark Virginias than bright; rich and fruity-sweet. There's a spot of breadiness from the bright Va, but little sharpness. Behind these, next in line, sits the Burley. Quite toasty, almost caustic, and very dry. There's a slight cooling from the black Cavendish and a scintilla of smoke from the curing. I find there's a very substantial, reliable burn, with no tongue bite to be obtained; IMO.

Nicotine: below medium. Room-note: couldn't offend anybody 😉

Seasonal Reserve? Shame this is a limited edition. I'd enjoy this all year; as an evening smoke! So, it deserves 4 stars:

Highly recommended.

Opening this tin you cannot deny that it is a heavily topped aromatic. The tin note is very cherry forward, but more of a sour cherry than other aromatics I've tried on the UK market. The almond, and to a lesser extent, vanilla are also still noticable. Moisture level was for me excellent and the tobacco packs easily and burns well, forming a dry white ash. The taste of this blend is superb and makes me want to order another tin ASAP so I don't miss out on this limited production tobacco. The triumvirate of cherry, almond and vanilla makes a delicious bakewell esque flavour, which last well in to the final third of the bowl. I was pleasantly surprised that the cherry flavour did not dominate but worked with the other toppings. The natural tobacco taste does play second fiddle but isn't entirely lost, providing a little breadiness and a stoved dark sweetness. For a heavily topped blend I find this burns very cool and dry, with no bite whatsoever. The SO told me this was the best smelling tobacco I've smoked around her, so the room note is definitely a people pleaser.

Will be very sad not to be able to make this a standard element of my winter rotation.

Aaroma di ciliegia e Vaniglia: se fatto asciugare l'aromatizzazione si stempera e da tipico soapy diventa un ottimo aromatizzato leggero/medio, ottimo per questo caldo. spicca il virginia con note fruttate e il pizzicore del Cavendish. Mi piace, pur non amando gli aromatizzati. Ottimo per il caldo o per i momenti estremamente leggeri. Oppure se ci sono le mogli vicino.

Straight out the tin, the sweet notes of the nuts, cherries, and marzipan are very pleasant.. I've been experimenting with a few other aromatics (mostly HG) and this one taste most similarly to the smell out of the tin. The initial tasting notes came off to me as like a more creamy maraschino cherry, by the last 1/3-1/4th of the bowl, the smokier, woody, nuttier more ''tobacco (manly?)'' taste comes out, balancing the sweetness from earlier, leaving a naturally sweet cherry/almondy after taste. Would pick up a few more tins to stock over the year! P.s, (with the first smoke, I left the tin opened and went boxing, smokes just fine just being slightly drier than its original condition)