Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Dark Bird's Eye

I just finished a two-month stint of smoking a quantity of Dark Birdseye, Kendal Dark, and Kendal Kentucky in rotation at various moisture levels, times-of-day, etc. in an effort to decide which one to start buying in bulk. In the end, although they seem quite different when smoked back to back, I can honestly say that if only any one of the three were available, I would lay in a large stock of it and be thankful.

The middle part applies to all three:

The cut is what I would call an "ultra-fine ribbon." Just wider than a true shag, but handles like a shag. I like how it dries out. I like packing it into the pipe. I like how it burns. It can burn really really fast if you truly pay no attention at all, and with tobaccos of this strength it can be unpleasant, but I am lazy and like how easy it is to get these ribbons to smolder compared to larger stuff. Just let it dry until nearly breakable, squeeze it, light it, and puff easy.

Nicotine. There's a lot in here. It awakens the senses, calms the mind, and coats the mouth.

The flavor of these is decidedly dark and strong. Meaty, tangy, oily, a little sweet, fermented, a little smoky. Smoking these is not a multi-dimensional experience like a symphony. More like Sacred Harp sing--4 notes, wild and good and loud. Full on dark tobacco taste. For real. Rough around the edges, raw, old-timey. I have nothing to compare it to, really. I can only say that I really like it and will keep something like this around at all times.

Dark Birdseye is my favorite. It has a much more pronounced fermented "funk" than the others. It reminds me of the Drum tobacco of my youth, when it was still really, really good. It is a really deeply wild tasting tobacco. Also it has some sauce. Adding to the fermented funk is a musky, exotic, incense funk. It is very faint, but I would describe it as exciting, enticing, pheromone-like, and a powerful compliment to the raw dark tobacco power packed into this weird old-timey leaf.

EDIT: I just got a new half pound of this. Apparently some Euro busy bodies forced a change in the cut. Now it's a fairly standard medium ribbon. Tastes the same, more difficult to light, makes me curse the decline of western civilization every bowl. Still 4 stars.

EDIT: Thank God, the "ultra-fine-ribbon" is back. The world is good again.

This blend lies comfortably in my top 5 of all time. Before I tried this, I smoked English and Balkan blends almost exclusively. At the time, I found vapers and vaburs bland.
Dark Birds Eye changed all that.
Floral, smoky and strong with nary a whisper of the Lakeland scent that I love but can be problematic for other smokers. I\'ve never had a trace of tongue bite from this even when smoking fast.
Heavy on the vitamin N, but not overwhelming. This is one that can be enjoyed whilst busy or sitting and reflecting on the smoke.
While I fancy a good shag from time to time, I have found that I prefer the newer vintage cut. The thicker cut brings the strength down a touch and allows more of that delightful GH&C flavor to shine through.
Moustache note: 9.5/10

Update 19 July, 2021 Now that I have a little more experience in the world of pipe tobacco, I’m revisiting this review to give it a more appropriate rating: two and 3/4 stars.

Original review: 18 February, 2021 While I enjoy reading the reviews I’ve read so far — of every tobacco, not just this one — I’ve found I especially enjoy reading (and rereading) the reviews for Dark Birds Eye WHILE I’m smoking it.

I don’t know why. Maybe it’s a result of global pandemic isolation. This is the closest I can get right now to talking tobacco with other smokers.

I’m not going to spend a great deal of time discussing Dark Birds Eye. Lots of people have done this already.

But I must say I find the richness... the nuttiness... the exquisite boldness of this fine Gawith Hoggarth offering quite pleasurable.

As I’m just returning to my pipes (I’m a little over a month back in) after an extended absence, I’ve been hustling to build up a decent stash, while also trying to obtain enough to age a nice variety of quality tobaccos.

And so far, I have more Dark Birds Eye and its sister blend Kendal Dark than anything else thus far. I’ve got a pound each in jars. Ideally, some of it will survive untouched long enough to get some years under its belt.

So to speak.

I’ve mentioned in one of my other reviews (I don’t have many so far) that I prefer the sweetness of straight Virginias at this point, but look to bolder, more savory options to keep things interesting.

I’ve tried other savory options. Not a lot. But enough to recognize that these two GH blends (along with Five Brothers) are keepers.

And, frankly, all I really need in the savory department.

My next step will be figuring out which of these two GH blends I prefer. As of right now, I consider the other (Kendal Dark) my favorite of the two. But I’m working on a bowl of Birds Eye as I type this and, man, it’s really doggone good.

I’ve got my work cut out for me.

In the meantime, stay tuned. I plan on updating this review things develop.

This one has been reviewed quite a bit, so not much to add other than more adoration. This one is absolutely a 4 star blend. Other than the somewhat similar Kendal Dark, this one is in it’s own lane, and what a world class lane it is. Much smoother and refined than some reviews would have you believe. It’s strong and flavorful, but it’s not acrid or a knuckleduster to the palette. It’s earthy, a little sweet, and quite floral due to what I assume are the African varietals. Not a cheerful flavor profile, but rather somber. It pairs well with a foggy morning on the water. The light smokiness in the tin note doesn’t translate to the flavor. There is more than a hint of clove essence throughout, but it doesn’t ever approach that old spice cabinet aroma/flavor. It’s rustic but not harsh or overbearing in any way. I find blends like haunted bookshop or OJK to be vastly more rugged, harsh, acrid, etc. A really beautiful, simple, easy to smoke shag cut blend. Don’t be scared by it’s reputation as a heavyweight puncher, load it in a small bowl , pack it tight, and pace yourself. It tastes best that way anyhow.

*If you don’t have a small shag pipe ( plenty of estate bruyere garantie to be found for cheap) , consider adding one to the collection. It’s hard to overdo the nicotine with such a small bowl, and if packed tight and sipped, the smoke will last you longer than you’d imagine. It’s a working man’s pipe for a working mans tobacco and it just feels right.

Very fine shag cut tobacco that comes rather moist. I like to lay it all out on a flat surface and let it dry for at least an hour and then jar it up. This is an absolutely stellar, hassle free smoke. Those acclimated to large doses of nicotine will surely find this blend essential to their rotation. This blend has character, and depth, it's truly complex. I detect some natural floral notes (not to be confused with Lakeland essence) in the top and a heavy, bold VA flavor which almost tastes "roasted" in the base. This was made with an experienced pipe smoker in mind and has become an everyday smoke for me. I can't recommend this one enough. Absolutely essential!

Let me start with the opinion that this is the type of tobacco Shelock Holmes was supposed to keep in his slipper in the fictional accounts. G&H only say that this is a dark tobacco. They do not provide the origins, unlike many others of their blends. To my taste, this is mostly, or entirely dark fired BURLEY, with little or no Virginia leaf. There seems to be no topping added, just a slightly pungent aroma from the leaf. In fact, there is very little about the aroma that hints at the smoking experience. I won't belabor the fine cut, except to note that it reminds me of Schippers (sp?), which I tried many years ago. As expected, it lights very easily, sometimes with a single Vesta. You immediateley taste the dark, smokey leaf in a burst of flavor. The taste reminds me of a decent Dutch/Danish dry cigar, more refined than a Tuscany style (DiNobili for example). There is little or no complexity to the smoke, no matter how slowly it is smoked, but there is a lot of satisfaction, owing to the fullness of the flavor (and the nicotine level). It also has a tendency to dry out my mouth, another trait of Burley. The leaf does not burn hot unless puffed too agressively, and can be smoked outdoors in moderate breezes. (I don't smoke in stiff winds). I find it works best in smaller pipes, mostly because it becomes too dry in larger bowls. An excellent choice in a cob, in which you can reload almost immediately, as it burns dry and clean. The ash is always dry, but a dark gray color, never white. To me, this is another Burley indicator.

I have recently reviewed Gawith & Hoggarth's Rum Flake, which I thought heavily influenced G.L. Pease's Sixpence. Well, I also believe that their Dark Bird's Eye heavily influenced Pease's Penny Farthing. Despite some differences in ingredients and process and despite the fact that I have not smoked them side by side, my memory tells me that beyond their shared cut - they are extremely similar.

Tin Note of smoke perfume, leather, musty, floral.

The smoke carries on those notes, alongside soap, earth, and a bit of citrus sweetness. Others detected a Lakeland essence, which might be in there in small portions, but I also believe that the Lakeland flavor, in this case, comes primarily from the soapiness and perfume of the Dark Fired Kentucky. The description suggests that the Virginia has been Dark-Fired as well, making it black and smokey.

The flavor transforms throughout the smokes from the sweet-perfume into a smokey wood. The strength also picks up (more on that later) as you go down the bowl.

This blend smoked perfectly with a bit of drying time. It doesn't arrive overly moist, but I like my tobacco fairly dry, especially in this case. Once it arrived at the perfect dryness, it smokes very easy and delivers more clear flavors. It smokes fast and a bit hot if you're not careful, but does not give tongue bite. The shag cut makes it very easy to just fill up your pipe and go, with minimal relights, if any at all.

I did not get anywhere near the strength that others did, unfortunately. For me this has been consistently medium in both strength and body. Smoked well in all pipe sizes and shapes, but smoking it in a small bowl brought out a bit more of the strength. If it's not too strong for you either, this is an excellent all-day blend for Dark Fired Kentucky lovers. In fact, I've smoked it exclusively for a few days to help me avoid cigarettes and alongside a stronger blend, this was of huge help. It also pairs very well both with coffee and a good spirit.

Couple of other reviews got an awful menthol vibe towards the bottom of the bowl which had a bit of a numbing effect on the tongue. That happened to me when I smoked it just a bit too fast. So my advice is to take it easy on the puffing.

I gave G.L. Pease's Penny Farthing three stars, but Dark Bird's Eye gets four from me. Maybe I'll return to Penny Farthing and see that my taste has changed. But meanwhile, Dark Bird's Eye has been a lot of fun. Get some, let it dry for a bit, put it in your pipe and enjoy the smoke. No fussing, no playing around. Straightforward joy.

I thought I would review this one as now I have quit cigarettes I find I have a better appreciation on these fabled pipe weeds.

This is a pipe tobacco that screams vintage. I can very much imagine the old coders of yesteryear stuffing their pipes with a mixture like this and merrily puffing away. This is the type of mixture the old boys would of puffed away before everyone and his cousin decoded to make yet another cherry or vanilla mixture. This is beastly strong stiff composed of all dark fired leaf which will put hairs on your chest. Smells like an old book store, hints of leather wood and a lot of smoke. A slight natural sweetness with no lake land essence. Packs easily into the pipe and lights just as easy. Straight off the bat, heavy taste of wood smoke, a slight touch of leather and a hint of dark fruit and molasses. Extremely cool too smoke and I get an almost menthol like tingle on the tongue.

Nicotine is a bomb on this and will easily drop kick a newbie or faint of heart in the face and charge for the effort.

If you don't like pure unflavoured powerhouses do yourself a favour stay away.

Room note is potent so chances are you will be banished outside.

Either way I like the stuff and regularly sick down bowl fulls of the stuff from a hardcastle London bent billiard and let myself wander off to an older simpler time when men where men and goopers weren't even thought of.

I wasn't sure what to make of this blend as most of the well-known, very strong tobaccos I bought to sample recently were a disappointment in some way. G&H's Happy Brown Bogie proved too overpowering to smoke and was better for me in my cheek. C&D's Old Joe Krantz and Byzantium were both let-downs for me, the former was just totally unsmokeable as it tasted of uncured, unripe Burley and the latter was just kind of flat and lacked balance.

This tobacco was a pleasant surprise. The bag note completely brought me back to a childhood spent farming a few acres of fire-cured dark Virginia tobacco, it had the smell of the 150-year-old tobacco barns full of oak smoke we used to cure our tobacco. The cut reminded me of the Bali Shag and Stokkebye tobacco I used to make hand-rolled cigarettes with years ago. The whole experience really reminded me of the green bag of Bali I used to buy from time to time which is now discontinued (it was either called Dark Virginia or Kentucky).

I pulled out of the bag enough to fill a small, briar churchwarden as it was the smallest bowl I had available and I'd read previous reviews cautioning against large or wide bowls for this tobacco. The tobacco out of the bag was dry, but I though a little extra drying was in order so I tore the really long strands of shag into smaller pieces and allowed it to dry for ten or so minutes. It turned out I pulled far too much out of the bag, as the tobacco did not compress as much as I thought it would. I proceeded to pack the bowl in the normal three steps I use with most tobaccos.

It took a match very easily, as shag does. It puffs up tremendously when first lit and it really didn't even need another light after the first charring light, but I lit again just to be certain the edges were going. The taste was straight tobacco, the taste of oak and smoked peat and leather. Just amazing. I ventured a retrohale. knowing that this had sunk me with OJK. It felt strong coming through my nose, with a tangy note and the slight wisp of Lakeland soapiness. I sat back in my chair and let this tobacco do its thing while I took long, slow sips. It burns very cooly, even with a former cigarette smoker pulling too hard and too often. The taste is not complicated, there aren't layers of flavor here to unravel. It's not overly simple, and though uncomplicated, there is some complexity as you move through the bowl. It was velvety near the beginning, but moved toward a tanginess in the last half of the bowl.

It's a quick burner, the small bowl I packed was done in twenty or thirty minutes. In fact, it surprised me, I thought I had gone out and upon striking the match for a re-light, noticed there was nothing but a very fine white ash. A surprising amount of ash, much more than expected. There was absolutely not a piece of dottle in there and the ash was as soft as silk. One more draw, and my mouth would have gotten quite the surprise.

Overall, I really enjoyed the honesty of this tobacco. It is strong, but not overpowering. The nicotine hit didn't bowl me over and it satisfied that almost ever present desire to smoke a cigarette.

*Even though I detected a faint aroma of Lakeland essence, I rated the flavoring as none, since I'm not sure it's even there. I may have just been influenced into finding it by reading reviews.