Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Dark Bird's Eye

This is a ribbon cut easy-to-pack tobacco with rich grassy/earthy Virginia flavour paired with Kentucky leaf for a little bit of added body. Despite the moist content, it can be smoked straight out of the tin and it won't burn hot in your bowl. Some people seem to complain about how fast this tobacco seem to burn, but in true honesty it burns perfectly fine for me. I have chosen a medium size bowl for this and I have been able to keep it going for a few hours. Also, because of how flavoursome this tobacco is, it would create the impression it was an aromatic tobacco, but I really cannot detect any flavourings apart from the Virginia/Kentucky itself. The Virginia leaf it comprises seems to be really good quality and it reminds me of other loose GH tobaccos I like smoking as well, namely Virginia number 7, Mixed Shag or number 6. I particularly like how it evolves as you progress with your smoke. The flavour is quite consistent throughout, but it gains in depth and strength the more you smoke. As you go past 1/2 of your bowl it bites a bit, but smoking it at a lower pace seems to solve the problem. In this respect, it is very similar to number 6. All and all I think it is a really good shag tobacco to have at hand, but I am not sure I'd buy it again. At this point in time I am going to give it 3 stars, but I might upgrade at a later stage shall I think it was worth it.

This is a fine smoke! I ordered it primarily because I wanted something with strength without the need for extensive preparation that other strong tobaccos - such as G&H ropes - require. I'm glad I chose this one! Upon opening the bag, I was greeted with a very nice, sweet, earthy, leathery, and almost floral aroma. It is an aroma that makes my mouth water every time I think about it. I was a little skeptical though, and I was afraid that it might be a little "soapy" since it is a Lakeland tobacco. Nevertheless, I filled up a meerschaum churchwarden with a smaller bowl.

The cut of this tobacco is a shag cut, an reminded me of cigarette tobacco in texture. It arrived at the ideal moisture level - not too dry, not too moist. Packing can be a little tricky with shag cuts as some may already know, but it packs fine after you get the hang of it. It takes a light immediately, and, as one might expect, it burns a bit fast due to the cut. This is not a bad thing though, because it produces tons of tasty smoke.

Upon lighting you'll be rewarded with an earthy, leathery flavor with a sweet undertone. It is not a very dark sweetness as I expected. Instead, it was more of a light, fruit-like sweetness. There was no floral or soapy taste at all. I have never had to relight, and I have never been bitten by this blend. They aren't kidding whenever they say that this stuff is strong! I have a very high nicotine tolerance, and I feel it with this blend (without inhaling). I was very satisfied with how strong it was, because that was the main reason I purchased it. For those who are sensitive to the effects of nicotine, however, I might suggest that you smoke this with caution. I can see how this would make some folks with a lesser tolerance than my own start hugging their toilets.

I find myself reaching for this more and more, and, as a matter of fact, it is the only blend I have smoked for the past couple of days. I like this tobacco because it delivers excellent flavor with superior smoking characteristics combined with a nice nicotine punch. I'm giving it a 3 because I cannot highly recommend this to someone who is not up to the nicotine kick that it provides. If you like pure, dark, nicotine-drenched tobacco, then look no further. I will be ordering much more of this.

Too moist perhaps saved from a wreckage but after a correct,non excesive drying,a splendid and honest full straight,strong tobacco.It burns very fast,shag cut,because this I use a huge bowl.The amount of nic is truly important,if you don´t tolerate it,better smoke a medium-small pipe.Non friendly with family.Not for every hour,every day,but IMHO the best way to the pure smoke.Aromatic lovers keep out .

Dark Bird's Eye;

Star Rating = 3.5;

Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst;

Pouch Note = 9;

Room Note = 9;

Flavor = 9;

Bite = 9;

Burn = 9;

After Taste = 9;

Raw Score = 54;

Rated Percentage = 90%;

Comment = Smooth, Medium Strength, Full Body Natural Tobacco Flavor, has a slight After Taste

Long, stringy shag that fills a pipe easily and takes a light like a champ. Cool, slow burning and a good flavorful kick, what more could anyone want? The flavoring is rather light, just enough to let you know it's there. I'm not well versed with lakeland tobaccos so I cannot say what the flavoring is, or if it's the typical lakeland floral that many either love or hate. As for me, I like it! The nicotine content will slap you in the face if you're not careful! I made the mistake of smoking this from a larger bowled lovat and I swear I turned green, and I've never had that problem before with any tobacco. Don't let that scare you, it's a friendly tobacco that anyone can enjoy, just watch yourself and exercise some control.

Fastest way I found to cake a bowl. At the end of my 4oz. sample I could barley get a pencil into my pipes bowl. Anyway, I love this stuff so i give Dark Birdseye three thumbs up- i have three arms so I can do that.

I realy enjoy this blend. Although this is listed as a virginia blend I detect a small amount of burley. I prefer stronger blends and I would categorize this as a medium strong blend. It smokes cool and the flavor is great. I feel this is a great intoduction for those that want to try G&H blends but are afraid of the Lakeland essence. I would give this a 4 star rating but I generaly do not like shag cuts, I give this one an exception though because of its aother great qualitys. 3.5 stars and I recommend this blend!

This is what I would call an honest tobacco. No frills, bells or whistles. Just good tobacco taste and a good nicotine punch. It's a "one note" taste with little to no complexities, at least to me. I prefer a strong first pipe of the day and this fits the bill on some mornings. I do trade this off with Chelsea Morning and Nightcap. Not 4 stars because of its "simple" taste but one to consider keeping in my rotation for a morning smoke.

I share Kilmarnock Piper's sentiments on this blend. If the "contents" hadn't told me different, I would've swore this was more dark-fired kentucky with a small amount of virginia for body. Very similar to Kendal Kentucky by all measures except not as much Lakeland essence in my sample of DB as I found in KK, and that amount which is here works with the tobacco taste rather than against it. The taste of this tobacc at times reminds me of a waffle cone...weird huh. I like tobacco that ties my stomach in knots, makes my throat snap shut, and gives me the hiccups, and Dark Birdseye is guilty on all counts. It may be Brown Bogie in shag form. I prefer Brown Bogie to this, but I definitely prefer this one to Kendal Kentucky. Treat er with respect.