Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Dark Bird's Eye

Very similar to Drum RYO in appearance. Very strong in flavor and satisfaction. Would have gone four stars but too rich for frequent use. If you have problems with high levels of nicotene steer clear of this weed.

The first time I tried this, a couple of years ago, I didn't like it, it didn't seem that strong and I found the taste boring.

Second time around I have a different impression. This shag cut Lakeland tobacco is kind of the UK's version of Five Brother's dark shag. Except this is much better tasting, spicy and suprisingly soft, not even comparable except in cut and strength.

DB needs to have its strands broken up and packed carefully (not too tight, it's very easy to pack it too tightly). And of course, it has to be at the proper humidity. Then it is rich, creamy, smooth and strong. And builds from there. On the palate, the sensation is similar to FVF, but the strength is greater, the taste less interesting and less sweet perhaps, yet still, to my mind, the taste of a mostly straight VA of the Lakeland variety. There is none of the burning rubber, smokey motor oil type of aftertaste found in the darker ropes. Yet this seems to be almost as strong as xx rope. GLP once did say wonderful things about GH Va's and this in particular, though he called DB a "death rattle". For anything stronger, one could cross over to the cigar world and try a Joya De Nicaragua Antano. Whew.

12-27-2004 Another Fine Entry from G&H

Apearance and Aroma: Fine shag cut, very long ribbons. Light browns with an occaisonal "birdseye" from the cut stems. Smells earthy and rich.

Packing and lighting: Can be a little fussy due to the long ribbons, but is at perfect moisture. Lights up easily 2-3 lights max.

Initial Flavor: Rich! This is definitely a strong tobacco, but it is not overpowering. Reminds me alot of "Stonehaven", but without the wine notes of that blend. Burns cool from the get go.

Mid-Bowl: the richness mellows somewhat, nice round flavor in the mid to low taste spectrum with an occaisional spiciness popping in and out (maybe the stems burning). There is a light Lakeland style "perfume" flavor noticable.

Bottom of Bowl: A good increase of strength and its over with nothing but fine grey ash left over.

Overall: This is a rich earthy VA/Burley blend that I smoke occaisonally. It does have a high nicotine content, so I generally use group 2-3 size pipes when smoking it. Due to its richness, you can puff gently and get plenty of flavor and keep tongue bite at bay and be left satiated. I would not recommend this to a beginner as this will make you green quick if you are not used to it. I believe that this is the "Longbottom Leaf" blend that the Hobbits and Gandalf smoked and loved. Definitely a "Middle-Earth Blend"

Rating 4 out of 5 points.

Another Gawith for me to try! Well, this blend is fairly close to one of my regular blends from this company, namely, Kendal Dark, (which is the shag version of Dark Flake).

Peppery, spicey, almost with a maduro-like note in the background. A very, very, subtle sweetness that pervades the run of the bowl.

I found the packing to be easy, (but then again, I have quite a bit of experience with this type of cut being a regular Kendal Dark smoker).

It burns to an interesting, almost textured, white-grey ash.

I find this type of smoke to be a stout one. You are always aware of it's presence. Slow puffing is recommended IMHO.

A Really Nice Experince.

Appearance: This is a finely cut tobacco that snarled such that it looks like a bird?s nest. The color is medium to dark brown, with light brown stems intermixed. There appear to be no humidifying agents in this, as it dries out quickly if left out.

My sample was received from a friend was a couple of years old. I resealed it and let it sit for about a year before I smoked it.

Initial light reveals that this is clearly a scented tobacco. The scented nature retreats quickly to the background, although it remains for the entire bowl. The flavor is very full from the beginning, without any hint of high citrus notes. This is the closest that I have ever come to a cigar flavor in a tobacco; note that I have never knowingly smoked a tobacco that actually contains cigar leaf. Update: Having smoked this more, I cannot find the scented note that I originally noticed here. Odd to go from something that seemed so ?clearly scented? to not being able to find it at all. The best that I can suggest is that the range of flavor that I associate with natural tobacco has changed.

The nicotine level in this is high, and it packs a punch even in a fairly small bowl (group 3). I found it to be a slightly rough on the mouth, and would characterize it as an occasional smoke. It is a flavorful and unique smoke that requires some attention. It has a tendency to go a bit ashy on me.

Flavor 90/100. Smoking characteristics 65/100. Overall 80/100.

December 2003, Updated March 2004

This is another of those G&H "dark" tobaccos I keep on hand, next to the big chair, and which I smoke perhaps once or twice a week. This does not have the maduro strength nor the sweet undertone of Dark Flake, but it is on the dark side. It is extraordinarily smooth in the mouth with no bite and with sort of burnt caramel note, but not that sweet. I am trying to approximate the flavor, but it is a bit ephemeral. It is sweet on the tongue with no bite, exceptionally smooth. This tobacco comes to life in the nose where it is spicy, tingly and dark, somewhat on the order of exhaling with a drop of Meyers Dark Rum on the tongue. This tobacco is a an exercise in patience to pack. It is a shag cut and snarled like a wad of hair. I like to dutifully separate the strands (allowing it to air, separating the wads) before packing. This is a unique and great tobacco. It is not an all day smoke because it is quite strong in in every dimension, but once or twice a week, it is a treat. And it packs a nicotine punch. If you have an interest in the Lake District treatment of dark English tobacco, I suggest you might want to start with this one. Most highly recommended. Paddy.

(05/24/03) This is a very fine ribbon/shag cut which you actually have to pull apart when filling your pipe. This would be a good pipe tobacco to roll into cigarettes, if you have the know how and materials. It is mostly dark brown to black in color, with some hints of tan and gold. This tobaccy packs very easily, in fact, you must be careful not to over pack it which I have done more than once. This is said to be a pure Virginia with no topping and I must agree. No topping is present but nor is there any of the natural hints of sweetness usually associated with Virginias. This lights and burns very easily. It can get hot and bite quickly, if your not careful. This tobaccy offers a whole lot of cool smoke, if you go slowly. The flavor profile unusual and unique. It is very deep, rich, delicious and pure Virginia. It is on the high octaine end of the nicotine spectrum and will kick your ass in a heartbeat if your not careful. Experianced smokers should love it! Beginers should go slow! Do not smoke this on an empty stomach. I've been buzzed by this tobaccy more than once but it do taste Sooooo Goooood!!!

Whoa Nelly! Talk about your nicotine blast, this weed has a wallop that's right up there with all the other heavy hitters (Royal Yacht, Nightcap etc). At the tin, I am reminded of the rich, raisiny-cocoa spiciness I like in the matured Virginia vein (like Yacht or St. Bruno) but at the match, aroma seems to lose out to the powerful heap of smoke that tickles your nose and coats your throat and tongue with dense syrupy saliva--awesome! Thanks to the reviewers, I loaded a very small (317) Peterson System for this stuff, and I'll be sticking with it for the duration. A little goes a long way here. This tobacco is super stringy and needed to be torn up to get a good load. Great for a morning fix if yr in a hurry, but also worth luxuriating over. Not for complexity-snobs, aromatic smokers, or beginners. Those who like a wallop in their daily diet, coupled with the soul-satisfying smoke of good strong Virginia, check it out.

Strong stuff and easy to pack if you remember not to press down too hard at first. Some smokers cut up the shag but I don't

The taste is creamy and rich with virginia sweetness. Sometimes I pick up some British "soapiness" but the tobacco is not topped.

I smoke this in small bowls, slowly, and after dinner to perk up.