Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Bob's Square Cut
(2.91)
A complex blend of Virginias from Brazil, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, enhanced with the addition of 8% sun-cured leaf for sweetness, 8% latakia for the character and coolness, and 2% Malawi burley for body. It is then pressed into bricks and sliced into flake form, then sliced again into small squares for easy filling. The addition of cocoa, chocolate, and vanilla essence only adds more character to an already outstanding tobacco. The resultant flake is cool burning, nicely rounded and provides superb room aroma and fantastic flavors for the smoker.
Notes: A fine cut mixture of Virginia, latakia and burley tobaccos, with chocolate, cocoa and vanilla flavorings. This is a similar blend to Bob's Chocolate Flake, but with a different cut and slightly different flavorings.
Details
| Brand | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. |
| Blended By | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. |
| Manufactured By | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Burley, Latakia, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Cocoa / Chocolate, Vanilla |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | Bulk |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild to Medium
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.91 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 23 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 24, 2007 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Notes: Recently opened a tin from 1998, and it does improve with age. My comments reflect this, as well as fresher vintages of Bob?s Square Cut. Tried this in a variety of pipes, and find it best in a small-bowled Ashton briar.
Appearance: Firmly pressed squares a centimeter or two in size. Typical square cut, this one seems to be made of dark and steamed Virginias, reddish brown to dark brown in color, with some whitish dried topping essence applied lightly. It rubs out with extreme difficulty, and I succeeded only in making it sort of crumble a bit rather than rub out to a ribbon.
Aroma: Walnuts, vinegar, smoke, dark Virginia tobacco, plums, bitter Baker?s chocolate.
Taste: Austere. This reminds me of the renaissance in the German cinema of the 1980?s: Spartan, severe, smugly subdued hostility. A vaguely hollow smoke with occasional plum notes. Clear flavor of dark and steamed Virginia tobacco, unadulterated and naked to the palate. ?It must taste only of smoke!? I imagine the blender thinking, ?it must give no enjoyment, and it must bite ? but only a little, so that the smoker knows he is still alive!?
Comparisons: Like Will?s Capstan Flake, but darker and drained of sweetness. Like Ogden?s St. Bruno?s without the mellow warmth and smoothness. Like Bell?s Three Nuns without the subtle complexity.
Bottom Line: The naked smoke. Tired of flavor and sweetness getting in the way? Enjoy latakia monster blends, but your tongue can?t tolerate latakia? For those seeking a minimally flavored dark leaf nutty Virginia flake, try this one!
Appearance: Firmly pressed squares a centimeter or two in size. Typical square cut, this one seems to be made of dark and steamed Virginias, reddish brown to dark brown in color, with some whitish dried topping essence applied lightly. It rubs out with extreme difficulty, and I succeeded only in making it sort of crumble a bit rather than rub out to a ribbon.
Aroma: Walnuts, vinegar, smoke, dark Virginia tobacco, plums, bitter Baker?s chocolate.
Taste: Austere. This reminds me of the renaissance in the German cinema of the 1980?s: Spartan, severe, smugly subdued hostility. A vaguely hollow smoke with occasional plum notes. Clear flavor of dark and steamed Virginia tobacco, unadulterated and naked to the palate. ?It must taste only of smoke!? I imagine the blender thinking, ?it must give no enjoyment, and it must bite ? but only a little, so that the smoker knows he is still alive!?
Comparisons: Like Will?s Capstan Flake, but darker and drained of sweetness. Like Ogden?s St. Bruno?s without the mellow warmth and smoothness. Like Bell?s Three Nuns without the subtle complexity.
Bottom Line: The naked smoke. Tired of flavor and sweetness getting in the way? Enjoy latakia monster blends, but your tongue can?t tolerate latakia? For those seeking a minimally flavored dark leaf nutty Virginia flake, try this one!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 04, 2023 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Unnoticeable |
Gawith Hoggarth Bob’s Square Cut - Very smooth blend that is woodsy ,nutty , slightly grassy and fruity . A little lakeland is present as is cocoa , vanilla and a little pine/ menthol ? Similiar to what I taste in balkan mixture by G&H . Something like clove also maybe ? Whatever the toppings I like it . An easy going , tasty all day type of blend . The Latakia is there and works well with the Virginias and Burley . It tastes like more burley is present than what they say . Maybe some air cured Virginias? Anyway the end result is this is quite enjoyable to smoke . I think I like it a little more than BCF . 4
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2023 | Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
I just smoked a one-ounce sample of this I bought over 7 years ago and I really enjoyed it. I believe cocoa and vanilla are the listed toppings, but I don't really get that so much. It is not surprising as this is a GH blend and like all of them there is a touch of that Lakeland essence that takes the blend a little into the perfume side of aromatic tobaccos; to my senses anyway.
I enjoyed the cut as it reminded me of several McClelland flakes as it was composed of little square pieces of flake that were easy to manage, rubbed out fine and smoked great. There was never a hint of bite and my sample did not require much in the way of dry time. The latakia presence is very light in this and it should not put off those averse to that leaf, at least I don't think it should.
To me it comes across as a nice Virginia bolstered by some burley to give it some roundness and a little heft. I recommend this, particularly if you like your lakeland essence on the light side as I do.
I enjoyed the cut as it reminded me of several McClelland flakes as it was composed of little square pieces of flake that were easy to manage, rubbed out fine and smoked great. There was never a hint of bite and my sample did not require much in the way of dry time. The latakia presence is very light in this and it should not put off those averse to that leaf, at least I don't think it should.
To me it comes across as a nice Virginia bolstered by some burley to give it some roundness and a little heft. I recommend this, particularly if you like your lakeland essence on the light side as I do.
Age When Smoked:
7yrs 3mths
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 06, 2022 | Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
This tobacco has a nutty and nice roast and woodsy character, but the addition of the flavouring let it down. I personally do not dislike most of the casing or other flavourings GH uses to manufacture their products, but this particular one fell a bit too much on the aromatic side of things. To put it simply, I did not hate it, but I did not love it either. If they had an unscented option of it I would probably try again, but not as it is.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 09, 2021 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Preparation & Burn: 5/10 A bit moist. Square flakes that are fairly pliable though. Burns fairly cool, not much bite. A few more re-lights than I prefer.
Taste: 11/20 It's decent, but doesn't stand out as anything special. Smells like window cleaner, but I don't mind that! Tastes like lat+choc+lakeland-essence. Well balanced despite being kind of boring.
Mildness: 9/10 My idea of a good smoke is a relaxing, low nicotine session. Therefore, the milder the better. Not much nicotine.
Total: 25/40
Taste: 11/20 It's decent, but doesn't stand out as anything special. Smells like window cleaner, but I don't mind that! Tastes like lat+choc+lakeland-essence. Well balanced despite being kind of boring.
Mildness: 9/10 My idea of a good smoke is a relaxing, low nicotine session. Therefore, the milder the better. Not much nicotine.
Total: 25/40
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Very Pleasant |
My sample noted it was 'unscented,' and to my surprise, it was. . .unscented. No, really. Basic VAs with a hint of Latakia in the bag and in the bowl. There wasn't even that touch of menthol/pine that I detect in most unscented GH blends. This was just a decent basic blend with that touch of Latakia. The broken flakes (or maybe 'broken 'squares') packed nicely but were a bit resistant to being lit. Once going, however, it stayed alight easily. Since I know there are many tobaccos out there I would rate a 4, the question arises would I rebuy this particular tobacco, assuming my tastes don't change much more. In this case, the answer is not often.
Pipe Used:
briars, cobs, & meers
PurchasedFrom:
smoking pipes
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 23, 2013 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
One of those tobaccos when you take one step back after opening the first time because the smell is so much different to those of the common aromatic tobaccos. This one is considered a Lakeland soapy tobacco but the aroma is not overpowering and let's the tobacco "speak" its own voice. A very pleasant all-day tobacco, can some it as is or rubbed out, wet or dry, it never goes bitter or harsh. One of my favourite ones.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 28, 2011 | Medium | Very Strong | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Tolerable to Strong |
Those who will read this review should send me an email thanking me, as I am saving you from the unpleasant experience to try this awful flake mixture, containing Burley, Virginia and Latakia. Dreadful soapiness is very intense in this blend and it is combined with a terrible smell of cheap cologne. This mixture destroys the tongue no matter how you smoke it, unless you are lucky enough and you don't light it up. Somewhere, somehow it promises a taste of chocolate but you will not find it anywhere, this I promise.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 04, 2007 | Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
I admit it: I'm partial to traditional English soapy blends. I'm half British and that can be a reason, but I really love Lakeland flakes, St.Bruno, Condor and the like. If you like them too, I suggest you to dedicate a couple of pipes just to this kind of blends, because they leave an almost indelible mark. And make sure those pipes are little, because they usually deliver a serious nicotine punch. Like this one. From the beginning it provides a strong smoke, both in flavour and in nicotine amount. At half bowl the flavour has tapered (but never disappears)and you start tasting the tobacco, which is good for sure (but where's the latakia? I couldn't detect it). Be careful and smoke it slow, otherwise it becomes bitter.
The packing and lighting are easy, but it's better to rub it and leave it on the air for 10/15 minutes. No need to relight a lot. Another great job from G&H.
The packing and lighting are easy, but it's better to rub it and leave it on the air for 10/15 minutes. No need to relight a lot. Another great job from G&H.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 30, 2004 | Medium to Strong | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is exactly the same as "Bob's Chocolate" except the flakes are sliced again into small squares for easier packing. I do not find it sweet nor particularly aromatic (compare it to Cornell & Diehl's "Autumn Evening"), but it has great flavor and body all the way down the bowl without harshness or bitterness. It is adequately moist but there is little trouble lighting or keeping it lit. As said, it is not sweet but there is a chocolate undertaste. Remember that cocoa and coffee are related and, in their natural state, are quite bitter. Chocolate is only made sweet by the addition of sugar. "Bob's Square Cut" does not seem to have added sugar; it is not milk chocolate. Instead, it reminds me of dark, semi-sweet chocolate. It is like smoking a cup of espresso; to me, it is more like coffee than chocolate. I like it in the afternoon in a pipe with a good draw; e.g., an old Custombilt. Flakes and other moist tobaccos need a good draw and, in my opinion, do poorly in pipes with constricting filters; for example , a vintage Kaywoodie from the 1930s, '40s, or '50s with the metal "Drinkless" filter. Tobaccos generally lacking humidification, like the nostalgic retro tobaccos from House of Windsor which were popular when Kaywoodies and Dunhills cost the same and were equally prestigious, do very well in the old Kaywoodies. In fact, I believe the old-time tobaccos and the old-time Kaywoodies were interdependent; a symbiotic relationship. But I digress... "Bob's Square Cut" deserves a grade of "B+".
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