Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Kendal Kentucky

I bought this in bulk and smoked a little bit of it when I received it. Then and now, the smell of the unlit tobacco is such a strong, room filling essence of smoke and fermentation as to induce head spinning. A minute after opening the container I had stored it in my wife said to me "I can't sit here!" and we were on an enclosed porch with the windows open!

As terrifying and hyperbolic as Bob Runowski's (RIP, Bob!) review sounds, when lit, all things considered, this is really a remarkably well-behaved burley bordering on possible desert island smoke status. It's wonderfully full-flavored, honest, clean, smokey goodness. It's not the smoothest burning tobacco and does require a few relights despite the shag cut but it is really, really good and although when you are done you know you smoked a pipe there is no reason to fear this excellent tobacco.

Although the contents of my gasketed plastic container was pretty dry the tobacco seems to age really well. I have another nice stash of this still vacuum sealed and am looking forward to enjoying many flavorful bowls of this in some of my larger cobs.

Most surprising of all, my wife who was unable/unwilling to sit on the porch along with the opened container of tobacco was perfectly happy to come back and sit with me and eat her dinner after the container was closed and the pipe was lit. When I asked how the room note was she said it was fine. There you have it, gentlemen!

Kendal Kentucky;

Star Rating = 3.85;

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

Pouch Note = 10;

Room Note = 10;

Flavor = 10;

Bite = 10;

Burn = 10;

After Taste = 9;

Raw Score = 59;

Rated Percentage = 98%;

Comment = Very Smooth, Medium Strength, Nice Full Body Natural Tobacco Flavor, White Ash Burn.

Package note of mildly sweet barbeque. Tobacco is a shag cut of dark brown. Moisture content is ok, most pipe smokers will want to dry it a bit. Burns moderately fast with few relights. The strength is medium to strong and nic is medium to strong. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium to full and very consistent, with notes of fermented sour, musty herbal vegetation, almost creamy, brown sugar, dry bitterness, molasses. cocoa, spices, sweet toast, wood, rich earth, floral, a mildly savory and semi-sweet nutty background note, and a mildly peppery almost smooth retro. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is great.

20230314: Revising my review. For an autopilot smoke, I think I prefer this to John Cotton, certainly over Kendal Dark (which occasionally will have Lakeland notes). This is brighter, more grassy with an implied florality almost. This isn't strictly superior to dark bird's eye, which is more fruity/molasses/toasty adjacent. Both get top marks from me.

Tin note: barbecue without smoke. Smoke: some barbecue (again non-smoky), burley character, slight cream. Searching for cocoa as was mentioned by others, and not finding any to speak of. Maybe a little dark sugar. Tough on the mouth (I have a sensitive mouth). Nicotine level is very high. It's a good option for a strong and fairly uncomplicated burley with exceptional burning characteristics, and no preparation required. Personally I'd prefer Kendal Dark for the smokiness and increased sweetness, or John Cotton's double pressed dark fired when I want a strong, non-smoky burley-forward experience.Would even prefer Prince Albert when I'm not looking for nicotine. I can't imagine ever getting a craving for this specifically, but it is very good.

This review is for both stag cut and vintage cut. Both are the same tobacco just cut differently. The stag is easy to pack and light, but burn quickly. The vintage cut is too easy to pack and light but much slower and cooler. The taste is straight up Kentucky. A mix of different types but a rich fire cured smoke. Very strong taste but still smooth smoke. Nicotine wasn't as strong as some say but strong enough for a beginner.

My simple excursion finds me with my Comer’s Deluxe 225 Pot, (an estate pipe that I recently restored myself) smartly clutched, rolling with a vigorous bowl of Gawith, Hoggarth & Company’s Kendal Kentucky. And in case you didn’t notice this one either, KK doesn’t mess around.

Coming at you in one of finest shag cut configurations of swarthy tobacco you’ll ever encounter; KK is a full-bodied robust adventure made for strong knees. Composed entirely of 100% non-bastardized heady African grown Burleys, be prepared for a formidable smoking experience.

Although the nic kick presents me with a tad bit of the heebie-jeebies, the classic Dark Fired Kentucky flavor is exceptional for the genre. Offering deep, deep tones of dark earthy wood, lightly accented by notes of muscovado-like sweetness, cocoa infused nuts, and an awesome smoky explosion of herby spice that makes the retro-hale literally felt more than tasted.

So let it all hang out and make this blend a pleasurable delight, I am.

This is a dark bold blend with deep rich flavors of chocolate, earth, pepper, coffee, wood and molasses. With some supporting notes of vegetal, bitter and whisps of plum. I absolutely love the shag cut. Makes it super easy to pack, light, and smoke. For me it needs dry time. Smokes great but will leave some moisture in the bowl. It has a great thick smoke output this is a big plus for me. I love blends that yeild thick copious smoke. This blend is a absolutely win for me. Works great as a blending tobacco as well.

A fantastic blend that has all the flavours and aromas I enjoy in a smoke. Full bodied, I get leather, tobacco, wood, campfire, and a slightly salty almost seaweed presence. The smokiness is just right for me: I found nightcap too overpowering. From the first puff, I was relaxed, mellow and in my happy place: perfect!

Toasty, nutty and fairly strong. KK is a no frills smoke! This one takes me back to my days of working on the tobacco markets! Full flavor burley tobacco of a flue cured nature. No in wanted casings or toppings. This one lets the tobacco talk. Consistent flavor and burn from top to bottom. Burns cool for a shag with no bite. Does well with a sprinkle of Scotch Snuff on the top! Will buy more to age! Smokes well in a cob as well as a briar. One side note: this tobacco does well in roll your own cigarette to boot. All around blend if you hanker for a fairly strong dose of Vitamin N!