Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Kendal No.7 Unscented

This was another bulk buy so I don't have much to say on packaging. The tobacco comes in a wonderfully fine shag cut. It's light brown and yellow in colour. The smell in the jar is of fallen autumn leaves, soft hay and some breadiness. The tobacco came without being too wet, and at a perfect humidity to smoke out of the pack. Shag cut does best when packed tight.

Once I have it lit it is mildly complex. It's deep and earthy, and the Virginias add hay but only lightly. The slower I smoke this the more floral notes come out. There is a very soft hint of Lakeland that's barely noticeable. There are some cigar notes in this blend. Deep and rich.

I think the taste is a medium-full, it's definitely a full taste, but it doesn't linger. The strength is a medium-strong. I'm no lightweight, I'm smoking this on an empty stomach with my first cup of tea for the day, but I don't recommend doing this if you are more sensitive to Lady N. The room note is a little heavy and may not be the best for your non smoking family and friends. If I had nothing to do I could see myself puffing on this all day.

This tobacco is a wonderful surprise. I’ve enjoyed almost every Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. tobacco that I have smoked, but never ventured into their shag cut offerings. I enjoyed Peter Stokkebye’s Amsterdam pipe tobacco often, but with it being discontinued, I had to search for a replacement. Fortuitously, I was recommended this tobacco by a friend who is very knowledgeable above it tobaccos and I have been smoking it quite frequently since procuring some.

As for the tobacco, it does come just a bit moist, but is definitely smokable as received. It’s not even close to Amsterdam, but is fantastic in its own way. It’s close to a “halfzware” like Amsterdam is, but this is all Virginia. A dark-fired Virginia, but a Virginia nonetheless. The strength ticks the boxes as well as the flavor. There is a faint whiff of Lakeland floral at the beginning of the smoke, but it is well overpowered by the tobacco’s natural flavors.

Al in all, this tobacco is a winner. I’ll still miss Amsterdam when my small supply is gone, but I won’t weep too long and just reach for this of another one of GH shags that I’ve discovered and enjoy!

Well, this is definitely tobacco for grownups! This is a serious, dark, strong, spicy, smokey, cigar flavoured blend.

I always find shag hard to pack - getting the balance between constant relights and burning too hot. However, when I get it right I find this is a pleasant, if strong, flavourful smoke. But after 15 mins or so the cigar elements come much more to the fore and it becomes a bit one-dimensional. It also tends to get a little harsh around this point and I cease to enjoy it. There is quite a lot of nic in this blend so maybe 20 minutes is enough anyway!

Even when dried this tends to leave a little dottle and dampness at the bottom of the bowl and the room note is very full and tends to linger.

All in all, every time I smoke No.7 I enjoy it initially but the experience is short-lived. So I will finish the pack but I can't imagine I will purchase any more in the future. I'm now trying to work out what tobacco requires a bit of body and flavour that I can blend this with.

I agree very much with DK on this One, this is a tobacco that seems to be very much under the radar.

It's just a simple Virginia/burley/fire cured shag mixture. Even though it comes as a bulk it is moist but not moist enough that it requires any extra effort. Typical aromas abound slightly sweet Virginia, nutty burley and a helping of smokeyness.

Packing is easy, but do pack a touch tighter. Lighting is an effortless affair and it just rambles on it's merry way, its flavours are pure and natural no added flavours and when it comes to a tobacco like this, go needs added extras.

It's not an excessively quick burner, but when it is dry, as I prefer It, it can burn hot and bite the tongue if you over do It, but let it go at its own pace with gentle sips and it does reward.

The best way to smoke this tobacco, and any other shag tobacco on that matter, is to take it like you would like a fine single malt. You don't knock it back like a shot of jack or beam, gently sip, savour it's flavour, and enjoy the flavourful journey it takes you on. Room note is pleasant to me but to non smokers I doubt it will have them sniffing the air with delight.

A word of warning though.

I would not recommend this to new pipe smokers because A) it's subtle, the flavours are not big and in your face, it gently and subtley reveals itself over the course of the smoke. B) it does carry a good amount of strength, although not as much as the kendal dark offerings, it will still spin you out if you are new and take it fast.

But if you can enjoy it like described above it is a fine tobacco that is suitable for all day smoking and provides an enjoyable pure and natural flavour.

4 stars earned

I find this a strong no nonsense pipe tobacco which I liked. Due to the Shag cut my first bowl went fast, the second I smoked slower. This blend seems to have a high nicotine content. As I smoke outside no room note was detected. I smoke all types but it is nice to encounter a power house like this one from time to time. The flavor can best be described by me as pure tobacco.

These Kentucky-cured shags by GH such as this, KK, and Dark Birdseye all taste very similar to me. Granted, they are not everyday smokes; I smoke the occasional bowl and use them a bit in blending. I tried an experiment last night and mixed the three blends I mentioned together, and really think I would have a hard time tasting the difference between the mixture and any one of these shags on its own! Even if they are not my everyday choice, I wouldn't be without something like this in my collection as a "change of pace" (yes, that expression is very overused). Actually, if I were exiled on a desert island (also an overused expression), and could only take perhaps five blends with me, I would choose this, or the Dark Birdseye, or Kendal Kentucky, just because they are such pure examples of this particular style, are high nicotine (economical), and are shags, so one can even roll a knockout cigarette from them; something I have done, and believe me, it's a cigarette that should be smoked in stages...

G, H & Co.'s Kendal No. 7 has a jar note that is pure tobacco. No frills, not pungent in any way just a good solid tobacco aroma with a little earth. As for the smoke it is very herbal, woodsy, earthy, smoky, a little floral, grassy, and slightly citrusy with cigar notes here and there. It was a little drying on the palate but did not bite. There is a slight whiff of Lakeland in the background. The nic hit is right at the med to strong category as is the overall profile. The finish was dry with a hint of sweetness but this is not a sweet smoke for me. The room note is tolerable at best. A solid 3 stars but it did not approach my big 3 shags (Kendal KY, Kendal Dark, and Dark Bird's Eye). Well worth trying, especially if these others are out of stock.

Package note of musty vegetation and fermented sweet. Tobacco is a shag cut of brown, light brown and a little dark brown. Moisture content is great. Burns moderately fast with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild to medium. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium and mostly consistent, with notes of peaty vegetation, sweet bread, sugar, spice, floral, orange peel, wood, earth, lemon grassy, savory, tart citrus, rich, sweet hay, a tangy and mildly sweet dark fruit background note, and a peppery retro. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great.

I like Mixed Kendal more, but n 7 is a good smoke anyway. This is a ribbon cut full-bodied medium to full nicotine strength tobacco that comprises dark and brown flue cured Virginia leaf. It has cigar notes that become more and more apparent the more you progress with your smoke. By the end of the bowl it might develop a sharp edge somewhat similar to tongue bite, but this can be fixed by your smoking cadence. It lacks the sweetness and earthy notes of other Virginia ribbon cuts, but this is probably down to the flue cured and dark fired leaf it contains. It is worth noting that this blend will perform beautifully if you mix it with pigtail or rope tobacco on a half and half ratio. wstering this blend down with gold leaf might be a good idea as well for that little bit of extra sweetness or if you want to tone down its sharp edge. The trick with this blend, I believe, is down to finding the smoking cadence that works best for you. This means it will require some attention from you, so don't smoke it willy-nilly any time of the day. Being more of and after dinner blend, I would not recommend it to break the day. Also, I see plenty of aging potential here.