Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Sweet Whiskey Twist

Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. - Sweet Whiskey Twist.

I bought this alongside their Sweet Coconut Twist not particularly because I wanted a whisky or coconut twist but more because I wanted to try every one of their offerings. They are, after all, a U.K. based firm, and being from England I felt I should! Coconut Twist left me indifferent, but this is a solid four star smoke!

I found the preparation quite simple. I normally opt for my coffee grinder where twists and plugs are concerned but couldn't be bothered with having to clean the grinder and the kitchen after I've sprayed it everywhere! So I just got my craft knife and actually found it easy: slice into coins then rub into coarse ribbons. The moisture wasn't that bad and the aroma's only very mild with whiskey.

I'll start with the burn: cool, slow, to a snow white ash. The flavour? Mostly Virginia with only a touch of added flavouring. But it isn't a 'boring' old Virginia, it's rich, ripe and mature. There isn't much alcoholic sharpness from the whiskey, it has more of a sweetness. I've not had one puff bite me.

Nicotine: strong. Room-note: not its best point!

Sweet Whiskey Twist? I thought it would be a strongly flavoured, bitter, acrid, smoke, but it's bloomin' lovely! Highly recommended:

Four stars.

This isn't my first foray now into rope tobacco, and judging from the previous blends I tried I enjoy how melded the flavours can get. I bought G&H's Whiskey Twist in bulk so I can't say much about packaging. What I recieved was a delightful brown rope reminiscent in colour to SG's Best Brown #4. The tin note is not overwhelming, it smells like autumn leaves, sweet Virginia hay, & a deep but yet light smokiness that reminds me of the smell of leaves burning in the distance.

It doesn't look it but this is very wet, so I've had my best luck doing the following method. I take the rope and cut as many coins as I think I'll need with a cigar cutter. Then I lay those coins out to dry for an hour and then rub out and stuff into my pipe, and then I use the same method I do with wet flakes. I leave my filled pipe out over night to dry out some more, and then I smoke it the next day. Using this method I normally have good luck getting it lit and staying lit. But mind you this isn't the kind of blend you take to the races.

Once lit there is a deep complexity to this blend that I really enjoy. The Virginias taste darker than their smell supposes. They are earthy and woody and have a nice floral character to them. There is something in this blend rememiscent of Dark Fired Kentucky, that deep smokiness. The Whiskey is present but in a way like Peter Stokkebye's Highland Whiskey; it is very complementary to all the natural tastes of the tobacco. This comes off as sweet and smokey.

The taste is medium-full. The taste is lingering after in a nice way. The strength is a medium-strong. I've not had anything for breakfast and I can feel it but it's not as strong as some other flakes and ropes I've had. I can't say much about room note as I really haven't smoked this around other people, all I can say is that I like the smell when I set my pipe down. It does leave moisture in your bowl even after prolonged dry time and I think it's the nature of the beast. I really like this blend and plan on buying some more when it comes back in stock.

Similar to the other brown twists, but with a detectable whiskey flavor. I find it quite delicious and rewarding to smoke or chew. Since I've been (literally) whittling away at a collection of Gawith twists, my technique has been improving as has my enjoyment of these very fine tobaccos. I've yet to try them in a wide bowl as I smoke cobs, none of which are wide. I've recently dedicated a trio of tiny MM Mizzou cobs to the twists and find them perfect for the job. And have enjoyed the full pipe experience with the changes of characteristics etc.

As far as prep goes, I use a pair of very sharp and not too thick scissors to make very fine angled cuts around the perimeter of the twist. Picking apart the clumps and then drying in an empty Altoids tin works well and alows me to make some up ahead of time for future bowls. Even dried, these twists are slow to go and a Zippo Pipe lighter really helps. I've also mixed in a litle bit of Gawith Dark Birds Eye, which improves the ease of smoking considerably. The tiny Mizzou Cobs are the perfect dose for me, so no concerns about strength here, just pipe smoking at its best. Smokingpipes has been an excellent vendor for Gawith products; I find their ounces heavy (1+1/8) and their inventory more reliable.

Finally a somewhat novice description of the smoking experience... A slightly persnickety second lighting is usually followed by a short period of sweet dark virginia flavor. Typically, a relight is needed and a rich creamy flavorful smoke follows. The flavoring is natural and subtle and definitely a light whiskey, mingles with the full sweet caramelized Virginia. This is an enjoyable smoke right to the bottom of the bowl. Not much tamping, but perhaps lifting out a little ash helps. After smoking, I have a very pleasant taste in my mouth without any strong odors in my beard - a very nice after dinner and bedtime smoke. Great with a shot of Southern Comfort and a glass of very cold water!

Package note of tart wine, dark stewed fruit and mild barbecue. The 3/4-inch-wide rope is brown and darker brown. Tobacco is wet, prep entails a razor or thin sharp knife and cutting thin coins for rubbing out, finally drying a bit. Burns is slow with more than a few relights. The strength is medium to strong and nic is medium, and flavoring is very mild only showing up as a consistent sweet background flavor, though the whiskey is UA (Unauthorized Absence). Taste is medium to Full and consistent, with notes sweet dark fruit, spices, earth, wood, cigar, floral and a very light smoked lemon grass. Dark fired Virginia leaf and dark air cured burley Indian leaf are fighting together supported by the flavoring. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is Excellent.