Samuel Gawith Black Forest
(2.86)
Rich black cavendish tobaccos blended with bright Virginia, create a smooth smoke with a subtle honey flavouring.
Details
| Brand | Samuel Gawith |
| Blended By | Samuel Gawith |
| Manufactured By | Samuel Gawith |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Honey |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Medium
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.86 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 28 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 05, 2020 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Mild | Strong |
I bought this on the hunt for something like Rich Dark Honeydew but with less of a honey upper cut and, after due diligence, I came across the reviews of Black Forest. From the reviews this seemed to be a marmite tobacco: you either love it for its subtlety or hate it because it offers no longevity in it’s flavour so I had to try some. I now know which side of the fence I’m going to be on.
First impressions: in the tin, the tobacco was stuck to the internal wrapping paper, which was much more glossy than the usual wrapping paper. I presume that this might be a result of Covid and SG not being able to get hold of the usual paper; at least that’s what I hope anyway because it has imparted a plastic/varnish type of smell to the tobacco. When trying to pry the tobacco from the paper, The paper began to rip as it was still stuck to the tobacco - bugger, thought I.
The paper had also gone brown where the tobacco had been touching it and this tobacco was dry - I mean abnormally dry for an SG blend.where the paper hadn’t touched the tobacco it was one step beyond “good to smoke” in my opinion. As I jarred it up, I knocked the tobacco about a bit in the hope that the dry tobacco could mingle with damper stuff and then would find a happy moisture marriage. I wish I hadn’t done that in hindsight.
The tobacco itself could be called “Tiger’s Tears” or something (tobacco manufacturers please not that I am available, at a reasonable rate, for tobacco blend naming purposes), the bright leaf is dotted with black cavendish in a ratio slightly less than a tiger’s stripes and it looked inviting.
As for the honey, I’m not getting any from the pouch note, the pouch note is being held hostage by the smell from that bloody paper! If it is there, I cannot smell it. By knocking the brick of baccy about and stirring it up, in the hope of spreading the moisture love, I have only succeeded in sharing the paper love - great.
The taste also reveals no honey at all. I am a fan of the Rich Dark Honeydew but that isn’t an all day for me, I was looking for it’s little brother, that could be enjoyed a couple of times a day and this is not it. If there is any honey then it is passing me by at this stage of our relationship.
The tobacco is...bland? That is to say that it tastes like tobacco (obviously), black cavendish and the golden virginias but it offers nothing; there is no change to the flavour profile from match to ash, it is what it is and some people will rightly applaud Black Forest for this. Other blends can start of tasting exactly like the tin note, only to reveal hidden depths (good or bad) three or four draws into the smoke; this one doesn’t really change.
The room note is cloying, hanging around the room like that uncle at Christmas who doesn’t take the hint that the party is over, it’s the 8th of January and he needs to go home. Not pleasant, more like cigarettes.
I’m going to leave this one, jarred up for a while, in the hope that the effects of the paper dissipates and some of the beauty of the tobacco comes through... hopefully.
If it doesn’t then this will become an experimentation tobacco, to be used when I get the Dr Frankenstein urge to mess about with things that I have absolutely no right to go messing with - “ah yes, I must try the rose water; why hadn’t I thought of that before!” Cue the flashes of lightning, rumble of thunder and the manic laughter.
I like most SG blends, even if I’m not mad keen on the blend itself there is usually something that interests me and makes me think “ooh, today is a Navy Flake like type of a day” but this one isn’t saying anything to me at the moment. All in all, not one that I recommend, mainly because of the paper issues to be honest.
First impressions: in the tin, the tobacco was stuck to the internal wrapping paper, which was much more glossy than the usual wrapping paper. I presume that this might be a result of Covid and SG not being able to get hold of the usual paper; at least that’s what I hope anyway because it has imparted a plastic/varnish type of smell to the tobacco. When trying to pry the tobacco from the paper, The paper began to rip as it was still stuck to the tobacco - bugger, thought I.
The paper had also gone brown where the tobacco had been touching it and this tobacco was dry - I mean abnormally dry for an SG blend.where the paper hadn’t touched the tobacco it was one step beyond “good to smoke” in my opinion. As I jarred it up, I knocked the tobacco about a bit in the hope that the dry tobacco could mingle with damper stuff and then would find a happy moisture marriage. I wish I hadn’t done that in hindsight.
The tobacco itself could be called “Tiger’s Tears” or something (tobacco manufacturers please not that I am available, at a reasonable rate, for tobacco blend naming purposes), the bright leaf is dotted with black cavendish in a ratio slightly less than a tiger’s stripes and it looked inviting.
As for the honey, I’m not getting any from the pouch note, the pouch note is being held hostage by the smell from that bloody paper! If it is there, I cannot smell it. By knocking the brick of baccy about and stirring it up, in the hope of spreading the moisture love, I have only succeeded in sharing the paper love - great.
The taste also reveals no honey at all. I am a fan of the Rich Dark Honeydew but that isn’t an all day for me, I was looking for it’s little brother, that could be enjoyed a couple of times a day and this is not it. If there is any honey then it is passing me by at this stage of our relationship.
The tobacco is...bland? That is to say that it tastes like tobacco (obviously), black cavendish and the golden virginias but it offers nothing; there is no change to the flavour profile from match to ash, it is what it is and some people will rightly applaud Black Forest for this. Other blends can start of tasting exactly like the tin note, only to reveal hidden depths (good or bad) three or four draws into the smoke; this one doesn’t really change.
The room note is cloying, hanging around the room like that uncle at Christmas who doesn’t take the hint that the party is over, it’s the 8th of January and he needs to go home. Not pleasant, more like cigarettes.
I’m going to leave this one, jarred up for a while, in the hope that the effects of the paper dissipates and some of the beauty of the tobacco comes through... hopefully.
If it doesn’t then this will become an experimentation tobacco, to be used when I get the Dr Frankenstein urge to mess about with things that I have absolutely no right to go messing with - “ah yes, I must try the rose water; why hadn’t I thought of that before!” Cue the flashes of lightning, rumble of thunder and the manic laughter.
I like most SG blends, even if I’m not mad keen on the blend itself there is usually something that interests me and makes me think “ooh, today is a Navy Flake like type of a day” but this one isn’t saying anything to me at the moment. All in all, not one that I recommend, mainly because of the paper issues to be honest.
Pipe Used:
Falcon, basket, bulldog
PurchasedFrom:
An online retailer.
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 21, 2014 | Medium | Medium to Strong | Medium | Pleasant |
Samuel Gawith - Black Forest.
Not as moist as many Sam G' blends can be, it isn't perfect, but neither is it soaked! The mixture's mostly brown, with fewer black pieces.
The smoke: nothing extraordinary, but a pleasing, sweet, aromatic blend. The description says it has a 'subtle' honey topping, but I find it much more than that. Rather than being an aromatic that only feature's a sticky-vanilla black Cavendish taste, the tobaccos have a more sprightly and fresh flavour. It burns well, and doesn't bite.
Nicotine:medium. Room-note: pleasant.
A top quality aromatic. Highly recommended:
Four stars.
Not as moist as many Sam G' blends can be, it isn't perfect, but neither is it soaked! The mixture's mostly brown, with fewer black pieces.
The smoke: nothing extraordinary, but a pleasing, sweet, aromatic blend. The description says it has a 'subtle' honey topping, but I find it much more than that. Rather than being an aromatic that only feature's a sticky-vanilla black Cavendish taste, the tobaccos have a more sprightly and fresh flavour. It burns well, and doesn't bite.
Nicotine:medium. Room-note: pleasant.
A top quality aromatic. Highly recommended:
Four stars.
Pipe Used:
Mr Brog
PurchasedFrom:
Smoke King
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 03, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Very Pleasant |
The grassy, citrusy bright Virginia also sports a touch of wood, spice and floralness as it forms the base of the blend. The toasty, lightly sugary black cavendish is a supporting player. The honey topping is slightly rich, and mildly tones down the tobaccos, and tends to lose a little potency toward the finish. The strength is just short of the center of mild to medium, while the taste reaches the medium mark. The nic-hit is a step past mild. Won’t bite or get harsh, and has no rough edges. Burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with a very consistent, though not overly sweet flavor from start to finish. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires slightly more than an average number of relights. Has a decent after taste, and can be an all day smoke for the veteran.
-JimInks
-JimInks
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 31, 2013 | Medium to Strong | Medium to Strong | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Just like, in my opinion, few blends deserve 1 star, few also deserve 4 stars, and this is one of them.
NOTE: NOT A BROKEN FLAKE. PLEASE LEARN YOUR CUTS.
I don't know if this blend is new because I have not seen it online and can't even see it on S.G. website. I found it at my local shop and, since I've pretty much liked everything by S.G. I decided to give it a try.
Opening the tin reveals a strange ribbon cut, very fluffy and somewhat annoying to pack, but not bad. I was surprised at how slow this stuff burns considering the thin fluffy cut. I am not sure what the cut is called, but I know it is most definitely not a broken flake. The tin smell is of ripe fruit, Virginia, and slightly vinegary.
Upon first light you are greeted by a very pleasant honey taste, which eases at about the half point mark down the bowl (though it is not completely gone until the last third) If you have wished MacBaren's blends tasted like the honey you can smell in the tin, this stuff is for you.
The last third of the bowl is sweet, Cavendish and Virgnia sweet, no honey taste. There is also a tingle in my nose that reminds me of perique, though there is no perique here.
Not particularly strong as far nicotine goes, but now a lightweight smoke either.
I have never been disappointed by S.G. If you can find it, then it is worth the try.
NOTE: NOT A BROKEN FLAKE. PLEASE LEARN YOUR CUTS.
I don't know if this blend is new because I have not seen it online and can't even see it on S.G. website. I found it at my local shop and, since I've pretty much liked everything by S.G. I decided to give it a try.
Opening the tin reveals a strange ribbon cut, very fluffy and somewhat annoying to pack, but not bad. I was surprised at how slow this stuff burns considering the thin fluffy cut. I am not sure what the cut is called, but I know it is most definitely not a broken flake. The tin smell is of ripe fruit, Virginia, and slightly vinegary.
Upon first light you are greeted by a very pleasant honey taste, which eases at about the half point mark down the bowl (though it is not completely gone until the last third) If you have wished MacBaren's blends tasted like the honey you can smell in the tin, this stuff is for you.
The last third of the bowl is sweet, Cavendish and Virgnia sweet, no honey taste. There is also a tingle in my nose that reminds me of perique, though there is no perique here.
Not particularly strong as far nicotine goes, but now a lightweight smoke either.
I have never been disappointed by S.G. If you can find it, then it is worth the try.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2014 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Shortly after I found SG put out this newer blend I was anxious to try it. For the longest time, with most vendors, it was not included in the normal SG lineup. I recently saw it available at pipesandcigars.com and snagged a tin.
It arrived today and I opened it up to smoke immediately. Moist but not overly so. Mostly a ribbon cut with I would say 2/3 light leaf and 1/3 black cavendish; the lighter leaf a mix of medium-longer length ribbon and the black as a shorter ribbon or riff cut. There was a subtle fragrance of honey which was very appealing. In no way did it mimick the honey topping of a MacBaren or any other honey-topped blend I have ever smoked. Nor was there even the slightest hint of Lakeland. Given this in a blind smoke test, I would never even consider it made by SG; except perhaps for the quality leaf. Loading was easy and lighting was no chore. It remained lit while puffing, only going out if I put my pipe down for a few minutes. I rated the flavor/taste as mild/medium, both bordering closer to the mild. The Virginias came through very subtly but was most certainly there. The honey topping (or casing) was done with a light hand and contributed itself in a subtle way as well. It tasted very natural rather than artificial and leaves a nice honey presence on the fingers. In trying to bring more flavor to the tongue, the nicotine presence can creep up on you and leave you with that nicotine lump in the back of the throat along with a little head spin (Irish Flake and ABF are my two daily staples, so I was surprised at this). Settling back into a slower cadence eliminates this and you still get very subtle flavor, enough to please. Sweet, but not cloyingly so. From my experience, very good quality leaf, no bitterness, never a bite, no moisture, and burns to minimal dottle. Truly a very enjoyable smoke. Aromatic yes, but not like American aromatics. Here, less is definitely more. Something I can find myself reaching for every day, but most likely will do so on special occasions - like settling in with a good book and a beer on the deck.
Not disappointed in the least and certainly worthy of 4 stars. A bit pricey at $11/50g tin, but since it won't be an every day smoke for me, the price is acceptable. Enjoy!
It arrived today and I opened it up to smoke immediately. Moist but not overly so. Mostly a ribbon cut with I would say 2/3 light leaf and 1/3 black cavendish; the lighter leaf a mix of medium-longer length ribbon and the black as a shorter ribbon or riff cut. There was a subtle fragrance of honey which was very appealing. In no way did it mimick the honey topping of a MacBaren or any other honey-topped blend I have ever smoked. Nor was there even the slightest hint of Lakeland. Given this in a blind smoke test, I would never even consider it made by SG; except perhaps for the quality leaf. Loading was easy and lighting was no chore. It remained lit while puffing, only going out if I put my pipe down for a few minutes. I rated the flavor/taste as mild/medium, both bordering closer to the mild. The Virginias came through very subtly but was most certainly there. The honey topping (or casing) was done with a light hand and contributed itself in a subtle way as well. It tasted very natural rather than artificial and leaves a nice honey presence on the fingers. In trying to bring more flavor to the tongue, the nicotine presence can creep up on you and leave you with that nicotine lump in the back of the throat along with a little head spin (Irish Flake and ABF are my two daily staples, so I was surprised at this). Settling back into a slower cadence eliminates this and you still get very subtle flavor, enough to please. Sweet, but not cloyingly so. From my experience, very good quality leaf, no bitterness, never a bite, no moisture, and burns to minimal dottle. Truly a very enjoyable smoke. Aromatic yes, but not like American aromatics. Here, less is definitely more. Something I can find myself reaching for every day, but most likely will do so on special occasions - like settling in with a good book and a beer on the deck.
Not disappointed in the least and certainly worthy of 4 stars. A bit pricey at $11/50g tin, but since it won't be an every day smoke for me, the price is acceptable. Enjoy!
Pipe Used:
Peterson Irish Harp bent no 69
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes and Cigars
Age When Smoked:
Fresh from tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 18, 2015 | Strong | Mild | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Tolerable |
I found this tobacco to be lacking in flavor nuance and the tobacco to come across harsh. Based upon other reviews, maybe I got a bad tin. Hated it when I first received this tin. Held onto it for a year trying to finish it off. Only the second tobacco of about 100 thus far that will find its grave in the trash. If you are a nicotine junkie, you can get your fix here. I hate to be a downer on this one, maybe I'll get a shot at trying it again down the road, but it certainly won't be because I purchase another tin of it. If I do and the experience is different, I'll certainly update my comments. I'll rack it up to a bad experience or tin and leave it at that.
Pipe Used:
Rossi, Red Point, La Strada, Cob
PurchasedFrom:
P&C
Age When Smoked:
new, 6 mos, 1 yr
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 05, 2018 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
Upon tin opening you're greeted with very yellow and blindingly bright Virginia's with just a few spots of black Cavendish. Tin note is of natural dark honey which I'm used to have. Moisture is at right level just needed some air out shag cut fills bowl easily and first light is of burst of honey flavor and the citrusy sweet quality Virginia's. Burns steadly needed couple relights consistent taste through out the bowl. Nic hit at mid zone and enjoy level at high! A good quality product from the house of Sam Gawith... Fours all the way.
Pipe Used:
Briar Dublin
PurchasedFrom:
GQ Tobacco UK
Age When Smoked:
6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2017 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
An excellent Virginia blend with a sprinkling of jet black Cavendish and a lovely top dressing of honey. Smoked fresh there is a wonderful fresh honey tin aroma mixed with the sweet gassy notes of the VA. The taste is predominantly sweet Va with a genuine honey note. Once aged (as with most pure honey top dressings) the honey note will dissipate over time leaving a really excellent sweet Va Cav blend that is enhanced by the marriage of the flavors and time. Of the honey blends that I have tried, this is one of the best. Definitely worth a go. Cheers.
Pipe Used:
Various Billiards in different sizes
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
One Year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2017 | Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Unnoticeable |
I smoked a full bowl, a sample provided to me by a friend.
Burn properties: only 3 relights.
Taste/aroma: pleasant woodiness. I could not detect the topping at all, but that say more about my palate than anything else. I usually do not taste the toppings unless they're Very Strong.
Aftertaste/effects: Aftertaste is mild and fades faster than other blends I've smoked recently. I notice, however, what I assume is a nicotine "kick" arriving at the very end of the bowl (ca. 45 minutes of pleasant smoking). This ~increased~ for a good 30 minutes after finishing the bowl!
Room note: I indicated "undetectable" because I smoked the pipe outdoors.
I'd recommend this to those who have developed tolerance for higher nicotine inputs. Perhaps not so pleasant for those sensitive to nicotine.
Burn properties: only 3 relights.
Taste/aroma: pleasant woodiness. I could not detect the topping at all, but that say more about my palate than anything else. I usually do not taste the toppings unless they're Very Strong.
Aftertaste/effects: Aftertaste is mild and fades faster than other blends I've smoked recently. I notice, however, what I assume is a nicotine "kick" arriving at the very end of the bowl (ca. 45 minutes of pleasant smoking). This ~increased~ for a good 30 minutes after finishing the bowl!
Room note: I indicated "undetectable" because I smoked the pipe outdoors.
I'd recommend this to those who have developed tolerance for higher nicotine inputs. Perhaps not so pleasant for those sensitive to nicotine.
Pipe Used:
corncob
PurchasedFrom:
gift from friend
Age When Smoked:
unknown
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 26, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
This is a tobacco I purchased some time back, the first and second tins weren't quite what I was expecting; different suppliers, so presumably different batches. Nevertheless I stuck with it and purchased some more, and I am really glad I did. Of the first two tins, one was overly moist, the other the complete opposite. Subsequent tins have been about right, albeit I remove it from the tin and keep it in a Kilner jar with a dampened Mascotte stone, and there it sits for a while. Somehow it seems to benefit from this. The honey note is still discernible, less so when smoked, and it produces a pleasant light smoke. It doesn't bite, even if vigorously and over-enthusiastically puffed. I confess to liking my tobacco a tad stronger, but this is a very pleasurable start to an evening's pipe smoking
Pipe Used:
Peterson #68 models dedicated for aromatics
Age When Smoked:
Firstly fresh, secondly left for a year or so
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 07, 2016 | Medium | Medium to Strong | Medium to Full | Very Pleasant |
A delicious and straightforward aromatic. The Black Cavendish is smooth and doesn't bite. The smoke tastes like honey with a little spice. It is great on its own, provided that you go into it knowing it's not going to be a complex flavor changing blend. I would really like to see this offered in bulk as it is wonderful to blend with. In small doses it adds a honey note to any blend that could use a little sweetness.
Pipe Used:
Briars and Cobs
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
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