Tobaccos Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. - Black Irish X Unsliced

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Laserboy (16)	2013-04-21		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Meat. While multiple reviewers have commented on a charred beef-type flavor for this, I think that interpretation is too literal. I suspect that the impression is of the fundamental flavor element "umami." While many tobaccos (notably Virginias and various cased varieties) are known for their sweetness and others (any good burley, e.g.) tickle the bitter part of the flavor palate, few stimulate umami as effectively as this one. The flavor is strong and thoroughly delightful.

I prefer to buy this stuff pre-sliced, although the preparation of the unsliced rope has a certain charm and the rope is easy to carry around. The disks that result from slicing (whether one does it oneself or has it done by the vendor) look like dabs of tar. They are rubbery, an impression that is enhanced by a clear phenolic whiff that they give off that is delightful. If you are a drinker of Islay scotch, that smell alone will set your mouth watering! Packing is easy--just stuff the disks into the pipe, perhaps with a bit of a crunch-and-rub. A bit of drying helps, as is usually the case. Frankly, I've never had the guts to try this in anything but a small-bowled pipe (preferably a churchwarden), but I am still comfortable saying that this is what it is best in. Don't pack too tightly or you're in for impossible relights! It takes the match well and burns slowly and evenly, producing copious smoke.

The flavor is rich, rugged, and pure. And, yes, there's plenty of nicotine, but only a small amount of self-discipline is needed to ensure that this doesn't become overwhelming. I've never gotten even a slight bite from this stuff. While there is a small amount of background sweetness, it is very slight (frankly, I'd like just a wee bit more--I've got a couple of pounds aging and hope that a few years in the jar will augment the sweetness).

This is a regular go-to for me. As an accompaniment to a strong single malt it cannot be beat. Solid, strong, and deeply satisfying, this is what pipe smoking is all about.

31 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-12-09		Overwhelming	None Detected	Extra Full	Overwhelming

I know that we are not supposed to comment on the reviews of others, so I hope no one takes offense at what I'm about to say. I had to scour the data base to come up with the most ghastly comments ascribed to any tobacco on this site, for certainly this blend deserves no less a description.

The esteemed Mr. Eulenberg, whose educated palate and prose make him one of the wonders of this site, described Dunhill's Royal Yacht as possessing "all the flavourful charm and sweet redolence of slightly gangrenous horse meat". I would suggest that he sample this abomination. By comparison, Royal Yacht would make a worthy wedding gift to a dear friend.

It's a big world, and there is room for all manner of styles and tastes, yet I cannot for a moment imagine anyone enjoying this. It is downright brutal in its assault on the senses, and brings shame to our gentle art.

I'll describe it nonetheless. An oily, pitch black rope, only slightly foul smelling, it brings nothing but nicotine to the table. The world of wine has Thunderbird, and, well, we have this. Shredding the tough leaves into a manageable form is a chore unrewarded with anything closely resembling smoking pleasure. It looks like used cigar butts, and probably tastes about the same.

The anti-smoking zealots should use this as exhibit A.

Surely there must be uses for such a product. Perhaps the Brits used it to force the evacuation of landing crafts at Normandy. I know I'd rather face enemy fire than this. It may also make a good noose.

I have to go and salt my pipe now, as well as every other pipe in my house, and possibly the tri-state area. Someone should salt the earth where they grow this stuff, as well.

22 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-10-28		Strong	Mild	Very Full	Pleasant

PURE HEAVEN!

I was on the look-out for a strong yet good-mannered tobacco with a lot of nicotine. Thought I'd give this one a whirl after reading the reviews here (I'm a noob smoker).

Upon my first few puffs, I said to myself "This just isn't going to be strong enough for me". By the time I had smoked about 2/3's of the bowl, I was zipping along very nicely on one of the best nic rides I've ever had; and yet, it is not a "kick you in the face and make you hiccup" nic punch. What I mean is: In your mouth, you really never taste any harsh nicotine, as you do with some strong tobaccies; and the nic effects don't jump out at you right away. It seems very subtle- but yet the effects of the nic become very apparent, gradually. In my opinion, this is exactly the way a quality tobacco should be- and indeed is, with Black Irish X.

The smoke stayed cool (You just can't heat this one up- and I'm a fast smoker) and no hint of tongue bite. It produces a thick, rich creamy smoke all the way through the bowl.

I usually don't taste what other reviewers taste, but in this case, as others have stated, it truly does have the flavor of a beef-jerky beefsteak- yet not overpoweringly so. That taste is rather subtle. You taste it readily upon lighting...and then just get teased with occassional little treats of that taste every now and then as you work your way through the bowl [Personally, I wish that that flavor was more in evidence in every puff]

This has replaced both Peterson's Irish Flake and SG's 1792 as my favorite smoke. It's about the highest quality tobacco I've encountered. It looks like a turd; feels like a hunk of Slim-Jim brand Beefsteak beef jerky; is fast and easy to prepare, and is just the ultimate pleasure to smoke. Can't wait till all my other tobaccos are gone, as I'll be buying a big quantity of this and it will be my main smoke. After smoking this, it is going to be nigh impossible to find something else that I can use as a #2 to switch off to.

This tobacco HAS IT ALL!

PS: An interesting thing about this baccie: Even though it's a rather strong and earthy tobaccy, amazingly, it leaves your mouth feeling clean and refreshed! Not minty or anything....just nice and clean and fresh. Amazing! Must be the fact that this is a good ol' old-world tobacco. Give me a bowl or two of this while I'm watching Columbo, and I am in heaven!

18 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Calamiti (86)	2018-08-15		Strong	Very Mild	Very Full	Tolerable

Have you ever wondered, why Gawith & Hoggarth mark their black rope with just one "X" while Samuel Gawith gives a very similar product a double "XX" marking?

It's been said enough here on Tobaccoreviews about the similarity between both blends, their equal strength and weirdly delicious smoky-meaty-sweetness, so I won't repeat same notions. I better concentrate on their slight differences.

Gawith & Hoggarth's X seems to be a nobler and more refined iteration of the black cooked rope concept than the Samuel Gawith's XX. The rope is spun neater, the signature BBQ flavour is not as prominent as in the SG version and the flavour is a bit sweeter. There's definitely more subtle nuances behind the leading BBQ note. Also, you may smoke X in your favourite pipe with no risk of ruining it: although a slight ghosting does occur, it never lingers for long.

Samuel Gawith's XX is bolder and wilder, its BBQ note is way more pronounced. It demands a dedicated pipe as its oily ghost will settle in your briar for good. Almost in every regard except sweetness (which is less) and strength (which is equal) SG earns to get two points where its G&H counterpart gets one.

So, XX vs X. Which one wins? Tie, I think.

Being really similar to XX but somewhat less extreme, X feels to be more appropriate for an indoor smoke. Its roomnote is far from heavenly incenses but is not offensive either. And it's especially good after a good fatty meal.

In its turn, XX better suits an outdoor environment where you're immersed in strong ambient odours: campfire smoke, petroleum, distant hog farm, pine resin in the forest, apples rotting on the garden floor, carpet of seaweed on the shore, you name it. It doesn't combine well with meals, it pretends to be a grand meal of its own, accompanied by a pint or two of a hearty Porter or Stout.

So, in my opinion each serves its own purpose. That's why I love them both and buy them both by pounds.

Similar Blends: Samuel Gawith Black XX Twist.

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2005-07-30		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Strong

If there is any doubt that a person's personal chemical makeup plays a large role in one's flavor impressions of a certain pipe tobacco, then read all of the reviews of Black Irish Twist. Some esteemed members here say it is an all-time favorite while other esteemed members say it is an all-time worst.

Strong and oily with an all tobacco taste, pure and simple. With G&H Black Irish Twist in your pipe, the cares of the world will quickly fade from your immediate thoughts. All of your attention will be focused on trying to get through your bowlful of the stuff . Of secondary concern (well, for me anyway,) was what to do with the rest of the tin? I finally decided to bury it in my neighbor's back yard. Please don't tell.

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2008-12-07		Very Strong	Very Strong	Very Full	Very Strong

(I swear to God) Last Update: after journeying twenty miles to my nearest serious tobacconist in Newcastle-Under-Lyme I was chatting with the owner about his stock. Black Irish Twist, he told me, is his biggest seller by far - all the local farmers smoke it. I said I was amazed at this and he said, 'Well, once you've smoked this stuff for a while, nothing else comes anywhere near in terms of strength: there's no going back from this stuff'. A cautionary tale, then.

FURTHER Update: I have become a hopeless Peterson's Irish Flake junkie since writing the reviews below. However, my local 'bacconist has a bad memory and 'forgot' my recent order of Peterson's finest! Alas! So, twitching and gibbering on a Sunday morning with nothing stronger than St.Bruno Flake to hand I turned again - with considerable reluctance - to this stuff. Now, it's dried out a fair bit & it still tastes pretty damn bad BUT, it DOES give you a satisfactory fix of that evil vitamin N. So, thank you Black Irish Twist, for that. A little like drinking a bottle of Listerine to keep from the DT's when the champagne has run out (actually, Listerine might be a good idea after this stuff..).

Update: I think I was, originally, too taken with the sheer, bizarre, novelty value of a tobacco that tastes exactly like a greasy carbonised steak. Beyond this admitted novelty, and the sheer nicotine punch, I really can't see any reason why I'd ever want to smoke this again - since this same punch can be easily found with many, many tobaccos that are pleasing to smoke.

Original Review: If you were to put a steak under a high grill - after basting it with some kind of dark, Tabasco-laden barbecue sauce - and then, distracted, leave the kitchen only to remember a half-hour later and run back - you would find the atmospheric conditions there to be very similar to those produced by this remarkable tobacco. It's slow to burn, very moist and slightly fiddly to prepare. The smoke achieved however is rich, dense and surprisingly cool; a good deal less intimidating on the tongue than its smell might lead you to expect: a bold and spicy leather, really. It packs a fair nicotine wallop, yes, but not an overwhelming one: it produces more a thoughtful reverie than a head-spinning rugby-tackle of a punch. A good one to keep you mollified if you have to catch brief outdoor smokes between a series of long train journeys!

11 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BadgerPiper (3)	2019-05-22		Very Strong	Medium	Full	Tolerable

There are some pipe tobaccos out there that will test the mettle of a piper. Now, I’m no stranger to strong pipe tobacco. Old Joe Krantz and Haunted Bookshop are both daily smokes for me, and I love Kajun Kake and War Horse Green. Yet with all my experience with vitamin N, I’ve never had the courage to order Gawith & Hoggarth’s Black Irish X. I had heard of this blend’s ability to knock a man down to size, so I stayed away, giving the blend a wide berth.

Recently during a pipe trade with an online friend, he offered to send me a sample of Black Irish X. So for a laugh, I decided I’d throw caution to the wind and give the blend a try. After all, what’s the worst it could do?

After sitting on my sample for a week or two, today I gathered my courage and pulled the sample out. Black Irish X comes in a rope, so you need to slice it with a knife to smoke it. In a way, it’s fitting that you have to use a knife with this tobacco, as you’ll need all the protection you can get with this sucker. I cut a few coins off the rope, rubbed the coins into ribbons, and loaded it into a Canadian pipe that has a smaller bowl. If this is your first time with the blend, then a small pipe is a must, or you’ll be at the blend’s mercy.

Upon the first light, I noticed a unique smell that I’ve never encountered before with a pipe tobacco—BBQ. This has a good, smoky BBQ flavor, much like a dry rub. In fact, I’d compare smoking this blend to sitting down with a huge steak dinner right off the grill. And this isn’t a fancy steak dinner prepared with some newfangled culinary techniques. This is a huge chunk of meat, and you’re going to have to finish the whole thing like John Candy in The Great Outdoors.

So I sat in my chair and puffed away, not letting anything else distract me from my pipe. You’ll want a drink with this tobacco, too. I had coffee, but I’d imagine this would pair well with a good scotch.

The first half went by without any issues, but the further down I smoked, the more I could feel the effects of the tobacco seeping in. The BBQ steak flavor never left, but I never found it to be dull or boring.

By the time I reached the end of the bowl, I felt the threads of reality beginning to split. Somewhere in the smoky haze, I could see a realm in the distance, some far off tavern with wizards, knights, rangers, and clerics. They sat around long tables, singing songs of pipe tobaccos gone by as they drank from their tankards and puffed their pipes. I could see them motioning for me to join them, to leave this world behind and disappear forever. Had I smoked Black Irish X in a larger pipe, I don’t think I would’ve been able to resist the call.

Overall, I have to say that I have a healthy respect for this tobacco. It’s rich and flavorful, and unlike any other blend I’ve tried. Should this blend come back in stock, I’d gladly order a tin or two for my cellar. I would then lock said tins inside an old chest with heavy chains around it, and nail a sign that said “Beware.”

Take caution, dear piper, for this blend will sneak up on you like a bandit if you let it. Even if you smoke this in a smaller pipe, it will punch you in the head until you’re silly. Despite the risks, I’d say everyone should give this blend a try.

Now you’ll have to excuse me. I realized I typed this all out using my toes. I think I better head to bed before something worse happens.

Pipe Used: A Small hand carved Canadian

Age When Smoked: Unknown

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Noorrmm (192)	2002-01-27		Overwhelming	None Detected	Extra Full	Very Strong

This looks positively evil, and looks are not deceiving in this case. The color is absolutely black, and it has the appearance of something your least favorite cat left for a present. The smell is quite strong, fermented way beyond St. Bruno or Bulwark. After slices, dicing, rubbing and airing, the taste was overwhelming. So was the nicotine content. It was difficult to stay concious long enough to finish a small bowl. For those who enjoy this twist, I will not compete for the limited supply. A man should know his limitations, this exceeds mine.

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipe Newb (49)	2014-03-28		Overwhelming	None Detected	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Very Strong

"It looks like a turd, smells like a campfire, and tastes like beef jerky"

While searching for any tobacco that had "Irish" in the name, I came across GaHoCo's "Irish X", a name that made me think of a thick Irish brogue exclaiming "We dinnae land on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock landed on us" or "Say it loud, yer black an prrroud". That alone prompted me to purchase this tobacco knowing nothing other than it looked like a poo.

Being that I've never knowingly smoked a turd, I was a bit overwhelmed when I received it, and immediately did what all fortunate, Internet-connected folks do when the desire overtakes them to become an expert in 4-6 minutes, I searched youtube for a video on how to prepare and smoke said turd.

Coming from the cigar world, I was expecting this nubian death stick to be sweet and creamy, not unlike a maduro cigar... but it was nothing like that at all, the smoke being mildly salty, dry, roasted beef and not a lot of complexity. The so-called "Room Note" was that of a campfire and roasted meat. As the bowl worked it's way down, it did start to sweeten up slightly but the strength of the nicotine increased with every draw. Another unfortunate side-effect of my cigar smoking days, I performed a brief and very painful French inhale, which on lighter pipe tobaccos and most cigars results in a depth of flavor that I really appreciate. This was more like subjecting the internal caverns of my bulbous nose to a small army of wallclimbing ninjas. Eventually a decent light developed and ended my need to constantly relight - allowing some better experiences in the flavor department, mostly very faint tastes reminiscent of the smell of leather, a little dried fruit, and walnuts. There was no tongue bite whatsoever. Towards the end of the pipe the room started to spin, as the nicotine content was considerably higher than anything I had experienced prior, even after a nice filling meal, I was overwhelmed.

I'll give this another try, I only have a small amount, but as of right now I'll say it's not the best thing I've ever smoked - by a long shot. It smokes cool and dry, has a unique (and not wholly unpleasant) flavor, but the flavor is consistent (from char to dottle) very single-note.

Re-Review: After giving this a second try, but changing a few variables, I have to say I can see the appeal of this tobacco (although it still isn't for me). After smoking in a very small apple-bowled meerschaum, and making sure to thoroughly rub the disks to a rough ribbon, the flavor profile (woodfire and roasted meat) didn't change much, but the harshness was greatly reduced. If you smoke this, I strongly suggest a small bowl, meerschaum if you have it, and rub it to the finest consistency you can, you will get the most out of this tobacco. I am changing my review to "Somewhat Recommended" and there it will stay. The main benefits of this tobacco remain, it is a very cool smoke, it burns very clean (no dottle and a fine ash), and it is basically the polar opposite of a sweet tobacco (these days even non aromatics are very sweet, compared to this twist).

Pipe Used: Corncob, Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: Unknown (purchased 3/2014)

Purchased From: PipesandCigars.com

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gerry P (39)	2019-02-22		Very Strong	Very Mild	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This stuff just looks evil. The tin...er, ziplock baggie note is sweet VA tobacco. (Edit: I neglected to mention that a tangy bbq-like aroma that's also present.) The ropes slice easily, and it's a little damp so it takes a more effort to light it than usual and it needs a few relights. Drying it out would help.

The taste is full-flavored, dark-fired tobacco with some nice sweetness to balance it out. The smoke is thick and creamy. I don't get the charred meat or burning rubber flavors, but once in a while I notice a savory, meat-like flavor. It reminds me of the funky, horse-y flavor of some beers that use brettanomyces during fermentation. Too much of that would be a problem, since I can only enjoy that flavor in small amounts.

It smokes very cool and is completely bite-free, even when pushed.

This is definitely a strong blend, but it didn't deliver the ass-kicking that I expected. I recommend keeping a beverage handy while smoking it.

Now, here's the kicker: My gf was nearby when I smoked this for the first time. I asked her how it smelled, and she said, "Not that bad." (!) I did not expect that response. She's usually OK with whatever I smoke in the house unless it's a lat-heavy blend like Pirate Kake, which caused her to leave the room. She never tells me to go outside though, so I consider myself lucky.

The appearance and reviews for Black Irish X can be a little intimidating, but it's more approachable than I expected. Loads of character here, and worth a try if you enjoy dark-fired Kentucky blends but are looking for something a little out-of-the-ordinary.

ADDENDUM, 5/30/2019: I put this one aside for a while, and the extra 3 months of aging has smoothed it out quite a bit. There's still a savory flavor in there, but not the horsey/gamey thing from before. It seems more complex and easier to smoke. Combine that with its creamy, full-bodied, bite-free smoke and sneaky strength and you have a blend that is probably best smoked in a med-small bowl. It also lights and stays lit easier than before. I'm bumping up the room note score, and changing the rating from 3 to 4.

ADDENDUM: 11/26/2019: I haven't smoked this in a few months, and it has continued to improve with age. The reason for the addendum is that this is one of the few tobaccos I've tried that, in my opinion, can stand up to a strong beer. In this case, I happened to be drinking a Lagunitas Brown Shugga, (beer snobs reading this will know what I'm talking about), and I like the combo.

ADDENDUM, 11/21/2020: I haven't smoked this one very often, since it's not that easy to come by and I wanted to see how well it ages. I'm just now finishing off my small supply of it, and it's more enjoyable than ever. I don't want Black Irish X every day. but when I do it has very satisfying qualities that no other tobacco has.

Pipe Used: MM Legend, Pete Rocky 01

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Badbrude (17)	2019-02-01		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

I love this stuff! Others before me have waxed eloquent about the strength, taste, and room aroma. I yield to their discerning palate. I wanted to weigh in on the social aspects of this powerhouse product.

My wife of many years tolerates my pipe smoking. She doesn’t like being around any tobacco smoke so, to keep the peace, I limit smoking to my man cave, i.e., my home office. I have a variety of blends making up my rotation, from the mild Orlik Golden Slices up the strength ladder to, now, Black X. (By the way, strong doesn't do this justice. It should be measured in half lives.) She’s somewhat acclimated to being assaulted when coming into my office. I always ask her, what she thinks of the blend I’m smoking that day. “It stinks,” is her succinct reply.

I just got Black X from the online site. I prepped it and started enjoying this hearty and heady product. Five minutes into it, across the house, she yells, “There’s something burning. Are you burning something in your office?” She was maybe 40 feet away! Now that’s a testament to the strength of Black X. It never occurred to her that I was smoking pipe tobacco. A minute later she came in and said, “OMG, that’s hideous, it smells like a tire fire.”

I’ve been smoking a pipe for fifty years. It’s taken about that long to work up to Black X. I smoke a few puffs, put it down, do some work, pick it up again for a few puffs….rinse and repeat. A little bit of this goes a long way to satisfying. It’s still very buzz worthy.

PS – I’m glad she didn’t ask me, “What kind of tobacco is it?” If I told her it was a rope, she’d probably tell me to buy more so I can hang myself with it. 8^)

Pipe Used: Duncan Hill Aerosphere

Age When Smoked: Just purchased

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Samuel Gawith Black XX.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	fr_tom (393)	2017-06-01		Strong	Very Mild	Full	Strong

The rope came a little moist with an oily appearance, and I sliced it into thin coins on a cutting board in the kitchen. The pouch note is grilled meat with a little sweet tobacco in the note. The rope is a pretty uniform black with a few flecks of brown in the cross section.

I rubbed out coins and was careful not to pack them to tightly due to the moisture. I did not dry it any. It took some BTU's to get it burning, but it smoked well and did not require an unusual number of relights. Pipe cleaners came out with an oily, tarry residue.

The flavor in general was different. It was strong and unlike anything I have ever smoked. The best description is probably when you have your gas grill up a little high, and the fat from a steak is burning. It is meaty, oily, earthy and full with a bitter, slightly tarry edge when puffed. The flavors intensified a little as the bowl progressed, but otherwise stayed constant through the bowl. The flavor as I said was very different, but it is oddly compelling. I did not taste any Lakeland flavors.

The nicotine is strong in this one. It is not overwhelming., but you should be aware of what you are getting into when you load a bowl.

This is a high quality and tasty rope. It is unlike other things you have smoked. I recommend it unless you have a nicotine aversion and stick to lighter fare. The taste will either work for you or not, and that is not going to be easy to predict. I am claiming that 1Q and Captain Black smokers might do best skip this one.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ethan (34)	2014-01-03		Strong	None Detected	Mild	Tolerable to Strong

I don't understand how anybody can smoke this stuff! It tastes like burning trash and only got worse the more i tried to smoke it. If you are looking for a trash fire with lots of spunk than this is for you. I don't even know what to do with this horrid tasting chunk of hell i purchased, other than toss it out.

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: www.pipesandcigars.com

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-10-10		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

I must admit, I am often overwhelmed by many of the dark ropes and twists. That doesn't in any sense mean that i don't have a few that I enjoy terribly, and even regularly, and this is amongst them..

Black Irish X is shocking far more rounded at the edges in terms of body than the brown ropes; this, of course, from being stoved somewhat, makes it a better all-around smoke in my opinion.

I never slice this cord, but rather, I sheer off about 1/2 to 3/4 in (around 1cm) of it with a pair of cigar scissors, then I gently unwrap a few strands, rolling those up to put at the bottom of my clay tavern pipe, and shove the rest of the log straight in.

After this, I use a pick to spread it out a bit on top, and light it directly. I will say up-front that this means it will easily go out, and you may need a dozen relights over the next two hours: Oh yes, this smokes cool and long.

As with ny very strong tobacco, you will want a dedicated briar for this type of rope or plug, or a clay. I prefer the latter, as I feel that the level of nicotine and tar leeched out by the clay smooths the smoke further, and this was the type of pipe around when plugs and twists were predominant, so the two mesh well together.

If you use a briar, you will need to let it rest properly, as it will sour quickly with any strong VAs. Try it however you prefer, but clay is really your best bet for the full experience.

If you have a large bowl, you will need to slice it. I find this not as enjoyable, and this is the sort of stuff that begs for a light spreading, rather than slicing, so a small opening and medium depth bowl will suit you best.

This is also a tobacco that ages exceptionally well, and you can expect to see plume develop in a couple years.

If you are not a fan of stronger tobaccos at all, then you want to stray a good distance away from this, however if you occasionally enjoy something more authentic and classical, and have had issues with being overpowered, you may wish to consider Black Irish X, as it is more mellow and easy-tempered than its cousins.

On the other hand, if you enjoy plug and rope regularly, this will be a welcomed addition to your rotation.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2001-03-11		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Extra Strong

Pouch Aroma: Sharp and winey, this is another blend that tickles my nose with sharp, dark richness. It is sweet-smelling but uncased; a mixture of very fine Virginias with Burley added for body and nicotine content. Imagine a heady old Cabernet Sauvignon or well-aged brandy without the fruity components.

Appearance: Simply put, it is a flattened donut shape that is solid, dense and DARK brown/black. No light components at all, just a dense, oily black wad of leaves that have been rolled into a rope, twisted in some sort of cloth and bound with cord, then heated under pressure.

Packing and Lighting: I take my Swiss Army knife and slice off a small piece and rub it out so that I can see individual leaf pieces. I then use the knife to shred and chop these into managable pieces. You can also unwrap the leaves from the twist and do it this way - I doubt it matters much. This packs easily into my old Sasieni Mayfair (second) Saddle Apple that has had nothing but this tobacco smoked in it for the last 10 years or so. The bowl is small (Group 2) since that's all I can take at one time due to the intense nicotine buzz. It feels like I'm really putting a lot of leaf into such a little bowl, but it always draws easily. A pre-match draw on the pipe brings a soft, dark, heavy taste that is sweet without being sugary in the least.

For such a dense and oily tobacco, Black Irish Twist lights quite easily and gives an enormous burst of pure, strong tobacco flavor. No nuances, no subtleties, just a strong smoke. A word of warning: Don't smoke this around others unless they are VERY tolerant of strong tobacco, such as heavy Maduro-wrapped cigars. This stuff will get you thrown out of your house if SWMBO is around. I save it for special moments of deep contemplation, outside under the stars, or while walking late at night. For the right moment however, no other tobacco will do for me.

Exposition: There isn't much to discuss about this, really. It is strong and full, dark and naturally sweet and will knock you on your fanny if you try to smoke it on an empty stomach. In Ireland, I was told, the 'common folk' would chew this for a while and then place the chewed plug on a fence to dry in the sun, whereupon they would smoke it. It's a simple, basic tobacco for moments of contemplation and relaxation. Alone, mostly :)

The Story: This is a perfect outdoor tobacco - if I smoke inside it's easy to get overwhelmed by the density and strength. Also, if accidentally inhaled you WILL choke no matter how long you have smoked cigarettes. It burns smooth and cool and NEVER bites. It maintains its flavor to the bottom better than any other tobacco I've smoked, and if smoked slowly and with a beverage you will definately be relaxed when you finish.

Denoument: At the bottom of the bowl the nicotine level is even higher, but the flavor is still sweet and smooth and the burn is even. This leaves a nice cake - but I haven't tried breaking in a new pipe with it yet. Anyone want to send me a new Ashton to break in with this most English of tobaccos? Hmph, I didn't think so Anyway, this stuff relaxes me so much that I don't think I can type much more. Sweet, strong, clean finish and dry white ash at the bottom of the bowl. A most excellent smoke, but I think I need a nap now.

Pros: Cool-burning, sweet, smooth, thought-provoking (almost hypnotic), consistent flavor, great finish. This is a must for me to keep around, and is great for giving strength and slowing the burn of milder, less flavorful blends. Use sparingly :)

Cons: Nicotine level is high enough to put a novice into a coma. Must be smoked after a good meal (spicy food is best! Yum!) and in a small pipe. Will relax you to the point of near-uselessness, and is guaranteed to offend 99% of the people around you.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2081)	2016-05-09		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

Gawith Hoggarth - Black Irish x.

Strong, but not stupidly so. Albeit, I love it..... I just make sure I don't inhale any as I can be somewhat of a lightweight with N!

As is often the case with some of the ropes, it's held too much moisture inside it, so after slicing I suggest an airing period.

I don't find the smoke to be very complex in flavour. If you're after something with an intricate taste, I'd suggest smoking something different. The taste from Black Irish X is simply the fired Virginia's; this is where I find the smoke can become acrid if it's taken in bug puffs; I take it in smaller ones for optimum enjoyment.

I do find myself having to make sure the windows are wide opened and the door's shut on the room I'm piping in, otherwise my house needs fumigating; that's the only low point for me.

This won't be a blend for everyone, it's quite potent. But me though, I love it!

Four stars.

Pipe Used: Morgan Blackjack

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Black Swan

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Backwoods Piper (70)	2015-02-18		Very Strong	Very Strong	Very Full	Strong

Wow what a punch! Irish X is not for the faint of heart or novice smoker. I've been smoking a pipe for over 30 years and found this tobacco to be stout and full just like Brown twist and coconut twist. You really, really need to take your time smoking this to enjoy it and identify some of the complexity of this tobacco and avoid an upset stomach from the nicotine hit.

I have found that twist style of tobacco's need a good hour or so drying time after rub out. You may also find this is key in unlocking some of the flavor and complexity of this tobacco. This blend like all twist tobacco is designed to be either chewed or smoked. I cannot emphasize enough......TAKE YOUR TIME with this smoke. Let it dry out well, light her up and sip gently! I'm a quick smoker and find it takes me close to an hour or more to enjoy a bowl of Black Irish X. And if you dare, cut a quarter inch chunk and park it between your cheek and gum. Sweet smokes gentlemen.

Pipe Used: Briar

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bifkinator (10)	2014-10-12		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This tobacco is unlike anything I've ever smoked, not just because its a twist, but because of its unique flavor. You'll see everyone point out its very distinguishable meaty flavor (very beefy in my opinion) and thats really all you'll taste as you smoke it. The beefy flavor is really straight forward and i don't taste much else while i smoke it. Its a very delightful smoke when you're in the mood for something heavy, savory, and also for a bit of a buzz.

out of all the virginias i smoke this one is a one of a kind. in my opinion, its not an everyday smoke. its a great tobacco when you want the heaviness and bold taste and smell that this stuff gives off. i won't guarantee that those around you will be a fan of the room note, especially nonsmokers. i consider it more of a private smoke. i know a lot of people who don't like this tobacco so i will say its not for everybody.

the only problem I've run into with it is keeping it lit. i may not be drying it out enough but I've smoked it in slices and by unwinding the rope and packing like a ribbon cut. either way, I'm constantly having to relight (which isn't much of a big deal) unless I'm constantly drawing on it. I've had better luck smoking it unwound than in medallions with that being said. so definitely let it dry out a bit.

overall, pretty delicious and a delightful experience if you're an adventurous smoker. i say give it try no matter what you like.

Pipe Used: GBD bent bulldog 549

Purchased From: smokingpipes

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SteelCowboy (685)	2014-04-07		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

I enjoy the occasional rope, twist and strong tobacco, especially those from Gawtih Hoggarth. When it comes to Black Irish X, there is good and not so good here for me personally. The good is that it delivers the strength that I had expected. It burns very cool and it is one very smooth tobacco. The bad is pretty simple, I am not a fan of the burnt flavor. It’s as simple as that. While I enjoy strong blends, Lady N isn’t at the top of my list of “must haves.” First and foremost, I have to like the flavor. I just don’t care for the flavor of this one verses others of the genre. I do think that Black Irish X should be on the “must try” list for all lovers of ropes, twists and strong flakes.

Age When Smoked: New

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SecretAgentMan (27)	2013-12-03		Very Strong	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

The overall impression given by this tobacco is of something that has been burned. Burned steak, burned marshmallows, burned onions, burned oyster sauce, with hints of diesel exhaust. The burned ambiance tarnished every flavor, making one think of a great meal that has been ruined. There was no change in flavor or experience throughout the bowl. I was relieved when I had finished.

The smoke felt thick and oily on the mouth and never went far from the pipe. It's pretty strong, but not as strong as Irish Flake or a maduro Hoyo de Monterrey Sultan. It left me feeling fuzzy and out of sorts, as though I'd woken from a too-short nap. I like strong tobacco. I like Peterson's Irish Flake, for example. But at the end, this tobacco was as enjoyable as a toothache.

I had "flashbacks" throughout the day, not unpleasant, but not particularly welcome either. My pipe stank, really stank, and I put it through the alcohol-and-salt treatment. I would probably smoke this tobacco again if it were the last tobacco on earth. Until that bad day, however, there are tobaccos I enjoy much, much, much more. I'll use the rope to make insecticide.

Pipe Used: Peterson 106

Age When Smoked: 15 minutes out of the tin.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	meerkat (64)	2010-06-14		Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

This is a smoooooth smoke.

Yes, the flavours and texture of the smoke are both full and rich and yes, it contains nicotine (but not in the HUGE doses some would have you believe). And I can see how the combination of these factors is overwhelming to some but I find it an abolutely delicious experience.

There are no fake flavourings to muddy your encounter with the top class leaf which forms this oily black coil.

Laid on a solid chopping board, a sharp knife will slice perfect roundlets of tobacco which rub out easily and require little if any drying time. Being in a rope seems to keep this stuff alive for longer (in terms of moisture) so you can buy it in large amounts without worrying that it's glory will have faded before you get a chance to smoke it.

The taste is, as some have commented, vaguely reminisant of engine oil (but in a good way)although the meatiness others have mentioned, I experience somehow more in the texture of the thick plumes of creamy rich smoke than in the taste. There is a slight background sweetness, as in a strong malt beer, which is enough to give interest and depth to the flavour without becoming overpowering or cloying.

This is a Tobacco's Tobacco. If it were human it would be 6'2" have a thick beard, wear check shirts and possess the kind of chest which makes you stand back a few paces if you want to see it all at the same time, it wouldn't speak much but everyone would know when it did and it's hands would be thick and rough from a hard days graft. But it wouldn't punch you without enduring the kind of provocation that would leave most people in the hospital. This tobacco would never steal your wallet and it would give up it's seat for a lady...I don't really know where I'm going with this anymore...

It's strong and plain (but not boring) and I absolutely could not get it to bite, at all. I honestly don't know why everyone doesn't love this stuff. You need to try it, even if it's just once.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Smoke_Ring (158)	2013-07-24		Strong	Strong	Extra Full	Strong

Black Irish X [Twist];

Star Rating = 3.75;

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

Pouch Note = 10;

Room Note = 9;

Flavor = 10;

Bite = 9;

Burn = 10;

After Taste = 9;

Raw Score = 57;

Rated Percentage = 95%;

Comment = Smooth, Strong Strength, Full Body Natural Tobacco Flavor, lots of BTU's need to Ignite, White Ash Burn.

If you are one who likes to “play” with your tobacco, by all means get this “Twist” form of tobacco, you can spend countless hours “Slicing, Dicing and Drying” this “Twist” tobacco before it is ready to smoke. I admit I am a lazy pipe smoker so I didn't find this necessary extra preparation exercise to be of any value to heighten my pipe smoking enjoyment. You had better have a sizable ignition source on hand because you are going to need a lot of BTU's to get this “Twist” tobacco to light. Once you achieve the first ignition you will need to have your best “Tamping Tool” at the ready to handle the endless re-packings and re-lights that this “Twist” form of tobacco requires. Perhaps you have detected that the “Twist” form of tobacco is not my “cup of tea”.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-10-09		Strong	Mild to Medium	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Wow what a fantastic twist this is, its so meaty and very tastey, i love this stuff, its in my rotation 4++++ from me one of the best tobacco's ive evr smoked to be honest.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-03-28		Overwhelming	None Detected	Overwhelming	Overwhelming

Why? Oh, why? I really wanted to like this. It's oily and moist. Hard to light and keep lit. The other reviews are correct, it smells like the BBQ pit when some beef fat falls into the charcoal. Not an entirely unpleasant odor but not necessarily what you want in your pipe. It is not complex, like I'd hoped. It was straight forward meat and nicotine. The room note was the same. You can imagine a burning BBQ pit in your living room. I think it's quality stuff, just not for me. I'm not giving up. I'm smoking the rest of my rope before I give up on her.

It must have been meant of chewing at some point. It looks like it would be much better for chewing.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pocestnik (3)	2022-03-30		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Extra Full	Strong

I've always wanted to try this style of twist, but was intimidated by reviews, despite my having smoked pipes for about 30 years, and chewing tobacco since I was 12. Finally I bit the bullet & bought 500g online, figuring I could divy it up among others who wanted to sample it as well.

Sliced it and dried it about 30 minutes before launching. Made sure I had a full stomach & was well hydrated to avoid a nasty nic kick. Tentatively lit the pipe as if I were dealing with ordinance, had the phone at hand lest I need to call for assistance and drew in the first puff.

Jumpin' Jehosaphat! What is this beautiful smoke drifting through my oral cavities! Strong flavors of Dark Fired Va reminiscent of a campfire grilled steak. A slight natural sweetness, but nothing sugary or artificial. Smoke so strong you can almost chew it, and the closest to a cigar flavor I've ever got from a pipe. While the nicotine is definitely present, it never assaulted me, and all my preparations and trepidations were in vain. This stuff ain't going nowhere, except into a big mason jar.

My only disappointment was that this won't double as a chewing tobacco for me. My normal brand is Red Man Sugar Free, and I've chewed many plug tobaccos, but this just didn't hit my tastes. Too rough and somehow bitter.

I give this the highests ratings, but with a caveat it probably isn't suitable for folks not well acquainted with nicotine.

Pipe Used: Ropp Bulldog

Purchased From: Payless Cigars and Pipes

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	thejefu (4)	2021-06-25		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

My wife likes to take a little sniff of my lit bowls to take in some of the aromas of my tobaccos. This one had her reeling and we had to revive her.

It tastes like beef burning on a BBQ inside a tyre factory. If you were to tell me it was laced with badger fat which was stored in burnt newspapers I would nod and agree with you.

It burns very well for a rope and requires less preperation than you might think. The char-light sends the tobacco immediately white and I suspect this would be a joy to burn.

However I must confess, I have never made it to the bottom of a bowl. Everytime I try to smoke this it's not long before I put it out and make the sign of the cross. I find it extremely difficult not to choose it's cousin Brown Irish Twist and it's eminently more smokeable profile. I am however not yet thoroughly convinced I cannot like this.

As we become more experienced pipe smokers, our tastes develop and change. I've found myself enjoying more and more complex and refined tastes the more I discover. This tobacco reminds me of my earliest experiences pipe smoking where once certain blends were beyond the pale and have since become favourites.

I fear that this might be my everest. I suspect that somewhere in this tobacco is the 'umami' of chargrilled badger meat accentuated with the finest of tobaccos.

I will update this review when I find the magic. Failing that I'm going to chop it up and throw it at people I don't like.

Pipe Used: Falcon

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: GQ

Similar Blends: Beef Death.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bibliopiper (9)	2020-04-17		Very Strong	Very Mild	Very Full	Extra Strong

Does anyone actually love this stuff on the first bowl? If so, I wasn't one of them. Like a lot of other tobaccos I wasn’t sure of, I gave it a few tries. And one day it clicked. But I can still see why this isn’t for everyone and not an all day smoke even for those who like it. It is an outdoor only blend for me. I suspect my wife would say it smells like a burning tire or a coal fire. The taste is certainly unique. Bbq meat comes up a lot but it isn’t sweet or smoky/salty like a Latakia blend. More like the fond left from a steak cooked in a cast iron skillet. I also get hints of citrus, like the smell of flamed orange peel. I highly recommend giving it a shot, maybe three or four before you pass final judgement. Try it mixed with something like Carter Hall if it is just too much at first.

Pipe Used: Briars and cobs

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	magic2k (1)	2019-11-17		Strong	Strong	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Lot's was written here already, and most of that true in my opinion. Even negative ones, but in my case it positives. Like riding a motorcycle, you know - if you love it - almost all "negatives" become "positives" for you, or you even not care much about them.

Im writing this to say that it worth trying anyway, because if it "clicks" - you will discover a real treasure.

Pipe Used: mostly dunhill tanshell, artisan small canadians

Age When Smoked: new & old

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	HeavyMetalPiper (64)	2018-06-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

The blend has an interesting, salty smell. The taste overall is meaty, like smoking a London broil. It is a fairly strong tobacco, and the room note even more so. The room not is like a grill, mostly. I've had people mention smelling a barbecue when I was smoking it nearby. I've also been told it smells like Creepy Crawlers, and I suppose I see that.

Without some drying time, I've not had much success keeping rope tobacco lit, so it's either a wait after each time cutting it, or advanced preparation. This extra bit knocks it down a star, but if that's appealing or not a concern for you, give it a shot.

Pipe Used: SMS Meerschaum Skater

Age When Smoked: 3 Months

Purchased From: Smoking Pipes

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrDyson (148)	2018-06-17		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Very Strong

Black Irish twist is a tobacco that fully lives up to its intimidating appearance. This is what the Grim Reaper Himself smokes. Popeye the Sailor also. It's an absolutely genuine, authentic, no-nonsense baccy, but very much an acquired taste. Is it worth acquiring? I don't think so, myself, but I can well believe that it will have its enthusiasts. It's the kind of stuff that everybody's great- granddad used to smoke back in the day.

Positives: it's cool, slow-burning and as full-flavoured as you could ask for – almost a meal in itself, if you see what I mean. I can't imagine anybody wanting much of it during a twenty-four hour cycle. (It's not for the fastidious palate, though; notice some of the things that people have compared it to: iron, blood, salty water, fishing boats, burnt steak!) Negatives: it's excessively laborious to prepare and keep alight. It's as moist as it looks in the picture; it needs to be dried and aired quite a bit before ignition is attempted.

Wives, servants, cats and dogs be warned: the room note of this stuff is terrible; like a fire in a slaughterhouse. It will haunt your deepest dreams, and not in a good way. Not surprisingly, the ghost of Black Irish Twist is mighty hard to exorcise from whatever pipe you smoke it in.

Hell's bells, it's strong! Oh, my Lord! For my tender sensibilities, this ultra-manly tobacco is far, far too wicked in terms of nicotine content. Half way down the bowl I had to lie down and pray for deliverance. You need to be a serious vitamin N junkie to like, or even to be able to stand, it. If, however, you're looking for a robust, old-fashioned baccy that has not been tampered with in any way, have a slap at this. It's an experience and a half: no scents or flavourings or fancy dancing – just Man against Tobacco. Try it in your smallest bowl, and don't try to walk or focus on anything for some time afterwards.

To the Barbarian Hero kind of smoker, therefore, I recommend it. I swear I'll never touch it again, but I can be objective enough to see its virtues even though it half killed me. To more genteel pipemen – wimps like me – I say: stay away from this stuff; it'll make you want to sit on the floor and cry.

Thus: somewhat recommended, depending on who you are and what you like. To be on the safe side, put your affairs in order before you smoke this, and maybe fill out your organ-donor card (assuming there'd be anything left of you worth recycling).

Pipe Used: Dr Plumb billiard

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Durham Pipes and Tobacco

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	HabaneroHardy (403)	2018-03-02		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Strong

I bought 3 oz of this about a year or so ago. Smoked it once and have not tried it again until now. It had a nice mild earthy smell and I cut up a section and put it into the pipe. I probably did not pack it right or rub it out correctly because the two bowls of this required constant relighting. A lot of matches. This is one tightly wound rope of tobacco. It smoked mild, earthy (that word again) and was more of one flavor that I could taste. I will say that some of the reviewers are correct in that I probably should have ate something because between the tobacco and coffee on an empty stomach I got a little urpy. It reminds me of other dark fired pipe tobaccos I have tried. This is one that in the Old West you could throw in your saddle bag and not worry about it.

Pipe Used: ERIKSEN FREE HAND FLAME GRAIN

Age When Smoked: 2 years

Purchased From: Liberty Tobacco

Similar Blends: Other dark fired tobaccos..

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DeathMetal.org (231)	2016-01-03		Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

Summary: dark fired and air-cured Virginias, pressed and lightly stoved, create a rich full-flavor blend.

GH makes this rope by wrapping together several types of Virginias, mostly dark-fired, and then stoving the result. The result decreases sugars and somewhat reduces Nicotine, which is lower than in their unstoved "Brown Irish." When sliced and rubbed, this blend resembles cigar leaf, but burns well with a strong and rich flavor and high nicotine. Little if any Lakeland essence (funeral homes and old soaps) makes its presence known, and the leaf burns completely with a powerful flavor to its ember much like a campfire roasting meat in an old forest with a thick ground leaf layer. Blissful and excellent.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Michael N. (10)	2015-01-09		Strong	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Still searching ( for past 10 months ) for VAs to put into my rotation, which was formerly strictly English. While this is a quality product, easily packed, easily lit, no bite,and attractive colors. It is way too strong of the nicotine ( hic ) for me. I can understand its popularity but this 2 oz sample was my limit. Who knows, maybe I'll try again in the next life !

Pipe Used: J.M.Boswell, Peterson, Kabik

Age When Smoked: 6 months

Purchased From: Smoking Pipes.Com

Similar Blends: I suppose other strong VAs with high Nic content..

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jacinto Cupboard (209)	2014-05-03		Strong	Extremely Mild	Mild	Tolerable

A dense black twist that slices easily and rubs out moderately well. There are some residual lakeland notes and the pre light aroma is quite sweet, with some salty overtones. Once rubbed out the tobacco will dry out fairly quickly.

This is a surprisingly (to me) light tobacco which is sweet and creamy, sometimes peppery if puffed too hard, but otherwise nondescript. It produces great plumes of billowing clouds. Not an easy tobacco to get under way and will require some attention with tamp and light. Burns cool.

Supposedly less nicotine than the brown ropes and twists, I nonetheless found this to have some heft in the nicotine department. I guess it would suit the pipeman who doesn't want to think about what the tobacco is doing because it really isn't doing much anyway. I didn't find the severe faults other reviews found so objectionable, but in the absence of positive things about this tobacco attention might be drawn to its down sides. For my money I want more interest with a tobacco, tho I would not refuse if this were offered by a friend.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-12-04		Strong	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This here be the Rolls-Royce of pipe tabbacer. Thar aint none finer. Tell you what, you find one that is and I'm gone hit me with a hammer!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-02-22		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Smoke this with onions and a beer for that authentic 3:00 am truck stop feast.once was enough.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	gladi8tor96 (143)	2012-01-03		Overwhelming	None Detected	Extra Full	Extra Strong

The rope is just amazing to behold. It's a bit of a bugger to cut and rub out, but has a certain 'charm' to the process (I feel like I've traveled back a century or two). Smells deep, heavy, and strong.

If not rubbed out properly this is quite hard to keep lit. The smoke is...Wow! Smokey meat is right on the money. It's strong and sometimes difficult to take, both flavor and nicotine. This is not one for the faint at heart. I do like it, but it's not one I enjoy very often...but I do share the rope with those that are up for a challenge. It tastes like a BBQ, without the sauce.

Pipe Used: Bent Billard, Dublin, Egg, Acorn

Age When Smoked: New from store - 1-3 years

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Wibblefishofdoom (139)	2011-10-19		Very Strong	Very Strong	Full	Tolerable

I bought this one as an attempt to dip my toes in the pond of rope tobacco. Sadly, I think I made the wrong choice of tobacco. The smell in the packet is reasonable enough as is the aroma from the bowl, but the pipe taste is akin to the smell of a steak badly cooked in a very dirty pan right after you've eaten way too much food already. I can understand why the previous reiewer's friend decided to seek a refund on his breakfast. I have tried and tried to like this tobacco after several smokes but just can't seem to acquire a taste for it. If you are a fan of strong flavoured tobaccos, this will probably not disappoint. As a fan of lighter flavours, this one is not for me.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Burner (8)	2010-10-03		Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Strong

I was quite intrigued by this dark rope tobacco so decided to give it a go. I'm quite electic in my tobacco tastes leaning towards English blends but I found this a horrible smoking experience. The taste is dominated by the flavour of burning meat and that isn't something I want to taste in my pipe thank you very much.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	n9inchnails (10)	2010-04-19		Very Strong	None Detected	Overwhelming	Overwhelming

Having loved both Brown Irish X and Brown Bogie I decided to try some of this and BIG MISTAKE!! This stuff is absolutely vile, the most disgusting thing I have ever smoked. It literally tastes like a completely burned steak and smells like a dozen burnt steaks, I couldn't even force myself to smoke even half the bowl before I dumped it in the garbage. I like my steak bloody and i like my smoke to taste like tobacco not burnt ass!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-02-18		Very Strong	Extra Strong	Very Full	Strong

After reading the reviews of this tobacco by the members here, I ordered 500 grams and just finished my first bowl. Wow! Strong, nearly heartstopping when I first lit it, before getting it going nicely, but after it began to burn evenly, I've decided that I like it a great deal. I should also note that this is the first tobacco I've smoked in a few years, having given my pipe up for awhile. I burned mine in an extremely well broken in 4 dot, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, it smells like roasting flesh, and yes it's an incredibly strong smoke, but I like very strong tobaccos, and never mind a stinky tobacco if it smokes nicely, and this one does. It smokes nice and cool (though the nicotine on your tongue is enough to make keeping something cool to drink handy a necessity), is extremely satisfying, and best of all, it not only ran my wife from the room, but entirely out of the house. Based on that alone, it's a keeper, even if tasted like burning pitbull turds.

HIGHLY recommended, but caution is advised.

P.S. The brown rope is much stronger, though it does have a better room note.

P.P.S. Date: July 13, 2010 Well, gents, I'm giving up smoking entirely now. I'll miss it terribly, but I suppose it's time. I may pick it up in another 15 or so years (if I manage to live that much longer), but for now, I'm going to call it quits. I haven't smoked (cigarettes) at all for a few weeks now, and just feel that if I keep my tobaccos, I'll never really be finished with it. So, I have a few hundred grams of Black Irish Twist if anyone wants it (not selling, giving). I hate to get rid of it, but I think it's best. Just contact me at mike.allen.phillips at gmail dot com and I'll send it out. First come, first served, of course. But please don't ask me to send this to you if you aren't actually going to smoke it. I hate to see it go to waste.

Regards

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Wrangler (16)	2009-11-06		Overwhelming	Extra Strong	Extra Full	Overwhelming

This tobacco is the most disgusting thing I've ever put into a pipe to smoke. Burnt rubber and chicken feathers would have tasted better had I smoked it instead! Absolutely repugnant! This crap should be renamed Satan's Excrement! I must seriously question the integrity and sanity of anyone who smokes more than one bowl of this junk! YUK! I nearly threw up from the nicotine poisoning I endured. It took me over two hours to regain my composure after this venture into the torture tobacco realm. Smoking this crap is the equivalent of straining Sterno to drink the juice to get drunk. If this was the only tobacco left in the world to smoke, I'd quit smoking my pipes.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2007-01-29		Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

This tobacco I save for capping off the night before bed time. It is dark and formadable but that is half the attraction. It is pressurized removing a lot of the nicotine to produce a medium to full smoking experience. Great taste. My grand father and father used to mix these "Rat tail" tobaccos with inexpensive tea leaves because they were poor. Tobacco was hard to come by for them. This tobacco has a salty taste to it. It lights easily and stays lit. I smoke this tobacco in a Pipa Croci Dublin. A little goes a very long way. It is a great outdoor smoke on a rainy or wintry day. Cut in 1/8th inch pieces with a pocket knife and put through an inexpensive tobacco grinder and smoked straight will have you dreaming of the wee folk in the hills of county Kerry, Ireland.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2005-09-20		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium	Very Strong

Itlooks great and smells great. It`s really something exotic and different by the looks of it. I really anticipated a lot more from it. To me it wasn`t really strong. The taste was something between iron,salt water and blood. Very sour. I just couldn`t finish the bowl,because the taste just wasn`t for me. Although I can perfectly understand that for some it`s just "the" thing. But on my personal experience,I can`t recommend it. Just too different. But... it`s worth a try anyhow,just for the sake of it!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Darth 69 (117)	2005-07-05		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

I really like Gawith's twists, that is when I'am in the mood to handle the high nicotine strength. This is calmer in the nicotine department than others of it's kind do to I'am sure the cooking process making it jet black. Still somewhat strong and full though. It has a wonderful smell in the tin/pouch like cinnamon spice from all that dark fired leaf. However it's smoking qualities I did not enjoy. It is somewhat moist in texture so it burns a little slower. The tastes is round, mild on the pallette but in conjunction with it's burning aroma I found unpleasant. Its' very odd and am not sure what to liken it to, perhaps burning plastic with a degree of sweetness. Yes, I mean it, it tastes oddly different and "synthetic." It's texture reminds me more of being in line with chewing tobacco. I have read somewhere that precisely that is what these types of blends are for, both chewing and smoking. If one has ever experimented with drying out and burning chewing tobacco, a similiar smoke quality is pressent. I think it has to do with moisture penetrating the leaf in such a cooking process. So I tried chewing a small sclice and it tastes more in line with being a chewing product. Skoal fans may like this. But it made me severely sick and almost lost it, stomach contents that is. So experiment at your own risk.

Not recommended.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-12-08		Strong	None Detected	Medium	Very Strong

I tried black Irish twist after trying several of the Gawith and Hoggart tobaccos. I had first given brown twist a thorough tasting before trying its darker brother, black twist. I have never had a problem with the supposed tsunami of nicotine that is supposed to embodie many of the G & H tobaccos, but none the less it is apparent that many smokers do. The aroma of black twist is that of an lightly (and I do mean lightly) sweetend bourbonesque essence. Texture of the rope is oily and chewy, I almost wanted to cut of a plug of it and find the nearest spitoon. I was skeptical as to how well this tobacco was going to burn upon initial inspection but, after lighting I had no problem sustaining a proper burn. Texture of the smoke was not biting in the least, I have to admit I thaught that this blend was going burn like a mouth full of coals. This is most likely due to the intense curing that this tobacco undergoes, as most of the sugars are leached from the leaf during the baking process. The overall complexity in this tobacco was a bit lacking. I detected an air of charred honey-baked ham that seemed to peek out from time to time, laced with the slightest kiss of bourbon. Despite the oily texture of the leaf this tobacco burns clean, leaving a fine ash at the bottom of the bowl. I highly recomend using a pipe with small bowl capacity for this tobacco, as a little goes a long way. I have a miniature Peterson barrel that I primarily use for this tobacco and its brown brother. I have alot of respect for G&H for maintaing the classic lines of tobacco that they produce. I encourage all smokers to at least try these blends and, if you don't like them then at least you can comment on them.

Note preparation: I noticed that there are alot of people who have commented on how much of a pain this tobacco is to prepare for smoking, so I wanted to share my technique.

Slice of segments of the rope into widths of 1/4 of an inch. Place the cut rope segments into a clean coffee grinder a pulse a couple of times. This works really fast, and gives a very manageable cut that packs and blends easily. The uniformity of the cut also makes the burn really consistent.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RCUSElder (244)	2004-05-24		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Very Strong

Whoa! Nelly!! This is some seriously strong tobacco!

Appearance: Black rope, looks like coyote skat!

Aroma: Fermented leaf, wine and raisin undertones.

Packing: a pain in the rear! You have to cut a section with scissors, then cut the leaf further and rub-out the filler, then pack your pipe.

Lighting: about 4 vestas, better to leave out for an hour or two before filling your pipe.

Flavor: In your face tobacco, but it reminded me of a cheap cigar. It doesn't change down the bowl much. This is not the rich complex flavors that come from a rich stoved VA blend, rather it is plain ole nasty tobaccy. Ash is dark and dry though. Warning, this will leave a strong aftertaste in your mouth that will need a day or two to get rid of and your pipe will also catch the flavor; dedicate a pipe or get a corncob.

Overall: well, at least I tried it. If this were the only tobac available, I would quit smoking. The nicotine was high, but not anymore than say "Stonehaven". I suppose in the world of Alcohol ther is room for "Ripple" and "Thunderbird" and in the world of tobacco we have "Black Irish Rope".

Rating: 0 out of 5 points, trust me don't waste your time on this.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2003-04-04		Strong	None Detected	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Very Strong

One has to try at least a little of this at one point in their life. If anything just to experience the novelty of cutting your own tobac from a rope.

I used my trusty knife and cut some thin slices of the plug, rubbed it out and let it dry for a while. The tobac is very black and oily, almost leather like.

I lit the tobacco and was very suprised by the mellowness of the smoke, almost non-descript. The smoke is voluminous... I mean big bellows of smoke. But, NO BITE! So far so good right? Well the lingering taste in my mouth had a striking resemblence to cigars. Yup, that's what I was tasting... cigars. Which is why I rated the "taste" as "flat."

The nicotine knock out punch that everybody refers to? I didn't notice it being over bearing, but I think that has a lot to do with your size, weight, and tolerances.

So bottom line, you owe it to yourself to try this. Preferably try a friends batch, cuz' if you don't like it you'll have a lot left (smallest amount to buy I've seen is 2oz.)

Overall, intriguing, interesting, might be nice to blend with something else.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2003-01-03		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Strong

Co-op Bent Sitter, GH Black Irish X Twist. Attic smoke. Frightening appearance. Glossy black, thick rope. But not harsh at all, though smoke from bowl hits the nose strongly. Very cool, no bite, medium body. One problem: packed very wet, so it was a bit hard to keep lit. If I didn?t know, I would think this was an American VA, like a stoved black (from Yellow) VA. There is evidence of some pretty high nicotine, but b/c smoke is so cool, it sneaks up on you. Early on, pipe went out every 5 puffs or so, so I didn?t get the full idea (and this might have saved me!). But at 4/5 bowl, T is now burning well. Catching some small hints of danger, I set it aside. Synjeco said this burns for a long time, and stopping every 2 to 3 minutes will make it last even longer. If Brown Twist is stronger, it must be a doozie.This smokes great, especially for a tobacco I thought I might not like.

Short DGT. Basil Hayden bourbon, a dog on each side of the couch, beautiful day, attic fan on, watching Jackie Chan in ?Shanghai Noon.? It?s all clicking. As I said, nicotine is pretty strong. But so is strength, though smooth. Has the darkness, strength, of some Latakia blends, perhaps 965. Continues to please, but I find myself thinking of aromatic for next bowl. This might do as well in a smaller pipe.

Near the end now. This is a really nice Tobacco, far exceeding my expectations. The only way it can be so strong is breeding for nicotine. But the quality hasn?t been compromised. Even near the end, with increasingly short lights, the taste is deep and satisfying. The Basil Hayden is actually a perfect complement. High marks, but limited a bit by the high nicotine and ?perception? of strength. Not a classic because not enough variety; though it has all three levels, it is the same (albeit delicious) three levels. Oddly, near the very end, I pick up a Jamaican Jerk fish feel, but in a nice, interesting, exotic comforting way. DAMN good!

(Postlogue: After this, I ordered a sampler of all GH ropes. This was the only one I liked! And still do.)

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jevverrett (106)	2023-03-04		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I bought this to give it a try. Also bc I like strong tobacco forward blends.

The rope looks oily and black. It smells smoky and rich. I used a cigar scissor to cut it into coins. I’ve cut them thick and thin, and it changes the character of the smoke pretty dramatically. I prefer them about the thickness of a nickel, and rubbed out. A bit of drying time is needed. Even still, it does take a good charring light to get going. The result is a slow smoking, strong tobacco flavor. The flavor is dark fired kind of smoky, dark and earthy. It also has a kind of gentle maple sugar sweetness that pops in. In the same way that dark chocolate or molasses is not very sugary but noticeable. It has a bit of a bbq vibe to it. It can get a bit damp if it’s smoked too fast. It’s manly to say the least. It has a good nic hit too.

It reminds me a lot of a good strong cigar in some ways. It has a good presence and is hard to ignore while smoking. It’s not very complex, but it is thought provoking. The rope is fun to work with and playing with the cut is an interesting game. I like it with coffee. And it’s probably good with a smoky scotch.

Pipe Used: Assorted meerschaum

Age When Smoked: Fresh bulk

Purchased From: Smokingpipes

Similar Blends: HH old dark fired (kind of).

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Davout (4)	2022-06-25		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

First time I went to Namibia I met Biltong: dried meat in long dried ropes. At first bite I almost spit it: disgusting! Then, forcefully, I tried a second small bite (the Namibians around me were laughing). Well, not bad. And then again and again. I ended up enjoying Biltong a lot. The first time I came across Black Irish (many years ago…too many, gosh) my approach was exactly as with Biltong. Nowadays, I’m a big fun of this old powerful stuff. The other pipe brothers (with a huge palette of taste) described it none the better. For me is simply a wonderful baccy, strong but not overwhelming, meaty but not queasy. Definitely not for beginners but a must for any serious VA, VA/PER lovers (no Perique here, be sure). I love to buy it in long twists, cut when I need it in thin slices (as thinner as possible), crumbing it a bit and…dream. Is a real medicine, good for meditation and to stuff an already stuffed belly. I try for now and then , the 'leftovers' of previous evening I never had dizziness or other drawbacks. I started smoking Black Irish in small pipes but I’m comfortable even in medium bowls. As far as ghost is concerned, not an issue for me. My pipes rotation is big (huge according to my wife but who trusts wives?!) and never appreciate its taste after changing tobacco. Mr. Nik O'Teen is present but not massive. For me a daily evening good chap. Don’t try it if you’re'a vegan' but if you like Braa (Namibian meat roast) it’s a must.

Pipe Used: Several

Age When Smoked: From brand new to aged years

Purchased From: Synjeco

Similar Blends: Unique for me.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ondraash (13)	2022-02-13		Very Strong	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Am I really giving this one four stars? Yes! But why? When I first throw this to a bowl I was convinced this is a one star tobacco! The first impression was awfull! The burning sausage aroma was too much for me to try again I thought. But as a latent masochist as I am I usually go over myself to try to get that kind of mysterious plesure hidden in those actions. And this is what I found. I totally get those people marking this precious baccy with just one undeserved star. Especially when you are a vegetarian or worse a vegan! This is a strange tobacco. A little confusing? No! It is really schizophrenic to state the definition. Until you get it under your skin. But here I am to help a bit. Just let it sleep in the tin after opening for, lets say, three months or more. Til it is totally dry. Then moisture it back. The burning meat is not gone then but it is a little less pronounced now. Then pack it a little more moist than you are normally used to. Pack the pipe loose. Lit. When it is too sharp just tamp it - carefully! carefully! - to get a nice burning, creamy sweaty mellow smoke. Now you have a PLEASURE! Still a little confusing but now an interesting palette of feelings. Reminds me of a festival (not the Solani tobacco) in the spring or autumn. When there are those candyfloss and grilled sausages aromas mixing in the air. I am there like I was when I was a little child.

The taste is sweet the aftertaste is even a bit sweeter. I wish this taste for all those vanilla, choco, caramel or coconut aromatised tobaccos. To undone a little more of the aroma you can try retrohale it since then the maple-ish sweet topping would step forward and the burning meat aroma changes to more "smoky" and less "meaty". It is even better with Bellows to retrohale this one. For me the retrohale is comfortably doable after about a half bowl when the tobacco settles a bit since the dark fired tobaccos are the biggest chalenge for me to retrohale them.

Smoke and drive: Make sure the environment is calm and peacefull. This baccy needs almost a meditative state. Do not smoke this when drive :)

Pipe Used: cob, BPK

Age When Smoked: from fresh to 1 year old

Purchased From: etrafika.cz

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	jackinthegreen (6)	2018-10-16		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

The Pu-erh of pipe tobacco, funky and delicious. Burnt marshmallow, burnt tires and sileage. I get why some people hate this. It's an acquired taste. Not as strong as Brown Irish X. Not as harsh either

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Trout Whisperer (3)	2018-06-17		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Very Strong

This tobacco is spun into a rope. I used a cigar cutter then separated each "coin" into ribbons, then tore the ribbons into manageable strips,

The tin note is mild, pleasant tobacco perhaps slightly roasted. Light it in a pipe, however, and there is nothing mild about it. One first notices a savory, meaty flavor which very much appeals to my carnivorous instincts. Just as the smoker begins to enjoy the experience, he is hit with burning rubber reminiscent of an eighteen-wheeler suddenly braking to a stop.

It is essentially two smoking experiences unfortunately combined into one. Would that I could grasp only the former and not the latter. Perhaps it would become more palatable with age, but I am not optimistic.

Pipe Used: Dr. Grabow Riviera, Amphora X-Tra

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: flaming tires filled with tobacco.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	GeorgeB (8)	2018-06-06		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Just came back from a Med cruise. This year there were four pipe smokers, including me. One old chap from Yorkshire only smoked one brand, obtaing it from his indoor market. I asked if we could swop a bowl of tobacco so we could try the others blend. He said he didn’t like to try anything else smoking his blend for years, but he would give me a bowl of his gawith-hoggarth black-irish-x-unsliced, it was a chewing tobacco. Great and very strong, but not as good as E A Carey’s Sliced Black Twist. The brotherhood of pipe smoking, you can’t beat it. Nice to try this tobacco. And what a nice guy.

Pipe Used: Falcon

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Swop from a fellow pipe smoker

Similar Blends: E A Carey’s Sliced Black Twist.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	josephus65 (2)	2017-12-16		Very Strong	Strong	Very Full	Tolerable

premium all around smoke so happy to have 500 g.shall have a great winter smoking fun enjoyable season. very complex with some fruit as well a little salt on the back side. pared it with 111 proof Makers Mark so very befitting. none of which is for the faint of heart. need your big boy puff on for this wonderful treat. this is one for me .really enjoying it right now. hope to take time to present a full review at a later date. nothing like fettling with the plug to suit my fancy and this rope is no different so fun and pleasurable to prep for a wonderful puff

Pipe Used: Luciano bamboo

Age When Smoked: one day

Purchased From: Smoking pipes

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Skando (203)	2016-12-27		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Very Strong

I basically do endorse 1000% the words of Laserboy.

... just, I don’t feel this black rope is strong to that point and, as he said, it’s all about the self controlled conduction of the pipeful. In comparison to the Sam’s black rope, this one is just… sweeter. The combination of charred meat and sweetness is something love or hate. I just love it.

Of course this is far from a daily smoke, but one does not need some rare alignment of stars to enjoy a bowful of this. In my experience the best results came from loose packing in a medium bowl.

And, may I suggest: please try to add a couple of pinches to some 20gr of a full latakia mixture, and see yourself what happens.

Pipe Used: Radice, Castello and others

Age When Smoked: a couple of years

Purchased From: received as a gift

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Virginia lover (218)	2016-11-18		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

The same flavors as Brown Irish Twist but more subdued and with a very fibrous, burnt onion peel taste. The nicotine is also lighter but it's still a stout smoke. Like BIT, not an everyday smoke but one that hits the spot in colder temperatures.

Virginia lover

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Badmedicine (51)	2016-11-09		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Very Strong

Two facts be known about this before I begin: First, I like this tobacco a lot, and second, it isn't for everyone. Bag note is almost jerky-like; woodsmoke and an umami note that makes one think it may be a meat product. A little bit of raisin-like tobacco, but mostly smoke and meat. And yes, it looks like something a rather large (and perhaps sick) dog might leave on the lawn. This is pretty one-dimensional in flavor; tobacco, just tobacco, with a strong backbeat of woodsmoke. Occasional notes of diesel exhaust, which I find oddly pleasing. Getting it to stay lit is a battle, but if you can get it going and find the right cadence, this is a delight. Smokes cool and bone-dry, and stubbornly refuses to bite. As far as the near-legendary nic hit; Yes, it's there and yes, it's powerful. Not a head-spinner, but it will sedate you. I always thought myself impervious to Ol' Saint Nic, but it's good to be reminded that one is human. It may not help matters that I used a magnum-sized bowl (2 inches deep and 1 inch bore; smoked almost 2 hours). Since I smoked it while watching live coverage of the 2016 presidential election, a little sedation was welcome. Tales of people smoking this on an empty stomach and washing it down with strong coffee give me the willies. The way I prepared it was to slice about a 6-inch section into 1/8 coins, then fully rubbed these out and put them in an empty tin to dry a little. You will need a very sharp knife; I used an X-Acto knife with a long woodcarving blade. In summary, this is a singular tobacco, both for its history and its unique taste and method of prep. While it takes a special person to enjoy this, I do think that every pipe smoker should try it at least twice; once to see how it is, twice to see if the first time was really that bad.

Pipe Used: Self-Made magnum apple

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

Similar Blends: Red Lion Cheroots, MUWAT KFC.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Effluvinator (60)	2016-09-29		Strong	Medium	Extra Full	Strong

I'm still not sure about this one, but I can state that it is a palatable smoke, especially compared to SG XX, which I could never get to liking. This is considerably less harsh and strong and I can derive some enjoyment from it, whereas with the SG, I could not. I tried this several years ago and felt it had possibilities but other tobaccos took precedence. Now I am revisiting it. I don't find this or the SG that heavy in nicotine, but then I have smoked Dark Birdseye, Brown rope or 1792 as my first smoke in the morning, so that undoubtedly factors in. All in all I do like this and while I could live quite happily if it weren't available, I will most likely go through a couple of ounces of this from time to time.

Pipe Used: Clay

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Black XX..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2015-10-22		Very Strong	None Detected	Overwhelming	Very Strong

Is it me or did my sample go "off"? A couple of hours ago, I tried this, yet again; surely it couldn't have been that bad last time I smoked this, could it? My recollection was right: the taste of this rope makes me ill. Strangely enough, it works just fine as a chew, so it's not a total loss.

Pipe Used: Falcon

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrT999 (318)	2015-08-18		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I pretty much agree with Laserboy's review, and so won't add much to it. I will say that those who believe that 'over-charred steak' is a good description should stay far away from the similar but (to me at least) even more overwhelming version put out by SG (Black XX). I do get much better burning on this, and most other ropes, by cutting up the rope with a good pair of shears and doing a bit of rubbing out rather than cutting it into coins (and placing the smallest bits at the top of the bowl), but that also increases the N-hit a bit, which can be dangerous in something this strong!

Pipe Used: briars & cobs

Age When Smoked: fresh from the retailer

Purchased From: 4 Noggins

Similar Blends: SG Black XX.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2015-04-16		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

Yes, this does smell and taste exactly like charred meat. Even dry and cut in small cubes that are then rubbed out, Black Irish Twist is difficult to get going and keep lit. It got better with more dryness but it stays a bit quirky. Contrary to Sweet Maple and Rum twists, it's difficult to make out or enjoy the stoved, hot pressed VA taste as the charred meat "flavour" totally dominates. But this is due to the fact that the filler in Black Irish Twist is mainly composed of Dark - Fired leaf, and the wrapper is also dark-fired leaf. So it becomes kind of a bit too much of that leaf for my liking. The charred meat roomnote is not exactly appealing, even for me, when I get a smell of it. It's rather unpleasant. It also tends to be kind of harsh when smoked. It's not exactly an enjoyable smoke for me, because, as I said, it's too much of dark - fired tobacco in one dose. The subsequent smokes are a bit better and sure, this tobacco is very high quality. Sure, I can make out some sweetness and spiciness - Black Irish is an acquired taste - and sure, I will finish the 2 Oz I purchased, but I won't buy some again. If you'd like to venture into the strong rope tobaccos, you're better off with the cased ones, if I may suggest. I have thouroughly enjoyed the Rum and Maple Twists a lot. But if you enjoy a tobacco mainly composed with Dark-Fired leaf, this one will fit the bill for you. Go ahead and knock yourself out. ;-)

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Simon.c (20)	2014-02-08		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Very Strong

It comes as a long rope that smells like death incarnate.

But once you cut it into little 1mm thick discs and let it dry a little. Lightly ruffle and pack it in you get a good though strong smoke.

Charred peppercorn steak, smoke, wood and leather are the dominant flavors of this tobacco. It's full, rich and has a oily feel to the smoke. The room note is truly appalling though, so only smoke this around people you don't like.

Pipe Used: Clay

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-07-12		Overwhelming	Mild	Extra Full	Tolerable to Strong

This stuff will rape your sister,steal your dog and piss in your flower garden. To strong for my likes.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-12-28		Very Strong	Strong	Extra Full	Very Strong

I bought this blend because of the strong nicotine content. The flavor does taste and smell of charred(very burned) beef. This also turned me on to the blend, because that seemed like something I would enjoy. I did like the flavor and the high dose of vitamin N, but I find that I am partial to aromatics. That said, I do enjoy this smoke. I have found that this is great if you like the flavor. It is very well for a mixer, if you need an extra kick.

I will also say this... If you DO mix this, be prepared for the burned beef flavor.

I will give this blend a 3 of 4 simply because of the flavor. If I could find a similar blend in aromatic, 4 of 4.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-08-05		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Full	Strong

Other reviewers have suggested that this tastes like steak browning. They're right and I'm not sure this is such a bad thing.

I smoked this stuff at a local village fete and had people looking around asking where they could find the barbeque. Bizarrely, someone thought I was smoking a sausage (Uncanny! Almost as if they'd seen it before I'd sliced it into coins).

Definitely not an everyday smoke. This is a "meat aromatic" novelty.

It's sold loose, so I'd recommend buying a couple of inches and trying it for the experience.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-05-29		Very Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Strong

I wanted to give something strong a try and think I may have over stepped the mark when I asked the tobacconist for something as far away from Dunhills Early morning pipe as possible.

As a reasonably heavy cig smoker I wanted a late night or possibly whisky evening smoke that could finish the night off with a bit of kick but this blend took it too far for me.

The light is not as difficult as some would make you think if you give this bacci 20 minutes to breathe but may need a few relights during the smoke as its hard to keep puffing away on this monster.

The initial taste and room note are of burnt meat or the opening light of a coal fire, hard to imagine until you taste but take your time and you find the mid bowl is very smooth.

Leaves a strong ghost in the pipe.

Hardly bites despite strength.

Would avoid unless you are after something different or a challenge.

Still, despite my review and the others this is a quality tobbaco if not all that enjoyable.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TK Pipe (101)	2011-01-27		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

G/H Black Irish X … Sold in bulk, a black rope like Virginia plug tobacco about 5/8 inch in diameter. Looks like something Abe Lincoln would have smoked. Its bag aroma is a mild nondescript tobacco odor, with a after smoke room note that only a pipe smoker could enjoy.

I cut several 1/8 thick disc from the rope, and tried to smoke them without any drying time, mistake. First of all I could not keep them lit, they were too moist, and what smoke/steam I did get was NOT very good, to say the least, nothing like any Virginia I ever tasted before, yuk. So I did the obvious, I crumbled up a disk, and let it dry out, until almost breakable. Now things got interesting. To start with, light up and burn went without a problem, the initial smoke was mild, with a faint taste of something anise like, tasty, but very unique for a almost pure Virginia blend. As the bowl burned down the strength increased to what I would call medium strong, producing a mouth feel ((not taste)) of a stronger Honduran cigar. The taste seems to improve as the bowl burned, providing a faint sweetness and some interesting, if not unusual Virginia flavors. Really quite expectable.

I never encountered any tongue bite or harshness, but be ready for some vitamin “N”, in my case not a big problem, because I used a very small bowled cob pipe, dedicated to crazy tobaccos like this one. Overall, not nearly the monster I imagined, just a basic somewhat strong tobacco, not too different from many other old time plugs. Actually with a little experience and patience it's a respectable smoke. I would recommend to anyone that would enjoy stepping back in time, preparing his own smoke from a basic shoved plug. For THAT person, 3 stars. But If you tend to be a little on the anal side about details, forget this one, and move on.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-12-12		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Extra Strong

Black as Hell and strong as the Devil, but if you approach it slowly and with a good measure of respect, it can provide a unique and interesting experience. It is very important not to rush through a bowl of this tobacco. Sip it gently, as if you were determined to be the last man standing in a smoking contest. This is a meaty tobacco, and it is the polar opposite of an aromatic blend.

Black Irish X presents itself as a dark, dense rope of tobacco, a bit thicker than an index finger, comprised of a stout solid core of tobacco wrapped in a few leaves that are thin as onionskin.

To smoke this tobacco, it is best to either cut it into coins or shave it into curls with a sharp knife. It is my understanding that tobacco in rope or twist form was usually chewed first, and then left to dry before smoking it.

This tobacco is best enjoyed outdoors, early in the morning, on an autumn evening, or on the porch during a summer storm. I would recommend it not be smoked indoors, unless you want your house to smell like a burning chicken coop for several days. The room note is very strong, and far from pleasant.

I recommend this tobacco because I feel it is an edifying and bracing experience to smoke. If you want to experience a bit of history, and test your mettle as well, give Black Irish X a try.

Even if it turns out not to be to your taste, having a twist of this black rope tobacco around the house makes a interesting subject for starting a conversation.

Pipes used in testing: Savinelli 606 KS, Saint-Claude basket pipe, Peterson Tankard

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-09-22		Strong	None Detected	Full	Very Strong

Winston Churchill once said of Russia,"I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key..."

Replace the name Russia with Black Irish Twist (or X) and you have a good description. I don't love it. I don't hate it. Yet, I don't feel it's neutral or boring. It is very different. Not your grab it anytime smoke. I can't really find words to describe this tobacco or even how I feel about it. I'm usually pretty wordy.

I suggest taking a small, clay pipe and working your way slowly through an ounce of this stuff under various conditions and environments, moods, and other variables and see where you come out on the other end. Then decide. I'm working on it myself.

If nothing else, this is one tobacco every exploratory pipe smoker should at least try, and preferably observe in the wild over time. Dedicate a clay to it and let it be a walk away from the regular world for awhile. Not something I will reach for often, but when in the mood for something a little surreal perhaps.

Update 10/04/10: (A one star downgrade) Well, I've been playing with this a little more and the intrigue wears thin. I actually got a bit nauseous from it one day. Not a Nic Mulekick kind of bleh. Just bleh. It still has a tiny moment now and then of "interesting." It has just grown into a relationship much like with our grown daughter. Nice to see her for a few days once or twice a year, then happy to see the plane leave with her on it, knowing it will be at least another six months or more before we see her again. Anything else is just too taxing.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-06-03		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Extra Strong

I am not sure what to say about this tobacco. Getting her going I swore that I was eating a steak, charred. I should preface this with I am still new at pipe smoking, but I have already gravitated to the “more experienced” tobaccos. Irish Flake, Kendal Twist, Happy Bogey, Condor Original, me likes them all. I have already decided that I have little use for anything subtle. With that said, I am not sure I can in good conscious recommend this tobacco. Instead, I dare you. I dare you to try the Black Irish X. It isn't the strongest out there, but it definitely stands out. I haven't tried the Brown Irish X, but I think that the Kendal and Bogey ropes might be about on par. This is an altogether interesting experience. I smoked this out of a giant meerschaum, and well I have the same feeling I did after finally feeling proficient with a straight edge razor – nothing can stop me now.

I must say that I whole-heartedly agree with every review. I see how this could be a horrible experience to many. I can't actually say that it was a good experience, but I have just shy of 4 oz. left, and I promise you it will not go to waste. One comment on many of the other comments, the nicotine isn't THAT strong. The burning flesh taste and smell aside, which I somehow liken to the Lakeland soap taste (something that probably should have no business in a tobacco smoking experience, but I'm glad it does) this is a generally smooth smoke. But I still dare you…

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ermtony (1)	2010-01-15		Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Strong

Gawith Hoggarth Black Irish Twist (or Black Irish X as it says on the label of the sealed plastic bag it came in) is my first ever twist or rope tobacco. Over 35 years of smoking flakes hadn't quite prepared me for this one. I expected it to be something like a Va flake but stronger, but no, this is a different beast altogether, and one that I am very glad I decided to try.

The smell of the tobacco in the pack is excellent. Deeply woody, almost earthy with quite a smoky, cigar-like overtone. The appearance is mildly off-putting, resembling a bent black cigar, but the aroma makes up for that.

Preparation was easy enough. I have an excellent French made Opinel knife which made short work of slicing up a portion into pieces the size and thickness of a penny (a UK one that is). Based on the reviews I have read I expected the tobacco to need some drying but no, not at all. It rubbed out very easily making packing the pipe a breeze.

I smoked it in a Peterson 317, which has a suitably small sized bowl (for those who aren't familiar with Petes). It lit very easily and required only one more light to finish off the bowl. It smoked good and clean all the the way leaving only grey ash and no dottle.

Now for the flavour. In a word, wow! Most impressive. It smokes dry so the flavour stayed pretty much the same all the way down. The flavour of the smoke mirrors that of the tobacco in the pack; earthy, woody, smoky and altogether just as a plain tobacco should be. I had expected it to be stronger tasting. In fact, based on those reviews I expected something like Irish Flake but more so (and I am not over keen on Irish Flake - it gives me heartburn!). While Black Irish is certainly strong in flavour is is exceptionally smooth and tasty, cool smoking and quite unique in my pipe smoking experience. I did make a point of going fairly slowly with it and I am sure that was the right approach. Nicotine level? Fairly high but not excessive, though I think smoking it in a larger pipe might be a bit over the top.

To sum up, this is one that I would recommend to anyone. Four stars all the way.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-08-22		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Extra Strong

This is a monochromatic and nicotine over-loaded blend, which contaminate your pipe with a weired flavor for ever. Smoking on empty stomach makes me sick!

Why 4 stars?

I can understand if you hate it, but I love it!

It's not a complex and elegant blend, but you get a mellow smoke with a lightly sour flavor (iron, blood, salty water, fishing boat) of natural tobacco.

Smoking this stuff is the best way for me to relax. After the first few puffs - accompanied by a bottle of Merlot - all problems are fading away at once! Something magic!

I'm satisfied with one bowl a week (nicotine content!), but I don't want to miss this stuff anymore.

A relict of the "good?" old times!

Thank you Gawith & Hoggarth!

By the way, smoking indoors, it' an excellent mokito repellant!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Cantrell (14)	2009-07-08		Extremely Strong	Mild to Medium	Full	Strong

WOW! strong stuff!

Taste like a burnt steak and I like that, something a bit different than the sweet smokes I'm used to.

I really liked this tobacco the first time I tried it, liked it so much I packed a second bowl BIG MISTAKE.

Nicotine content slammed into me hard half way through the second bowl and I broke out in a cold sweat; had to go and lay down for 20 min. VERY STRONG (my world was spinning like a top).

I still smoke this occasionally, but with much more respect. I like this tobacco early in the morning after a hearty meal, and in small doses.

Update: If this tobacco gets too dry it becomes just terrible.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	kg0mz (54)	2009-04-04		Very Strong	Mild	Full	Tolerable

A twin with SG's Black XX rope. This came a with tad more moisture, perhaps, making it slightly limber. To my surprise this was easily rubbed out. The burn is very cool and dry to a powdery ash. No tongue bite. No throat irritation. This has the same full, grilled meat-on-a-stick flavor. A blue-collar smoke. Nothing fancy. Call it retro, a relic, a throwback, but it is an honest and satisfying, big and bold smoke. Tasty, desert island tobacco.

07/27/09 UPDATE: I am revising some of my reviews. I have given out more 4 star ratings than anything else. That practice is probably not helping. So, I am reducing BIT to 3 stars, not because I like it less than I did before, but because I am limiting 4 stars to fewer than 25% of all my reviews. One day I may use the 4 star rating to designate my top five.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-03-27		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

You can tell from the reviews here this is a love it/hate it blend. I love it. Mellow, strong, all tobacco. Slice, and dice...let it dry out, rub it out. Packs, lights, burns well. At this point in my tobacco journey this is my desert island choice.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2008-09-30		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

If you want something different, this is your smoke.

Heavy - and it lends a nice flavor to the pipe. I liken the taste to roasting meat (or fat.) (Black Rope ... It's PEOPLE!!!)

Indeed, my wife often mistakes the smell of smoldering black rope to chicken burning on the grill. Now, if that ain't a reason to try this smoke, I don't know what is! You get tons of people who liken the smell of burning latakia to "Campfires in the fall" etc etc. Well, how many tobaccos can you smoke that remind you of summer barbecue??

For best results, smoke in a clay, as it was meant to be smoked. Chew it first, and then let it dry out and smoke it for a REALLY authentic experience. (It tones down the nicotine ... really! Try it, I dare you.) Baking soda will get the stains off your teeth, I promise.

P.S. I'm pretty sure the term "OLD TAR" comes from the aroma that old sailors who smoked too much black rope must exude from every pore. What more could you possibly want?

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2008-09-10		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

I enjoy chopping things up, like ropes and plugs of tobacco. I can't decide if this is a good waste of bad tobacco, or a bad waste of good tobacco.

A brutal head butt of a smoke with no subtle aspects.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2008-05-12		Very Strong	None Detected	Mild	Strong

UPDATE

This tobacco grows on me, a bit of this rope have now been in my tobacco jar for a while, and it has done a bit for the taste. Perhaps due to a different moisture level (I have also changed the pipe I use for this tobacco). The taste of this tobacco is a bit fuller right from the start, and I feel the taste of very dark chocolates, and some grape fruit.

As before, the sweetness builds up nicely as the pipe progresses. Sweet and mild smoke tastewise, probably a powerhouse nicotine wise, as I usually break a sweat while smoking it.

Original review

My first impression on this tobacco was very bad, smoked it in a small bowled pipe, and perhaps to swift. The roof of my mouth got a coating, and I got a heart burn as well. The taste was that of wet but smoldering card board.

Drying it out a wee bit, and then smoking it in a medium sized meer or a billiard briar, and smoking it slowly, it reveals a completely different character. The first half of the bowl is very mild, and not tasting much at all, but as the sweetnes of the VA's builds up and gains momentum, the taste gets sweeter, fuller, more satisfying. This tobacco do need alot of attention, at least the first half bowl of it.

Very nice on occasion, or when you are all out of dark birdseye. A bowl of this in the morning perks me up.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2007-07-10		Very Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Tolerable to Strong

Mmm, a barbeque in a pipe.

It's a simple smoke, nothing wrong with that, that will hit the spot (for flavour) when nothing else can. Just don't let yourself be fooled by the mildness of the aroma: you'll get bitten almost instantly if you puff too quickly. Though after getting it lit, it's a tame rope and not a crazed viper.

This is not an exceptionally strong or rough tobacco. The core of it's kick lies in it's smoky and earthy character, not in lashings of nicotine and tar. Latakia may be smoky -though it is confined to the realms of lapsang souchong- Black Irish on the other hand is like putting a few pounds of dry bracken in your mouth and letting your neighbour run at you with a flaming torch.

This is a perfect smoke to accompany a coffee, but it does lack a long nicotine hit and won't keep you going as long as other twists.

A suitable nightcap.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-09-07		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Very Strong

A friend shared some of his rope stock so I could try this style of tobacco - Thanks James!

This was quite a departure from the blends I usually smoke. And that is an understatement. I will never again think that drying and rubbing out flakes is a tedious procedure. This stuff actually requires tools to get it ready to smoke.

I tried cutting it into slices, but found that shredding it was quicker. End result is the same. Then it had to dry.

The taste reminded me of a backyard barbeque - not altogether unpleasant, but unexpected. Actually quite smooth, not the harsh horrible beast I expected. The room note was more potent than the taste. Nicotine content was fairly high. I smoked back-to-back bowls without ill-effect, though there was some effect.

I'll probably re-visit this one, but it's nothing I will want on a regular basis. Just too 'plain-Jane'.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-06-24		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Very Strong

This is supposed to be the same as the brown rope, only cooked to remove some of the tars and nicotine to make for a more mellow smoke. My first impression of this tobacco was what the heck is it? It looked like a piece of old rubber that came off of a tire. I took my razor blade and began to make thin slices and then chop the sloces up a bit. I packed the tobacco into a favorite old pipe I use for testing, it lit after a bit of persuading, billows of white smoke were produced and the smell of steaks burning on a barbecue grill filled the room. The taste was surprisingly tame, a good mellow smoke, I couldn't believe it, something that looks this intimidating tasting so good, and being so mellow, just goes to show looks can be deceiving. A 9 out of 10. Note: this does not quite have the nicotine wallop of the brown twist, but it is still a high nicotine content smoke, be careful.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-05-22		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

I prefer the brown ropes to black ropes. This black rpe is similar in flavor to Gawith Black XXX. Both offer a no-nonsense smoke but lack the spiciness found in brown ropes. Black Irish Twist offers a more dirt or earth-like flavor which can be, at times, not too pleasant. I like to keep a small batch of the sliced version around for the occasional smoke. Positive notes: this tobacco produces volumes and volumes of cool smoke. Also, it's almost impossible to get your tongue bitten off.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ducksbreath (125)	2004-03-20		Extremely Strong	Very Strong	Extra Full	Extra Strong

The problem I have with all the ropes I've tried is mainly the aftertaste, like a cigar butt dipped in a puddle of melted pvc and used motor oil.

And though this may be the best of the bunch it still leaves its tire tracks all over me. This is smoother than the rest of 'em though still something you could hang yourself on.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2004-02-06		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Probably my #3 favorite tobacco. It's not as strong as the Brown Irish Twist (also from G&H), and the flavor is not as penetrating. Instead, it's "rounder" and more mellow. It's a milder smoke than the brown, even though it looks scarier.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2003-10-03		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Very Strong

Sheesh! Great novelty tobacco, looks like oily oscuro-wrapper cigars curled up in a coil. Does not burn hot but the main taste/sensation is harsh.If this was like what tobacco was like in the "good old days", I can see why life expectancy was so short in 19th century Ireland.

Don't see what is attractive about this GH offering.Maybe I will revisit my sample in a year or two and see if I can tame it then.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pounder 5000 (178)	2003-09-11		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Tolerable

I had to try this tobacco just because of all of the hype. Although the novelty of cutting your own tobacco off of a rope is a must for all pipe smokers at least once, I found this to be a boring smoke. The tobacco had poor burning qualities and very little flavor. Although the nicotene content is high, it is still not near as much so as Royal Yacht. The tobac burned nice and cool, and I will have no problem finishing the sample. It just wasn't enough to get me hooked. The Lakeland Perfume is just barely noticeable if you really look. I have to kind of wonder if it isn't there just because it is made in the same factory and absorbs it somewhat from the air!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2003-01-26		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

A great tobacco, to be smoked only in some occasions.

Cutting the plug is very easy, using a very sharp knife, and rubbing it out is also very easy.

I filled the bowl of my Mayfair ( small bowl, i dont dare to smoke in a bigger bowl ! ), and unwrapped a few leafs of the plug for a better lighting operation.

Usual procedure in lighting, a good charring light, tamp, re-light it, and off we go... Needed only 2 re-lights during the smoke.

From the start you get what you want with this tobacco, a pure smoke, just pure virginia tobacco, no flavoring whatsoever, no complexity at all, just a plain ride all the way. A very smooth and slow smoke, it took me almost 80 minutes to end the bowl, drawing slowly and with quiet pace. No bite at all, even if you push it.

I must advise you to smoke this very slowly and with a full stomach ( after a good meal and with a good 15 years Malt Scotch is great ), or else you'll get nausea and get sick.

The nicotine rush is big, very big. Mid-way, you feel very very relaxed. If you have to stand up after the smoke, do it very very slowly or you'll get a head rush and get dizzy.

Room note is strong, still tolerable for those used to having smoke around them. Around here only NC gets negative remarks.

My first try at a big streght tobacco, turned out to be a great ride, though it might be too much for a newbie.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JLHChesterton (3)	2023-04-08		Very Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Dark, smokey, a peaty fireplace, the depth of a neat whisky, without any noticeable high notes. The mids are (like others have said) beef, peppers, earthy, like an old fallen tree being burned (in flavor and in relights).

Pipe Used: Aldo Velani Series C Apple

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: from a friend

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Quiggifur (99)	2023-03-08		Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

Essentially the same as G&H black twist sliced, somewhat easier to work with than that soupy mess. I can cut a thick coin, further cube cut it, rub it out, and it burns relatively well without dry time. I love it similarly to black twist sliced for its similarly unique attributes. Literally tastes like charred beef fat, I don't mean that metaphorically. The rope here does have a distinct herbal scent, not what i know as a Lakeland though, and it's barely if at all coming through in the smoke. This first smoke is sweeter than the sliced version. I think i have to keep both of them at 4 star, even though i greatly prefer the rope format. Some people clearly love the sliced, and moisture probably varies quite a bit order by order. Aside from that, they're essentially the same.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kilmarnock Piper (251)	2023-02-19		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I don't like giving a Gawith Hoggarth product three stars out of four. I highly respect that company, and Samuel Gawith, though for all practical purposes they are the same company! The flavoring on this is weird to me; earthy, and almost too earthy, like a bag of pasteurized manure you put in your garden. Voltaire said "tend your own garden" (Il faut cultiver notre jardin), but this topping is not right for my garden; my palate that is, though it is obviously added to very high-quality tobacco.

I have some coconut extract; those who have read my recent reviews know I am into casing, stoving, and topping my own sometimes very strong black cavendishes. This plug (looks like a dog turd, like all Gawith plugs) is already black, so I positively doused it in coconut and vanilla extracts, and Bacardi Tropical Rum (pineapple, coconut, and guava). I'll see how it turns out, and give my impressions on my re-topped product.

2-23-23 Well, a few days later, and those extracts and flavored rum are completely overwhelmed by the topping this tobacco already had, and amazingly, it tastes about the same, but with the bowl I'm having now, growing on me. Unique...still, I would like to find some GH Coconut Twist again, instead of this; I remember really liking it. I will keep this two ounces as a curio, and smoke a bowl once in a while.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JaWiBr (561)	2022-11-10		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

Package note of pungent salty barbeque, smoky and slightly tart. The 3/4-inch-wide rope is jet black. Tobacco is wet, prep entails a razor or thin sharp knife and cutting thin coins for rubbing out, and drying. Burns is slow with numberous relights. The strength is medium to strong and nic is mild and no flavoring detected. Taste is medium to full and very consistent, with notes earth, musty chard wood, leather, maduro cigar, faint burnt spices, and a moderate peppery retro. Dark fired leaf is leading dark air cured Indian leaf through the fires of hell. Room note is strong, but not offensive and aftertaste is great.

Pipe Used: Wally Frank Limited White Bar Sandblast 128

Age When Smoked: 3 years

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

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