Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Black Irish X Unsliced

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.

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.

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.

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.