Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Black Irish X Unsliced

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!

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.

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.

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.

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^)

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.

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.

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.

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.