Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Black & Brown

When I started smoking a pipe in the late '70s I was pretty much a Dunhill/Balkan Sobranie guy, primarily because that seemed to be what was most available outside of OTC blends. Good for me I didn't like aromatics; however, I seem to have thrown out the baby with the bathwater in assuming that all cavendish tasted like those OTC aromatics. To the point, only in the last 5 years or so have I come to appreciate natural cavendish as an extremely good and important tobacco. Even without "flavoring", through process the underlying leaf sweetens to varying degrees. Black & Brown is to my taste and experience the finest cavendish-forward blend out there. As SteelCowboy said it is the non-aromatic smoker's aromatic. Here, "aromatic" to me means that the cavendish process has amped up the fragrance inherent in the leaf. The blend is perfection, the burn qualities and cut are without complaint and the effect is a satisfying (surprisingly good nic hit) smoke that leaves you with an impression strong enough to come to mind each time you're undecided on what to smoke when the desire hits. This is not to say that the burley and virginia get lost. They are evident all the while, delicious, complimentary and integral to the blend. Nothing to really compare it to. In that vein, however, one last thing -- it's also a great tobacco to take a bit of and throw in a little blending latakia and/or oriental. Tastes then like an (even better?) iteration of a number of fine blends (namely MM 965, McClelland Coyote Classic). Good job by not only the blender but the 4 gentlemen whose reviews caused me to order this terrific stuff.

Gawith Hoggarth - Black and Brown.

The actual mix is very appealing on the eye, a blend that appears to be 60 % Black Cavendish, the other 40% VaBur. On the negative side it is a bit moist. It smells sweet.

Despite the fact it's a little moist mine still lights up quite well, only requiring a little extra work, and no matter how much time it takes to get going the taste is more than a remuneration for the extra work! The flavour's sublime, the Burley and Virginia provide a fabulous base while the black Cavendish sweetens the profile; dramatically. The the actual smoke is of a sumptuous build and sets the precedent where thick smoke is concerned. The burn is very even throughout the whole pipe and gives a cool smoke. The room-note's nice.

A four star aromatic:

Highly recommended.

One of my favourite tobaccos, I bought this on a whim due to the tobacconist I visited having a limited stock of pipe tobacco, and I have to say it's became my number one go to blend, hardly any heat or bite, and a really nice sweet taste, a good nicotine hit, and a great room note. It seems to work really nice in my 18th century skull clay pipe more than the briar, but maybe that's just me! A highly recommended tobacco which is now the staple blend in my ever growing collection.

Black & Brown;

Star Rating = 3.5;

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

Pouch Note = 9;

Room Note = 9;

Flavor = 9;

Bite = 9;

Burn = 9;

After Taste = 9;

Raw Score = 54;

Rated Percentage = 90%;

Comment = Smooth, Medium Strength, Full Body Natural Tobacco Flavor, No Bite

I obtained a small sample of this as I am a huge fan of Gawith Hoggarth tobaccos. For me, the puch note of this tobacco is possibly the best I've ever experienced - it is sweet and old fashioned, and brings back memories of my grandad's pipe.

As with most GH tobaccos this blend did need a little drying out under a lamp for 5 minutes and I did find it a very slow started to get lit. On the upside, slow lighting tobaccos usually stay lit for the duration, and this one burned cool and sweet. The tobacco is very mellow and for me felt like a more refined version of the middle earth treebeard tobacco, and even had slight tones of Carter Hall, all without the additives and glycerine I can usually detect with the former two.

The taste is mellow and a very easy relaxing smoke. Flavour is slightly vanilla without being sickly. A very pleasant smoke which is never overpowering.

This is one of the cleanest burning American style aromatics out there. The Cavendish is flavored just enough to provide sweet "Cavendish Depth" but it is not at all overpowering. Plus it creates thick, chewy clouds of fragrant smoke and has a touch of strength.

Maybe it is a little too sweet, but this is coming from someone who smokes Bayou Night daily. A really great American style aromatic to blend with too, if you want an Amer-English. Or add some Gawith Hoggarth's Kendal Dark for strength and spice. Good for beginners as well as a for those who want a sweet tooth fix as a change of pace.

Bought this in bulk form, bag note is maple, dark chocolate, and a touch of Prince Albert if you will. Visually, it appears as if dark cavendish pieces (like BCA), & medium brown cigar leaf (1/4” torn pieces), though I don’t think it’s a cigar wrapper, just the appearance of it. Didn’t find any stems mixed in the bag. Moisture content when pinched will hold form for a second, thin spring back to origional shape, aka, ready to smoke. Not sticky or goopy to the touch.

From first light to the end, it’s consistent in taste & strength. Requires average number of relights, and minimal moisture left in the bowl. The flavor is almost exactly as the pouch note, maple, dark chocolate, with a muted sweet va & nutty burley addition. As a non aromatic puffer, I thoroughly enjoy it, weather in a meer, cob, or briar.

Note: This review is an addition to the many fine reviews posted here.

Currently, this may be Gawith and Hoggarth's very best blend. I don't say this lightly, and it has some contenders in my book. This blend does something that no other pipe tobacco does: it starts out tasting only as tobacco, but the topping comes out 1/4 down the bowl, then grows stronger until the end! I have tested this in several pipes with the same result.

Not your typical black cavendish, this neither bites nor transforms into hot air. I at first figured this as G&H's attempt at a danish, but boy does this blow away any danish! How it can increase and not lose its topping or casing as it burns down the bowl is astounding. This is one tobacco that I would choose if limited to one blend.

I get a little rose or violet behind the vanilla in this one as well as a hint of licorice (not anise) which makes it so smooth. The room note is as good if not better than many aromatics! It is a rock solid tobacco flavor, very smooth and grows floral down the bowl.

Sometimes a blend bests out flakes, and this is one of those. I plan to have a very large amount of this blend stockpiled. Makes a great smoke several times a day. Never monochromatic or tiring. One of the least boring blends I have ever tried.

Gawith Hoggarth: Black & Brown

Another high quality blend from G-H. Reminds me of a pipe tobacco my Grandfather smoked after he had serapticiously nicked a tad of Grandmothers Vanilla for an additive - but not as powerful! This is a slow-burning & cool smoke that possessss a sumptuous taste & lovely pervasive aroma. It has no bite for me. I smoked it recently during the symphony intermission outdoors & drew compliments from passers-by, both men & women. Some reviewers wisely opined it is an aromatic for the non-aromatic smoker ... I concur. It is a comforting smoke that has real strength... The Cavendish process lends the main characteristic, whilst the VA & Burley are great supporting actors. Moisture level is appropriate & it requires few re-lights. The Nic is medium. It is easily an all day tobacco. I highly recommend it! 4 Stars.