Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Brown Irish X
(3.30)
Made with the same way and ingredients as the Black Irish X (a process of spinning dark fired wrapper leaves. The filler is again, predominantly dark fired leaf with the addition of a small percentage of dark air cured Indian leaf.). Brown Irish X (same as twist) comes straight off the spinning machine without any additional processing. The absence of the pressure and heating process means this tobacco retains all of it's strength.
Notes: Pipesandcigars.com list the components as burley and Kentucky. Smokingpipes.com list the components as Virginia and provides the following description: "Brown Irish X by Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. is dark fired and dark air cured. This rope is stoved less than the Black Irish."
Gawith Hoggarth says, "All our Kendal Twist tobacco varieties (Pigtail, Bogie, Flavored Twist, Irish X and Irish XXX) are manufactured by the same spinning process using dark fired wrapper leaves. The filler is again, predominantly dark fired leaf with the addition of a small percentage of dark air cured Indian leaf. They are therefore strong tobaccos. Black Twist (Black Irish), because the cooking process removes some of the stronger tar and nicotine elements, provides a milder smoke than the brown twist."
Details
| Brand | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. |
| Blended By | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. |
| Manufactured By | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Burley |
| Contents | Burley, Kentucky, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Rope |
| Packaging | Bulk |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Very Strong
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Strong
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.30 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 35 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 2010 | Very Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Strong |
To quote one of the characters in the film 'Predator', "This stuff will make you a God damned sexual Tyrannosaurus!"
Well, if I recall he was actually referring to his chewing tobacco and whilst I cannot genuinely claim that smoking Brown Twist has done wonders for my love life, I can't help feeling that there is a certain degree of machismo involved in smoking a pipe weed that packs such an overwhelming nicotine punch.
Seriously though, don't let fear of its undeniable potency put you off. This is, to my mind, tobacco in one of its most unadulterated and traditional forms. That alone should be reason enough for every pipesmoker to give it a try at least once.
The flavour is fairly unique: slightly salty, slightly sweet and I agree with the spicy, cigar notes that others have mentioned. Whatever subtle elements might contribute to the taste, it's mainly all about tobacco and it's there in spades, making for a full and satisfying smoke. It is a little harsh at times, but for me that is just part of the charm of this old school tobacco.
The room note also reminds me slightly of barbecue sauce but I'm a vegetarian so what do I know?
Unlike some other reviewers I do find that it benefits from a couple of minutes drying time before loading the pipe, but not too much. Three coins, sliced off with a sharp knife, are sufficient to fill the bowl of my Peterson silver spigot and provide me with about an hour and a half of nicotine induced relaxation. The relights are more frequent than with some other tobaccos, but not onerous.
I try and save this one for a weekend treat, but the fact is that I enjoy it too much to reserve it for these occasions. I can concede that it probably isn't for everyone, but I think that many folks will be pleasantly surprised. Definitely recommended for everyone at least once.
Well, if I recall he was actually referring to his chewing tobacco and whilst I cannot genuinely claim that smoking Brown Twist has done wonders for my love life, I can't help feeling that there is a certain degree of machismo involved in smoking a pipe weed that packs such an overwhelming nicotine punch.
Seriously though, don't let fear of its undeniable potency put you off. This is, to my mind, tobacco in one of its most unadulterated and traditional forms. That alone should be reason enough for every pipesmoker to give it a try at least once.
The flavour is fairly unique: slightly salty, slightly sweet and I agree with the spicy, cigar notes that others have mentioned. Whatever subtle elements might contribute to the taste, it's mainly all about tobacco and it's there in spades, making for a full and satisfying smoke. It is a little harsh at times, but for me that is just part of the charm of this old school tobacco.
The room note also reminds me slightly of barbecue sauce but I'm a vegetarian so what do I know?
Unlike some other reviewers I do find that it benefits from a couple of minutes drying time before loading the pipe, but not too much. Three coins, sliced off with a sharp knife, are sufficient to fill the bowl of my Peterson silver spigot and provide me with about an hour and a half of nicotine induced relaxation. The relights are more frequent than with some other tobaccos, but not onerous.
I try and save this one for a weekend treat, but the fact is that I enjoy it too much to reserve it for these occasions. I can concede that it probably isn't for everyone, but I think that many folks will be pleasantly surprised. Definitely recommended for everyone at least once.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 15, 2009 | Very Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
This tobacco is easy to smoke. It has a cigar flavour when smoking. I could smoke it all day but for the strong nicotine content. It's very kind to your mouth. Great tobacco a wack of nicotine so I wouldn't fill your biggest bowl with this one. Go on give it a go I think you will enjoy it.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 03, 2018 | Very Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Brown Irish X sometimes has me feeling as though I should be standing on the deck of a ship taking orders from Horatio Hornblower. I would imagine ropes and plugs were the tobaccos of the day back then. This is strong, pure tobacco. The descriptions are somewhat unclear but it seems to be all Virginia to me rather than containing any Burley. It has some sweetness, cigar-like character, and a very full taste. A little goes a long way; it is the Prell Concentrate of tobaccos. As Jerry Seinfeld said, "Prell--the hard stuff!" I love it. It's in the same camp as Dark Birdseye and other unadulterated tobacco. Useful for those times when you want a short, strong smoke and I always keep this on hand. I recommend dedicating a pipe to this as whatever you smoke this in will make everything else taste like Brown Irish X.
Pipe Used:
Clay, Jarl acorn, "Czech"
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 22, 2016 | Extremely Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Strong |
I dare you to dip this it taste like a really strong chew dip etc. Great tobacco if your after the nic chew this will last a long time. Smoking it after chewing or dipping this it's still very strong. Go with this tobacco if your after the nic and regular unadulterated tobacco flavor.
Pipe Used:
Corn cob and briar
PurchasedFrom:
Pipesandcigars
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 09, 2015 | Very Strong | Extremely Mild | Very Full | Strong |
ugly but beautiful,strong but mild,so simple at first but what a sinphony when you are tunned with it.In short,good stuff,better aged.Cut slices,let repose in a jar and before smoking dry not very much,this is an important point,and finally put in a medium-small bowl and be happy.The only black spot is that´s not friendly to the pretty noses of the ladies.Nothing is perfect on this planet . If you like aromatics,please don´t try this.
Pipe Used:
small
PurchasedFrom:
local tobbaconist
Age When Smoked:
1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 24, 2023 | Very Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Strong |
Out of the jar the "tin" note is pretty rank. Not pleasant at all , but one gets used to it
Cut some 1/8"-3/16" coins, usually takes 2 to fill a bowl, then unraveled the coins and shredded them by hand. The tobacco comes quite moist , so letting it dry for 30 minutes is really helpful in keeping it lit. Even so, it will take several relights at the beginning to get it going.
Once it's lit be prepared for a big surprise as the flavor and smell of the smoke is Completely Different from that of the raw tobacco. Smoke is rich and creamy with first the Burly coming through and then as the bowl progresses an intense Virginia sweetness. There is nothing delicate or subtle about this smoke. Just a blast of tobacco flavors. Burns to an ash with maybe a few crispies. Not a wet smoke if puffed at a reasonable rate. No bite at all.
It's a great end of the day smoke for those who want a strong tobacco but don't favor strong Latakia blends.
Nicotine is noticeable to this experienced smoker( as in you'll feel the nicotine spiciness in your mouth) so newer smoker should probably approach with caution.
I like the smell but would rate the room note strong.
I've noted no ghosting with this in various meerschaums.
Cut some 1/8"-3/16" coins, usually takes 2 to fill a bowl, then unraveled the coins and shredded them by hand. The tobacco comes quite moist , so letting it dry for 30 minutes is really helpful in keeping it lit. Even so, it will take several relights at the beginning to get it going.
Once it's lit be prepared for a big surprise as the flavor and smell of the smoke is Completely Different from that of the raw tobacco. Smoke is rich and creamy with first the Burly coming through and then as the bowl progresses an intense Virginia sweetness. There is nothing delicate or subtle about this smoke. Just a blast of tobacco flavors. Burns to an ash with maybe a few crispies. Not a wet smoke if puffed at a reasonable rate. No bite at all.
It's a great end of the day smoke for those who want a strong tobacco but don't favor strong Latakia blends.
Nicotine is noticeable to this experienced smoker( as in you'll feel the nicotine spiciness in your mouth) so newer smoker should probably approach with caution.
I like the smell but would rate the room note strong.
I've noted no ghosting with this in various meerschaums.
Pipe Used:
Various meershaums
PurchasedFrom:
Watch City Cigar
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 11, 2018 | Medium to Strong | Medium | Medium | Tolerable |
Well the first rope tobacco I ever tried was a brand I bought in a podunk town in Tennessee. I think it was called King Bee. It was advertised as a chew, but I thought why not in a pipe. The word duh, comes to mind. I cut off a piece and packed it in a Grabow. The taste was reminiscent of burning cardboard. Not a pleasant experience, to say the least. But I thought I'd try this one based on all of the good reviews. What a huge difference. This stuff is strong but smooth, and very tasty. Some of you have said that they detected burley in this, but I'm primarily a burley smoker for many years, and I don't taste any burley. It's definitely Virginias, and they are outstanding. Sweet, mellow, and then the nic socks you a good left hook. Go slow and easy, and you can duck the rest of the punches. Not an all day smoke, but it's a great wake up treat, that goes really well with some strong black coffee. I say go for it, you might be pleasantly surprised...
Pipe Used:
Captain Black Yeoman
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 18, 2014 | Very Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This was great stuff. It actually wasn't as strong as I had expected it to be, either in taste or nicotine content, but it is a good, clean, honest smoke.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 24, 2013 | Medium to Strong | Medium to Strong | Very Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Brown Irish X Unsliced [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 = 10;
Burn = 10;
After Taste = 9;
Raw Score = 58;
Rated Percentage = 97%;
Comment = Smooth, Medium Strength, Full Body Natural Tobacco Flavor, slight After Taste, 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”.
Star Rating = 3.75;
Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst;
Pouch Note = 10;
Room Note = 9;
Flavor = 10;
Bite = 10;
Burn = 10;
After Taste = 9;
Raw Score = 58;
Rated Percentage = 97%;
Comment = Smooth, Medium Strength, Full Body Natural Tobacco Flavor, slight After Taste, 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”.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 14, 2013 | Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Great full bodied smoke. It will ghost a pipe so make sure you can devote at least 1 to the genre. This is the only tobacco I have found that I cannot smoke on an empty stomach early in the morning, the Nick kick is just too much. Nice flavors throughout meaty and earthy. A completely different VA and my first rope. I will be buying more. It should age very well. Great for an after dinner smoke to relax for the evening.
**Update** This jar now has 7 yrs on it. The flavor profile is the same but the VA's have started to sweeten just a little. I still lean toward SG's Brown Rope #4 but the sweetness here is amazing. My other jars are all just 5 yrs old but I plan on saving at least 1 of these for another 5 years to see what it is like at the 10 yr mark.
**Update** This jar now has 7 yrs on it. The flavor profile is the same but the VA's have started to sweeten just a little. I still lean toward SG's Brown Rope #4 but the sweetness here is amazing. My other jars are all just 5 yrs old but I plan on saving at least 1 of these for another 5 years to see what it is like at the 10 yr mark.
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