Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Brown Irish X

Yes another great twist by G/H, 4++++ from me on this one, a must try like all there Twists & Ropes.

I received a 1oz. sampling of both brown and black irish twist. I enjoyed every aspect of this tobacco including the pre-light ritual of slicing and rubbing-out. The brown has a wonderful flavor, smokes well, has a rich and creamy smoke that can send one to dreamland. I will definitely buy more as well as add it to my favorites. Not so with the black however, but that is a different story. What I like most, as well as being a great smoke, is that this has that effect of being unchanged for so long (I am told) that it provides a link to the past in a way that few things do anymore.

This could have defied identification had I found it on the floor somewhere. It could have been an ill-treated cigar or something that had been left by a "medium-bore" dog.

I trim it into crescent-shaped bits around the circumference, and with no further ado, it goes in with a light tamp and smokes trouble-free with one or two lights. Maybe I'm just getting more adept at this pipe-smoking thing (?)

I can't resist saying that " if you're a cigar-lover, then try this baccy." It always makes me cringe when other people say it, but mixed with well-crumbled stogies ?? Re-cycling at it's absolute best. OK, so I'm a tight-wad, but us pensioners have to smoke on a low budget these days, and if the end product is acceptable ( which this particular trick is for me ) what the hell ??

Add this one to my "grave-Goods" when I go Dear. I'll smoke it when Old Nick gives me a break from the cess-pits.

This is currently my favorite tobacco, but I only smoke it occasionally. It requires a little time for its preparation, and can leave your head spinning a bit. I smoke this when I can sit down and give the whole process a little attention, and when I don't have anything really pressing to do afterward. The stuff smells like fresh cured tobacco; a bit like a good quality cigar. I cut it into little coins, rub it out a bit, and stuff it in my pipe. Takes a bit to fire it up, but stays lit after I get a bowl going (I find that if I leave it out to dry it gets too dry - I smoke it fresh after cutting it off). While smoking the flavors are spicy and floral, again, not unlike a good cigar, but without the strong cigar aroma and not as creamy. For a flat-out top quality Virginia tobacco smoking experience, I recommend this stuff. For somebody that wants a baseline to compare other Virginias, especially plugs, twist, flake and cake cuts, this is the stuff. Smoker beware, however, this tobacco packs a formidable nicotine punch!

One of my staples. While to me Brown Irish Twist doesn't seem quite as strong as SG Brown #4, it can still pack a punch especially when properly rubbed out and smoked in a large bowl pipe. To prepare it I'll use a sharp knife and slice off some coins about the thickness of a nickel, cut the coins in half, rub them out fully then let the tobacco dry for about an hour. That's all. Smokes well as it does cool in any pipe. The velvety texture and uniformly brown color of the outer leaf of the twist is evidence of the quality. My only gripe is that it tends to oxidize and turn dark if stored for some time. I taste some floral notes, a little mustiness, but none of the strong "soapiness" often associated with Lakeland tobaccos. Smelling straight from the jar I detect a strong resemblence to Dark Birdseye, however upon smoking each has similar but individually unique characteristics.

I also use Brown Irish Twist to "fortify" other mixtures as it tends to blend very well. It's also good dried out, thrown in a coffee grinder and whiffed up the nose.

My father from Ireland used to tell me of smoking tobacco like this, his father also smoked it as well. They called them "rat tail" tobaccos because they came in a coil. This is a powerful virginia, extremely full strength. Best when smoked on a full stomach. However, the Irish have a love for blending and I have inherited my father's sweet tooth and so I mix 1 to 2 parts Black Rasberry to two to three parts Brown Irish Twist. It keeps me in with the neighbors and they don't have to hear primal nicotine screams late at night. Don't stand near the railing while smoking this blend or you will end up weeding the garden. Cut this with a pocket knife in 1/8th inch slices and put them through an inexpensive tobacco grinder and your good to go.

I enjoy no-nonsense full flavored tobaccos and GH Brown Rope fills that description nicely. There is the "standard" GH scent which seems to accompany many of their tobacs. The flavor is very similar to Dark Birdseye except it's not as rich and a bit more peppery. When dry, smoke very slowly or you'll get a bit of a nasty taste. One of my regulars.

This is top quality tobacco. The most potent and unadorned tobacco i've smoked. I've tried this as well as the range of flavored variants, all of which seem to have the same dark fired constituents but with different nuances, gently applied. Since this is often hard to find in the states I buy whatever variant is available.

I find myself enjoying this more and more over time, smoking it alone as well as complimenting other blends. This goes particularly well with a straight virginia.

I would evaluate this as more full-bodied, natural than flavorful. It does seem to be halfway between pipe tobacco and cigars. Smoking this gives you a window into what pipe tobacco must have been like over a hundred or even two hundred years ago.

I smoke this as well as the Black x. I like both but the brown is more flexible in that it mixes well with others whereas the black does not.

Smoke it slowly though. It's potent so respect is rewarded. It never bites but gives a nice tingle that can be mistaken as a bite. This stuff smokes so cool.

Highly recommended for those adventurist Pipers amongst us.

I’m a new piper and this is my first review so take it as you will.

I adore full strength tobaccos. From cigarettes to cigars, maximum nicotine is my goal. I received a 1 oz. bit of this rope. This IS stronger and fuller than anything I’ve ever smoked out of a pipe but not as dramatic as some others proclaim. Eat, have some water handy, and it’s not so bad. It is rather tasty in its own right. I’ll be buying more. This is glorious.