Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Brown Irish X

O Lord, but this is strong!! I bought some because I was feeling in the mood for a powerful and substantial smoke, and that's what I got. I don't regret it, but I have to admit that this mighty baccy has given me some thoughtful and perilous moments. Brown Irish Twist is a good deal too strong for me; I can't smoke a whole bowl of it at once. It should certainly be avoided by the beginner.

So: if you want a real nicotine belt and you like a pronounced cigar-type taste, this is the chap for you; otherwise, avoid it! My main moan about it is the number of relights it takes - but maybe that's just because I'm inexperienced with it. I don't detect any artificial flavouring; if this is cased, I don't know what with: just pure, eye-watering baccy.

Brown Irish Twist is a splendid, old-fashioned smoke if you're in the mood: a bit harsh if you're not careful with it, but cool, slow, full of flavour and with a wicked, bare-knuckle punch. Needless to say, it's an acquired taste and certainly not for the faint-hearted. I'm happy to recommend it as a straightforward, honest pipe tobacco, but with these reservations/warnings. You WILL feel your brain-cells dying and your lungs shrivelling.

Brown Irish X Twist unsliced is a full-bodied Kendal tobacco that leaves my wife snickering. This venerable twist of leaves rewards me like the other Kendal twists. In a suitable pipe it burns cool and dry with few relights. Smoked slowly it will never bite, but it will deliver a delightful tobacco taste that only Kendal tobaccos can. Slice off some. Rub it out. Fill the pipe. Light it and gingerly sip away. No rocket science involved. These Kendal tobaccos are straight out, double clutching, E-flat delicious and satisfying.

07/27/09 UPDATE: I am revising some of my reviews. I have given out more 4 star ratings than anything else. That practice is probably not helping. So, I am reducing BIT to 3 stars, not because I like it less than I did before, but because I am limiting 4 stars to fewer than 25% of all my reviews. One day I may use the 4 star rating to designate my top five.

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.

My first couple of attempts to ready this tobacco for pipe were dissapointing, I tried thin slicing it and rubbing it out like I do with Mac's dark twist roll cake, but this didnt work, the best I could manage was large clumps, not fit for maintaining a proper light, however, after much experimenting, I have finally found that using a pair of scissors to slice small chunks from the edges of the rope, then rubbing out normally as you would do a virginia flake, produced the perfect consistancy for both lighting and smoking.

I have a super tolerance for nicotine, so that isnt a problem for me personally, the flavor when puffed correctly=slowly was really nice,and like no other blend I have yet tried, this is a great baccy to dedicate a pipe to as it is strong, and the last bowl smoked will haunt the briar.

It's not for the women and children to smoke, but for those with a jones for a nice REAL tobacco flavor and not afraid of the beautiful Lady Nicotine. ENJOY

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.

Ok strenghtwise this is supposed to be the Great-Grandaddy of them all, keeping this in mind I proceeded to cut off some slices of this tobacco to try. I crumbled up the pieces and loaded up my test pipe, I calmly lit up the concoction and smoked away. Wow what a surprise, talk about full unadulterated tobacco flavor, this is it, it is very strong but in no way overpowering, just true flavor and yes it does have a nicotine kick, not overpowering again, but a nice strong kick. Just the thing to get your attention. This is an addictive smoke, it leaves you wanting more. It is true tobacco in it's purest form, not anything apologetic or subdued about this one, just raw power. A 10 out of 10 for this one based on flavor, history and longevity. Try this one, and if you like it, pass it on to a friend, keep the tradition alive.

Surprisingly this was the first pipe tobacco I ever had and it converted me from cigars. Haven’t had a cigar since. This had a wonderful leather type flavor during the smoke and the nicotine had me in a zen. Highly recommend. At least I can still use my cigar cutter to cut slices from the rope.

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.