Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Coniston Cut Plug

I’ve long been fond of the folks at Gawith Hoggarth. I respect what they do there, and definitely recognize the quality of their products.

However, until this calendar year (2021), I was blissfully ignorant of the vast majority of their catalog.

I’ve been making every effort to change that, ordering small quantities of a variety of GH offerings upon the two most recent “drops” of GH stock here in the states.

My most recent sampler included the blend in question, Coniston Cut Plug.

I came to this blend with high expectations, having at least liked every other GH blend I’ve tried... at this point, probably 8-10.

This is quality tobacco. Strong, hearty stock. I’d probably like it a great deal if it wasn’t absolutely saturated with what can best be described as “old lady perfume.”

Admittedly, it doesn’t necessarily impact the flavor of the tobacco. But the retrohale and room note are reminiscent of that one aunt who goes way too heavy on the perfume. It’s overwhelming and borderline nauseating.

Hopefully this will dissipate some over time. However, I’m not optimistic. Even half as much of it would be too much.

So my advice to anyone would be to buy a small a sample as possible for your first encounter with this. Because I have a feeling that this stuff turns off more smokers than not.

In, the meantime, there are plenty of more worthwhile GH offerings out there. My new favorite is the Brown Irish X rope.

Gawith and Hogarth Coniston Cut Plug: since the Irish funeral of Condor, and the ongoing celebration of Samuel Gawith's 1792, Coniston Cut Plug pays high tribute to both, and I rejoice.

Now this some baccy ! I really don't know how to explain this very well without repeating what has already been said. Well here goes: I guess that I would place this as a middle road between 1792 and Condor, but at the same time retaining its own element of originality. It is similar to 1792 in as far as the tonka seed topping and spiciness, and it also reminds one of condor in as far as smokiness and the floral element. I guess one could judge this as an improved version of Condor, but to do it proper justice I guess one needs to treat it as a blend in its own right, and a good one for that matter. It is strong, not for the faint of heart, but not overwhelming strong (as I find 1792 for instance). It's grassy flowery, but again not the main player here. At the end of the bowl I have made up my mind - I had a woody, rich, smokey, a bit flowery tobacco with a hint of dried fruit, and just the right amount of tonka topping to make this a wonderful experience. Not an all day smoker in my books, but very enjoyable. I do recommend some drying, otherwise it may eat matches. An easy 4/4 for me, and on a final note I believe that the word that best describes this is balance. Dark fired but not a mad house, various hints specific for your lakeland but just enough not to lean one way or another to make it controversial in taste.

Ahh.. is it spring already or Am I dreaming! It reminded me of Gawiths Bosun cut plug which is Geranium dominant and Dark Flake both are equally strong in Nic hit department. I will recommend this for smoking in the evenings when you have enough time to enjoy it's pleasant smoke. I have smoked in day times but take few puffs and put it aside and light again after while as relights also a pleasant affair. I will recommend in to experience and intermediates for a totally different experience.

This is a one bowl review. I really like this tobacco! I've been on a Lakeland bender of late, trying Ennerdale flake, Grasmere Flake, and obtaining some Kendal Flake and Dark Flake Scented along with Coniston. Coniston is a broken flake, and my 2 oz bulk order arrived not as moist as most GH&Co tobacco's. I still let a bowlful dry 20 minutes before loading and smoking. The Lakeland scent is noticeable but not overwhelming. The flavor is of strong tobacco and is very tasty. I wish I'd paid attention to other reviews and not made this my first bowl of the day because the Nic kick is above average. The lakeland flavor did come thru in the smoke although not as strongly as Ennerdale or Grasmere. This is a very good, very tasty,and strong tobacco.

If you enjoy strong no nonsense blends then this is a blend for you. The VA/Bur blend is very well done and the casings are at the top of the mild end. The dark fired elements lead the way with smokey and spicy notes. The VA's are a little sweet (but this is not really a sweet smoke). They have a little citrus and grassy notes in places. The burley is nutty, earthy, a note of cocoa and some alkalinity pop up from time to time. The blend is smokey with a slight sweet spice note as well. This combines with the lakeland floral sent which has been added very lightly. The other elements seem to enhance the tobacco flavor. For example at times the nuttiness has notes of almond and Brazil nuts, which seems to be more from the casing than the burley IMO. A good blend for those looking to try a lakeland blend without being blown away by the floral sent. The nic hit is strong enough to make me feel relaxed. I think I have a pretty high tolerance so take it slow. It will smoke a little wet at the bottom and it can burn hot if pushed. The room note will not win you any friends. Not an all day smoke.

Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. - Coniston Cut Plug

This is my first time having a pipe-full of Coniston Cut Plug and I must say that its a most enjoyable smoke.

It is slow burning, good flavour and a very enjoyable room note according to my wife.

I purchased this (and my other tobaccos) from: Miss Morans 6 Church Ln, Belfast BT1 4QN United Kingdom Tel: +44 28 9024 6826

They are a pleasure to do business with. They are very helpful and accommodating. Thank you to all at Miss Morans.

Very enjoyable.

This tobacco is my introduction to Lakeland tobaccos. I'd heard that you either loved them or you hated them and most of what I read leaned toward the latter. Recently, my curiosity led me to order several of the Gawith & Hoggarth tobaccos from 4 Noggins in order to try them for myself. Several of them were out of stock and that prodded my curiosity and interest further. The appearance of the Coniston Cut Plug was of finely sliced plugs, as one would expect from the name. It was not just coins, but ribbons in abundance where the coins had fallen apart. The tobacco was moist out of the bag. Mine was the unscented variety so the aroma was not too floral and perfume-like, as many of the other Lakeland-type tobaccos are. I should have given the tobacco a little more drying time for my first bowl, but I smoked it right out of the bag. On later bowls I did allow for a little air-drying time and was rewarded with a drier smoke. The tobacco packed nicely, without having to further rub out the tobacco. It seemed almost to be drawn into the bowl. It lit easily when given adequate air-drying time (overnight for me). The initial flavor was a robust, smokey, bold character with a slightly soapy tinge. I had heard of this soapy aspect, but found it to be interestingly different and tasty. The flavor is deep and rich but not complex. The taste stays with you for a while after smoking and is not unpleasant, at least for me. There's not a whole lot of difference in the smoke as you move down the bowl; it is pretty much the same bold tobacco flavor the whole way down. The intensity and the strength (nicotine) of this tobacco is formidable. It is one of the strongest tobaccos that I've experienced. It burns fairly cool and dry. I smoked three bowls of it in an Orlik Captain Black billiard with an optimum cake.

Coniston Cut Plug (Bulk): I'll start by saying this is a solid 3 stars for me. Upon opening the bag, the raw note is flowery soap and chocolate cake. It was moist out of the bag, but only took about 10 mins after I rubbed it out. It's a simple, easy drop in load; like dropping in cubes and you barely need to pack it. It fires up at 1st light; stays lite, but burns warm and more quickly than most quality blends. The room note is sweet, fruity and FLOWERY, but it can sting the back sinuses a bit if you're not careful. I like an occasional inhale, but trust me, this is not the blend for that, as a stand alone. N From what I'd read, I fully expected this smoke to have a strong nic kick, but it's not too heavy, and was NEVER overpowering. The palate is nice mild sweet woody goodness, and I now understand the Lakeland (soapy) flavor that so many speak of. For me, it is far in the back-end and was an enhancement to the blend; not a detractor at all. However, I do have to add that the soap ghost haunts the mouth long afterward. Grab an Altoid.

Some have described how smoky this is, but being the Latakia nut that I am, I'm used to the smokiest of blends, so this didn't seem to be overly so.

I fully enjoy sipping this with a few breaks here and there. I could only smoke about 2/3 of the bowl, as the flavor stops and turns to tar, but that's just the way some stronger blends are.

Ok, four years later I've been left with a cellared delight. Guys, aging is the key here. It mellows way back and any bite that was is gone. Even becomes mild in comparison. As I get older, the more I understand patients when it comes to loving and understanding what you are going for. My god, it is marvelous compared to what I first put into that big jar four years ago. Sweet and the soap is completely gone, replaced with a complexity I now truly enjoy. Even so, remember that this is an old English style tobacco meant to be sipped like a fine single malt Scotch. Not gulped down like cold beer on a hot day, or a sweetened cavendish ready to suck on and fill the room with clouds. That's not pipe smoking.