Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Dark Plug
(3.72)
A blend of dark fired Virginias and Indian fire-cured with a casing of distinctive aromatics presented straight from the press in a plug.
Notes: As Dark Flake unscented but, from the cake, the tobacco is cut into bars. A very strong, but very cool smoke is the result of combining in equal proportions only Malawi dark fired Leaf and Indian dark air cured leaf. No additional flavours. You can smell in this tobacco the smokey flavour of the dark fired leaf derived from its curing process of being hung above smoky fires, and the sweeter, yet still strong 'cigar type' flavour of the dark air cured Indian leaf. Aromatics: Lakeland Essence.
Details
| Brand | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. |
| Blended By | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co |
| Manufactured By | Gawith Hoggarth & Co. |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Burley |
| Contents | Burley, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Other / Misc |
| Cut | Plug |
| Packaging | Bulk |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Very Strong
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.72 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 21 - 30 of 43 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 26, 2019 | Very Strong | Extremely Mild | Very Full | Strong |
Whatever the provenance of the dark fired and air cured components here they combine to deliver from a pipe an experience similar to smoking a fine #50 Cuban Robusto cigar, and IMO every pipe smoker should try it. Gawith, Hoggarth, & Co’s Dark Plug has on offer not just a fine blend for the pipe but also a time machine that will transport the patient smoker back to an era when “politically correct” meant nothing more than being on the winning side. The tough, oily, leathery plug and the tin note serve as first, fair warning of what is to come, earthy, darkly smoky, nutty, bitter tobacco that just seems bottomless in terms of flavor and potency. I prefer to cube cut the plug and gravity load it, although it requires several relights to smoke it this way. The dark fired leaf is a good deal smokier and earthier than more typical KY blends I know without in any way seeming doctored, and the air cured leaf is solid enough in its own right to balance this blend to perfection, lending a floral note that for once does not derive from the Lakeland essence. There are cigar-ish spices, also some bitter, briny Dutch licorice, just enough to lend some complexity. Strength is very strong. Tastes are very full. Room note will send civilians scurrying for fresh air. Aftertaste is divine, and it lingers long.
“Iconic” is not a word I use lightly, but it certainly applies to this powerful blend. 4 stars and a place in the Pipe Tobacco Hall of Fame.
“Iconic” is not a word I use lightly, but it certainly applies to this powerful blend. 4 stars and a place in the Pipe Tobacco Hall of Fame.
Pipe Used:
briar cutty's
PurchasedFrom:
Liberty Tobacco
Age When Smoked:
fresh-ish
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 30, 2019 | Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
I have been a long time fan of Samuel Gawith tobacco's finding G&H far to soapy and saturated with floral essence's. Dark Plug however, along with Revor Plug, has succeeded in drawing me over to the dark side (pun intended). Very smooth and deep, with an almost "mouthful of soil" feel to it, I don't get any cigar notes, which is good as I'm not fond of cigars and tend to avoid tobacco's that have reference to them, what I do get is a strong, smooth, no bite delight. Which was exactly what I was looking and hoping for. An excellent Autum through to Spring evening smoke.
Update June 1st 2019
Well Spring is certainly here and by now I would have expected to put the remains of this tobacco away until the Autum, but I find that I would miss this a lot, were it not for "1 last pipe before bed, or maybe 2 ...... ?" Although certainly not an all day smoke for me, it has become an essential evening smoke, even vying for position with SG's Lakeland Dark, ergo, Lakeland Dark, followed by Dark Plug. There, problem solved.
Dark Plug, a most welcome addition into rotation.
Update June 1st 2019
Well Spring is certainly here and by now I would have expected to put the remains of this tobacco away until the Autum, but I find that I would miss this a lot, were it not for "1 last pipe before bed, or maybe 2 ...... ?" Although certainly not an all day smoke for me, it has become an essential evening smoke, even vying for position with SG's Lakeland Dark, ergo, Lakeland Dark, followed by Dark Plug. There, problem solved.
Dark Plug, a most welcome addition into rotation.
Pipe Used:
Various briars
PurchasedFrom:
GQ tobacco's
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 15, 2018 | Extremely Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Overwhelming |
I am not a fan of dark fired virginia since it tastes so bitter, so this blend only gets 3 stars. Dark fired virginia also smells like a foul wet dog when it burns to others. However dark plug is great in other areas.
This is easily the strongest pipe tobacco I have ever tried. I bought 5 of the 500g boxes and smoked 1 of them before putting the rest away to age, which made it very smooth after a few years.
Very earthy tobacco, and very bitter. It tastes like tobacco but has some lakeland essense in the background to smooth it out, but this is not a topping nor a casing, perhaps a salt or soda. It is good for a nicotine fix, being equal to any chewing tobacco in strength. Smooth and no bite, it is a good fast smoke in a small bowl.
This is easily the strongest pipe tobacco I have ever tried. I bought 5 of the 500g boxes and smoked 1 of them before putting the rest away to age, which made it very smooth after a few years.
Very earthy tobacco, and very bitter. It tastes like tobacco but has some lakeland essense in the background to smooth it out, but this is not a topping nor a casing, perhaps a salt or soda. It is good for a nicotine fix, being equal to any chewing tobacco in strength. Smooth and no bite, it is a good fast smoke in a small bowl.
Pipe Used:
Ser jacopo oom paul, cob.
PurchasedFrom:
Marscigars
Age When Smoked:
New and some aged a few years.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 16, 2017 | Extremely Strong | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. - Dark Plug
Beef jerky to start with. I like to cube cut this for ease of handling, and it's a bit fire-retardant until it's dry. Cigar like in quality with dark, earthy tobacco flavors (imagine that), just a touch sweet and somewhat to the thin side of body. And floral...rose, magnolia, ahh a fresh breath of spring time! Until the massive nicotine hit sets in...better get on back to town son, dig the dirty lowdown. Palpitation and hiccup inducing to be sure, try this for your first bowl of the day, ha (really, don't). Not as floral as Brown Bogie, not as herbal as Dark Birdseye. That's my impression at least. What I'm smoking here has been jarred solid for several months. This seems to have about everything I need from tobacco except that it makes me set the bowl down every several puffs. Brown Bogie is more fun but I'm glad I was able to get some of this Dark Plug all the same. Oh my.
Beef jerky to start with. I like to cube cut this for ease of handling, and it's a bit fire-retardant until it's dry. Cigar like in quality with dark, earthy tobacco flavors (imagine that), just a touch sweet and somewhat to the thin side of body. And floral...rose, magnolia, ahh a fresh breath of spring time! Until the massive nicotine hit sets in...better get on back to town son, dig the dirty lowdown. Palpitation and hiccup inducing to be sure, try this for your first bowl of the day, ha (really, don't). Not as floral as Brown Bogie, not as herbal as Dark Birdseye. That's my impression at least. What I'm smoking here has been jarred solid for several months. This seems to have about everything I need from tobacco except that it makes me set the bowl down every several puffs. Brown Bogie is more fun but I'm glad I was able to get some of this Dark Plug all the same. Oh my.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 13, 2017 | Very Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Strong |
This will put hair on your chest! This tobacco is phenomenal but boy is it strong. 1/4 a bowl is plenty! The tin note or (jar note) is almost identical to a fine lapsang souchong tea, a traditional Chinese tea dried over pine fires. The flavor of this tobacco reminds me of Bells Three Nuns with a hint of incense on the retrohale. It is an all-around great blend but make sure to give yourself plenty of time to smoke it. It's perfect for a cold evening by a fire with a good book and a nice cup of tea or coffee. Take a couple of puffs savor the flavor and then sit it down for a few minutes this is not a blend to finish on a single light you need to take you time with it because it is so strong, but if you do take it slow you will love it!
Pipe Used:
Rossi Rusticated Canadian
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 2017 | Overwhelming | None Detected | Full | Overwhelming |
Looks mean and nasty. Well yeah it just may be. Old woman says" If i find it you need to stop looking .This is a test." I hate tests so I move it around a lot! This is the taste of tabaccy and i love it but! You will offend the female members in the family that choose the garage to enter the abode.
Pipe Used:
Down to the smallest i,ve got!
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
1 to 6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 18, 2010 | Extremely Strong | Mild | Full | Pleasant |
This tobacco have a good taste, but so strong with nicotine, it's sometime hard to smoke a entire bowl. If you like it I recommande to try Semois La brumeuse of V. Manil, little bite less strong but with the same taste.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 08, 2007 | Very Strong | Mild | Full | Pleasant |
Very easy to work with, moist flakes can be made very easily but they burn well without any drying. The cut flakes are best, IMO, smoked very well rubbed out. Taste is extra good, without harshness which is sometimes what you get from the Dark Flake. Burn is sporadic and variable. I've had to re-light on a bowlful many times. This doesn't seem to keep me away from it at all. Sometimes it's a welcome break from such a potent thing as this, the nico-hit was easily controlled by letting it gently go out. DGT is very highly recommended, even up to a week's wait will do this no harm, conversely much good!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 13, 2011 | Strong | Mild | Very Full | Tolerable |
This starts off with a peppered steak sort of taste, a bit harsh on the throat, very strong and takes a lot of work to keep lit. Decent cigar like flavour though
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 31, 2010 | Very Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Tolerable |
I like the Dark series, and probably like Dark Flake the best, because I like the cut and the way it burns. Dark Plug is a close second. The control over the preparation is the biggest feature, but the flip side is that the effort required to prepare it can be a bit of a hassle. Very strong in the nicotine department, also lots of flavor, can be a bit overwhelming.
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