Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Dark Plug

As a long time Burley-blend only smoker, I have basically smoked all burley pipe products around. After a few years of intense seeking of the perfect blend for me, I was able to narrow the search and find my utmost favorites to be... well... one blend. As such, 95+% of the time I smoke C&D Burley Flake #1. That's it. Most other blends eventually disappoint me in some way or another. See, at first, a blend can seem wonderful, but as it dries a bit, its true character can reveal certain (character) flaws, like people (at first). Knowing that I've stayed with C&D BF#1 and have remained mostly if not completely pleased. I won't spend time on the mechanics of Dark Plug and other considerations the honorable friends here have already explained with details and charm. Although, I must say it comes in nearly perfect condition, it is well-behaved in every aspect of the smoking experience, and it has the strength and overall profile I crave. However, I will state that I have finally found an alternative to my favorite smoke.

This is a masterful blend of aged Virginias and Burley and it comes in a true plug, not the flaky American style, but very dense that requires some forethought to properly prepare. A plug cutter is your friend but I suppose a knife will do. A knife cut bowl won't offer you the optimal experience when compared to using the proper tools.

I have smoked this in shredded flake form as well as cube cut. 2 grams of this will last an hour or more of enjoyment. Both are great but cube cut really brings out the strength.

The Virginias give it a slightly sweet, woodsy flavor but I don't really detect much grassiness, probably due to the aging process and transformation that takes place when blended with the Burley during the pressing.

The Burley supplies a goodly amount of Vitamin N, especially during the latter half of the bowl. Lighting this offers lots of creamy smoke with a velvet texture and offers little harshness but will tingle your nose and tongue. There is no tongue bite and cool burning even if you are a rapid pace smoker. It requires some relight, especially in cube cut form.

A very strong tobacco so a wise smoker will watch their cadence and have water or liquid of your choice to keep close by to keep the hiccups away. The aroma is very complex and offers up a proper experience of what a good Virginia/Burley blend should smell like. Some say Lakeland but if it's there, it's very faint so if you like it, you won't get much and if you don't then not to worry.

Not an all day smoke and I would consider this a blend good for experienced smokers.

This is another top notch blend from one of the finest houses in the world. A solid 4 stars.

Package note of barbeque, peaty vegetation and sharp sweet. Tobacco is a plug of marbled brown and light brown with a bit of black mixed in. Moisture content is good, recommend a thin sharp knife or razor and slicing thin and rubbing out. Burns slow with a few extra relights. The strength is medium to strong and nic is medium. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium to full and very consistent, with notes of barbecue, fermented vinegary vegetation, spicy cigar, herbal floral, spices, toasted bread, wood, dry, lemon grass, orange peel, earthy, tart and tangy citrus, acidic, nuts, a sweet peaty hay background note, and a very peppery retro. Dark Fired Virginia is leading with Indian Burley supporting. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is great.