Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Kendal Black Cherry

I needed a few more items in my cart to qualify for free shipping, and this didn't seem to be moving and the price was right.

I like the Black Cherry Twist, so I figured I'd give this a try.

The tins I got were two years old, and it was on the dry side when I opened it. Not dried out, but how topped tobacco seems to dry after sitting in a tin for several years. There was a vacuum when opening the tin.

People either seem to love or hate GH&Co tobaccos; doesn't seem to be a whole lot of middle ground.

The topping was not overbearing, and a pleasant cherry flavour. While it did sublimate the tobacco, there was still some nice tobacco flavour in the mix. Burned well and didn't need many relights. Mostly fine grey ash, and it smoked well, not needing too much attention.

I got hints of Vanilla now and then. The tobacco used in this blend is top notch, and what tobacco taste there is, is quite good. Once in a while I appreciate a good cherry blend, and you could do a whole lot worse than this.

This was my first tobacco when I took up pipe smoking and I recommend it to anyone taking it up as a first tobacco.

A word of advice though: it comes quite moist and is a little tricky to get going so I recommend letting it dry a little before smoking. It starts off rather mild tasting and builds as you progress through the bowl into a very pleasant, sweet flavour.

Despite moving onto Perique blends I still occasionally come back to the Black Cherry for a change or when at the pub (simply because it's not going to bite no matter how fast you smoke it and no matter how much you drink)

All in all a rather nice tobacco despite being a little on the weak side.

Not long into pipe smoking, tried this as my uncle used to smoke black cherry years ago...Bought from Morans in Belfast who have a plentiful supply. this is the first cherry tobacco i have tried that actually tastes how it smells, not easy to keep lit but gets better the more you smoke it,a good firm tamp helps! I smoke Falcons and i think that gives it the extra cool smoke with very little dottle and smokes right down. Everybody likes the aroma in the room, a very satisfying aromatic indeed!

This tobacco is definitely one you will either love or hate. I actually enjoy heavy Aromatics, so for me this was great. But make no mistake, if you dislike perfumery type tobaccos like Exotic Passion, you won't enjoy it. As far as the Cherry goes, its not a sweet cherry, but its there as a somewhat tart black cherry. The aroma is very nice with a flowery scent. The good thing is for a heavy Aromatic, it didn't bite me like Exotic Passion does. The smoke was rather mild allowing me to enjoy the aroma. It does indeed give you an aftertaste, so when you are done smoking, your mouth still holds the flavor for a while. You need to enjoy heavier aromatics for this one - But if you do, I think you will really enjoy this one. It stays lite easily right out of the tin and only required re-lights when I set it aside for a few minutes. Enjoyable, fragrant and somewhat Maracino Cherry taste. Enjoy!

Currently smoking one of the last few grams I have in my pouch.

My eyelids are heavy as I am typing this. I decided to load the last few grams I have in my pouch, just because.. and I realised the "trick" to smoking this tobacco blend.

I hated it. The first time I smoked it, it was the first time I smoked a pipe. It tasted nasty. It's so tart-ty. It gave the tip of my tongue and the roof of my mouth tongue bite. It's all my fault actually. I huffed and puffed on it as if I was the big black wolf after the three little piglets. My first experience smoking a pipe(reason being, it was wet AF. I didn't know it was. I loaded it from the pouch straight with no drying time. It didn't stay lit for long)

Now. The trick to smoking these types of blends is to smoke it mindfully. This blend is when you are ready to have some quiet time alone. No chattering away with friends, or watching the tv. Or reading a book. Or maybe you can do anything you like. As long as you are mindful of what you are doing.

Secondly, you give your pipe of choice a couple of gentle puffs(3 to 5) as you witness the smoke coming out of your pipe as you blow back into the pipe gently. Retrolhale(and exhale at the same time from your mouth) as you chew on the smoke after a few gentle puffs. And then set your pipe down. After a minute or so, tamp it gently. Then relight. That's the trick.

If you do as mentioned above and below, you will experience a light/gentle sweet taste instead of ash. The bowl will still be hot even with gentle puffing, that is why it is necessary to set the pipe down after a couple of puffs to allow the tobacco to cool down. This tobacco is very moist and doesn't stay lit. Don't fight it. Relight it a hundred times if you must. If you do as I mentioned, you will have a nice session.

Here's a bonus for reading till the end. Pack it lightly. The three layers method? Pack it lightly. Gently "caress" the tobacco into the pipe hole. With each layer, increase just a very tiny bit of strength than the previous layer.

I started smoking on 7th June 2019(07/06/2019) after I earned enough from my grabfood job. Lol. This is kind of like my record on the internet which I would laugh at myself later in years to come.