Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Black Irish XXX

Gawith Hoggarth - Black Irish XXX.

This is a VERY STRONG tobacco. Right from opening it up I can tell immediately how powerful this is gonna be. The aroma is a real potent one, not your stereotypical Virginia one, yes it is definitely Virginia at the forefront but there is also a certain smokiness to it. As I often find with rope tobaccos, it's a touch damp so the best way to go (I think) is to cut the rope first and then allow it some time to air. Mine only requires a few hours to reach a better level of hydration and I fill my pipe asap to get started! First few puffs? As I had anticipated this is a whopper with strength! Mind you, as I find it too difficult to inhale the thick smoke without a coughing repercussion I don't find the N amount too disagreeable. As it says in the description on here, the smoke is cool in temperature. There is a slight smokiness to the Virginia taste but also there is a leathery/liquorice flavour that, to be fair, becomes a touch unpleasant after some time, actually giving my mouth a sticky feeling. As XXX burns down it leaves a pure white ash. Whilst I am mentioning the burn I would also like to point out just how steady the burn is. On a number of occasions I have left my pipe sitting for enough time that I feel the chances of it being extinguished are unequivocal but to my astonishment it is still burning. The room-note is a really full one, perhaps too full for some people! I feel that there are some excellent qualities to this blend, i.e an excellent burn, cool smoke and a smoky taste but sadly I can't score it higher due to the acrid stickiness left in my mouth. But conjecture says if you are a very 'hardened smoker' who loves nicotine then this will suit you!

Two stars.

Beautiful rope again...looks like somebody could bite off a bit and chew it. A friend of mine actually did so and said it was like 'redman'. Anyhow....this rope is a bit 'smoother' than the black/brown irish X rope. It still is like BBQ meat and smokey, but is a bit less harsh on the mouth and throat than the brown rope.

It's a good tobacco, but not one I smoke often.

Thick piece, strong earthy smell. Will need to be rubbed or sliced. Slightly over-moist. Slow burning with persistent ember, cool, smooth smoke. Medium-high strength tobacco. Deep-bodied slightly earthy taste. No distinct flavours, but holds other flavours well. Musty room note, not unpleasant or over-powering.

Overall: Good medium-high strength full-bodied slow-burner. Solid and fairly neutral tasting, perfect for mixing with light fast burning aromatics.

I am a big fan of strong tobacco. This was pretty lousy. I don't really understand the 'burnt steak' metaphor others have used. It just had a poor flavor and an evil smell, like burning rubber... I love a lot of the G&H offerings, but not this one. I bought a pretty large bag of it and I'll probably compost it. Avoid.

This is very strong indeed. Sliced as thin as possible then rubbed out is the way to go. The flavour is oily, leathery, grassy - almost muddy. It's smooth and is a pain to keep lit. But it's a very nice change of pace - hiccups and all.

..This looks like something my dog left in the garden (yard). I use it to get to sleep at night , as it has inherent somnambulistic qualities. Hmmm! Anyway, it tastes dirty with not much bite, but, wow, does this have a huge nicotine kick .Yeah man it sure does. You know what ,I like it😀in a perverse kind of way. Needs a load of relights and tamps, but it really is a good fun tobacco and I'm going to give it a good score, so there!.The chances of you getting any of this is remote, but, if you do ,omit the J.D. For evenings only or I swear, you will get a ticket. Just having a bowl tonight and I'm sure this is the stuff that won the battle of Trafalgar, chewed, of course. Another bowl. Not tonight, Josephine. If any of you have had suicidal tendencies, and who hasn't, then this is for you.Instead of doing the worst, just have a few glasses of what you Americans call whisky and a pipeful of this stuff. It's probably about the same thing, but, at least, in the morning you'll still be alive to repeat the following evening.

This was a difficult one. It is made from good tobacco but it is such a niche flavour in the sense there's a strong barbecue note forward with a surprisingly sweet edge supporting what is in my view a mild smoke. That barbecue smell is in the pouch and room note too. Dont mistake the colour for that of a Maduro cigar leaf the steaming of the Brown Twist mellows this rope profoundly. Unique in its form and flavour I found this needing several relights even when cut into thin coins so leave plenty of drying time. Smooth creamy and consistant this is a smoke not without its charm. There is indeed a fine white ash.

Have been smoking this on and off for 7 years or so. Always been OK, but now I have to change my view. It may be a plain baccy from the County next to mine, but it's gorgeous. Easy to prepare and light. Keeps burning well. Taste is unique. Never taster oil, petrol or creosote, but that is what comes to mind. High in Nic but am used to thar. Lots of lovely smoke. Suppose those around may not like aroma. But on me own so don't know. No tongue bite. Cumbria tobacco firms are the best. I recommend, but have summit to eat. 😷🤧

Fairly strong nic hit, but mild tasting to me. Maybe I needed to dry it a bit more but it needs a bit of nursing to keep lit. I'm smoking my first ever bowl of it as I write this, so early days yet. I usually like RR tobacco ie. Royal Yacht & N. Cap. and the odd bowl of 1792 flake, but I'm enjoying this stuff and the odd thing is I don't know why ! Will update after a few more bowls.

This is a unique tobacco. I can appreciate the history of it and the fact that smokes very cool, it is very cool regardless of pipe. It is somewhat overwhelming with flavour which is a bit odd. I would say BBQ that is wet. You get smokiness, earthiness and bitterness from it. Nice on the retro hail. I first smoked this with some orange juice (squash variety added water) and the taste and everything else became too much and it was not enjoyable after 15mins. So I didn’t give up, to enjoy this tobacco you need to have a bitter or at very least none sweet drink. I have smoked it with black string coffee and I have smoked it with Leffe Brun which is a very stout beer from Belgium (I think)

Not a regular smoker but it can be enjoyed. It is nowhere near as strong as the brown version in terms of nicotine.