Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. New Prince

A very flavourful but fairly mild tobacco. The cut is closer to a course shag than a ribbon cut and it can be a bit of a chore packing a pipe but it does take a flame very well.

Opening the pack provides an astoundingly mouth-watering aroma of vanilla and maple syrup in addition to the wonderful Virginia tobacco notes. This is a tobacco I keep opening just to smell it! However, most of us probably don’t want our smoke to taste of pudding… fortunately, most of this sweet aroma does not transfer to the flavour. There is a very subdued and balanced sweetness throughout the bowl with an indefinable yet wonderful sweet smokiness on the exhale but it is still a very tasty if mild Virginia supporting all this sweetness with a perfect level of nicotine.

Ultimately, I get a fine ash with layer of dottle at the bottom in every pipe from a large briar to a small cob no matter what packing method used. When it goes right, in the right pipe, well packed, and smoked at the appropriate cadence, this provides a truly transcendent smoke. But it is a very forgiving tobacco and will provide a very satisfactory smoke no matter what you do with it. The first batch I received was a little sticky and so delivered quite a hot smoke, but what a smoke! The second batch was much drier by comparison, with more of the Virginia and Kendal character apparent but unfortunately less of the transcendence... just can't find the transcendent sweet-spot with the second batch no matter what pipe or what cadence. Still good though! Best so far in a smaller bowl (cob!) using the ‘air-pocket’ method. Will update if I work out the secret combination that I hit upon the first time.

Blends well with Gawith Hoggarth Kendal No. 6. In fact, come to think of it, it may well BE No. 6 with additional casing and topping...

First batch - highly recommended Second batch - somewhat recommended