Tobaccos Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. - Brown Irish X

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SecretAgentMan (27)	2013-11-10		Overwhelming	Very Mild	Mild	Tolerable to Strong

This came in a dirt-brown rope about 8" long with medium-brown highlights. I cut a 1.5" piece off and pulled it apart. I ended up with some large pieces and chopped leaf. I pulled the large pieces out into stringier shapes. The tobacco has a very low, deep aroma of nicotine with a ketchup note. I let it dry out for 15 minutes and started smoking in the Peterson bent billiard.

My head entered another dimension. It was like that Indian torture my cousin told me about in third grade, where the Indians wrap wet rawhide around the skull of some Eurocentric bastard and let it dry, squeezing his skull until it pops open. Over an hour, I managed to puff my way through half a bowl. I thought I had a high nicotine tolerance, but found myself thinking that maybe I didn't really understand what nicotine was. Maybe I hadn't really been using nicotine at all, maybe this was all a dream . . . .

. . . While my head was simultaneously resized into a chickpea and the entire cosmos, I didn't get "headspin" as I have done with 1792 Flake. I just got, like, oh, tight man, like really suffused with nicotine doing things to my mind. Was there a nicotine high beyond ordinary human consciousness? I'd ask Hunter Thompson if he weren't dead. On the other hand, if I keep smoking this, I could still ask him.

I stopped smoking. I couldn't take the fear.

Brown Irish X is very, very smooth and very, very, strong. It's a nicotine riptide. It has a slight and neutral taste -- gin, not whisky. I admired the way GH made something so smooth and so strong at the same time. Sometimes you can tell the quality of an item without much enjoying it. I've had bad tequila and tequila made by people who think tequila is a religion and I can tell the difference, even though I don't particularly like the drink. This is a great, strong tobacco made with brilliant simplicity. I'd give it 4 stars for quality, 1 star for my personal enjoyment.

36 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3019)	2014-08-27		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Strong

It’s a bit spicy, very woodsy, floral and smoky, grassy, very earthy with some cigar notes, naturally sweet with a mild nuttiness in spots, and a touch of creaminess, though you may also encounter some harshness here and there after the half way point if you puff fast. Won't bite. The Virginia is more prominent than the dark fired Kentucky and burley, but it will certainly tell you it is there. The Lakeland essence is present in a minor amount, but I wonder if it was added or did it gather the scent by sitting around in the factory? No matter how you decide to cut or rub it out once cut, it burns at a near moderate rate if you give it a slight dry time. Has a consistent taste from start to finish. Needs a few relights, and leaves some moisture in the bowl, but no dottle. Has a pleasant, lingering after taste. Only recommended for experienced smokers who just had a full meal, not just for the strength of the flavors, but also for the strong nic-hit.

-JimInks

19 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-05-22		Strong	Medium	Full	Tolerable

Brown Irish Twist:

O.K. Troops, here goes.

First off: Strength- What is the use in denying that this is a very strong tobacco? None, it is. This robustness does not bother me in the least and if the smoker treats it with the proper respect keeping this fact in mind there should be less problems with this aspect of the tobacco.

What to do? Well first off don't smoke a bucket-sized pipe bowl of it or it will kick your butt. A medium or even a smaller sized pipe will do the trick or has for me.Obviously repeat bowls one after another is probably not a good idea either because of the strenth of the tobacco and especially the price.

This is the only gripe I have with any of the non-aromatic Kendal tobaccos I've smoked. (I don't smoke any aromatics at all as far as that goes since I have yet to find one that doesn't fall far short of the taste bud tolerance levels I've set.)

Flavoring: I don't know what this flavor is but I suspect it it just the natural flavor of the constituent tobaccos and the result of the Kendal processing they are put through.God bless'em for it!

Room Note: A non-sequitur at my house so enough said about that. (For those poor beknighted smokers that do have to put up with the objections of less amicable opinions of wives,family,friends or acquaintences you have my sympathy since it is a strong smelling tobacco when ignited.But I say go ahead and smoke it anyway---you deserve it-- and just put up with the carping and whining if you can.

Taste: What can I say? Great and fully natural as far as I've experienced during my carrer of thirty-six years of smoking a pipe.The body is there and surprisingly the aftertaste is not at all that noticeable. I suspect that the "coated tongue and palate" experience with a lot of tobaccos is the result of the non-tobacco additives and flavoring agents slathered on oterwise good tobacco(or bad tobacco, for that matter) to make it more acceptable to a wider commercial audience. As far as I am able to tell this has not happened to Brown Irish Twist and hopefully never will.

For those that don't appreciate the pre-lightup ritual of dealing with a rope, twist,plug or any other non-modern form of tobacco preparation get yourself a sharp knife(box cutter with replaceable blades, poultry shears,tin shears, aviation snips, a straight razor or any other convenient tool) and chop it up into manageable-sized chunks and throw it into an electric coffee grinder( you can get one at almost any large store for about twenty dollars-go ahead and treat yourself to one it's worth it!) and process your whole supply. Let it dry a little then Mason jar it up. Simple! This method also helps with the ignition and the cruising down the bowl smoking tremendously.

For the fledging pipers tempted to try this tobacco I sugget either a very tentative attempt with a smaller bowl and a very relaxed puffing rate. Sitting down is also advised as well as a somewhat full stomach.Also mixing this blend with a bland non-aromatic straight tobacco might work so that the flavor of the stronger Brown Irish Twist might be somewhat attenuated but still appreciable. The exact proportions of the mix might be a problem at first so the recommendation is to start off with a ratio you consider safe.

For those that just can't hack the nicotine punch or body strength despite the alleviation of mixing it with another tobacco I'd say to just stay away completely and be content with wishing you could smoke it.

You might even try Black Twist by the same company which, believe it or not is not as potent as the Brown.

Do I recommend this excellent tobacco? Most assuredly so for those that can handle it. I do not recommend it as an all day smoke(mainly because of price considerations) but with a cup of Dark Roast French coffee in the pre-dawn morning after a mild prepatory bowl of some tobacco of your own choosing it is simply,truly unbeatable.

---------The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (smokin' and boggeyin' towards the Morn)

16 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	J.R. Patton (106)	2016-10-09		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Tolerable to Strong

I always wanted to try a rope tobacco, so after reading many reviews of various ropes, I finally settled on BIX. Many people have warned me about the strength of ropes, but I've never been known to shy away from the strong stuff. The stronger the better in my opinion! And this lives up to the hype as to what I would qualify as strong baccy.

The ropes are reminiscent of the old chews like Good Money twist and Cotton Boll that I remember the older farmers chewing on when I was a young'n. It's quite moist and bombards the olfactory sensors with earth, peat, smoke, and a touch of sourness. You can smell it through double plastic bags. Always the fan of pure tobacco in old-fashioned state, I'm immediately impressed and glad for the purchase. I cut off some 1/8 inch coins, chopped them into quarters, gave them a little rub and allowed it to air dry for about 15 minutes. Against all sane voices in my head, I loaded a large bore MM General cob and set off.

The smoke is thick and creamy, and I was straightaway caught off guard in a small fit of choking. Okay, so this one requires a little caution and discipline. Commencing to sip gently, the flavors blossomed, of which there is no shortage to be had. I thought I knew full tobacco before, but this takes it to a new level. A lot of reviewers have said they get a lot of Virginia right up front, but I find the opposite. I think I'm getting primarily burley and dark-fired. It's smoky, very earthy, and pleasantly nutty on the finish. I only detect the VA occasionally with its low-key sweetness countering the otherwise harsh aspects. My initial cross-referencing is of amped up Jack Knife Plug. In hindsight, using such a large bore pipe probably wasn't the most responsible decision, but I came back to the pipe every hour or so until completion...this was a very long and rewarding experience.

Even in smaller pipes I sometimes get the ol' niccups from BIX, but it's still great stuff. By its strength I shall not be deterred. Take it slow and easy. Fullness aside, this tobacco burns really well and I've never been bitten. Perhaps my favorite Gawith tobacco to date. Highly recommended!

Pipe Used: MM General

Age When Smoked: 6 months

Similar Blends: G. L. Pease - JackKnife Plug (New World Collection).

11 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2005-03-28		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

I am not smart enough to decipher the review immediately above mine, but the final result is that this offering and my palate do not get along either.

While G&H Blends seem to have a central theme running through them, this one meandered off in a different direction. It was harsh and somewhat nondescript as I recently worked my way through a bowl. It did burn well and even a tad fast for its style of cut and moisture level. I suspect those searching for more flavor might puff too hard and get a nip with this rope.

If you like the taste of burnt grass, a nice hit of nicotine and a throat tickle, here you go.

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2075)	2016-05-04		Strong	Very Mild	Very Full	Pleasant

Gawith Hoggarth - Brown Irish X.

This is the sort of tobacco where people will either adore it or loathe it; I adore it.

I don't usually favour preparing plugs or twists, I find it too fiddly a job, but Brown Irish X is quite simple: once a few coins are sliced they're easy to crumble. As often as not ropes are too damp as well, but this one isn't, as soon as the coins are crumbled they can be imminently smoked without having to take time to dry.

Onto the actual smoking qualities of it: it lights well and then gives an incredibly good burn; I don't find myself having to be repetitive with my lighter, providing it's tamped well the burn's superb. The flavour? Well, if you enjoy a mellower aromatic or a mild Virginia you may want to reconsider trying this; Brown Irish X will put hairs on your chest! The main flavour is the cured Virginia one: slightly fired, not very grassy, and exceptionally deep. I don't detect much Burley, there's maybe a pinch but it would take a heap to contend with the Virginia's strength. A lot of folks describe this as being strong in nicotine, well it is; it's not over the top, but it's a strong old smoke.

I'm firmly in the Love It camp with this blend, I couldn't give it any less than four stars.

Highly recommended.

Pipe Used: Somali Meer'

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Black Swan

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2015-12-02		Strong	Very Mild	Full	Strong

The cigar smokers here, and anyone with deep roots in the American tobacco belt, will recognize this immediately: it's a strong, pure twist. It's made with better machinery and probably better leaf than some of the handmade Southern redneck twists, but it's the same idea.

I don't do much to prepare it - cut a portion, break it up some, stuff it loosely into a pipe, and spend a while getting a good light. It burns extremely cool and clean. There's more filler to wrapper (for lack of better terms) than the Bogie. It tastes like tobacco, and nothing else.

For me, this is expedition tobacco. I've smoked it behind a little stone windbreak at 13,000 feet on the Continental Divide and I've lit it with a coal from the campfire. It's always a slow smoke, and satisfying.

Reading the other reviews, I'm kind of concerned for the health of some of your dogs.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2015-07-31		Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This is one of the best ropes I've had. Not 100% sure what it's made of, but I love it. The above description matches what's listed at pipesandcigars.com indicating that it consists of Burley and Kentucky. The components listed at smokingpipes.com state that it is composed of Virginias. I added a note to the description to indicate such. I have to say that it taste more like Virginias to me. I don't get a Burley "vibe" from this one. I do get a dark fired "vibe" from it and that's what makes this one delicious. Along with the rich tobacco flavor is just the right amount of Lakeland florals, which is to say a very mild amount. A very tasty rope indeed. I don't inhale, but I still get plenty of satisfaction here indicating quite a large dose of nicotine. Just a wonderful overall smoke.

Medium in body. Medium to full in taste. Very mild in flavoring. Burns perfectly with a short drying time.

Pipe Used: Chacom cutty, MM Country Gentleman

Age When Smoked: fresh bulk

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	moniker (217)	2014-12-21		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable

Gawith, Hoggarth’s Brown Irish X is just the ticket when I want an Old Time, uncomplicated, uncompromising smoke. Yes, it is strong (quite strong, in fact), but IMO the strength can be taken into account, and BIX might be enjoyed by many experienced pipe smokers. Beginners are advised to proceed with due caution.

BIX is made of whole tobacco leaves that are twisted into a rope, and a short section of this "rope" is what oen finds in the tin. It's dark, +/- comparable to a wilted Madura cigar. For me, the smell – even the faint tin note - and the taste of BIX seem cigar-like, and that’s how I treat it as well, like a nice, mild cigar. I like to cut thin coins off the rope, rub them out and stuff them loosely into a medium pipe. It’s fine to dry it some, but I’ve never waited for it to really dry out. It lights OK, and after a couple of false lights it burns steadily to a fine ash – like a cigar – if it’s kept burning. Since there is no need to chase the flavor, and since it is strong, I take my time with it, sipping and savoring, and I have been known to let it go out. IMO, there is no penalty for re-lighting BIX. This tobacco is the best Burly I have tasted, and the KY is gimmick free, only very slightly smoky, but quite rich and “fatty”, and the blend is creamy smooth, nutty but not bitter, with very mild cigar spices and the faintest possible hint of the “Lakeland scent”. The taste and the aroma are of a piece, and it stays the same from top to bottom, bowl after bowl, consistently great, relaxing and satisfying, IMO. The tastes are so smooth that one might not notice at first that they are full. Again, not to beat on it, but for being so smooth, this is strong stuff. Room note is like a “nice cigar”, if that’s not an oxy-moron for you. Aftertaste is also cigar-like, best-of-the-smoke, all tobacco, delicious and persistent.

I give BIX my top recommendation, with a few caveats: For one thing, I am not sure it would be well received by those who distain Burly or cigars. Secondly, start with a small bowl, and take it slow and easy until you get a feel for it. Lastly, it will ghost a pipe. In fact, I like to rest a BIX pipe for at least a couple of days, even if I'm going to use it back-to-back with more BIX. Anyway, BIX seems like a shoe-in for those who enjoy a top quality, mild, handmade cigar. As for me, I love the stuff, buy it in bulk, and keep it on hand.

Pipe Used: various briars

Age When Smoked: "fresh" to 6 months in a jar

Purchased From: Liberty Tobacco

Similar Blends: Compare to Mac Baren Old Dark Fired: GLP Key Largo: Solani 660 Silver Flake.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SteelCowboy (685)	2013-11-14		Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable

As most everyone has pointed out, Brown Irish Twist is strong. But it is downright flavorful too. BIT offers a great tobacco flavor with a Lakeland undercurrent that serves to smooth out the smoke without a hint of a bite. I can see how some could find the topping a bit medicinal, but for me it seems to add a touch of sweetness. The flavor is full and while not overly complex, the flavor and strength build throughout the bowl leaving nothing but a nice gray ash behind. Even though the topping is light, I prefer to smoke it only in pipes that are dedicated to Lakeland blends. I enjoy it most smoked on the dry side (as I do with most tobaccos) and it is wonderful with a couple of years of age on it. This tobacco isn't for everyone and not an everyday smoke for me, but is among the best in class for those seeking an excellent rope tobacco.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	scottyspipesebay (25)	2012-08-24		Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Pleasant

Brown Irish Twist or, Brown Irish X: Is full strong tobacco. This is my favorite of all strong tobaccos, weather smoked as a stand alone, or for blending. When treated with the respect it deserves, and LEARN to smoke it, it delivers excellence. For most smokers, this is not an all day smoke, but when I want a nice jump start with good complex flavor that doesn't bite my tongue, this is the one for me.

As others have mentioned, it's best smoked with something in your stomach, IF you are not used to it. Just a word of warning: If you are new to pipe smoking, this may turn you green. If you are experienced with stronger blends, you will likely enjoy it on it's own with no problems.

The raw aroma, before and after cutting is wonderfully straight strong spicy tobacco with a smokey bacon note. Quite sweet and very woody, too. Upon 2nd light the flavor begins, and I pick up cedarwood, green grapes and the back end aroma and nose of many of the black cavs that I have smoked/smoke. Very nice. The first quick note off the top of the pipe smells very nice and sweet, too. The room note is quite pleasant. On the other-hand, if you were to go town on the pipe, it may ruin the room air. I always have a flow-through in the room, so it always smells nice.

You may want to let it dry out for a little while, or it will take a month of Sundays to get it lite. Actually, I like it cut and smoked straight off the rope; put it down from time to time to rest the pipe and palate. It tastes best when doing so, and who cares how many lites you take. For me all that matters is flavor, and several lites don't bother me because I use a Zippo. To purists, this may be sacrilege. To me, wood matches are a big mess; ruin the room note, and are far too expense. But, whatever floats you down the river. Regardless, it will eventually stay lit; burn slowly and evenly, but will tar out to a harsh dottle at the bottom. I cool the pipe and pop it out at that point because the flavor is long gone.

I tend to smoke smaller amounts. The smaller the bowl, the better. Also, choose a pipe dedicated souly to this rope, because it leaves a strong ghost in the briar.

For trimming a load off the rope, do yourself a favor and buy a pair of Fiskars Micro-tip Blade pruning snips. They are super sharp; easy to wield and are good for cutting all tobaccos; not just rope or twist, and will last a long time for only 10 bucks at Home Depot gardening. Suggestion: snip off some chips and let them stand for 10 or so. Rub. 5-10 more and rub out the remainder. It should be just right for dropping in and will lite easier and will stay lit.

The nicotine is nice, so if good nic and true full flavor is a part of your smoking pleasure, then this is one you may very well enjoy. The entire ago-old experience is one of tradition: from cutting, to rubbing out, to packing and smoking. For those less patient that are looking for light sweet quick smoking blends, this is not recommended, but those that are religious about the traditional pipe, it is nothing short of exotic.

One last thing gents: this is a super top-end for creating your own fuller blends. IT IS AN EXCELLENT ENHANCER, or medium base that adds wonderful complexity. Mix a third of this with lemon or orange Virginias, and some Cyprian Latakia or oriental; the sky is the limit, really. You will be blown away at it's versatility. For a quick toned-down smoke, I cut a little off the rope and add a pinch of Eastern Carolina Ribbon. It doesn't change the good spiciness of the Irish, and is a far more mellow smoke.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jevverrett (104)	2015-11-07		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Another bombing gift from brothers of briar. I liked this one so much, I bought four ounces after I smoked a few pipes of it.

Tin note is strong and rich. Dark, almost cigar like. The presentation is a black rope that looks like a cigar sort of. Preparing it is kind of fun. I use I cigar cutter for it. I guess you could fold and stuff the coins, but I rub them out. It is pretty damp bc of the rope/flake nature of it. I let it air out maybe 15-20 mins before packing. Still takes a bit to get it lit, but once it does it takes off. Rich and dark flavor. Cigar notes to it even though there is no cigar leaf in it. Makes me think of black expresso with a nice cigar.

I love this stuff personally, but I wouldn't recommend it to most smokers. It is in a class all its own. Very manly, good smoke for after splitting a cord of firewood with an axe, or say, post grizzly wrestling. Oddly enough, the room note doesn't offend my gf. Weird huh? If you love strong leaf, go for it. If not, you may want to wait till your Nic tolerance is stronger. It gave me the hiccups first go round. Works best in a smaller bowl at first.

Pipe Used: Ropp vintage Apple

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: BoB bombing gift

Similar Blends: Petersons perfect plug maybe.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipeologist (27)	2015-08-12		Overwhelming	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

First thing.Don't inhale or you're dead.This is like smoking grass,but without the cloud thing,as I seem to remember from my student days.Grassy,somewhat botanical in essence,no bite, but ,heck, if you like nicotine big time,this is for you. Brought back from Spain by my wife(she didn't know),it looks like something my dog leaves in the back garden on a daily basis and being so you can have some fun,if you get my drift. This is what puts the bulk in Popeye,when required,I assure you. Got to go now due to some dizziness .

Pipe Used: Dunhill

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Gq

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	sirchud68 (60)	2013-06-02		Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I'll tell you right off the bat I chew this. It's not a bad smoke if you like strong full bodied tobacco taste with hard nic, so deffanitly try it. I, on the other hand found myself enjoying this blend better as a chew. Just cut a moderate piece off with an old cigar cutter and bingo!

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	who broke my clay pipe? (70)	2012-02-17		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Being a fan of "Samuel Gawith Brown #4" i have been eager to taste this contemporary offering by Gawith & Hoggarth of Brown Irish Twist.

I purchased 50g in a loose pouch in a recent tobacco purchase binge(first time i have purchased loose bulk rather than a tin but i now have some kilner jars for jarring and aging).

Slightly darker and shinier on the outside and dryer than SG's, but the appearance is almost identical;a @3/4" inch diameter of twisted brown rope.

The pouch scent is mild like a light cigar and slightly spicy and not as manure-esque(dungy leathery) as SG'S #4.(i do like my dungy smelly shit)

For this taste trial i used a "the smoke" graduate shape pyrolytic liner pipe(those ones from the early 70's) I cut a few discs about the thickness of a british pound coin and tore and rubbed it into a pliant bundle and filled. Like SG ropes (or perhaps just ropes in general)it takes a few matches to get going but easier to burn than the black ropes(SG or GH).

Its been a while since i have a had a brown rope and its been an itch in long need of a good scratching. For the first ignition puffs i get an archetypal brown rope taste that i am already familiar with,and no surprises here(i wasn't really expecting any and didn't want anything too different either really) Reaquainting myself with an old friend under a different brand name and packaging,i began to wonder what if any difference was there between GH's brown irish and SG's brown #4? The taste was so simular that i could almost say it tasted like SG brown #4 made on a different day(which doesn't give me any complaints), but then it started to reveal a difference which pleased me because i still wanted it to have a little difference but not too different or unbrown ropeish.

Its slightly milder on the nicotine than SG, i could feel that even before i had worked out the taste difference yet. The diffence manifests itself during the bowl progression which builds up steadily to creat the finale experience(crecendo might be the word).

Basically irish twist has a savoury spice element akin to BBQ sauce or a brown spice sauce ala "daddies" or "hp brown" hint to it which is absent in the SG brown#4.

Near the end of the bowl the spice becomes quite a prominent identity of this rope which separates its persona from its simular identity twin SG #4 which has a creamier milky rubbery heavy cigarish finale. Irish twist is also slightly sweeter compared to brown #4(not that either of them are really sweet TBH)

Having two simular tasting ropes on the market is insurance against one or the other discontinuing its product in the future and also offers a choice of two slightly different tastes on a simular theme in the meantime while both are still available options.

I will definately keep some of this on hand in future,both this and SG#4 satisfy my brown rope urge within a nats cock of satisfaction,that as long as i have atleast one, i won't feel i am really missing the other that much but;at this time i think i give the edge to SG purely because of its nicotine punch(i am a masochist and feel that nicoteen is the decider rather than taste).

This was a trial that needed to be done incase i was missing out out on something better, but as it is i am not,but i am glad i know that they are both good ropes and i have now tasted the best contenders of the pure brown rope archetype/genre.

The burning performance and ash aftermath are the same as SG which is low maintenance,dry and no dottle.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PipesterJim (47)	2010-04-24		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Strong

To quote one of the characters in the film 'Predator', "This stuff will make you a God damned sexual Tyrannosaurus!"

Well, if I recall he was actually referring to his chewing tobacco and whilst I cannot genuinely claim that smoking Brown Twist has done wonders for my love life, I can't help feeling that there is a certain degree of machismo involved in smoking a pipe weed that packs such an overwhelming nicotine punch.

Seriously though, don't let fear of its undeniable potency put you off. This is, to my mind, tobacco in one of its most unadulterated and traditional forms. That alone should be reason enough for every pipesmoker to give it a try at least once.

The flavour is fairly unique: slightly salty, slightly sweet and I agree with the spicy, cigar notes that others have mentioned. Whatever subtle elements might contribute to the taste, it's mainly all about tobacco and it's there in spades, making for a full and satisfying smoke. It is a little harsh at times, but for me that is just part of the charm of this old school tobacco.

The room note also reminds me slightly of barbecue sauce but I'm a vegetarian so what do I know?

Unlike some other reviewers I do find that it benefits from a couple of minutes drying time before loading the pipe, but not too much. Three coins, sliced off with a sharp knife, are sufficient to fill the bowl of my Peterson silver spigot and provide me with about an hour and a half of nicotine induced relaxation. The relights are more frequent than with some other tobaccos, but not onerous.

I try and save this one for a weekend treat, but the fact is that I enjoy it too much to reserve it for these occasions. I can concede that it probably isn't for everyone, but I think that many folks will be pleasantly surprised. Definitely recommended for everyone at least once.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-10-15		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

This tobacco is easy to smoke. It has a cigar flavour when smoking. I could smoke it all day but for the strong nicotine content. It's very kind to your mouth. Great tobacco a wack of nicotine so I wouldn't fill your biggest bowl with this one. Go on give it a go I think you will enjoy it.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrumsAndBeer (217)	2019-09-20		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

No doubt about it, this is very strong English tobacco. But for whatever reason I get along get along with it just fine, especially as an occasional nightcap. Of all the unflavored Brown rope tobaccos I have sampled, I have to say that this is probably my favorite.

The Virginias used in Brown Irish X have a slightly sweet tone that balance well with the woody, smoky flavor characteristics of the stout air & fired cured burleys. And as long as this one is sipped, the flavor can and often will reach the point of becoming moderately complex, with notes of cedar wood and cigar coming through in the side stream. The smoke is creamy and piquant, especially in the nose, and overall the nicotine strength is definitely there.

Keeping in mind that the thinner ropes tend to be stronger tasting, I found the flavor of the thicker Brown Irish X to be more approachable than both Happy Brown Bogie and Sam Gawith’s Brown No. 4, which to me both taste like they have a higher concentration of burley, and are less sweet as a result.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Effluvinator (60)	2018-03-03		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Brown Irish X sometimes has me feeling as though I should be standing on the deck of a ship taking orders from Horatio Hornblower. I would imagine ropes and plugs were the tobaccos of the day back then. This is strong, pure tobacco. The descriptions are somewhat unclear but it seems to be all Virginia to me rather than containing any Burley. It has some sweetness, cigar-like character, and a very full taste. A little goes a long way; it is the Prell Concentrate of tobaccos. As Jerry Seinfeld said, "Prell--the hard stuff!" I love it. It's in the same camp as Dark Birdseye and other unadulterated tobacco. Useful for those times when you want a short, strong smoke and I always keep this on hand. I recommend dedicating a pipe to this as whatever you smoke this in will make everything else taste like Brown Irish X.

Pipe Used: Clay, Jarl acorn, "Czech"

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Smokingpipes

Similar Blends: Gawith Hoggarth Brown Irish Twist, Sam Gawith Brown #4..

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	crazy owl (74)	2015-04-09		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Strong

ugly but beautiful,strong but mild,so simple at first but what a sinphony when you are tunned with it.In short,good stuff,better aged.Cut slices,let repose in a jar and before smoking dry not very much,this is an important point,and finally put in a medium-small bowl and be happy.The only black spot is that´s not friendly to the pretty noses of the ladies.Nothing is perfect on this planet . If you like aromatics,please don´t try this.

Pipe Used: small

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: local tobbaconist

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ethan (34)	2014-01-07		Strong	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a very strong tobacco in the Nic department. I like this blend because i can have a small bowl of it in a short amount of time and afterward i feel like i smoked a large bowl of Nightcap. Perfect for a lunch break at work! I don't like it as much as the coconut twist because it doesn't have that slight sweetness I find I have come to like about the Coconut twist, Other than that it's virtually the same exact tobacco. I can see myself mixing a small amount of this with some aromatics that are on the weak side to kick them up a notch. It does have a little cigar type of flavor to it but it's not too overpowering. Also be sure to rub it out good and let it dry a little and it will burn good with a re-light or 2. I'm giving it 2 stars because I like the slightly topped versions of this blend a little more than this one.

Purchased From: www.pipesandcigars.com

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StrongMixturesOnly (17)	2013-08-04		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This rope tobacco is hard-hitting in terms of nicotine content. With that said, it is wonderfully potent and has all the charm you would expect from a full strength tobacco. I recommend sitting down while smoking because it will hit hard. Avoid driving or machinery use until you know how it will affect you. It also mellows nice with age. It will lose some of it's strength, not much, and will become a bit sweeter to the taste. Highly recommended.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WillardFan (90)	2018-03-11		Medium to Strong	Medium	Medium	Tolerable

Well the first rope tobacco I ever tried was a brand I bought in a podunk town in Tennessee. I think it was called King Bee. It was advertised as a chew, but I thought why not in a pipe. The word duh, comes to mind. I cut off a piece and packed it in a Grabow. The taste was reminiscent of burning cardboard. Not a pleasant experience, to say the least. But I thought I'd try this one based on all of the good reviews. What a huge difference. This stuff is strong but smooth, and very tasty. Some of you have said that they detected burley in this, but I'm primarily a burley smoker for many years, and I don't taste any burley. It's definitely Virginias, and they are outstanding. Sweet, mellow, and then the nic socks you a good left hook. Go slow and easy, and you can duck the rest of the punches. Not an all day smoke, but it's a great wake up treat, that goes really well with some strong black coffee. I say go for it, you might be pleasantly surprised...

Pipe Used: Captain Black Yeoman

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Nothing else comes to mind..

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bud_Harold (24)	2017-01-15		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable

I've been dying to try this blend for some time now. So i ordered some up, and once it arrived I gave it a week or so in the jar before setting fire to it. Preparation was cutting it into thin coins and allowing it to dry for about 30 minutes in a shallow dish. This seemed to be all it needed for proper combustion because it burnt and smoked easily, only needing a few quick relights.

Earthy, somewhat grassy, and even some sweetness can be expected if you don't push it too much. Light sips in a medium to small bowl will bring you a pleasant experience and won't bring on any harshness. Is there a heavy nic hit? Yes. Is this a full tobacco experience? Definitely. Yet if handled properly and respected, Brown Irish X is an absolute treat! One of my favorite tobaccos.

Pipe Used: Pioneer Meerschaum dublin

Age When Smoked: 6 mos

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

Similar Blends: G&H Black Irish X.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lynxlion (1)	2016-04-22		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Strong

I dare you to dip this it taste like a really strong chew dip etc. Great tobacco if your after the nic chew this will last a long time. Smoking it after chewing or dipping this it's still very strong. Go with this tobacco if your after the nic and regular unadulterated tobacco flavor.

Pipe Used: Corn cob and briar

Purchased From: Pipesandcigars

Similar Blends: The other twist from this company are all great.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	natibo (169)	2015-10-07		Extremely Strong	Medium	Full	Strong

This is a tasty tobacco that provides for an awesome nicotine hit! I travel with this blend so when i have layovers or not much time to smoke, I smoke this. It's not flavorless. It has a nice burley flavor!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	incognitopoet (37)	2014-11-18		Very Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Tolerable to Strong

This was great stuff. It actually wasn't as strong as I had expected it to be, either in taste or nicotine content, but it is a good, clean, honest smoke.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Smoke_Ring (158)	2013-07-24		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

Brown Irish X Unsliced [Twist];

Star Rating = 3.75;

Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst;

Pouch Note = 10;

Room Note = 9;

Flavor = 10;

Bite = 10;

Burn = 10;

After Taste = 9;

Raw Score = 58;

Rated Percentage = 97%;

Comment = Smooth, Medium Strength, Full Body Natural Tobacco Flavor, slight After Taste, White Ash Burn.

If you are one who likes to “play” with your tobacco, by all means get this “Twist” form of tobacco, you can spend countless hours “Slicing, Dicing and Drying” this “Twist” tobacco before it is ready to smoke. I admit I am a lazy pipe smoker so I didn't find this necessary extra preparation exercise to be of any value to heighten my pipe smoking enjoyment. You had better have a sizable ignition source on hand because you are going to need a lot of BTU's to get this “Twist” tobacco to light. Once you achieve the first ignition you will need to have your best “Tamping Tool” at the ready to handle the endless re-packings and re-lights that this “Twist” form of tobacco requires. Perhaps you have detected that the “Twist” form of tobacco is not my “cup of tea”.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Knightsmoker (216)	2013-04-14		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Great full bodied smoke. It will ghost a pipe so make sure you can devote at least 1 to the genre. This is the only tobacco I have found that I cannot smoke on an empty stomach early in the morning, the Nick kick is just too much. Nice flavors throughout meaty and earthy. A completely different VA and my first rope. I will be buying more. It should age very well. Great for an after dinner smoke to relax for the evening.

Update This jar now has 7 yrs on it. The flavor profile is the same but the VA's have started to sweeten just a little. I still lean toward SG's Brown Rope #4 but the sweetness here is amazing. My other jars are all just 5 yrs old but I plan on saving at least 1 of these for another 5 years to see what it is like at the 10 yr mark.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2013-01-10		Very Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

As with all the GH&C ropes, this is another fine old-world tobacco which is well-mannered and of superb quality.

Make noi mistake about it, this is a STRONG tobacco. If you think Irish Flake and 1792 are strong....you might not be ready for this Brown Irish X!

It has a pure tobacco taste and is very similar to Sam Gawith's Brown Rope #4, except that Brown Irish X is more refined (or sophisticated); smoother and more flavorful.

As is the case with all strong yet high-quality tobaccos, this is not a kick-you-in-the-face and punch-you-in-the-stomach strong. The nic will definitely manifest itself after you've smoked a bit....but it is not at all harsh; and despite it being about the strongest tobacco I've yet to find, it does not even require an accompanying drink.

I love the high-strength and the good manners...but ultimately, I like some of the other GH&C offerings better, simply because they have more taste and even more body (such as black Irish X)

If you're looking for a very strong yet good-mannered tobacco, with an understated old-world pure tobacco taste, give this a try.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-10-09		Strong	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Yes another great twist by G/H, 4++++ from me on this one, a must try like all there Twists & Ropes.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-02-24		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

hey de paso por gringo why you so green -Been Smoking this and downing shots of everclear cause i thought it was a good idea. Recommended with caution. No I'm only joking, I smoke 10 bowls of this a day haha

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-10-18		Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

I like strong tobacco. This fits the bill perfect. I also have been mixing this with G.H. & Co. Black XX. I do a couple quarter size slices put them in the coffee grinder for a zap or two and let dry for a couple hours. Either way, with or without the Black XX it has to dry or it won't stay lit. BTW the Brown is certainly stronger then Black. But I'll review Black later.

Medium sized bowl, loose pack works best for me. Tons of smoke with few relights. It does seem to mellow towards the end. But overall its not over the top strong to begin with for me being an ex cig smoker. Its got just the right punch for me. Room note favors the strong side. So probably not the best choice if your trying to make friends. I recommend this if you like it full flavor.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-03-02		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I received a 1oz. sampling of both brown and black irish twist. I enjoyed every aspect of this tobacco including the pre-light ritual of slicing and rubbing-out. The brown has a wonderful flavor, smokes well, has a rich and creamy smoke that can send one to dreamland. I will definitely buy more as well as add it to my favorites. Not so with the black however, but that is a different story. What I like most, as well as being a great smoke, is that this has that effect of being unchanged for so long (I am told) that it provides a link to the past in a way that few things do anymore.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-02-07		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Sliced thin, then rubbed out between palms works best for me. Very earthy taste and the only tobacco that gave me hiccups not for everyday as I like my tolerance for nicotine to stay below what this one offers so I can smoke it for a late night buzz every now and then.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Monopod (26)	2010-12-28		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant

This could have defied identification had I found it on the floor somewhere. It could have been an ill-treated cigar or something that had been left by a "medium-bore" dog.

I trim it into crescent-shaped bits around the circumference, and with no further ado, it goes in with a light tamp and smokes trouble-free with one or two lights. Maybe I'm just getting more adept at this pipe-smoking thing (?)

I can't resist saying that " if you're a cigar-lover, then try this baccy." It always makes me cringe when other people say it, but mixed with well-crumbled stogies ?? Re-cycling at it's absolute best. OK, so I'm a tight-wad, but us pensioners have to smoke on a low budget these days, and if the end product is acceptable ( which this particular trick is for me ) what the hell ??

Add this one to my "grave-Goods" when I go Dear. I'll smoke it when Old Nick gives me a break from the cess-pits.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	n9inchnails (10)	2010-04-19		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

This has a stout all tobacco taste and is a bit harsh unlike its counterpart Brown Bogie which I think is smoother and not harsh. I find that this is a hair stronger than BB but it might just be its harshness. Although I prefer BB over this I'll always have some on hand for when I want a stouter smoke.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kahlenz (2)	2010-03-17		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

This is currently my favorite tobacco, but I only smoke it occasionally. It requires a little time for its preparation, and can leave your head spinning a bit. I smoke this when I can sit down and give the whole process a little attention, and when I don't have anything really pressing to do afterward. The stuff smells like fresh cured tobacco; a bit like a good quality cigar. I cut it into little coins, rub it out a bit, and stuff it in my pipe. Takes a bit to fire it up, but stays lit after I get a bowl going (I find that if I leave it out to dry it gets too dry - I smoke it fresh after cutting it off). While smoking the flavors are spicy and floral, again, not unlike a good cigar, but without the strong cigar aroma and not as creamy. For a flat-out top quality Virginia tobacco smoking experience, I recommend this stuff. For somebody that wants a baseline to compare other Virginias, especially plugs, twist, flake and cake cuts, this is the stuff. Smoker beware, however, this tobacco packs a formidable nicotine punch!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-11-10		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Strong

One of my staples. While to me Brown Irish Twist doesn't seem quite as strong as SG Brown #4, it can still pack a punch especially when properly rubbed out and smoked in a large bowl pipe. To prepare it I'll use a sharp knife and slice off some coins about the thickness of a nickel, cut the coins in half, rub them out fully then let the tobacco dry for about an hour. That's all. Smokes well as it does cool in any pipe. The velvety texture and uniformly brown color of the outer leaf of the twist is evidence of the quality. My only gripe is that it tends to oxidize and turn dark if stored for some time. I taste some floral notes, a little mustiness, but none of the strong "soapiness" often associated with Lakeland tobaccos. Smelling straight from the jar I detect a strong resemblence to Dark Birdseye, however upon smoking each has similar but individually unique characteristics.

I also use Brown Irish Twist to "fortify" other mixtures as it tends to blend very well. It's also good dried out, thrown in a coffee grinder and whiffed up the nose.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrDyson (148)	2009-10-07		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable

O Lord, but this is strong!! I bought some because I was feeling in the mood for a powerful and substantial smoke, and that's what I got. I don't regret it, but I have to admit that this mighty baccy has given me some thoughtful and perilous moments. Brown Irish Twist is a good deal too strong for me; I can't smoke a whole bowl of it at once. It should certainly be avoided by the beginner.

So: if you want a real nicotine belt and you like a pronounced cigar-type taste, this is the chap for you; otherwise, avoid it! My main moan about it is the number of relights it takes - but maybe that's just because I'm inexperienced with it. I don't detect any artificial flavouring; if this is cased, I don't know what with: just pure, eye-watering baccy.

Brown Irish Twist is a splendid, old-fashioned smoke if you're in the mood: a bit harsh if you're not careful with it, but cool, slow, full of flavour and with a wicked, bare-knuckle punch. Needless to say, it's an acquired taste and certainly not for the faint-hearted. I'm happy to recommend it as a straightforward, honest pipe tobacco, but with these reservations/warnings. You WILL feel your brain-cells dying and your lungs shrivelling.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	kg0mz (54)	2009-05-08		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Brown Irish X Twist unsliced is a full-bodied Kendal tobacco that leaves my wife snickering. This venerable twist of leaves rewards me like the other Kendal twists. In a suitable pipe it burns cool and dry with few relights. Smoked slowly it will never bite, but it will deliver a delightful tobacco taste that only Kendal tobaccos can. Slice off some. Rub it out. Fill the pipe. Light it and gingerly sip away. No rocket science involved. These Kendal tobaccos are straight out, double clutching, E-flat delicious and satisfying.

07/27/09 UPDATE: I am revising some of my reviews. I have given out more 4 star ratings than anything else. That practice is probably not helping. So, I am reducing BIT to 3 stars, not because I like it less than I did before, but because I am limiting 4 stars to fewer than 25% of all my reviews. One day I may use the 4 star rating to designate my top five.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2007-01-28		Extremely Strong	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant

My father from Ireland used to tell me of smoking tobacco like this, his father also smoked it as well. They called them "rat tail" tobaccos because they came in a coil. This is a powerful virginia, extremely full strength. Best when smoked on a full stomach. However, the Irish have a love for blending and I have inherited my father's sweet tooth and so I mix 1 to 2 parts Black Rasberry to two to three parts Brown Irish Twist. It keeps me in with the neighbors and they don't have to hear primal nicotine screams late at night. Don't stand near the railing while smoking this blend or you will end up weeding the garden. Cut this with a pocket knife in 1/8th inch slices and put them through an inexpensive tobacco grinder and your good to go.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Moe (46)	2005-09-19		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

My first couple of attempts to ready this tobacco for pipe were dissapointing, I tried thin slicing it and rubbing it out like I do with Mac's dark twist roll cake, but this didnt work, the best I could manage was large clumps, not fit for maintaining a proper light, however, after much experimenting, I have finally found that using a pair of scissors to slice small chunks from the edges of the rope, then rubbing out normally as you would do a virginia flake, produced the perfect consistancy for both lighting and smoking.

I have a super tolerance for nicotine, so that isnt a problem for me personally, the flavor when puffed correctly=slowly was really nice,and like no other blend I have yet tried, this is a great baccy to dedicate a pipe to as it is strong, and the last bowl smoked will haunt the briar.

It's not for the women and children to smoke, but for those with a jones for a nice REAL tobacco flavor and not afraid of the beautiful Lady Nicotine. ENJOY

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2004-12-03		Medium	Extremely Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This tobacco is a blast from the past. Back in the old days the twist form of tobacco was quite prominent. I had not come across twist tobacco since I bought some twist chewing tobacco, while in Kentucky. The twist that's made for chewing is known as a pigtail in the southern U.S. and the smoking version (a bit thicker)is known as a rope. Gawith & Hoggarth make a variety of excellent twist tobaccos and the most robust is Brown Irish. When smoking this one I prefer to slice the rope to 2-3mm thick per slice. Then I cut each slice into 4 quarters and rub it out thoroughly. This yeilds a smoke that burns quite consistantly the entire duration of the bowl. I smoke this stuff straight-up and blended, as I have mentioned in the other reviews of G & H tobacco. When smoked solo, the tobacco gives of a nice spicy-floral aroma that is both pleasing to the smokers and those in his or her company. This tobacco is a gem from the olden days of top-knotch natural tobaccos. I would encourage all smokers to give this tobacco a try and ignore its classification as being brutal and relatively unsmokable. I love it.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2004-06-29		Strong	Medium	Very Full	Strong

I enjoy no-nonsense full flavored tobaccos and GH Brown Rope fills that description nicely. There is the "standard" GH scent which seems to accompany many of their tobacs. The flavor is very similar to Dark Birdseye except it's not as rich and a bit more peppery. When dry, smoke very slowly or you'll get a bit of a nasty taste. One of my regulars.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2004-06-24		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Very Strong

Ok strenghtwise this is supposed to be the Great-Grandaddy of them all, keeping this in mind I proceeded to cut off some slices of this tobacco to try. I crumbled up the pieces and loaded up my test pipe, I calmly lit up the concoction and smoked away. Wow what a surprise, talk about full unadulterated tobacco flavor, this is it, it is very strong but in no way overpowering, just true flavor and yes it does have a nicotine kick, not overpowering again, but a nice strong kick. Just the thing to get your attention. This is an addictive smoke, it leaves you wanting more. It is true tobacco in it's purest form, not anything apologetic or subdued about this one, just raw power. A 10 out of 10 for this one based on flavor, history and longevity. Try this one, and if you like it, pass it on to a friend, keep the tradition alive.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	delcrossv (4)	2023-02-24		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

Out of the jar the "tin" note is pretty rank. Not pleasant at all , but one gets used to it

Cut some 1/8"-3/16" coins, usually takes 2 to fill a bowl, then unraveled the coins and shredded them by hand. The tobacco comes quite moist , so letting it dry for 30 minutes is really helpful in keeping it lit. Even so, it will take several relights at the beginning to get it going.

Once it's lit be prepared for a big surprise as the flavor and smell of the smoke is Completely Different from that of the raw tobacco. Smoke is rich and creamy with first the Burly coming through and then as the bowl progresses an intense Virginia sweetness. There is nothing delicate or subtle about this smoke. Just a blast of tobacco flavors. Burns to an ash with maybe a few crispies. Not a wet smoke if puffed at a reasonable rate. No bite at all.

It's a great end of the day smoke for those who want a strong tobacco but don't favor strong Latakia blends.

Nicotine is noticeable to this experienced smoker( as in you'll feel the nicotine spiciness in your mouth) so newer smoker should probably approach with caution.

I like the smell but would rate the room note strong.

I've noted no ghosting with this in various meerschaums.

Pipe Used: Various meershaums

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: Watch City Cigar

Similar Blends: Nothing. Rope smokes are pretty unique..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	lysergic69 (3)	2022-10-08		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

This tobacco is stupid smooth. As other reviewers have stated, this rope smokes cold, tasty and sneaks up with a strong nic hit. The flavour for me moves between sweet and grassy, smooth and nutty and very earthy. First smoke get I cut half a dozen coins 1/8" thick and let them dry for halfa. Could have given some more time to dry, took many matches to get going, but once on fire stayed lit with a steady cadence. Don't be scared of the strength, but be careful. If you are unused to strong blends, don't have this rope as your 3rd or 4th bowl of the day - and this mix is well worth putting off some daily bowls for. I am superbly impressed by this smoke. Smooth, tasty, interesting and strong. Peace to pipe smokers!

Pipe Used: Rory Corncob

Age When Smoked: Unknown

Purchased From: Tobacco blends com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DonSimon (4)	2022-07-02		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Surprisingly this was the first pipe tobacco I ever had and it converted me from cigars. Haven’t had a cigar since. This had a wonderful leather type flavor during the smoke and the nicotine had me in a zen. Highly recommend. At least I can still use my cigar cutter to cut slices from the rope.

Pipe Used: MM Legend

Age When Smoked: Unknown

Purchased From: Tobaccoblends.com.au

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Badbrude (16)	2019-04-05		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

This is top quality tobacco. The most potent and unadorned tobacco i've smoked. I've tried this as well as the range of flavored variants, all of which seem to have the same dark fired constituents but with different nuances, gently applied. Since this is often hard to find in the states I buy whatever variant is available.

I find myself enjoying this more and more over time, smoking it alone as well as complimenting other blends. This goes particularly well with a straight virginia.

I would evaluate this as more full-bodied, natural than flavorful. It does seem to be halfway between pipe tobacco and cigars. Smoking this gives you a window into what pipe tobacco must have been like over a hundred or even two hundred years ago.

I smoke this as well as the Black x. I like both but the brown is more flexible in that it mixes well with others whereas the black does not.

Smoke it slowly though. It's potent so respect is rewarded. It never bites but gives a nice tingle that can be mistaken as a bite. This stuff smokes so cool.

Highly recommended for those adventurist Pipers amongst us.

Pipe Used: Various but all small bowls

Age When Smoked: Recently purchased

Purchased From: Smoking pipes

Similar Blends: Samuel Gawith Brown #4..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Piperino (2)	2019-02-25		Very Strong	Medium	Mild to Medium	Strong

I’m a new piper and this is my first review so take it as you will.

I adore full strength tobaccos. From cigarettes to cigars, maximum nicotine is my goal. I received a 1 oz. bit of this rope. This IS stronger and fuller than anything I’ve ever smoked out of a pipe but not as dramatic as some others proclaim. Eat, have some water handy, and it’s not so bad. It is rather tasty in its own right. I’ll be buying more. This is glorious.

Pipe Used: Mr. Brog 21

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PiedPiper1010 (16)	2019-02-19		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Brown Irish X, not for the faint of heart? That seems like a safe assumption - or statement for that matter, according to all the reviews I have just read. Notwithstanding those reviews, this is a fine tobacco. If you are looking or something that is full of "pure tobacco flavor" than you have found your blend. With a little patience and a small amount of drying time, this is a tobacco that certainly one of a kind! No additional processing means that it is FULL FLAVORED, FULL STRENGHT, and HIGH TEST tobacco!! It has a natural sweetness that comes from the Virginia tobaccos, there is a slight Lakeland presence in the blend. I have to agree with fellow piper JimInks, that if not added directly, it took on the flavor from sitting around the factory. Much like peat in a good Scotch. The rope is spicy, earthy and certainly woodsy. I definitely pick up on the cigar notes more than I have in blends that have cigar leaf added to it . This is a great after dinner smoke that is well rounded. Brown Irish X is high in nicotine, so if you are sensitive you may want to proceed with caution, or smoke on a full stomach. Burns at a cool, consistent pace with an average number of re-lights needed. Needs 10-15 mins of drying time, and I would suggest not drying it out too much. Cut the rope into thin coins and rub then out, for best results. Not an all day smoke, but a nice treat when you want something that stands out from the crowd. **I base my ratings on what the blend consists of, then I go from there. This blend is VA/BUR/DFK with little to no processing involved and the end result I feel is a blend intended to taste exactly the way it does. Strong, full flavored, with a natural tobacco taste, made from the highest quality tobaccos. So, if this appeals to you, as it does to me, you should not pass up trying this blend.

Pipe Used: Petersons

Age When Smoked: Fresh

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Steerpike (149)	2018-09-04		Very Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Nice strong rope tobacco which is sure to be appreciated by lovers of twist although it may knock the socks off the uninitiated...

The rope is moderately tight, although the wrapper leaf peels lose a bit. Looks like brown, plain tobacco and that's what it is. It's easy to carve up with a sharp penknife, and works well as thin shavings, or thick coins rubbed out well. It takes a light with ease, doesn't bite, and isn't harsh unless puffed too enthusiastically. Aromas of tea, leather and plain old fashioned tobacco in the rope, and that's what comes through in the smoke. I agree with the suggestion that there's a cigar note here, but it's a strong cheap cigar... Mid way through the bowl the tea character becomes very apparent, rather like a strong cup of breakfast tea that has gone a little stewed, with not quite enough milk: astringent. It can also make the lips tingle with the nicotine...

The aroma is tolerable, plain tobacco. This has no flavorings or casing that I can detect.

The nicotine hit is robust, but not in the outrageous territory of happy bogie. Perhaps I've just got more of a tolerance these days. I smoke it in a Falcon bantam of course, and wouldn't advise filling up a big pipe for a first try. You can smoke it down to a pinch of dottle, after which it risks getting a little harsh on the relight. Not much subtlety or development, but that's not why you're smoking twist... Enjoy!

Pipe Used: Falcon bantam

Similar Blends: Brown bogie.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Smoking Sam (20)	2013-05-20		Extremely Strong	Mild	Full	Tolerable

I had decided to not smoke a pipe today, or at the very least, to smoke sparingly. As soon as USPS arrived with a box from my favorite tobacconist, that resolution went out the window.

Inside the box was 4 oz. of Gawith, Hoggarth & Co.'s Brown Irish X. There was little use to resist the tempation - I had to give this brown Irish nicotene monster a whirl. Appearance wise, this is interesting stuff. I was raised on a tobacco farm in North Carolina, and it was gratifying to see a dark, natural, beautifully prepared leaf tobacco again.

Preparation? I was standing at the kitchen counter so I grabbed a pair of poultry shears. I pulled off one loose leaf intact and cut this into manageable ribbons, about an eight inch thick. This went easily into an old vintage briar that I had just received via eBay. I filled the bowl about 3/4 full, and after a little tamping, I ended up with a good half bowl, which was my goal.

Lighting? A bear! Light. Puff. Go out. Light. Puff. Go out. More tamping. The tobacco does take a light easily, and there is copious smoke. It burns cools.

Taste? Aaargh. Very harsh to begin. Strong is an understatement. Smoke in the back of my throat almost choked me. Thank goodness for strong black coffee.

Mid bowl? Interestingly, the tobacco taste mellows out when this gets to burning well. I found a creamy, salty, slightly sweet taste emerged. A strong straight tobacco taste. Very nice.

Nicotene hit? I used to smoke VSG and Opus X cigars back in the day, so STRONG tobacco suits my taste. This tobacco didn't give my any problems. I was waiting to turn green, but it didn't happen. No stomach gurgles, or a run to the bathroom either. I smoked this on a full stomach after lunch.

Summary: I find this tobacco to be a full bodied, rich, straight up, pleasing smoke. I love the saltiness, the creamy taste, and the overall power exhibited. This started out as Mr. Hyde, and turned into Mr. Jekyll, which is a pleasant surprise.

I was more than a little apprehensive about smoking this tobacco from all the reviews that I had read, but at this point, I can see a large bulk purchase in my future - if the stuff ever gets back into stock. Recommended for experienced, hairy chested pipe smokers who like a powerful straight up enjoyable experience. This is good, high quality tobacco. Good stuff!

Recommendation: Start with half a bowl. Puff slowly. Make sure you've eaten first. Enjoy! Repeat as necessary....

BROWN IRISH TWIST REDUX, the following day:

I ate a large late breakfast, and I decided to give this another try. Mistake #1. I cut up what I thought would be half a bowl, but it ended up being more than a bowls worth. I packed it anyway, and probably too tightly, and put the remainer back into the bag. Mistake #2 & #3.

I gave the ribbons that I cut about an hour to dry, but it was still tough going getting this to burn properly. I probably overpuffed the pipe trying to get it going. Mistake #4.

Results of my stupidity? Two urgent trips to the bathroom, and a little green around the gills. I had to but the pipe down. Relights after all the above waits resulted in a harsh vile taste.

As I sit here, sipping a bowl of Frog Morton's cellar out of a newly refurbished Jobey Dansk freestyle, I have to ask myself, "what's the point of subjecting myself to a super strong tobacco that pretty much only serves as a nicotene transfer system?" The Frog Morton is so much more enjoyable, whereas the Brown Irish Twist is pretty much Russian Roulette.

Rating reduced to two stars. YMMV.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	The Full English (31)	2010-03-11		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Strong

A relatively dry plug of rope in mottled shades of brown. It reveals a rather sour and nutty pouch aroma, and is a lot more brittle than some other pressed rope/plugs on the market.

This is British Lakeland tobacco in its original, raw glory, and it peels open relatively easily to show its formation of large chunks of tobacco leaf. It's a bit like stepping back two hundred years into the past, but all reminiscing aside, this is a swine to light up, requires many attempts at re-lighting, and continues to burn rather badly until the end. Quite a feat for something that seemed pretty dry. If you leave it to air, it burns much better, but the taste is even harsher on the palette than you get straight out of the bag. I expected much, much more from G&H, given the proud heritage of this particular tobacco, but one could be forgiven for thinking that the only thing to happen in those two hundred years we spoke about earlier, is that this little dollop of dung sat, festering in a pig shed.

Way too temperamental in every bowl I tried; I really can't really find a redeeming feature. Rough, harsh, and with a flat, monotone flavour that merely tickles and grates: it doesn't even try to be the flagship weed it's supposed to be.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2008-12-08		Very Strong	Strong	Full	Strong

Yow! After the boiled, baked & bar-b-q flavour assault course that is the Black Irish, this strikes me at first as a slightly more civilised way to get an almighty nicotine whump. It's reminiscent of the Black but - despite being stronger N-wise - seems to have a very bold meaty, spicy chilli & cigar-like flavour that's marked and idiosyncratic rather than overwhelming, bizarre and unapproachable. You couldn't say it was smooth, no-one will be queuing up to kiss or cuddle you after smoking this and it certainly does seem as though it'll bite you if you're not very cautious with it. It's both a little reluctant to burn at first and then rather too keen to burn when it gets going. But with the N-power that this has under the hood it seems no bad thing at all to keep your wellie off the pedal a wee bit.

This with a glass or two of Maker's Mark would be rather splendid, I think.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2004-09-07		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

It is said that this is the uncooked version of the black rope. I guess it could be, but there is a profound difference in the flavors of the two. Brown Twist was much more harsh and had a cigar-like taste to it.

If this is indeed the heaviest hitter out there, nicotine-wise, I guess I have nothing to fear from any tobacco. Yes, I noticed something, but not the 'knock you for a loop' power I had heard about.

I have to comment on the appearance... I was out of town when the box arrived. My wife opened it and thought that a practical joker type friend of mine had sent some 'ropes' produced by his dog.

Labor intensive tobacco, the taste does not justify the effort of preparation. I can't see this as more than a novelty smoke from time to time - a throwback to the old days.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2004-02-06		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

As tobaccos go, this is a straight-up single malt scotch or a small-batch bourbon. Good flavor and lots of it, with a nice kick added. If your tastes run to the soft and mild, you will not like it. It is a powerful, sweet, tobacco-ee blend of long leaf. The twist invariably comes fairly wet, so you will need to cut off disks and let them dry before smoking. It has a huge flavor and a lot of power. If you have been accidentally inhaling tobacco smoke, you will immediately realize it with this blend. Do not operate heavy machinery while smoking. I am not joking. I have found that this smokes better in a clay pipe than in a briar.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2001-09-02		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

This tobacco is made in England from the finest Virginia tobaccos. It is a twist/rope cut like the name says. When it is "fresh" it is really moist and compact so it needs to be dried before loading it to the bowl. It is easy to cut with a sharp knife to small discs and then rub it out to smaller pieces. The twist is really good looking and the aroma of the fresh tobacco is really wonderful, you can enjoy this tobacco by just watching it and imagening how it will taste. This is a strong tobacco, so I recommend it to be smoked in a small to medium size bowl and at least in the beginning it should be smoked after a good meal or it might make you feel sick. Lighting is easy and the first few buffs tell you that this tobacco has potential to knock anybody down. The aroma of burning tobacco is sweet from the beginning and stays like it to the very end. After a few smokes the taste settles down and tobacco starts to smoke so smoothly... just close your eyes and ejoy it. The burning is really good and it forms an even white ash. After 30min. of intense smoking I can feel the nicotin affecting, I feel like I would have taken a few drinks. Wow! When the tobacco has burned to end all I can do is to sit and wonder the amazing affect this wonderful smoke has made into me. Without any hesitation I can recommend Brown Irish Twist to anyone who likes natural strong virginia tobacco.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Rmsva (16)	2022-11-18		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

This stuff Is awesome. Got this with a big shipment of new-to-me-tobaccos in the day after I realized I had Covid because my taste started going. I’ve been enjoying this one as the flavor is full enough that it pierces through my dulled palate. I leave a better review when I get my taste back.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JaWiBr (433)	2022-11-11		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Package note of smoky barbeque, fermented fruit and mildly sour. The wet, three shades of brown, 25/32-inch (20 mm) fat rope needs slicing into thin coins (with a razor or thin sharp knife) and rubbed out to get the fastest drying time. Burn is slow and requires numerous relights. The strength is medium to strong and nic is medium to strong. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium to full and somewhat consistent, with notes smoky wood, earth, roasted nuts, mild sweet grass, slight floral, slightly spicy, and peppery cigar retro. It's like Dark fired Virginia is wrapped around more Dark fired Virginia and a small amount of dark air cured Indian burley spun into a rope. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is outstanding.

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum 3 1/2 Inch Tasting Cob

Age When Smoked: 3 years

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

Similar Blends: Samuel Gawith - Brown No. 4.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	HeavyMetalPiper (64)	2018-06-18		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

This is a strong tobacco in all aspects. It tastes like a very good cigar. The nicotine is high and prevents it from being something you can have too much of. It is rather tasty, though as with all rope tobaccos, the preparation is a bit more involved than I'd like. That aspect keeps me from giving this another star, but if you like that work, or are not opposed to it, give this a shot.

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum Carolina Gent

Age When Smoked: 3 Months

Purchased From: Smoking Pipes

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-01-14		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This will put hair on your chest, your toes and quite possibly the palms of your hands (watch out lady smokers!). When I got back into the pipe I got straight into this after realising that most of the main tobacos available at the one and only tobacconist in town had all been bought up by big companies and changed, so I decided that I'd go for purity. The local tobaconist doesn't stock many flakes but always has the black and brown twists in. I'm not sure if what I've got is the Bogie, to be honest, but I'm not sure how much difference there is either. But they sell it as twist so.....I guess this is what it is. The preparation isn't all that bad, slice a few discs and then feed them into the pipe. I've learned to pack very lightly. It needs air.

It's strong (oh I see someone else has mentioned that already :-o) Niccups after half a bowl. And what I've come to appreciate as enforced breaks, when it goes out because my concentration flies out the window. Hmmm, perhaps I'd better just put the pipe down for a moment, like it is suggesting I do. This stuff talks to me. It says "reet there marra'" and then it makes its statement in a direct and succinct manner, straight talking. It's not being difficult or rude by going out. It isn't going anywhere. I think this stuff is quite easy to form a relationship with.

Pragmatism! That's what it teaches. Let's not beat around the bush nor wax lyrical nor go chasing after rainbows. Dry, bluff humour. Westmorland humour!

When I initially light this up it's usually quite caustic for a few moments but then it mellows a bit. Has a sort of tanning feel to the mouth. But dry and pretty cool really. There is a deep taste in there. Quite a clean aftertaste, no gloop at all.

And in these freezing temperatures the late night garage run amongst the hobgoblins and piskies is thankfully kept short with this one.

I like it, quite a lot, but I don't think I'll be making it a regular smoke. However, it is an intrinsic part of my stash.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-02-09		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Tolerable

I really wanted to like this tobacco as I love many of the other Gawith Hoggarth offerings but this one just does not do it for me. I found it to be very thin on flavor, almost flavorless and the nicotine hit was not near as strong as I was expected. I found this to be considerably less strong nico wise than dark flake unscented for instance. This does however make a decent chew so I will use the rest for that.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Spike (296)	2005-04-12		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Strong

I think this may be like smoking a Camel straight (non-filter) while chewing tobacco at the same time. Recommended for those who are never quite satisfied with their regular smoke.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2002-09-07		Overwhelming	None Detected	Overwhelming	Tolerable to Strong

Ack! Yuck! I have smoked this stuff in sliced, rope, and aromatic forms, and I can't tolerate any of them. The smoke is so sharp that it feels toxic/caustic. There is a single, very narrow flavor without a hint of nuance, sweetness or anything else. This might make a decent (thin) cigar wrapper, but it doesn't belong in my pipe, at least not straight. The Black Irish Twist made by GH is pretty good due to a bit of steaming and aging, but this stuff is like sipping grain alcohol straight. The nicotine is huge, but being forewarned I avoided trouble of that nature.

To be fair, I did find a use for this. I keep it on hand to add to "party" blends, usually ten parts aromatic to 5 parts sweet virginia to one part Brown Twist. Still, I'd part with it very quickly if someone wanted it in trade.

Any takers?

Nobody has rated this review yet.