Is Gawith and Hoggarth/ Sam Gawith the new Esoterica?
- Thread starter EMP27
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No they ship large amounts several times per year. As for Esoterica, the lack of available online feigns a shortage that doesn't exist. B&Ms often have them in stock for weeks or months at a time often shipping to China as their regular patrons mostly buy house aromatics.
You can find GH. Set your alerts on Smoking Pipes, for example. Once they get a shipment you will be notified. My B&M also gets regular shipments. It’s available.
Ever since Laudisi took over importing, stock had been much better from what I’ve seen. It was not so good under Kretek.
I'm not sure that Esoterica is only apparently in short supply - certainly, in the UK, their blends only seem to be available in fits and starts, although some think that the Chinese are getting first dibs on their popular blends. All of them go out of stock fairly regularly; some are only in stock for a day at most and then gone again for months.
The Gawiths, rather more constant in availability.
The Gawiths, rather more constant in availability.
They are not the new Esoterica. In fact, the both G&H and SG have become much more consistently available in the past 2 years than they were before.
As others have commented, no. I regularly find them in B&M stores, but like Esoterica and Germain’s and others, the online retailers do seem to sellout quickly. Especially for high demand blends and for people buying large quantities. Not that many people used to buy a dozen tins or several 500g boxes/bags at once like they do now.
Actually, whilst typing this I realized that the biggest change is probably people’s buying habits more than anything else and not necessarily an intrinsic value of the specific brands. Myself included. I live in a remote location with little access to anything so I tend to buy more of everything when I get the opportunity (online or on away trips). Hangover behavior from pandemic?? Scarcity mindset?? I don’t usually pay much attention to the marketing noise, so I can’t really blame the marketing and propaganda teams, but I can definitely say my buying habits have changed. Perhaps everyone else’s have too and any commodity can become the “it” product at any given moment?
But, no, I don’t think there’s the kind of weird thing going on with G&H like we saw with Esoterica. I just think it’s the kind of thing you would expect to see from a small producer in a busy market more than anything else.
Actually, whilst typing this I realized that the biggest change is probably people’s buying habits more than anything else and not necessarily an intrinsic value of the specific brands. Myself included. I live in a remote location with little access to anything so I tend to buy more of everything when I get the opportunity (online or on away trips). Hangover behavior from pandemic?? Scarcity mindset?? I don’t usually pay much attention to the marketing noise, so I can’t really blame the marketing and propaganda teams, but I can definitely say my buying habits have changed. Perhaps everyone else’s have too and any commodity can become the “it” product at any given moment?
But, no, I don’t think there’s the kind of weird thing going on with G&H like we saw with Esoterica. I just think it’s the kind of thing you would expect to see from a small producer in a busy market more than anything else.
On smokingpipes Gawith is often stocked these days and only a few blends go instantly like St James, FVF pretty fast, and some others. I noticed now lots isn’t in stock, implying a drop is coming soon, wink wink, And still quite a respectable selection still available to puff puff.
After getting a tin of McClellands 40th Anniversary this winter, it is tobacco what can I say, good but I can easily live without or find stuff I like more, I stopped chasing unicorns. Most Esoterica isn’t even flake tobacco anyhow, so me no care.
After getting a tin of McClellands 40th Anniversary this winter, it is tobacco what can I say, good but I can easily live without or find stuff I like more, I stopped chasing unicorns. Most Esoterica isn’t even flake tobacco anyhow, so me no care.
When I smoked a pipe before my break from 2010-13 or so Gawith Blends were regularly sold out across the board. It feels like they're still hard to find I've been able to score a tin here and there unlike times of yesteryear. Though that might also be because I've got a bit more cash post college so when I see some stuff for sale I can just snag it vs doing the math of how much ramen I'll need to eat if I get this tin of FVF.
It seemed more like the "new Esoterica" five years ago when you couldn't find things like Ennerdale, Bosuns or Conniston. Others, such as Cannon Plug, St. James Plug and Full VA Plug, weren't even available in the U.S. And when Full VA Flake, St. James Flake or Kendal Plug showed up here, you had to grab it fast. Now tins of Ennerdale, Best Brown, VA Flake and most of the ropes are always available. ...and various Burnt Ends and Plugs have been added to the selection. Who could have predicted Grousemoor or Balkan Plug ever happening?
I've said this before, but if the only tobacco available was G&H and SG, I'd be fine forever. Although, I'd miss Salty Dogs.
I've said this before, but if the only tobacco available was G&H and SG, I'd be fine forever. Although, I'd miss Salty Dogs.
I agree.
There's hardly a VA that I like better than Best Brown, and that's the most important thing.
Next most important would be a balkan. These days that's only 15% of my smoking, maybe up to 25% in the Fall, but I wouldn't want to miss it when I want it. GH Balkan Mixture is a tad boring compared to some -- I'd miss Peretti Royal -- but it would scratch the itch.
Last in priority would be aromatic, and I'm a huge fan of Lakeland Sauce (although not of the base tobaccos of all their scented offerings). This category would be covered easily.
So, yes, I'd be very content in a world with only the Gawiths.
Nope. I don't chase unicorns. And I've never had any esoterica at least not pipe tobacco 
, I have some Gaiwith in the rotation and either have to delay the orders a bit and wait or try another one. I don't need notifications I can just check myself cause it won't be a tiny window to get them out of.
, I have some Gaiwith in the rotation and either have to delay the orders a bit and wait or try another one. I don't need notifications I can just check myself cause it won't be a tiny window to get them out of.
Someone posted an email from Germains here a few years ago that confirmed it. Larger demand in China at the time than elsewhere.
Five years prior to that had the online Lakeland hate posts going strong and you could always find it in stock.
It's strange, isn't it? I see stuff in stock that I like, that used to be impossible to get, and it's hard not to buy it, even though I have plenty. Resistance is close to futile.
Prior to about 2018 you could find G&H and SG easily. Even my favorite Louisiana Perique.
Once the pipe smoking habit began to catch on more in earnest, and more members started joining this and other such sites, demand outpaced supply as people considered those blends as manna. Kretek didn’t seem to catch on and up their orders from the manufacturer, so the blends started going absent from vendor sites.
Once Laudisi took over the distribution supply was more regular. Although people still buy the more popular blends in mass quantities and those go out of stock frequently.
My understanding is that G&H and SG have increased their production capacity in the last several years, but the demand for some blends is still very strong, and people buy up those blends quickly.
Unfortunately the price has more than doubled since 2018…
Once the pipe smoking habit began to catch on more in earnest, and more members started joining this and other such sites, demand outpaced supply as people considered those blends as manna. Kretek didn’t seem to catch on and up their orders from the manufacturer, so the blends started going absent from vendor sites.
Once Laudisi took over the distribution supply was more regular. Although people still buy the more popular blends in mass quantities and those go out of stock frequently.
My understanding is that G&H and SG have increased their production capacity in the last several years, but the demand for some blends is still very strong, and people buy up those blends quickly.
Unfortunately the price has more than doubled since 2018…
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Mars Cigars limits the number of tins you can buy of some blends.
I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand I say let people get what they want, on the other hand I know there are buyers who will buy ALL available tins, wait a month, and sell them on Tin Bids at a highly inflated price.
Talking to a shop owner in NW PA, I was told that when some blends drop, they get multiple phone calls from buyers who want it all, every tin, box and bag of desirable blends....no matter the cost. He recently put the same 2 tins of a blend per household, per day as Mars. Sure guys can buy 2 of each everyday, but this will at least give others a chance.
I WISH this wasn't needed, but any desirable product will have people who take advantage.
I just ordered a few tins of Rattrays blends from Mars. I would like to buy 3 of each, but the limit is 2.
I like one tin for now, and 2 to let age for a few years. Then I restock as needed of my favorites.
I got 2 Old Gowerie, 2 Jocks Mixture, 2 Red Rapparee, 2 Hal O The Wynd, and 2 Highland Targe.....all 100 gram tins......in case anyone wanted to know.
I'm not buying anymore but when it was shunned I bought 250g boxes of GH blends for $28 in the mid 2010s like there was no tomorrow.
@Chasing Embers : 250g boxes you say? I would watch out for the drone with a grappling hook floating around outside your smoking area Duane as you might get raided by Jim Inks! 