Recent appreciations of Gawith & Hoggarth's Rum Twist, and vehement disagreements thereon in this forum, have prompted me to see for myself what all the fuss is about.
Some say that the newer batches can't hold a match to the wonder that GH Rum Twist used to be in years gone by, and I wouldn't know about that. I am generally not a fan of aromatics (I mean, if you like smoking tobacco, why on earth do you want to make it taste like anything else?), and have in the past said some highly uncomplimentary things about the 1792 flake (which I stand by), yet others love it: that's always a problem with tobacco reviews: they are essentially subjective. Their usefulness is, I think, in looking at the strengths, flavours and aromas that please some (as well as the behaviour of the tobacco itself) and, if there seems to be a consensus that agrees with your taste, then you go ahead and buy and try some.
My first experience of a GH blend (1792) was so negative, it might have deterred me from ever trying any more - but last year my secret Santa generously bestowed upon me an inch or so of well-aged Black Irish XX Twist, and I absolutely loved it. So I bought some more GH twists to add to my weed-hoard.
For this trial I selected a neutral, sweet-smoking, small-bowled billiard briar from the Colossus Pipe Factory, sliced off a half inch of the Rum Twist, shredded it finely and - noticing how moist it was - left it out to dry for 4-5 hours, and it could reasonably have done with a little more.
Neither the rope nor the cut tobacco evinced to me any olfactory trace of the rum casing, which leaves me wondering how it compares with its cousin the non-aromatic Brown XX Twist. However, I did catch just a hint of molasses and this too came through when I lit up.
I was surprised when the char-light lasted a whole quarter bowl; after that, the moisture level increased and it needed progressively more relights and nursing with the pipe tool - but still not enough to be frustrating. A powerful nicotine-hit announced itself straight off, after just a couple or three puffs.
Lots of lovely blue smoke and bold, cigar-like aroma from the start. No taste of rum whatever, but the bright and dark Virginia notes were individually detectable. Half a bowl down and it was reminding me of Tabac Manil Le Semois - which I assume was the Burley content, which gave some pleasing depth and body to the Virginias.
Big, round, mellow and no bite or harshness if you keep a gentle but persistent cadence. I was relieved that I didn't experience anything like an electrical fire, or over-barbecued beef taste, that some have. Nonetheless, it was a substantial meal of a smoke, even a 20 minutes' worth in this dinky little pipe, and in its substantiality (though not its taste, which was pure tobacco), it did remind me of a well-grilled steak and onion doorstep sandwich. In fact, I think it would pair well with one of those and a pint of porter - so next time...
It behaved well and burned right down to a fine ash, with no dottle, and despite the fact that, writing this half an hour after tapping out the bowl, still a little stoned and with a very slowly fading grin on my face, it left me wanting more.
Gawith Hoggarth Rum Twist is a fine, mellow, powerful, high quality smoke. Even not knowing what the older issues were like, I cannot understand how anyone can call this characterless or monotonous or one-dimensional. But personal tastes can change without one noticing over time, and in the human psyche the past is more often than not a distant, foreign country bathed in a golden glow the like of which, as the satirist Flann O'Brien once wrote, (1) will not ever be seen again.
I tell you what, though: if this stuff ever does cease to exist, the like of it will not be seen again.
(1) An Béal Bocht (The Poor Mouth) is a 1941 novel in Irish by Flann O'Brien, published under the pseudonym "Myles na gCopaleen".It is regarded as one of the most important Irish-language novels of the twentieth century. An English translation by Patrick C. Power appeared in 1973. If you like Irish humour, get a copy.
Some say that the newer batches can't hold a match to the wonder that GH Rum Twist used to be in years gone by, and I wouldn't know about that. I am generally not a fan of aromatics (I mean, if you like smoking tobacco, why on earth do you want to make it taste like anything else?), and have in the past said some highly uncomplimentary things about the 1792 flake (which I stand by), yet others love it: that's always a problem with tobacco reviews: they are essentially subjective. Their usefulness is, I think, in looking at the strengths, flavours and aromas that please some (as well as the behaviour of the tobacco itself) and, if there seems to be a consensus that agrees with your taste, then you go ahead and buy and try some.
My first experience of a GH blend (1792) was so negative, it might have deterred me from ever trying any more - but last year my secret Santa generously bestowed upon me an inch or so of well-aged Black Irish XX Twist, and I absolutely loved it. So I bought some more GH twists to add to my weed-hoard.
For this trial I selected a neutral, sweet-smoking, small-bowled billiard briar from the Colossus Pipe Factory, sliced off a half inch of the Rum Twist, shredded it finely and - noticing how moist it was - left it out to dry for 4-5 hours, and it could reasonably have done with a little more.
Neither the rope nor the cut tobacco evinced to me any olfactory trace of the rum casing, which leaves me wondering how it compares with its cousin the non-aromatic Brown XX Twist. However, I did catch just a hint of molasses and this too came through when I lit up.
I was surprised when the char-light lasted a whole quarter bowl; after that, the moisture level increased and it needed progressively more relights and nursing with the pipe tool - but still not enough to be frustrating. A powerful nicotine-hit announced itself straight off, after just a couple or three puffs.
Lots of lovely blue smoke and bold, cigar-like aroma from the start. No taste of rum whatever, but the bright and dark Virginia notes were individually detectable. Half a bowl down and it was reminding me of Tabac Manil Le Semois - which I assume was the Burley content, which gave some pleasing depth and body to the Virginias.
Big, round, mellow and no bite or harshness if you keep a gentle but persistent cadence. I was relieved that I didn't experience anything like an electrical fire, or over-barbecued beef taste, that some have. Nonetheless, it was a substantial meal of a smoke, even a 20 minutes' worth in this dinky little pipe, and in its substantiality (though not its taste, which was pure tobacco), it did remind me of a well-grilled steak and onion doorstep sandwich. In fact, I think it would pair well with one of those and a pint of porter - so next time...
It behaved well and burned right down to a fine ash, with no dottle, and despite the fact that, writing this half an hour after tapping out the bowl, still a little stoned and with a very slowly fading grin on my face, it left me wanting more.
Gawith Hoggarth Rum Twist is a fine, mellow, powerful, high quality smoke. Even not knowing what the older issues were like, I cannot understand how anyone can call this characterless or monotonous or one-dimensional. But personal tastes can change without one noticing over time, and in the human psyche the past is more often than not a distant, foreign country bathed in a golden glow the like of which, as the satirist Flann O'Brien once wrote, (1) will not ever be seen again.
I tell you what, though: if this stuff ever does cease to exist, the like of it will not be seen again.
(1) An Béal Bocht (The Poor Mouth) is a 1941 novel in Irish by Flann O'Brien, published under the pseudonym "Myles na gCopaleen".It is regarded as one of the most important Irish-language novels of the twentieth century. An English translation by Patrick C. Power appeared in 1973. If you like Irish humour, get a copy.
