I've actually had a tin of Gawith Hoggarth Kendal Black Cherry sitting around for awhile that I've been meaning to try, and since you brought it up I suppose that now is as good of a time as any to give it a go! I'll try it in the AKB Meerschaum, since meerschaum tends to be fairly resistant to spooky Lakeland ghosts...
View attachment 253917
I'm feeling pretty hesitant to smoke it based on the tin note, but I'll be brave. In some blends like Ennerdale the Lakeland essence hits my nose like flowers, but in others it just smells like soap. Kendal Black Cherry is a soapy one to my nose, and the jet black Cavindish appearance doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence that I'm going to enjoy it either since I'm not generally a Cavindish kinda guy. Ah well, fortune favors the bold and there's no backing out now, so here we go...
Okay! After half an hour of smoking it I can certainly see why people like this! It's got a good strong and natural tart cherry flavor, which intermingles with an equally strong floral flavor that's either going to remind you of the Japanese cherry blossom festivals in the spring or the bottom of your grandmother's purse. I'm kinda getting a little of both and I think I'm going to have to smoke Kendal Black Cherry a few more times before I can make up my mind about which it is. I'm leaning towards cherry blossom festival though, and I like the occasional chocolate Burley note that pops up every now and again too! Kendal Black Cherry is certainly a very wild and unique blend, but I think it might be a good one.
