Dr. Grabow Pipes

steverino · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 3:20 am Post subject: Samuel Gawith Brown No. 4

One of my favorite tobaccos is Samuel Gawith Brown No. 4, so I thought I'd do a write-up on it. Since SG tins are notoriously devoid of descriptive prose, I went to the website to find some:

"For over two centuries, the blenders and spinners of Samuel Gawith, Kendal, have been producing the famous Kendal Twists. Coal miners, both underground and on the ground, have been chewing our Pigtails, whilst pipe smokers have savoured the rich flavours and slow burning characteristics of the thick Brown No.4 and Black XX.

All of our twist tobaccos can be smoked either flavoured or un-flavoured. Some of our popular flavours are black cherry, rum, whiskey and apple.

All twists are available pre-packed or on the roll. Because the process is almost entirely by hand, quality control ensures consistency of excellence."

As stated above, Brown No. 4 (BN4) is one of two Kendal Twist tobaccos made by Samuel Gawith (Black XX is the other). As a twist or rope tobacco, part of the fun/challenge is preparation. Upon opening the tin, you're greeted by a hunk of tobacco that resembles something like a bent cigar or perhaps a deposit of dog poop (depending, of course, on your dog). Typically, the tobacco is sliced off the twist into "coins" which are then rubbed out or smoked whole as you prefer. I have found that rubbing out tends to work best for me.

The tin aroma of BN4 is straightforward. It smells something like a combination of rubber tires and some variety of wood burning (and not in the same way as latakia). The aroma is actually quite pleasant.

After rubbing out a couple of coins, you're left with wide, thin pieces of tobacco. The width can vary a bit but some are quite a good size. Putting this stuff into your pipe bowl is where the challenge can present itself. Oh it's no problem to cram the tobacco into the bowl, but a little care taken in this task can bring rewards later on. A light to medium packing pressure seems to bring best results for me.

This tobacco has always seemed to me to be at the correct moisture level for smoking right from the tin. Bringing fire to leaf results in a quick ignition and the thin, broad pieces of tobacco may assist in this. Even after tamping, a second light is often not necessary.

The first few puffs of BN4 seem to bring me sort of a cigar spiciness. It tends to grab my attention every time, even though I know it's coming. If you take your time (and all but the stoutest of us will be forced to) you will be able to detect a Virginia sweetness behind the stronger flavor. This subtle Virginia characteristic tends to come and go and apparently depends on the pipe to some extent as well as the smoking technique.

BN4 produces a good amount of smoke which varies from blue-gray to yellow-gray. I am not usually able to detect the aroma of side-stream smoke, but I can with BN4. At first, I had difficulty determining how to characterize the aroma, but after one hot afternoon of mowing the lawn, it came to me - it smells like something musty and organic. Now understand, the aroma is not unpleasant. In fact, it is one of the few room notes my wife classifies as "tolerable".

BN4 is, if anything, strong. The smoke is strong and the nicotine is strong. I get a little nose burn at the beginning of a bowl but this seems to go away as I smoke. The nicotine, however, is pretty much there all the time. I liken the strength to that of Irish Flake though for me, it manifests itself differently - Irish Flake gives me quite a bit of throat irritation and then makes me light headed. BN4 doesn't typically irritate my throat but I do get the spins with it. Sometimes I'll put down the bowl about half way through, then when I pick it back up, I don't seem to get as much nicotine effect as before. Just to be clear, none of the nicotine effects are of such magnitude as to discourage me from smoking BN4 - no nausea or other such symptoms. I find that if I take it slow and easy, this tobacco provides me with a lengthy, relaxing smoke. I wouldn't recommend smoking it while doing something else, like driving.

One thing I really enjoy about BN4 is that for me, at least, it is absolutely biteless. In fact, there is no mouth irritation of any kind. I don't usually detect a bad aftertaste from pipe tobaccos and BN4 is no different.

So to whom would I recommend Brown No. 4? I'd say that this might be a good tobacco for someone who is looking to try stronger blends and who enjoys sitting and enjoying a smoke for all he can get out of it. It's a Virginia for those who are standoffish toward Virginias - a Virginia without the bite or cigarettish flavor you may have been avoiding.

Altogether, BN4 is a tobacco that can excite and relax, keep your attention and let you have it back, challenge you and let you win, all in the same bowl of tobacco.

ozark southpaw · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:58 am Post subject: SG

I've never tried any ropes or twists but have seen several good comments about them. Reading this makes me think I would like to try some of them! Thanks Steve!
_________________
The only thing shorter than my memory is a certain part of my anatomy!

steverino · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:51 pm Post subject:

You are certainly welcome. I highly recommend this one. Now the Black XX is another story - that stuff is something else.

LokoMac8 · Last edited by LokoMac8 on Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:51 pm; edited 1 time in total

ted · "Old Timer" Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 1171 Location: NC'

Believe Steve could make #79 sound great.
Nice work Steve. Now there's a reason to go back to JR...

By the way.....Where is Terry? Haven't seen a post for a while and I miss them. Anyone know?

Thanks ....ted

BWThomas · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:18 pm Post subject:

Another fine review Steve. I love my aromatics, sugar sweet dessert smokes, but sometimes I just want to have a good earthy rich tobacco smoke and this sounds like it might be the one. I'm going to try it. Thanks Steve!
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BWThomas

steverino · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:04 am Post subject:

Thanks guys. Hey RJ, come on over to my house, I've got plenty for you to sample. That way, you won't have to buy a whole tin. Wink

BWThomas · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:13 am Post subject:

steverino · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the nice words - you should read some of the reviews on tobaccoreviews.com. Now when you start comparing tobacco to wine and gourmet spices, that's where I get off the bus.

If I ever do a review on Black XX, colorful language will be in order. I just don't know if I can smoke enough of it to properly review it.

Terry292 · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:03 pm Post subject: