Whilst on a pre Christmas foray into town I popped into the only B&M to see what took my fancy, more for a diversion than anything else. Well, unlike me I made an unplanned purchase and walked out with some Gawith Hoggarth Curly Cut in my sky rocket. Once home I popped it into a Kilner jar (Blighty version of mason) and finally got round to having a snifter today. Like OW's recent posts, I decided not to read any reviews first. Here's my first impressions...
It's a ribbon cut and looks like it started life as a rope. Good range of colours, plenty of yellows. Felt like a good moisture level but being loose I guess this would vary depending on the vendor's storage. I decided I would air dry for 20 mins or so and then chuckled at the notion of trying to dry anything in our current UK climes. I rubbed it out a little and loaded it into the Briar Spirit freehand with a deep chamber that I selected for the job.
It took the light well and stayed lit really well throughout the bowl, always providing a satisfying amount of smoke. It was natural smoke, no added flavours, grassy, earthy. Having no knowledge of the blend (unlike me, I usually do my homework) this must be Va heavy. The bowl drifted by nicely and gave me time to reflect upon the events of 2015. I'm a nic lightweight and after a full bowl I was just beginning to get the first signs of a buzz.
In sum this is a no nonsense, un-complicated, natural and robust smoke.
Happy New Year fellow brothers and sisters. Here's to all that 2016 brings.
It's a ribbon cut and looks like it started life as a rope. Good range of colours, plenty of yellows. Felt like a good moisture level but being loose I guess this would vary depending on the vendor's storage. I decided I would air dry for 20 mins or so and then chuckled at the notion of trying to dry anything in our current UK climes. I rubbed it out a little and loaded it into the Briar Spirit freehand with a deep chamber that I selected for the job.
It took the light well and stayed lit really well throughout the bowl, always providing a satisfying amount of smoke. It was natural smoke, no added flavours, grassy, earthy. Having no knowledge of the blend (unlike me, I usually do my homework) this must be Va heavy. The bowl drifted by nicely and gave me time to reflect upon the events of 2015. I'm a nic lightweight and after a full bowl I was just beginning to get the first signs of a buzz.
In sum this is a no nonsense, un-complicated, natural and robust smoke.
Happy New Year fellow brothers and sisters. Here's to all that 2016 brings.