DIY black or dark twist pipe tobacco

[karam]

I haven't smoked Gawith and Hoggarth black rope, but have been working at a section of Samuel Gawith Black XX and the oily taste is unmissable.

It's a strange one, really love/hate blend, I dumped my first bowl after a few puffs as it made me gag, yet I have been smoking it every couple of weeks ever since.

What I haven't figured out is how to prepare the tobacco to minimize the fat-on-the-grill taste - some members of the pipe forum claim that a shag cut minimzes the oil taste, that's not my experience: I have cut thick ribbons, near shag, even cut thick coins and cube cut. Tried straight off the rope, after 1-48 hours drying... it is finicky, whatever it wants to be that day, but will retain a presence in my meager cellar.

China, I suspect the ropes are among the Gawith stables' oldest offerings, so I wouldn't be surprised if the differences between SG amd GH's ropes are minimal. Since a few years they are one company again, and are already economizing production, so I am sure we will soon see one black rope remaining.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I really liked it. I could smoke it every day. I went straight home and began olive oil experiments.

 

[Charly]

Some years ago, I tried some ropes from "Samuel Gawith" VS "Gawith Hoggarth & Co" to see the differences.
Results : they are very close, but each one had its own style.
I think the method used to make the black ropes ("Black XX Finest" vs "Black Irish X" for example) is the same, they give the same unique "oily" taste and smell.

In my notes (from 12 years ago !!! oh my....) I wrote that the black twists had some kind of tar + earth + buttery/creamy/leathery/bbq taste. I understand now where it came from.

 

[Krausen89]

So i did try it and i did enjoy it but after all the lagers, i wasn't taking any notes lol. From what i do remember, the beginning of it was really mild and very slight hints of fire cured. Very Cavendish like, but nothing like i ever had before. towards the middle of it the fire cured was showing more of itself and it started to give me nice nicotine buzz and very full of flavor. It wasn't completely dry and so it might of had something to do with how mellow it was at first. i have placed it in a jar and will try it here and there to get different tastes after sitting for some time. also i will make sure to dry it more the next time i try some. i am def going to make one without steaming it but will wrap it up with the string and let it sit for a few day to week...

I still dont know how i feel about smoking the oil. just remember on the video they coated it in olive oil and then steamed and pressed it. i doubt much oil actually penetrated especially after how tight they were wrapped with a machine. i am sure it has something to do with taste of their dark twist but unless it is you favorite rope i wouldn't worry about using it. I still need to try some Black twist and Brown twist but everywhere i look it is sold out!

 

[Davo]

You can normally get 1oz samples From KBV or Boswells. If I lived stateside I’d send you some samples sorry

 

[deluxestogie]

The Pipe Shop Edinburgh apparently has it, but they are temporarily shipping only within the UK.

You searched for gawith twist | The Pipe Shop

thepipeshop.co.uk

Bob

 

[Krausen89]

Thanks Bob. i did see a few that had it in stock but unfortunately none of them were shipping out of the UK

 

[karam]

I still dont know how i feel about smoking the oil. just remember on the video they coated it in olive oil and then steamed and pressed it. i doubt much oil actually penetrated especially after how tight they were wrapped with a machine. i am sure it has something to do with taste of their dark twist but unless it is you favorite rope i wouldn't worry about using it. I still need to try some Black twist and Brown twist but everywhere i look it is sold out!

Oh there's definitely oil taste there in the black rope I've been smoking

Yes, in the US the ropes are extremely hard to catch in stock...

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

The tobacco flavour book lists the ingredients in olive oil separately: palmitic acid (waxy, sweet, adds body), oleic acid (waxy, fatty, smoothing), and linoleic acid (waxy, adds harshness). Olive oil is approximately 13% palmitic, 70% oleic, and 15% linoleic.

Which then raises the question, what if you used palm oil instead? 43.5% palmitic, 36.6% oleic, 9.1% linoleic, and 4.3% stearic (waxy, nutty).

 

[Rook]

I would like try some twist, but does it ghost briar pipes? If so I'll get a corn cob pipe.

 

[karam]

I would like try some twist, but does it ghost briar pipes? If so I'll get a corn cob pipe.

The black xx twist dpes ghost to an extent, but not excessively considering how strong the taste is.

 

[Davo]

I would like try some twist, but does it ghost briar pipes? If so I'll get a corn cob pipe.

You should just get a corn cob anyways

 

[Krausen89]

it depends on the twist i suppose. I have one cob that i use for non-aromatics (Stained Rob Roy Legend) I smoke a lot of latakia and fire cured blends and occasionally some Burley light which may even be considered an aromatic. I don't notice any ghosting from the twists i have made because i keep to similar types for that pipe and i enjoy them all. I would think if there is a lot of fire cured or the "olive oil" aspect of the black twist i could see it ghosting a nice pipe that you want to enjoy other aromatics(or non-aromatics) out of. but if it was a twist consisting of VA, Burley(or the like),and orientals topped with some whiskey or other flavorings it is possible it will not. I mainly stick with cobs anyway and personally enjoy them more than my briars for my regular morning smoke.

 

[smoknron]

I have a couple of cobs, the country gent, and the little devil acorn. I love them both and want more. Some blends just taste great in cob that's for sure.I don't get any ghosting from the rope/twists that I've smoked in the cobs but read that some have. I like the rope style tobaccos from the well known companies and wish I could just come close to making something like the brown Irish twist which I like. I know it can be done, and I know it isn't easy. It takes work & time and to me its very interesting. I really enjoy searching and reading about tobacco and its history also. The video that Krausen89 posted is interesting. I've been doing a little work pressing leaf here and there but not succeeding the way I'd like to. I really like the idea of, and the challenge to take the leaf and make something good. The growing is also on my mind, and one day I will but the truth is, and I've read it a few times, most likely in Bobs work, in which I have learned a lot from and appreciate, is that blending successfully isn't easy that's for sure. Time to get a pipe full and check the weather !

 

[Krausen89]

Some pics of the dark and brown twist i made after aging. Looks like some plume pushing through (i hope, it brushed right off )

 

[deluxestogie]

I would suggest drying it down well now. "Plume" is a tobacconist's polite term for microbial growth. Might be mold, or it could be yeast.

Bob

 

[Krausen89]

I would suggest drying it down well now. "Plume" is a tobacconist's polite term for microbial growth. Might be mold, or it could be yeast.

Bob

It is drying out now. I should have dried it completely from the start. I think it was pretty dry when i put it in jars but i have made more twists that have been long smoked and i def take it a lot easier on casing the leaves as i stack them. Same concept as cigars i keep the inside drier while the wrapper leaves are nice and supple.

 

[deluxestogie]

You are definitely doing better than I have done in my attempts at twist.

Bob