Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Brown Pigtail E/S

Brown Pigtail is the thin-to-medium gauge of the four thicknesses of twisted rope Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. produces; the "brown" designation shows that the rope is left as it comes off the twisting machine, without further pressing or cooking. The E/S version's body is built from strong Virginia leaves and treated with sweet maple sugar; the topping does more to bring out the leaf's own sweetness than to build a distinct flavour layer. Uncut, the rope smells woody and sharp; once sliced thin and rubbed out, the peaty, smoky character deepens. The product tends to be quite moist, so it wants a fairly long airing before loading, otherwise it needs frequent relighting.