Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Sliced Black Twist

Sliced Black Twist is a tobacco made by hand-twisting dark fire-cured leaf into rope form at the Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. facility in Kendal; a small amount of dark air-cured Indian leaf is also added to the blend. The twisted rope is pressed and steamed, a process that darkens the leaf thoroughly while also reducing some of its nicotine and sharp spicy edges. As a result, the black twist gives a milder smoke than the brown twist. The "sliced" in the product's name refers to the rope being factory-sliced to coin thinness, so the smoker doesn't need to cut it themselves. On the taste side, smoky, spicy, woody, earthy, and leathery layers stand out; despite this heavy fire-cured frame, the smoke stays cool and smooth. The slices need to be well rubbed out and thinned, and smoked slowly.