QTY Price Single 12.5g Pouch £3.45 Single 25g Pouch £6.70 Single 50g Pouch £13.25 100g (2x50g Pouches) £26.30 200g (4x50g Pouches) £52.40 500g (10x50g Pouches) £129.40 500g (1x500g Bag) £126.30. Loose Packaged to Order.
Medium Strength. Coarse Cut. Slow Burning Equivalent: We have been reliably informed that this tobacco is a good substitute for the long lost Lloyds Bondsman Tobacco. BUY BRITISH The Kendal Shag Tobacco is made in the heart of the lake district in the true British spirit. The finest tobacco leaves are sourced from the finest tobacco producing nations before being blended and prepared in the Kendal Tobacco factory. The Kendal Dark is the same blend of full strength Dark Malawi and Indian tobacco leaves as the Auld Kendal Dark but the strands are cut thicker. These tobacco leaves have been fired and air cured to bring out the full strength and flavours for the enjoyment of the experienced smoker.
We would not recommend the Kendal Dark tobacco for the novice smoker. All of the tobacco’s in the Kendal range are very clean, containing very little of the stem and produce a very natural flavour without the chemical harshness present in many modern tobaccos. All of the tobacco’s in the Kendal Shag Tobacco range are very clean, containing very little of the stem and produce a very natural flavour without the chemical harshness present in many modern tobaccos. Shag Tobacco: Due to some hand rolling smokers using shag tobacco for hand rolling purposes, HMRC have taken action to stop this abuse of the tobacco taxation. HMRC have defined that any tobacco where the strands are less than 1.5mm will be taxed as a Hand Rolling tobacco. All shag tobacco produced as of January 2011 will be cut above 1.5mm. This is a pipe tobacco and is taxed accordingly.
It is a criminal offence to use shag tobacco for hand rolling and we do not endorse this. Loose packaged to order: Here at the Black Swan Specialist Tobacconist we buy our Kendal Dark, Tobacco in half kilo bags. This means we hand package your tobacco and inspect every strand before it reaches you.
Strong Extremely Mild Full Pleasant I'm in Love! This Kendal's Dark is delicious! Once again, thanks to a fellow reviewer (DrDNA) for gifting me some of this delightful weed. It is a long stranded shag cut that has a deep, dark presence with an enticing odor that somehow conveys the fact that it needs to be smoked. I obliged quickly and I'm glad I did. Kendal's Dark is reportedly a Virginia with no mention of any Burley. I know that Esoterica's Stonehaven is a mostly Burley blend.
Yet, these two are very similar with Kendal's Dark being a 'revved up' version of Stonehaven, IMO. It burned dry and clean all the way to the bottom of the bowl. I did not use one single pipe cleaner during my smokes (two bowls back to back). I realize some of that had to do with the outstanding Ruthenberg I had the 'baccy loaded up in, but the tobacco itself also played a part in the dry smoke. This tobacco, in addition to being full and loaded with semi-sweet flavor, also had a spicy note that leads me to believe there is some hint of added flavoring. I don't have a clue who Kendal is/was. But, I sure thank him for sharing his Dark.
11 people found this review helpful. Very Strong None Detected Full Pleasant Kendal Kentucky is a fine ribbon cut, a 'strong, cool, traditional tobacco'. It is so finely cut that you can easily roll cigarettes with it. The smoke is of a powerful intensity, both in body and in nicotine strength.
There is some depth if you wish to discern the aspects of the Virginia from the Burley, but mostly you get a bold body of rich tobacco flavor. It is a simple tobacco blend with an agreeable balance between the Virginia and Burley. For such a bold tobacco, there is a smoothness and finesse that was unexpected. Even so, this is a tobacco for experienced pipe smokers who know when to put the pipe down when necessary. I also experienced a little sweetness from the Virginia.
The high point of the bowl was shortly after the second lighting, after the tobacco had been tamped down. The low point of the bowl is in the final stages when the tobacco is almost spent. Kendal Dark smokes cool and dry. It was smoked in an Orlik Captain Black billiard with a good cake. Pipe Used: Orlik Captain Black billiard Age When Smoked: Fresh from purchase Purchased From: 4 Noggins 6 people found this review helpful.
Extremely Strong Very Mild Full Very Strong I just finished a two-month stint of smoking a quantity of Dark Birdseye, Kendal Dark, and Kendal Kentucky in rotation at various moisture levels, times-of-day, etc. In an effort to decide which one to start buying in bulk. In the end, although they seem quite different when smoked back to back, I can honestly say that if only any one of the three were available, I would lay in a large stock of it and be thankful. The middle part applies to all three: The cut is what I would call an 'ultra-fine ribbon.'
Just wider than a true shag, but handles like a shag. I like how it dries out. I like packing it into the pipe. I like how it burns. It can burn really really fast if you truly pay no attention at all, and with tobaccos of this strength it can be unpleasant, but I am lazy and like how easy it is to get these ribbons to smolder compared to larger stuff. Just let it dry untill nearly breakable, squeeze it, light it, and puff easy.
There's a lot in here. It awakens the senses, calms the mind, and coats the mouth. The flavor of these is decidedly dark and strong. Meaty, tangy, oily, a little sweet, fermented, a little smoky.
Smoking these is not a multi-dimensional experience like a symphony. More like Sacred Harp sing-4 notes, wild and good and loud. Full on dark tobacco taste. Rough around the edges, raw, old-timey. I have nothing to compare it to, really. I can only say that I really like it and will keep something like this aound at all times.
Dark Birdseye is my favorite. Kendal Dark is the most civilized of the three. It is mellower and even has the slightest Maduro note.
It is also the least interesting. There is just the barest trace of of a lakeland baby powder here, which I believe is additive. Pipe Used: cob Age When Smoked: fresh Purchased From: smoking pipes 6 people found this review helpful. Extremely Strong Mild to Medium Mild Pleasant to Tolerable This tobacco is an exceptional offering from G & H. Its mild flavor will deceive you when the high nicotine content hits you like a brick.
I smoke it in a pipe and sometimes in an ultra light cigarette to tame the kick of this tobacco. I would definitely recommend this tobacco not be tried by a beginner used to aromatics and would further recommend anyone smoking this have something on your stomach. The nicotine in this high quality tobacco will make your head spin for sure. I like Kendal Dark, Kendal Kentucky, but find Kendal Dark Birds Eye to be my own personal favorite of the G&H offerings. Purchased From: Smoking Pipes 5 people found this review helpful. Very Strong Extremely Mild Full Tolerable to Strong The boldy earthy, nutty, woody, smoky, mildly sweet and spicy dark fired Kentucky is the star with the earthy, tangy and mildly fermented dark fruity, woody, floral Virginia in the background. I do notice an extremely light Lakeland essence in the mix.
This is a very strong blend with a full taste and nic-hit, and should be smoked in a small bowl. Won’t bite, but if puffed fast, will sport a harsh note. The light rough edges are consistent as are the deeply rich and powerful flavors from start to finish.
Being a shag cut, it burns a little fast, but cool and clean, and I recommend a sipping pace for this product. Hardly leaves any dampness in your pipe, and needs few relights. Has a pleasantly lingering, rich, deep after taste. Not an all day smoke. 4 people found this review helpful. Very Strong Extremely Mild Medium Tolerable to Strong It has taken me a year to come to terms with this powerful, unusual tobacco. Now I can't live without it.
I don't dry it out much, but I tear the shag (now soon to be a 1.5mm ribbon because of silly legislation) for easier packing. And I pack it fairly tight, tighter than one would think for a shag and I smoke it very slow. It has the smallest bit of sweetness from the VA, to go with the powerful smokiness.
It is funny but as has been noted the fine shag cut seems to make this taste much lighter than the flake form (Dark Flake). In fact the taste is rather non descript and it doesn't produce a lot of smoke. The trick is to smoke it very slowly. I find this to be the perfect strengthener for wimpy blends. Because of KD's high strength and relatively neutral taste (there is the tiniest hint of Lakeland). So it is great for blending. Similar Blends: Similar to all the GH shag/ribbons, yet they are all different.
This is more 'neutral' and lighter tasting than KK or DB. 4 people found this review helpful. Strong None Detected Full Tolerable to Strong Kendal Dark. Definitely among my absolute favorite tobaccos.
If there was no variety of tobacco available to me but this, I would happily smoke more than my fill anyway, and seldom tire of it. To me, this is what smoking a pipe is all about. Strong, deep, rich, dark tobacco flavor with plenty of substance, plenty of smoke, plenty of nicotine.
Indeed, this is not a blend for people who do not enjoy strong tobaccos, and certainly not for people who never like smoking tobacco that doesn't offer a sweet flavor. There is often a cigar-like quality to the taste, and even when that isn't present it is very earthy. I have trouble not comparing it to Irish flake. To me, it hits a lot of the same notes, and while I think it is in fact a less refined and sophisticated blend I often enjoy it more than IF. It can bite if rushed or smoked wet, but drying takes minutes with such a fine cut, and the new ever-so-slightly wider ribbon cut (just barely wider than a shag) has made it easier to smoke it at a relaxed pace.
I have only two complaints regarding this tobacco. The first is that I enjoy it so much that when I buy it I smoke it frequently, sometimes to the exclusion of other blends, and my nicotine tolerance skyrockets. As a result, it takes me a while to get back to a point where I find myself satisfied after milder smokes, and the bulk of tobaccos I smoke ARE milder (which almost goes without saying). Secondly, the deep, earthy flavors and fine cut make this a FAR better cigarette tobacco than virtually any tobacco I've found designed for the purpose, and as a result when it is cold outside I often find myself rolling it up instead of loading a pipe. I can't say it's a fault of the tobacco, of course, but I prefer not to fall back into that habit. With this tobacco on hand during the winter, that temptation becomes great. The irony is in a pipe it offers a relatively quick smoke, being so strong and so finely cut, and as such winter time finds me craving it even more than normal.
This has performed admirably in any and every pipe I've used for it, regardless of the chamber's size or shape. I find it tastes best in a meerschaum or corn cob, but I usually smoke it in a briar anyway. I find it similar to strong tobaccos along the lines of Peterson's Irish Flake, Condor Long Cut, and Cornell & Diehl's Old Joe Krantz. I believe any fan of one of these blends may like it very well, if not as well as I do.
Likewise, it would be a great blend to try if you're a former cigarette or strong cigar smoker who occasionally wants a nice dose of nicotine from a pipe. Finally, it's a must try for anybody interested in a taste of a high quality and truly old fashioned, if slightly rough around the edges, tobacco. Certainly not the smoothest or most elegant tobacco produced today, yet oddly one of my very top favorites and a near daily treat for me when I have it on hand. I can't see much value in cellaring this, though.
Buy and smoke to your heart's content! 4 people found this review helpful. Overwhelming None Detected Overwhelming Very Strong As a huge fan of both Kendal Kentucky and straight virginias, I thought this one would be a winner for sure.
Indeed, it looked like KK and had a lot of its flavor. But it rapidly turned bitter and sour.
And the room aroma was absolutely nasty! I did not find this to smoke like Dark Flake at all.
I think this is mostly a dark-fired African 'burley', as I don't taste anything resembling virginias sweetness in this mix. I like the shag cut, as it gives a shorter smoke, and I smoke a lot of Kendal Kentucky on my lunch hours. But this one took the saliva from my mouth and gave me hiccups even when I puffed overly slowly.
I find nothing to save this tobacco from a one star rating. If you're looking for a nicotine hit, here you go.
If you're looking for something refined and complex (or even tasty), look elsewhere. 4 people found this review helpful. Extremely Strong None Detected Mild to Medium Tolerable to Strong A shag cut blend of dominating dark fired leaf and some air cured leaf subtly making a pressence and thinning the blend a little.
This is smokey-spicy with enormous nicotine strength that could make your head spin. I did find it too bitter as it smoked down the bowl. Being a non-flue cured blend strength on the palette is fairly cool. Simply too over the top and unrefined for me.
The quintessential Sherlockian shag so, smoke this when the game is afoot. 4 people found this review helpful. Very Strong None Detected Very Full Very Strong I have been on a Gawith run for the past several months and this is by far the strongest and most nicotine laden example I have tried of the bunch. Being a shag-cut it was easy to pack and after a false-light and tamp I was off.
What a delightful, full, peppery, mature, smoke! Caution to the fast-puffer however, this Virginia will incapacitate you if you go too fast. Blowing some through my nostrils I find my eyes opening wider and I slow the pace even more. Halfway through the bowl the smoke really settles down to a mezmerising, almost meditative experience. A slight cigar-like flavor permeates more the farther down the bowl I progress. It burns to a fine grey-white ash.
I did not need a pipe cleaner the run of the bowl, (Probably due in large part to my slowing down as I progressed), and it left just a small dottle at the end. This is definitely, IMHO, not a smoke for the beginner or first time Virginia smoker. My first time I smoked this in an older Charatan Extra Large Pipe. Hmmm, maybe this is why after finishing it around Midnight, it took me roughly 2-3 hours to get to sleep. I plan to smoke it again in a large pipe but will do so in the early afternoon, not late at night! 4 people found this review helpful.
Strong None Detected Medium to Full Tolerable Many of us retain an affection for the old shag cut blends that were meant to be rolled or smoked in a pipe, but in the old world cigarette way, something you had after a meal or when work was done for the day. Shag cuts pack easily and burn well, and 'Kendal Dark' is no exception. It begins with a spicy flavor of dark smoke after being crammed in the bowl, then deepens to a honey-molasses type flavor as the Virginias caramelize, and finally ends up as a kind of tangy sweetness that is very pleasurable to sip for hours. Like other old school blends, 'Kendal Dark' was not designed for the hobby smoker but the working smoker, or the fellow who had a couple minutes to dip his hand into a pouch, cram a pipe full and then spend the next two hours nursing it while he did something else.
It is designed to be a constant series of little rewards, like sipping a sweet and spicy drink, to not distract but smooth the work process. If that is how you smoke, this blend is a great all-day smoke, but for the more sedentary and hobbyist types, it may be a bit strong, as it starts with medium-to-strong Nicotine levels and ramps it up from there, so that by the end of the bowl you may be coated in a fine, cold sweat. For me, this is tobacco at its best. It loads and burns like an OTC, has only a tiny hint of the incense-like flavorings that the UK tobacco makers use to cure and refine their blends, and delivers enough Nicotine to be a good friend and joy throughout the day, but not enough to put you on the floor. I mix it with 'Five Brothers' sometimes to cut the smokiness and broaden the sweetness into a full harvest flavor. 2 people found this review helpful. Very Strong Medium Very Full Strong Gawith Hoggarth - Kendal Dark.
The pouch doesn't reveal much of a surprise: a fairly dark, finely cut shag tobacco. The aroma's ever so slightly aromatic, nothing that would imply a large casing's been added, but a delicate one has been. Because of the correct hydration this lights easily and delivers a full tasting smoke.
Full, albeit basic; there isn't any flashy nuances, it's a simple smoke. The flavour I get coming through is mainly a strong/robust Virginia one, with bit of a fired touch. Although there doesn't seem to be any 'flashy' nuances to this, there is one that's 'not so flashy': after five minutes or so the smoke starts to become acrid, with the fired touch becoming burnt instead of fired. This taste also lingers on the palate afterwards. If you smoke for nicotine this is a blend that's sure to please: very strong.
I can honestly see why some pipers would find this appealing, it sums up the term Old School to me: a no messing, full tasting, strong blend. For me though, it's too macho, I'll stick with my Black Frigate! Not recommended. Pipe Used: Peterson Harp #03 Age When Smoked: New Purchased From: Gauntleys 2 people found this review helpful. Medium to Strong Very Mild Full Tolerable This is a great, deep flavoured, satisfying tobacco for those times when you’re looking for something that’s strong and dependable. Take Kendal Dark Shag slowly.
The more gently you savour, the better it is. Packs and smokes dry but can be moistened with (dark) spirit, which I recommend if you’re storing. Can be re-lit to a degree, but best finished in one or two smokes. I’ve used it as an all dayer. I’ve smoked it in small churchwardens - for those short, life saving hits – up to Oom Paul pipes, when I need something that offers long term comfort and resonating contentment.
Highly recommended. Pipe Used: Large & small Age When Smoked: New Purchased From: 4Noggins 1 person found this review helpful.
Medium to Strong None Detected Medium Tolerable As this is my first review I should probably take a few sentences to explain myself. First, although I like to smoke as often as possible, like most people I find myself only having fifteen minutes at a go for a pipe. Second, I have no interest in 'contemplating' whilst smoking: there is always something else to be done. Hence I have no time for aromatics or strongly flavoured tobaccos.
Third, I look for sufficient Vitamin N in a tobacco to wake me up in the morning, and to soothe me after a few bowls. Hence, I have been smoking Kendal Dark almost exclusively for a couple of years now. The shag cut is convenient, and means a bowl never outstays its welcome. Moreover, a few bowls can be smoked in a short time. The woody, spicy flavours are noticeable and pleasant, but never distracting.
The Vitamin N level is just right for a kick start and for an afternoon's work with a pipe as a constant companion. I am sure others will be able to point to other tobaccos with a similar combination of cut, strength and flavour profile, and fair play to you. However, Kendal Dark, so far, is the one for me.
Pipe Used: Various, including Parker Poker Age When Smoked: New Purchased From: Mysmokingshop Similar Blends: Gawith Hoggarth Kendal Kentucky, Gawith Hoggarth Dark Kentucky. 1 person found this review helpful. Strong Mild Medium to Full Tolerable This is a pretty good smoke. I just finished up a sample of this one that had been jarred and buried on a shelf. Of the shag cut Kendal blends that I have been trying, this one may be at the top to my tastes. As I have said in a few of these reviews, I don't particularly like shag cuts.
They are typically a pain to load and they burn fast. This one was a pain to load, but it burned fine. It is probably the more heavily (Lakeland) scented of these that I have tried, but it is no Ennerdale or anything like that.
And like the others, this one does pack a nice nicotine punch. It also smokes smooth and biteless like all GH blends that I have tried. This latter point makes GH, perhaps, my favorite blender. It seems everything they make smokes easy and leaves you satisfied, even if many of them do smell like an old lady's girdle. Lol Pipe Used: Dunhill Group 6 panel shell 1 person found this review helpful. Medium to Strong None Detected Medium to Full Strong Kendal Dark is a straightforward blue-collar tobacco, strong, uncomplicated and honest. It probably isn't for the fastidious; I think it must be the kind of 'evil dark shag' that Sherlock Holmes smoked.
It reminds me a little bit of French scaferlati tobacco. Don't rush it or it'll burn hot and acrid. Pack it tight and smoke it slow and it'll reward you with a cool, dry and tasty smoke, but there's nothing fancy about it and you will find that it includes a large dose of vitamin N. The room note may diminish your popularity with family and friends. When I tried it first I didn't like it at all, but it has grown on me until now it's one of my favourite cold-weather smokes. If you like a strong, simple tobacco that doesn't put on any airs, you'll like this.
Despite the 'Nuts and Beans' mentioned in the blurb, I can't detect any flavouring. All I get is a natural and unpretentious tobacco taste. For a shag-cut tobacco it burns remarkably slowly, BTW: a big point in its favour as far as I'm concerned. There is a version of this called Kendal Dark Thick Cut.
Apart from the (very slightly) thicker cut I can detect no difference between the two. I share the view also that these tobaccos are rubbed-out versions of G & H's Dark Flake. Can it be that the different cuts are ways of dodging EU tobacco excise rules? Pipe Used: Dr Plumb lumberman Age When Smoked: Straight from the shop Purchased From: My Smoking Shop (online) Similar Blends: Dark Birdseye; Kendal Kentucky.
1 person found this review helpful. Strong Medium Medium to Full Tolerable Reviewed as a cigarette tobacco: This is the best cigarette I've ever smoked. It's like smoked chocolate cake. Peat, mushroom, barbecue, woodfire, very autumnal notes. It's too heavy to smoke all day.
This is a cigarette you enjoy after a meal. It's delicious, like an old scotch, something to savor and enjoy. This tobacco is probably equally good in a pipe, which is something I wouldn't say about many cigarette tobaccos. A real treat, A+ 1 person found this review helpful. Strong Very Mild Medium Tolerable I found myself being particularly underwhelmed by this blend. That is not to say that it was an essentially bad tobacco, but given past reviews on here, I was expecting something spectacular. This tobacco was bought for me by my sister along with a few other tobaccos at Christmas, and this is the first of them that I have smoked, as I type I am finishing off the sample she got me (I think it was 25 grams).
Straight out of the pouch, the aroma that hit me immediately was a farmyard aroma. Not an unpleasant smell, but one reminiscent of farmyards where the freshly laid cow pat mixes with cut grasses, hay, pollen and fresh air. A nice evocative smell of sunny afternoons in rural settings. The tobacco packs easily, and takes the light well, it burns consistently and needs little maintenance throughout. The cut is lovely for this tobacco, no lumps or clumps, separates into strands with no effort required.
Burns to a fine white ash. It's strong, to be sure, but not the knockout punch that many appear to be labeling it as. That could be because I'm smoking it in a fairly small bowl. The taste is somewhat flat. It has an interesting sourness but also a tempered warmth to it, again, not unpleasant, but it appears that the Burley may well be the main player, with the Virginia somewhat muted. I detect a faint topping, but the tobacco is so robust that it's flavour comes through powerfully.
I also didn't find the room note to be overpowering, but I only smoked it when alone, and would imagine that to a non-smoker it may be somewhat intolerable. I think it lingers as well if the area is a closed room (like mine - it's too cold to have the windows open at this time of year). As I have no opinions from others to gauge by, I have given this a 'tolerable' room note based on my guesswork.
Overall, I would give this 2.5 out of 4, but on my rating here, I'm going to round it down to 2. I just can't justify a rating of 3. I may well buy some in future & jar it, but at the moment I can only speak for this particular sample that I had, & I would recommend that it is tried, as it is not in any way really bad - just don't build you hopes up like I did for this one, as it's not - in my opinion - as good as a lot of the previous reviews made it out to be. Maybe I had a dud sample, but I think the likelihood is that I was just expecting far too much. Pipe Used: Peterson Standard System 317 (smooth) Age When Smoked: New Purchased From: Smokewise, Eastbourne 1 person found this review helpful. Medium to Strong None Detected Medium to Full Pleasant to Tolerable This is another very good blend in the Kendal line. Annihilator schizo deluxe rar. It is sweet and spicy.
It has deeper notes here and there, some remain elusive. It is enough to keep my interest and I have only smoked 2 oz. The sweetness is common to VA's I also get a little something that reminds me of cocoa way in the background and some notes of fermented grain as well. The spiciness must come from the dark fired leaf. The notes are not clear if that is KY or VA but I would think that there is some KY present here too.
It looks like Kendal KY, but the smell is a little fuller and it does taste different but there is a similarity there too. Could this be a topping that I am just not quite picking up on? Maybe that is what is elusive. In any case this is a good blend one that I have a couple of oz. Left and with seeing what it will do in about 3 yrs.
Room note is odd as it is strong to me, I normally cannot smell what I am smoking but I can pick this up. The odd thing is the wife (who does not like smoke) seems to think this smells better than Kendal KY, which is not noticeable to me but always results in the door slamming shut. This one is worth revising down the road and if aging improves it it should be upgraded to 4 stars. It does not bite too much even when pushed 1 person found this review helpful. Strong Mild Medium Pleasant to Tolerable Kendal's Dark reminds me of Peterson's 3P in terms of taste, but in less berry/fruitish and more on the date/fig side of taste.
The strenghth in the nicotine is a bit strong for me but it does not ruin the overall experience like St-Bruno did. Despite the very fine cut, I did not experience any tongue bite. The combustion is excellent, a few tappings here and there, very lighty administered and it burn all the way down dry. As it was a sample gracefully sent to me, I will definitively order some.
1 person found this review helpful. Strong Medium to Strong Mild to Medium Pleasant A stronger tobacco with light side proportions of 68% Virginia and a dark side of nearly 1/3, including 16% dark-cured Indian leaf, and a little Burley providing a full strength smoke. The dominant flavour is one of oatmeal with a complex top note that suggests rum and chocolate. This is certainly a strong tobacco both in terms of taste and nicotine hit, but it is incredibly mild and provides a wonderfully full smoke. It goes well with a cup of coffee, each bringing out subtle flavors in the others and I found it smoked easily to the bottom of the bowl where it left a wispy white ash.
I've been experimenting with different tobaccos lately thanks to the terrific mail order service supplied by UKTobacco.Com and out of the many different varieties I've tried lately this is so far my favourite. My mix was supplied in a shag cut and although it felt a little moist in the pack it lit well and needed no drying out. I'm sure I detected a little Burley in the mix but the overall taste is that of classic Virginia leaf. Tastes - oatmeal definitely and also a little almond and as I neared the bottom of the bowl the overpowering flavour became what I can only describe as a chocolaty rum.
The nicotine hit is immense so I don't think I'd use this as an all day smoke, but rather one to settle back with of an evening while reading a good book. I also tried the tobacco mixed with a little English Cherry Tobacco from the same blender and found the result to be even more del I must say I enjoyed this one and have to award it a five pipe rating, five out of five of course 1 person found this review helpful. Medium to Strong None Detected Full Pleasant to Tolerable I find this tobacco very similar to Kendal Kentucky so my review is almost identical.
The main differnces here seem to be that KD has slightly more of the soft dark sweetness and lacks the bitter dry edge of KK. This is, no doubt, due to the contituant leaves i.e. The sweetness of virginia as opposed to the nutiness of burley. However, these differnces are so small as to render these two tobaccos as more of a variation on a theme than anything else. I generally prefer savoury to sweet but in this case Kendal Dark wins out for me, just.
This tobacco is a bit of a trip down memory lane for me as it smells just like the tobaccos my Grandad used to smoke. I'll try to not let that cloud my judgement, much. It smells nice in the bag (like all G,H&co. Pipe tobaccos, it seems you can only buy this weighed out loose in England) and has an attractive, uniform, burnt umber colouring. Despite the shag cut I found this tobacco to be easy to deal with and lacked both the wimpy ability to put flavour across and the temperamentality I usually find in this kind of tobacco. The flavour has been well described here; being (to my tastebuds) rich, slightly earthy with a hint of spice and softened with a natural muscovado sweetness. Although this is a fairly strong tobacco I had no probelms with the occasional inhale because of it's seemingly complete lack of additives or flavourings (which always seem to irritate my lungs).
I also tried rolling it in a cigarette paper and found it an enjoyable experience - retaining it's full flavour and being of a much higher quality than any other hand rolling tobacco I've ever tried, which is admittedly, a limited number. I can't fault the stuff. If you like smoking full flavoured, natural and high quality tobacco and you don't like paying huge amounts of money for the privellage why wouldn't you smoke this? 1 person found this review helpful.
Overwhelming None Detected Very Full Tolerable to Strong I think this is the same tobacco sold as 'Kendal Dark Thick Cut', which is in fact a fairly fine to medium cut. Another tobacco based on Dark Plug, or Dark Flake. I detect little of the lakeland floral scent. Burns well, a strong, cigar like smoky taste that the dark fired, air cured tobaccos are known for.
You won't have to check to make sure its actually lit. Its a very strong tobacco, very high in body. Even in a small pipe, carefully smoked it can be overwhelming. Because of its cut (fine relative to the flake/plug) it tends to burn faster and deliver more smoke. I can't help thinking the a tobacco much like this would have been smoked long ago in England, in a little clay pipe. Its strong enough to have reduced Sherlock Holmes' 'Three pipe problem' to only a single pipe.
My 4. recommendation is based on the type of tobacco. If you want to fill a large pipe and smoke it for a long time, this isn't your blend. A small pipe, very carefully and slowly smoked, is really nice. Not to mention that your pouch could hold several weeks or months supply!
1 person found this review helpful. Medium to Strong Medium Full Tolerable Kendal Dark: No doubt this is high quality tobacco but. And here come the buts.
I just can't get much appreciation worked up for this stuff. I have to say this was an unexpected result for a Kendal tobacco offering but there it is. I am a big fan of the stronger blends like Dark Flake and the Twists and Ropes (as well as the lighter blends and even a few of the medium ones) but this one just doesn't seem to make it with me. I'm not sure if it is the cut of the tobacco which is a very fine string cut that burns quite fast or the component tobaccos that gives this result. If it as has been suggested it is Dark Flake but to me it doesn't taste the same.
G&h Kendal Dark
It burns hotter than the others (Sliced Black and Brown and even Kendal Light).The flavor is passable and the nicotine and strength are as well. I am not all that fond of 'passable' though and from a quality manufacturer like Gawith and Hoggarth (or anybody else for that matter)'passable' is barely acceptable. For the first time I've given a Kendal tobacco a 'Somewhat Recommended' rating and that's what I suggest for those who want a change of taste and/or pace. In truth it is not a bad tobacco just not the one for this smoker on a regular basis. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (somewhat disappointed) Update:5/9/2010, Have since smoking Kendal Dark returned to my Dark Flake stash and I have to say that if this Kendal Dark is the same tobacco but in a fine shag cut it still does not taste the same.
The Dark Flake which I enjoy is a much more accomodating smoke. I am not a novice pipe smoker and the difference in the cuts was allowed for as I went through the bowls of each and the result was the same.Dark Flake-an '8' or possibly an '8.5' on the 1-10 satisfaction scale and Kendal Dark still only about a '3' for me personally.
Sorry,G&H, I do understand that every blend has its promoters and its detractors and a few neutral reactions but this one is not in the same class as Dark Flake. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (still somewhat disappointed) 1 person found this review helpful. Strong None Detected Full Tolerable This is an awesome shag tobacco. It is easy to light and smokes all the way down with few to no relights. Burns to a fine white/gray ash. Bitter/sweet with a bit of spice/heat on the tongue. This goes well with coffee in the morning it you want a real wake up call!
I bet it would be wonderful smoked after a cold day outside with a cup of hot chocolate. I think the flavors would compliment each other nicely. Once the weather is a bit cooler I think I will confirm this theory.
This may be redundant, given other reviews, but there is a bit of cigarishness to the flavor and aroma. Best smoked, at least for me, in a small to medium sized pipe. I tried some in a large Italian freehand and it burned way too fast.
I couldn't control the burn even with slow puffing and it was not as enjoyable this way. It became a bit bitter and hot. Maybe it was because I had all my windows open and several ceiling fans going at the time.
Kendal Dark Tobacco
Nice amount of nicotine, though not as much as Dark Birds Eye which is another G&H shag type tobacco that I like. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a stronger full tobacco flavored smoke. 1 person found this review helpful.
Medium None Detected Mild to Medium Tolerable I was rather disappointed with GH&C Kendal Dark. It had much less flavor and strength than most of the review led me to expect. Instead, what I got was a rather mild burley forward smoke with an occasional taste of dark fired leaf and very occasionally a bit of sweetness from the Virginias. The unlit tobacco smelled faintly aromatic, although I didn't detect any flavoring while smoking it. Since KD is a shag, I loaded a large pipe with a lot of tobacco and packed it down rather tightly.
This made it a bit difficult to light and keep lit, but provided a long smoke. I smoked it very slowly, which may account for my perception that is isn't as strong as others found it. The flavor was pretty consistent, although it was a little sweeter toward the end of the bowl. I suspect KD would make an excellent RYO tobacco. Pipe Used: Various large briars Age When Smoked: Recently purchased. Purchased From: smokingpipes.com Similar Blends: Similar to but lighter than GH&C Kendal Kentucky. Nobody has rated this review yet.
Strong Extremely Mild Full Tolerable to Strong Gawith & Hoggarth a house known for countless rope tobaccos, Lakeland mixtures and also their „Kendal“ blends. Sadly unavailable in Germany, I was lucky to get ahold of a sample of some of their ropes and mixtures.
Inside the sample baggie there’s a shag-cut of dark-brown, partly almost black tobaccos with few brighter, orange-yellow speckles inbetween. „A mixture from dark fired Malawi (Burley) and air cured Indian tobacco (Virginia)“ they describe. The Burley obviously prevails in this blend.
Dipping my nose into the bag got me interestedbecause the scent is quite inconspicuous. Some smokiness, some earthy-nuttinessbut really very mild scent that seems to be quite natural. Kendal Dark’s aroma is full-bodied, and dominated by the Burley. Smoky wood, with some decent earthiness to it are the star players here. Enhanced by a delicious nuttiness, and a minor sweetness. To me, the Virginia are just sporting the minor sweetness and a slightly refreshing citrusy-sourness, to not only for flattening the edges of the bold dark fired Burley, but also to add another dimension and keep it from being boring. Not too much depth in this blend, but I guess depth isn’t what one is looking for when smoking a Burley- or Kentucky-forward blend.
This is just good, honest and full-bodied tobacco, that’s said to have a very mild nutty flavoring to it. If a flavoring is apparent in this, it’s extremely mild and blended in a way to only enhance the Burleys natural characteristics. Progressing through the bowl, the nuttiness intensifies towards the second half of the bowl and settles the flavor-profile as being „Smoky, woodsy, nutty-sweet“. Best to smoked slowly, as this baby can burn fast (due to the cut) and bite if pushed too hard. Slow cadence rewards you with intense and rounded aroma of Burley-goodness. Kendal Dark, due to the nature of dark fired Burleys, does have some strenght to it and is satisfying to the Aficionado of full-bodied Burley- or Kentucky blends, but may be overwhelming to smokers who prefer mild smokes.
An easy, no too complex, but wonderful tasting blend with rich aromas. I wrote an in-depth review on this in english language on: Pipe Used: Old Dominion Corn Cob Nobody has rated this review yet. Medium None Detected Medium Tolerable Used in ryo Cigarette. This is an somewhat okay Dutch style half zware copy tobacco. Compared to the real deal this one is milder in Nic hit and sadly has an harsh Cigar like taste to it.
The Dark fired taste is like the real deal half zware Dutch style. The cut is very fine ribbon and just a little wider than a true shag. Pipe Used: Ryo Age When Smoked: Fresh bulk Purchased From: smokingpipes.com Similar Blends: Mix 2 parts D&R Ryback and 1 part Kendal Dark and you have an almost real Dutch Half Zware tobacco. Nobody has rated this review yet. Strong Medium to Strong Medium to Full Very Strong Too easy to smoke fast.I spent a day on this and found it to be very addictive.Won,t leave you legless but rather wobbly.Old woman had a few scathing words but said yer lucky on this one.If I stay outside she wont have me put down.Does anybody else have to put up with the abuse.
I hope not!Smoke it slow and out of the wind. She said:When it comes to beatings baby you deserve the best: Good smoke! Pipe Used: John Calice Age When Smoked: fresh bag Purchased From: smokingpipes Similar Blends: Dark birdseye. Nobody has rated this review yet. Extremely Strong None Detected Medium Overwhelming Well, it's strong. I'll give it that.
If you want the novelty of smoking the single most nicotine laden tobacco that is readily available you need look no further than Kendal Dark. If you want something with a bit more flavor or complexity, you may have to look elsewhere; but nicotine? The flavor's raspy and smoky. Something in the way of a dark cheroot cigar. Dirt and pepper come to mind as the primary taste and more than a little ammonia. The membranes of the nose and mouth start to tingle and tighten shortly after lighting up. Kendal Dark almost immediately induces hiccups and a racing heart rate.
It's not actually unpleasant, but it's wholly unlike what we've come to expect out of modern pipe smoking. The smoke doesn't last long enough to maintain this sort of rough treatment as that fine shag cut really does burn hot and fast. All things told, I smoked over a pound of Kendal Dark in scarcely over a month's time, so you know that I gave it more than a fair shake. I am sure that all sorts of comparisons could be made between this and the dark, foul shag of Sherlock Holmes fame. Make those comparisons all that you want, but that doesn't mean that I would ever want to smoke this again.
Nobody has rated this review yet. Medium to Strong Mild Medium Pleasant to Tolerable This is good stuff. I am surprised how good it is considering the cut which is like cigarette tobacco. Kendal Dark Shag has the distinctive tonquin (or, rather, its replacement) smell and taste but it's on the light side of things. I was anticipating tongue bite but it did not happen.
It smokes nice and strong, does not ghost my pipes and builds a great cake too. I can understand why G& H stubbornly keeps producing this: because it's good. Nobody has rated this review yet.
Strong None Detected Medium to Full Pleasant to Tolerable The same basic blend as the unscented G&H Dark Flake/plug, only it hasn't been compressed etc. As part of the curing process. It's a lighter tasting smoke, not as powerful and it maybe burns a little bit hotter. A useful tobacco if you like Dark Flake but want a quicker smoke than a bowlful of flake, or like shag cuts and are looking for something distinctive with a bit of depth to it. It doesn't lose all it's flavour outdoors either, unlike some tobaccos.
As supplied it's generally smokeable immediately though some may prefer to give it a very short drying time. Just don't dry it out too much, British tobaccos are intended to be smoked a little 'damp'.
One thing - the cut is actually more of a thin ribbon than a traditional fine shag. In the EU pipe tobacco is taxed differently to hand-rolling (anti-cigarette laws basically) and EU rules were changed a few years ago to force manufacturers to cut pipe tobacco too thick to use as hand-rolling to force hand-rollers to pay for the higher taxed hand-rolling cuts. The flavour has therefore changed a little from years gone by, but not much. On the plus side it now burns a little cooler and a little slower.
Nobody has rated this review yet. Strong None Detected Full Pleasant O-K, this is a quality tobacco- well-mannered and has a good taste.but it does not have enough nicotine for me, and I just find it a little boring.
Better than many tobaccos which are out there.has kind of a unique taste which is very pleasant.but still.just not enough of anything to really make me buy more. If you prefer something milder than the GH&C ropes, yet which possesses the high-quality of GH&C tobaccos, you'll like this. Can't say anything bad about this.I just prefer their stronger stuff. Overall, a very good middle-of-the-road medium smoke. Note: Another reviewer said that this is the same tobacco as Dark Flake.
DF is a Viginia/burley mixture- this is pure Virginia. While I love virginias, I do prefer Dark Flake to this- as it is a little stronger and tastier.
UPDATE: This tobacco has rteally grown on me! As one gets used to it, the subtleties of it's flavor become more apparent (and that includes just a hint of that famous Lakeland essence) and I have to say that it is really unique and comforting.
I ended up ordering more of this, and always enjoy smoking it; and while I do usually prefer GH&C products, I must say that I have since tried Sam Gawith's Lakeland Dark, which is very similar to this Kendall.only even better! But you can not go wrong with either tobacco- they are both great. Nobody has rated this review yet.
Extremely Strong Medium to Strong Extra Full Pleasant to Tolerable Dark and spicy. A strong, tobaccoey, slightly burnt gingersnap cookie. I'm convinced that the effects of nicotine in a blend are subjective,-but this is among the strongest (if not the strongest) I've smoked. Not a bad thing.
The cut is what I would describe as 'fine ribbon'. It's certainly not a regular ribbon; but its not so fine as, say, Kendal #7. I like this style of cut quite a lot. Easy to light and keep lit-and I like easy. Again, this is certainly subjective, but I find that this tobacco is harsh on my throat in a way I haven't with any other tobacco. It's almost a constrictive effect. I can't imagine smoking bowl-upon-bowl of this.
I may experiment with this as a blending tobacco. I do like it. But I can't handle it in quantity.
Nobody has rated this review yet. Strong None Detected Full Tolerable Stronger than Kentucky Kendal, and smoky. Mid-bowl it is not as spicy/sweet as the Kendal #7 Mixture.
I think the #7 is the sweetest of the three what with the fire-cured VA. I am packing the bowl firmer and getting better results (a longer burn with consistent flavor).
Also, somebody suggested dumping the ash and going easy with the tamper. I think that is right. Now that I know how to smoke these shags I like them almost as much as Irish Flake. Nobody has rated this review yet.
Was it a very finely cut shag? The type that looks like its composed of your asian girlfriends pubic hairs? You used to be able to buy a very finely cut shag from G Smith & Sons on Charing Cross Road that you could smoke in a clay pipe or for the very brave roll into a cigarette. I think it was called Strong Black Shag or something like that and the room note sort of matches your experience. I rather liked it in a weird and strange type of way. I assume it burns quite hot and reduces down to a very fine white ash and does not require too many matches to get it burning.
I must add that one too my list sometime and try it out.
Medium Strength. Coarse Cut. Slow Burning Equivalent: We have been reliably informed that this tobacco is a good substitute for the long lost Lloyds Bondsman Tobacco. BUY BRITISH The Kendal Shag Tobacco is made in the heart of the lake district in the true British spirit. The finest tobacco leaves are sourced from the finest tobacco producing nations before being blended and prepared in the Kendal Tobacco factory.
The Kendal Dark is the same blend of full strength Dark Malawi and Indian tobacco leaves as the Auld Kendal Dark but the strands are cut thicker. These tobacco leaves have been fired and air cured to bring out the full strength and flavours for the enjoyment of the experienced smoker. We would not recommend the Kendal Dark tobacco for the novice smoker. All of the tobacco’s in the Kendal range are very clean, containing very little of the stem and produce a very natural flavour without the chemical harshness present in many modern tobaccos.
All of the tobacco’s in the Kendal Shag Tobacco range are very clean, containing very little of the stem and produce a very natural flavour without the chemical harshness present in many modern tobaccos. Shag Tobacco: Due to some hand rolling smokers using shag tobacco for hand rolling purposes, HMRC have taken action to stop this abuse of the tobacco taxation.
HMRC have defined that any tobacco where the strands are less than 1.5mm will be taxed as a Hand Rolling tobacco. All shag tobacco produced as of January 2011 will be cut above 1.5mm. This is a pipe tobacco and is taxed accordingly. It is a criminal offence to use shag tobacco for hand rolling and we do not endorse this. Loose packaged to order: Here at the Black Swan Specialist Tobacconist we buy our Kendal Dark, Tobacco in half kilo bags.
This means we hand package your tobacco and inspect every strand before it reaches you.
Gawith, Hoggarth & Co.' S Kendal Dark Vanilla uses the same base tobaccos as their Kendal Dark Menthol - dark air-cured Virginia and rich, smoky dark-fired Kentucky. This is cut into a fine shag, so extra attention should be paid while packing, as keeping the tobacco too loose can result in a fast, hot burn. These premium-quality tobaccos are finished with a light amount of creamy vanilla flavor to take the edge off the bold taste of the robust leaf. If you're looking for a strong blend with a bit of finesse, try G&H Kendal Dark Vanilla.
This was an odd one. At first I didn't think I liked it but it grew on me. Definitely not a vanilla taste, I still can't put my finger on the taste, it's somewhere between talcum powder and old leather and I know that sounds weird (because it is) but it's a pleasant smoke. It's nice and smooth with a very interesting flavor, easy burning, and nice and strong. I spent the whole bowl trying to put my finger on the taste and all I can say is that it reminds me of my grandpa's billiard room and that's why I can't nail it down to the talc or the old leather.
Probably not for everyone.
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