Manufacturer Description:
For the dedicated smoker who demands a fuller flavour tobacco. Commonwealth, another Samuel Gawith Bi-Centenarian, is a full strength blend of 50% heavily steamed Virginia and 50% Latakia.
Characterisation:
The tobacco appears as a dark brown mixture with a few brighter parts. The tobaccos are cut rather short and small. By opening the tin the spicy smell of Latakia comes up immediately. The humidity of the mixture seems to be rather high, but without to be clammy.
Plugging:
The Commonwealth could be plugged very well. It’s recommended to twist portions of the tobacco between the fingers to fluffily bowls and to plug them, fluffily and slightly too, into the pipe. Thereby one should press every bowl towards the wall of the pipe to get an unique filling.
Light up:
In spite of it’s humidity the tobacco could be light up good, whereby it’s necessary to relight one or two times and dampen down the tobacco with the tamper, before it’ll glow constant.
Smoking properties:
The Commonwealth is a heavy mixture with minimum medium strength. It’s English character is distinctive by the high amount of Latakia. Burning behaviour is good, the tobacco could be smoked cool and slow without dieing down. In spite of it’s humidity the tobacco develops only less condensate. The taste is very spicy and strong but not unpleasing. The Virgina gives the mixture a very light sweet taste, what’ll round up the blend perfect. The remaining ash is fine and medium grey.
Redolency:
The redolence is heavily dominated by the English character too. At this time the high amount of Latakia is as remarkable as the absence of any aroma. For enthusiasts of that kind of tobacco the redolence with it’s subliminal sweetness is pleasing and spicy. Thereby the tobacco isn’t obtrusive, but not suited for any society.
Conclusion:
A heavy, spicy tobacco with English character and definite amount of Latakia. The sweet nuance of Virginia softens the strong taste and smell a little bit, but has no influence to the strength of the tobacco. The rather high humidity of the fresh tobacco complicate a little bit to light it up, but once glowing the tobacco burns down constant to the end without much condensate. Burning behaviour is good-natured, if one has some attention to the temperature. The Commonwealth is rather unsuitable for beginners. Enthusiasts of English mixtures with much Latakia will enjoy this tobacco.
Copyright © 2007 by TECON GmbH
with friendly support of Heinz-Günter Döteberg
