dave c

Nick,

I haven't smoked the GH brown rope lately, but black ash is usually a
sign of improperly cured tobacco. Unfortunately black ash has become
more commonplace in the cigar industry recently because of a high
demand and a rush to get leaf out of the barns and on to the factory
floor for rolling. Such hastliy cured leaf does not burn well and
produces a harsh flavor as well. Weather its pipe tobacco or cigars,
ash that is white to grey indicates properly cured leaf. Black ash is
a bad sign in either style of tobacco.

Dave C