Shaving Product Review - Tallow + Steel "Grog"
Value (Cost, Packaging and Performance)
Lather (Density, Glide and Feel)
Post-shave (Healing, Moisture and Feel)
Scent (Quality, Strength and Longevity)
Arrrrgh! 'Tis the wrong day for a #HumpBay so it is. But it's never a bad day for the likes of Grog by Tallow + Steel in the shape of #soap and #aftershave, aye.
Grog is a unique scent built on a classic bay rum. Real West Indies bay is accompanied by key lime, sweet balsamic notes and subtle herbs. In the 1700's British Vice Admiral Edward Vernon introduced a drink to the Royal Navy made of rum and citrus, often with the addition of herb and spices. It was named Grog, and perhaps this is what it smelled like. But probably not.
Okay, so this morning, for a brief moment - thought it was Wednesday. Ooops. It actually wasn't all that long ago that I did an in-depth review of Grog so I won't repeat it again today. I'd rather focus on something else (see below). Grog is a great scent, but sadly discontinued as part of the old lineup from #tallowandsteel in favor of the new. A similar scent exists, called West Indies and although it's not touted as a bay rum, it does recall the vibe. I did an in-depth review of West Indies if you're curious, so check that out.
Hardware today consisted of the #TimelessRazor in the "mild edition" with a #Stork handle and a #PolSilver blade on shave three. The #WildWestBrushworks #brush whipped up a fine lather in the... Wait, what? Yup! Spanky new in the den - read more below. ...#GTP scuttle, which kept the goop nice and warm.
The brush, which I call "The Daily Lather Brush" because of the color scheme, is a custom job from Wild West Brushworks (Derek Wheeler) of Florence, Arizona. There was a similar resin pattern in another handle he did a while back and I was quite smitten with it. Needless to say, it sold fairly quickly - so I got in touch with him about the possibilities of another...
While most custom brushes out there center around 24mm knots (be they "Tuxedo, BOSS, Game Changer, Cashmere" or natural badger) I knew I wanted something bigger. While the 30mm Tuxedo has always intrigued me, it's so big it's just silly (unless you shave your dome). We settled on a 26mm knot from Maggard Razors which I'm convinced, is a Tuxedo knot (just available in more sizes than what APShaveCo offers; 24mm or 30mm). If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck... Yeah.
I'll do a more in-depth review of this brush separately, but first impressions are excellent! The handle is a beautiful work of art at a truly excellent price, working with Wild West Brushworks was smooth as glass and the overall process quite quick at about two weeks. The knot itself is quite impressive, and continues to cement the notion that synthetic brushes have come of age.
A wee fantastic shave today, yar me hearties! I'm looking forward to using this brush (a lot) more. As for the software... Really nice stuff. The new line is a bit of a radical departure from the old in many ways, but this "old stuff" was ahead of its time and still excellent at any rate.