GL Pease Reviews

GL Pease

1. Gaslight
I’m hard pressed (no pun intended) to think of a crumble cake that rubs out as nicely as this stuff does. It’s so effortless my three year old could prep the bowl for me. The tin note is great with strong smoky Latakia notes, leather, and a mesquite like sweetness. I smoked out of a straight, smooth Dr. Grabow Royalton. I was both disappointed and intrigued by this blend. It was extremely difficult to get lit (6 or 7 lights including the char), but once it got going the burn was consistent and cool. It was surprisingly mild and the Latakia pervaded everything yet had no real kick to it. The smoky nuances combined with some measured sweetness to resemble spiced plums. It was a very pleasant tasting tobacco but the difficulty getting it lit was quite annoying- especially since it was not overly wet. In the end the flavours were worth the work, but not more than a B.

2. Robusto
This is a moderately dark blend in a nice cut that packs easily if just rubbed slightly between thumb and forefinger on its way into the bowl. The tin note is a combination of sweet hay, light smokiness from the Latakia, and little bit of spice and cocoa. The moisture consistency is good without additional drying. I smoked it out of a 1983 Butz Choquin Millesime. This blend began by reminding me of a good port- the sweet Virginia notes were almost fruit like and pecan nuttiness emerged. At the same time there was a savory nature that was driven by the garnish of smokiness coming from the Latakia. I enjoyed the bowl very much and it burned cleanly to the bottom. This is a unique blend that really speaks to Pease’s ability to go outside the box with components and masterfully combine them. A+

3. Chelsea Morning
This broken flake rub out nicely and gave off a sweet, grill aroma that reminded me of excess sauce dripping onto the coals :hungry: There were also some definite hay notes from the Virginia in the mix. The moisture seemed good and I packed it into a Big Ben Classicline 702. This had a unique fragrant aspect early on that seemed like smelling a 4 o’clock blooming in a pine grove :lol: There were layers of grassiness with a bit of spice that hung on the back of your tongue. This was all rounded out with an aged oak flavor in the second half of the bowl. It was slow to light, but burned fine once it was going. Overall, a balanced blend on the lighter side and good for an all-day smoke. B

4. Key Largo
I was excited to crack this one open because I’ve read where Greg talks about specifically developing this blend with hot weather smoking in mind. What better time of year than July in Southern Virginia? After experiencing Pease’s use of cigar leaf in Robusto, the bar is set high. There is a bit less sweetness in this tin note, and more an emphasis on the savory and the smoky. It smells balanced, but kind of like beef jerky. The broken flake rubs out into supple pieces and packed easily in my straight, smooth Dr. Grabow Golden Duke. This reminded me of a Kentucky Fired MUWAT cigar. The Latakia and Virginias are so balanced that it seems like they’re one varietal. In the second half of the bowl I got notes that were like leather soaked in sherry and dry hay. I have to concur that this is a good warm weather blend. It burned cool and didn’t nip at all- B+

5. Fillmore (2007)
This blend is fairly dark in color and offers a tin note of leather, hay, and fired smokiness. It has just a hint of vinegar to it but it is very minimal and not detracting. The broken flake rubs out nicely into supple ribbons which pack well. The moisture consistency is spot on and it is slightly springing when loaded into my straight Medico Windsor. This started out with a slightly floral note that was very pleasant and reminded me of clover. There was a honey-like sweetness throughout the bowl and lemon notes accentuated it in the second half. At various points I tasted something like coriander in the retrohale. It burned cool and stayed lit easily. I’ve never smoked any of this fresh, so I can only speak for a batch with 5+ years, but I found it to be very tasty. If you’re looking for a VaPer that ages beautifully, I recommend this blend. A