And what latakia! Within a nice, soft, mildly citrusy bed of various lemon and orange virginias, this condimental tobacco lends a sharp but soft spice. I guess I've never experienced something that was both sharp and soft, but this tobacco accomplishes it, and it's an incredible experience. The latakia has the beautiful sharpness of old Dunhill 965 and old Sobranie that melds perfectly with the virginias and is finished with the perique. This blend has a lot of complexity and depth but it's not pushy about it. Chelsea Morning is far more complex (comparing two lighter fare, both from GLP) but it's more overt. This one is subtler, yet I find it more flavorful overall. The phrase "It's all in the snork" was never more true than with this blend. Further, this was one of those blends that performs even better when the smoke is directed toward the roof of my mouth than toward my tongue. Almost makes me wish I smoked Peterson pipes!

This is considered a lighter blend and I expected a mellow yet bland affair. However, it surprised me. This "breakfast mixture" contains a fair amount of latakia wallop but all within this nice, cozy little manger of soft virginias. I'm not sure how this is done but seems to be a product of blending genius. This blend is pretty far from what I usually enjoy, but has made my rotation with a bullet. Well done, Greg!

My only gripe with Piccadilly is that it's tough to keep lit due to the broad cut of the ribbon. It works best for me in a pot given the cut. But, overall, a fine blend.

In the bowl, bright and orange virginias take the lead while the latakia and perique neither exceed nor shirk their roles as condiments. The entire affair is suitably rich and piquant (earlier reviews noting "BBQ sauce" are spot-on), though so exceptionally juxtaposed that even such subtleties as "hints of cinnamon" are occasionally presented to the attentive palate.

Though flavor-forward and rich, Piccadilly is masterfully balanced, rewarding attentive puffing with an experience both soothing and stimulating. Aging is highly recommended. This seemed best in narrow to medium gauge chambers.

Now a year after my initial review I am smoking a bowl from a newly cracked 4 year old tin and it is sublime! Upon opening it smelled like wine and raisins. The latakia is so tantalizing to the tongue as it interplays with the perique and va's. I didn't remember detecting the perique when I first smoked this one, but now it slips in right between the latakia and VAs and adds a wonderful spiceyness to the blend, this kind of reminds me of the spiced chai of tobaccos. Creamy, rich and spicy all in one go! I definitely recommend cellaring this one for around 4 or 5 years!

Many of you are familiar with the operatic tune "La Donna Mobile." Although Luciano Pavarotti's version is likely better known, I am particularly fond of Andrea Bocelli's rendition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmTJ0bUG8mo

But what many may not realize is that the English translation goes as follows:

This woman is flighty Like a feather in the wind, She changes her voice — and her mind. Always sweet, Pretty face, In tears or in laughter, — she is always lying.

In defense of you pipe smoking women, I am not making a statement regarding the truth or falsehood of these lyrics. I am only pointing out that the first few bowls of GLPease's Piccadilly fit this description. However, this is one of those true sleeper blends that has really grown on me as I get to know it better.

Fickle as Pavarotti's flighty woman, Piccadilly has nevertheless begun behaving itself to the point that I have come to really appreciate it. It's a strange blend to me in that I could swear I taste a significant Oriental character, but the tin description states otherwise: "Piccadilly is a provocative blend of several Virginia tobaccos, delicately spiced with Latakia, and finished with Louisiana perique." This blend requires the right pipe and good technique, which bring out some fantastic flavors and nuance.

The Latakia is very light when visually inspecting the leaves, but comes across a little stronger than expected in the flavor. However, it always remains far in the background. The Perique is not all that noticeable, unless it's what gives that Oriental-esque character in the absence of Oriental leaf. There is toastiness, there is some good Virginia sweetness not unlike that found in Union Square, and the faint smokiness of the Latakia balances the rest perfectly. This might just be a genius blend. Time will tell as I gain more experience with it and age a couple tins.

What began as a two and a half star blend for me may very well become four stars, especially with some age. Perhaps Bocelli is correct in concluding:

"Yet one never feels Fully happy Who on that bosom — does not drink love!"

I am certain that this blend is perfect for morning and through the day smoking as it is immediately gratifying, straight forward and bright. It's not a brooding or contemplative smoke; in fact, it's probably a great one to puff if you are feeling blue. For me, I wouldn't enjoy it as much in the late evening as it seems to demand action. Sunshine. Green Lights.

Those who don't like it probably find it too mild or not enough latakia. If you get to know it on it's own terms (and that can happen quickly), you will not deny that if nothing else, Piccadilly has its very own personality and a spring in it's step.

Well, I was mistaken and pleasantly surprised.

Piccadilly is light, yet rich, as the tin states, and nicely balanced. It doesn't have the punch and tanginess of Chelsea Morning's ready-rubbed flakes, but this can be a morning and all-day smoke for many and I enjoy it more than CM. It's not going to knock your socks off, but it has enough flavor to carry itself even after a light meal and is delicious with a morning cup of coffee. If you're in the mood for a very pleasant, light and natural smoke -- no toppings here -- give it a try. It's smoky and toasty and the perique is a core ingredient that holds the entire mixture together and enlivens the tastebuds.

Sit back and sip this outstanding tobacco. You won't regret it.

Why Mr. Greg Pease's Piccadilly blend? Well, the packaging and eloquent tin description sold me. And its the first blend I stumbled upon as a novice that had Perique in it. You see, I'm from Louisiana. Support your states growers!

My older & only sibling noticed my interest in all things pipe, and told me about driving thru the fields of Grand Point during his summer down south and having his breathe taking away and his eyes brung to tears by the pungency of the drying barns. He says that the locals smoke this stuff full strength! Thats his story any way.

I remember trying to force myself through a bowl of this stuff thinking that I had to train myself to appreciate such acquired tastes like I did with beer & wine (go Landry Vinyards!). Well, after four children, I have settled into my early 30's and lost all such pretensions, feeling now that life is too short to do things that make you miserable with the promise of deferred benefits.

After some poking around on the web this summer, my old love of pipe smoking started calling to me, and after a little digging I found a drawer at the office with my old volcano-shaped, briar sitter next to the remainders of my old tin of Piccadilly stamped 2003. I was as a giddy as a one of my girls watching Barbie commercials on a Saturday morning as I immediately went to my walking spot at Black Bayou Refuge to burn a bowl.

It was too dry. Failing the Charmin Test (squeezable with no breakage). I followed the rehydrating advice of Eric over at smokingpipetobacco.com by using a moist paper towel in the tin. This worked very well and I am pleased enough to not try other methods of hydration in the future (eg fruit slices, humidifier tablets...check Greg Pease' site for his own method of rehydration).

This is like a fiery, cajun woman. She'll please your interests, but watch you mouth or this bitch'll cut 'ya. After getting the moisture situation worked out, it burned much better to a white ash and stayed lit to the dottle, but took some maintenance mid-smoke with a pipe cleaner (I am able use q-tips on this pipe as a result of redrilling the shank - try at your own discretion).

I found the effort by Pease, along with his reputation and the sheer number of reviews he gets, intriguing enough to tempt me further into his collection in the future and regard him with the admiration due. I enjoyed this tin to the last, but I don't expect to reinvest in Piccadilly for years to come as there's just too much out there from him & his peers. Get you some if you have never experienced a VaPer. Cheers

Without Me Its Just Some.

AWE

Tobacco Tracker:

Previous Reviews:

Captain Black Gold Label **

Prince Albert (Standard label) ***

Next Review:

To be determined (I think I'm ready to move on to a flake)

The tin opens to display a medium brown mix of short ribbons with a sprinkling of darker strands. The tin aroma is unremarkable, just good solid tobacco with a whiff of the Perique, while the Latakia just makes its presence known. Moisture has ranged from perfect to just a little dry, and is more consistent than some other Pease/C&D offerings.

On light up - and it does light and burn exceptionally well - the first impression is of a mild sweetness. As the bowl progresses, the Perique builds, while the Latakia stays in the background. Unlike some other 'light' blends, though, there is enough Lat in the blend to satisfy me. At the end of the bowl, all three components balance and somehow add up to more than they should. It finishes with very little ash and a dry bowl.

I have rated this three stars, but it only just misses four because it IS so mild. The very quality that makes it perfect for summer leaves it a little lacking once the weather turns colder. It will certainly remain in my rotation as a seasonal entry and I highly recommend it as such.

My rate: 3,85

The perique is a bit more than I would like in this blend but it is not totally overwhelming. It builds as the bowl progresses and gets peppery to the end. Not bad, it just leaves a peppery sensation on my tongue for a while. It does get at my throat a little, but not as bad as some other periques do. I will smoke this till the tin is gone but it is not my favorite Pease blend.

For Vaper lovers wanting a milder perique. This is not bad. In fact I am more critical on the Pease blends because I have very high expectations from them.

I would reccomend it if you like a definite note of perique in your smokes. This one should get a lot smoother with age. We will see.

Update: actually this one has grown on me a lot and I smoke it every day, Its pretty much my all day smoke lately. To be noted the tins always need to breathe a little. I dont mean leave them open- not at all. Just open for a minute or two every day and after 5 days or so they are much more friendly to smoke. In my case by the fifth day of smoking I hit the stride of the tin, look at it however you want but all the Pease blends to seem simillar in this manner. More so than other brands.