Ok, this makes no sense. Short story, my order of Westminster was switched out with Montgomery by mistake. In the end, this turned out to be a free tin of tobacco, so I shouldn't be complaining. But..

When I decided to crack the tin, I was underwhelmed. There was a grassy like odor emanating about (it's alright, I like that), the tobacco itself composed of blond strands with a spattering of dark leaf (I'm guessing the Kentucky falls in at less than five percent). The tobacco was uncharacteristically damp for a Pease blend, leading to packing, lighting and biting issues. The smoke was unexciting, to be blunt. Nothing terribly wrong here--good leaf, wonderful presentation. Just rather ordinary, which is not something I've come to expect of Pease.

I don't know. I guess I've grown accustomed to Virginias in flake form. It seems proper. The ribbon is straightforward, but with a small component of condimental leaf, it's hard to include a balanced amount in any one pinch that fills a bowl. Not that the Virginia in Montgomery depends upon the Kentucky...it's tasty enough on its own, but tame. The Fog City series is all about the Virginia, and that's exactly what this is, so I'd be a bit of a jackass to suggest something is missing (Syrian).

Now curious, I read the Briar and Leaf Chronicle on Montgomery. Greg stressed its potential for aging (very true), and defended himself against those who called the tobacco "green". Well, I didn't see any green tobacco, and I picked around in that tin for a few good minutes. It wasn't young, or sharp, in my estimation, though this blend was dated August, 2009.

Mr. Montgomery isn't all that bad. But I'm not sure I'd introduce him to my friends. They're horrible people.

Three of Five.

Definitely one of the best Virginias in GLPease line.

Like smoking spices with bright flavors, nothing dark or touching the low end of the spectrum here. If you are like me and like a spicy smoke but hate perique, you might be into this. Very simillar to cairo just minus the perique. This reminds me of a clove cigarette towards mid bowl.

Not my favorite but a nice change of pace on occasion. Good enough to reccomend, just not for everyone. That is a major point, this has an acquired taste so I reccomend trying a small tin or sample.

Nicotine is not too strong for a Va.

We´re talking about a very sui generis virginia mixture. I haven´t tried anything similar. It´s very smooth and pleasant, but with a freshness or even rawness, so to say, that, although it sounds bad, gives a very nice and different effect. So if you like to experiment and change from the established forms every once in a while, this one is for you.

The only drawback is that if you smoke this daily you will end up, sooner or later, getting tired and bored. That´s why I left it resting for these three years, but I will soon restore it to my occasional smoking.

I never aged some tins, but I´m sure that aging would suit them very well.

Lighting: Lights right away , requiring none to one relight. Not being very moist to begin with, just a tad of moisture develops in the stem.

Aroma & Taste: A very light VA mix, there is a subtle, soft, sweet tone to it, not at all sharp or smoky; no bite. Top of the bowl is bland with a little increase in taste down the bowl: Light sweet wheat from the VA's, the Kentucky adding maybe a micron of nutty creaminess.

Definitely an all day smoke, being rather bland with no strength at all.

Room Note: Akin to a fragrant, very light, sweet wheat.

Nicotine: almost nonexistent

Overall: Light-bodied, so mild I actually attempted inhaling the smoke, something I never do. Lightweight in the nicotine category. Easily an all day smoke. 4 stars if it weren't so nicotine deficient. 3.9 stars, though I'm partial to blends on the light and easy side.

Since having recently sampled C&D's Pegasus, a nice burley blend, Montgomery and Pegasus make an excellent comparison in contrasts. Montgomery being a light VA and Pegasus a strong burley, both have the associated qualities of a fine smoke.

Montgomery is truly a soft, relaxing smoke.

The number one detraction is that it, like other GLP-C&D blends, leaves my meerschaum with char on the inside of the bowl.

The flavor is deceptively subtle. Unaffected light virginias form the base, with a touch of reds for added presence. The dark burley adds creaminess to the bottom end without intruding too much rich bitterness.

One of the best GLP blends, this is civil, well-mannered, and understated. Aging is highly advised. This seemed best in a narrow to medium gauge chamber.

Since Haddo's Delight has a haiku, I thought that it would be fitting to write a tongue- in-cheek one for Montgomery:

"Montgomery, hail!

Enigmatic wafting plumes.

I pause now, breathless"

I was very encouraged by this smoke when I opened the tin. I had been looking for a Virginia blend that was not in the flake format (which I dislike). This smelled good, and the first bowl was good -- very close to what I was looking for. Not as strong a Virginia taste as, say, Gawith's Full Virginia Flake, but pleasant nonetheless.

About three days later I went to pack my second bowl of this blend. In between the time I packed the first bowl and the time I packed the second bowl, the tobacco had dried out to a crisp! Think leaves on your yard in the fall. At this point, the smoke was harsh and the taste very bitter. Hot too.

I went to my tobacconist and he suggested I mix a house blend with it to add moisture and flavor. So I blended one part of a black vanilla cavendish to three parts of the Montgomery. After 24 hours, the Pease blend was less crispy, and the addition of a little flavored tobacco made for a good smoke -- much more depth than originally. However, there is still a slight bitter aftertaste deriving from the Montgomery.

I would not buy this blend again. Maybe there is another non-flake Virginia out there, but don't buy this one unless it's deeply discounted or you are really desperate.

Smoking this conjures up images of a homeless person, packing his bowl under the illusion that he is living it up with an expensive tobacco. The corncob pipe he smokes gets hot and smells of popcorn as he puffs this crackly product. But, the tobacco soothes his mind and helps him forget about the cold night soon approaching.

A cigarette is to be smoked. A cigar is to be enjoyed. A pipe is to be savored.

I rate this blend 7.6 out of 10.

Addendum 2007: sorry Greg - really grown fond of this and have ordered several more tins; what the hell was I thinking with the Haddo's comparison - I don't know.... to err is human

All quality leaf, but there was something rather bland about the smoke...and boring. The high notes are missing as indicated in the last review and this was a surprise given the first three words of the description.

I'd certainly recommend you sample Montgomery but only if you enjoy burley.

I feel that this doesn't fall in a well known category, couldn't think of a parallel tobacco. The burley component is quite obvious to me, but probably being a VA smoker I'm more sensitive to that. I also can't see the complexity of it, but many others can. Maybe because it clearly lacks strength and for some this might also translate in lack of taste. There is absolutely no topping here.

I believe this is a blend worth trying, but not a personal bell ringer.

Appearance: This looks to be about mostly Virginias Lemon and Red with a fair amount of darker Kentucky rounding out the mix. It is varied in cut yet mostly medium ribbon cut.

Tin aroma: This blend has a very mild and somewhat understated tin aroma. The Red and matured Virginias and with rich earthy tones and under-currents of fig/raisin and cocoa. Burley is just there under the surface with its characteristic nuttiness. There are high pallet hay-like scents and low deep forest rumblings.

This tobacco is nearly perfect in moisture and I employed the ?once like a baby, once like a lady, finally like a gentleman? method of layered packing. For this review I've chosen a n older Jobey Stromboli Canadian.

Lighting is generally easy and the tobacco ?crowns? well requiring a brief visit of the tamper. The initial flavor is fairly strong for a Virginia based smoke and the Kentucky makes itself known right away. Immediately I'm struck with how ?different? this mixture is from Virginia Perique blends. The Virginias pick up on the nutty huskiness of the Kentucky and develop in a very different way. The result for me is a more hay-like bouquet during the first 1/3 of the bowl, deepening slightly along the way. The bowl and I settle easily into a nice cooperative rhythm and I find myself relaxing into a nice long rich smoking experience.

Mid Bowl: Approaching mid-bowl, the fullness tends to build and the flavors mix and match very nicely. As the bowl matures the Virginias begin to build in strength and take on more of the characteristic fruity tones. The Kentucky drone on lending a spicy nuttiness in widening plumes of exhaled smoke. This blends starts out fairly understated but rapidly builds into a complex masterpiece. This is no blend for a novice smoker. While starting mild to medium it becomes very full on the palate and quite strong in nicotine. I know of no other blender who has mastered the art of creating blends which change so much in character during the bowl. Many of Greg's blends are a journey while smoking, the end being so different than the beginning.

Home Stretch: As end of the bowl approaches, the richness of this blend is coming into it's own. The fullness and character of this blend have ?widened? to a very full pallet of astonishing subtlety and complexity. The Virginias have deepened to a wine like goodness and the Kentucky assert its nutty dominance. This is a heady blend indeed and care must be taken not to over do the puffing rate. I have never experienced the ?tongue-bite? many complain of, however, over-puffing this blend ruins its subtle nature easily. Rich tobacco is it's own reward and smoking with proper and deliberate technique makes this mixture a reward indeed.

Another winning blend from America?s premier tobacco blender.

Supplemental Notes: I think Montgomery is a blend that will age even better than most. The potential for the benefits of long term age here are great. I plan to cellar some of this for long term aging. Rating for those interested in numbers ****

Appearance: a slightly thick cut ribbon mostly of light golden Virginia with some dark flecks and some ribbon cut burley.

Aroma: Spicy and sharp upon the nose unsmoked with suggestions of cherries, raisins, dried blueberries and honey.

Taste: This is a quite straightforward Virginia blend with some Burley to give it good burning characteristics. The burley does not really assert itself substantially in the flavor except to add a bit of complexity and mellowness. As with the lion's share of Mr. Pease's blends, the tobacco leaf is both top grade and relatively immature. I feel that his tobacco blends are best kept in the tin for the better part of a decade before they can be appreciated. Earlier sampling leads to a harsher smoke with unwedded flavors and tongue bite.

The interesting thing about this blend is that it presents many of the flavors found in VA blends after a few decades of aging. The tobacco flavor is very up front but the blend of leaves is rather complex, with hints of dried hay, elm wood, and berries. While mild, I would not describe this blend as subtle. Mr. Pease's style is frequently for an overpowering "knockout punch" of flavors crammed into a tin of tobacco, and this is no exception. I liken GLP blends to lion tamers at the circus -- they are wonderfully entertaining at the time, but I wouldn't want them in my home on a daily basis. As alluring as GLP blends are, ultimately I find his allure meretricious.

Montgomery is as varied and rich a mild blend as you will find. I personally don't think this is always a good idea. There is also very little sweetness so aging may be disappointing, leading to a flatter flavor. Thus, the blend presents a paradox in that the leaves need time to mature, but the flavor will likely diminish with time.

Comparisons: Not as nutty as Dunhill's Light Flake, not as sweet as Rattray's Marlin Flake. In some sense, a much diminished version of the old Balkan Sobranie Virginia Flake, for those who remember it.

Bottom Line: A blend best smoked within a year or so. If you enjoy straightahead dry Virginia flavors in a mild smoke and have good smoking technique to avoid tongue bite, you may enjoy this one.

I actually expected to find this a bit understated for my tastes - much as I found Stratford.

Wrong.

This is an extremely sweet and full tasting VA flake. The burley adds a dimension of nuttiness and depth to the sweet and light VA. Like most of Greg's smokes this is far from a mow the lawn or studiously read tobacco. It has several different layers of flavor that must be paid attention to, to be fully appreciated. I did note that if you are hasty with it, like most VA blends, it will give you a tiny nip despite the cooling effect of the burley.

If you are avoiding burley blends due to their reputation as bitter, antiquated or downright second rate - don't let this stop you from trying Montgomery. The added leaf far from hinders the delightful character of this rich tobacco.

Now with a few months of cohabitation, the glow is wearing just a bit. still smokes well and I find myself reaching for it when I want something light and easy. But unless I really focus on it, it's easy for it to seem monochromatic -- it may be me, that my taste buds for virginias haven't sharpened yet -- but it doesn't have the personality of Telegraph hill or some other va blends. I'll need to keep experimenting and see if we can regain that original spark. still it's a good blend.

I think I have become accustomed to fuller virginias, so this seems like virginia-lite to me, but it also seems a bit more forgiving on the smoker and is a lot less bitey than some of the other straight virginia blends. It doesn't seem nearly as sweet as some virginias, but it does have a good deal of flavor which is characteristic of the type.

Generally, I prefer virginias in flake or pressed form rather than ribbon, mainly because I think its cool to rub out some flakes and I like the slower burning characteristics and compactness of pressed virginias. That notwithstanding, this cut packs easy, lights easy, and burns well, so I really can't knock it for the cut.

It seems to taste better in certain pipes than others also, so some experimentation may be indicated. Also, the more I smoke of this, the more I appreciate it, even though its a bit light tasting for me. I'm having trouble deciding between three and four stars because while its not exactly what I expected or am used to, it does stand strong on its own merits. I suppose four are in order: its an excellent virginia blend and those with lighter tastes would probably really enjoy this. I tend to live on the wild side and smoke pretty strong tobaccos so I shouldn't fault this stuff for being a bit on the mild side because it really is quite good.

At first, I thought, "gack, what a harsh tuft of leaves" but within minutes Montgomery opened up, warmed up (flavor-wise ... it doesn't smoke hot if gently coaxed) and I was on a smooth, sweet ride. A good point was that the flavor developed and evolved as I made my way down the bowl. I plan to stock up on this one.

UPDATE: 9/17/2009 Well for me, Montgomery has arrived in earnest. It's one of my top 2 or so now, the others being McClelland's Yenije Highlander (with Davidoff's Scottish Mixture every now and then, when the 'aromatics bell' is sounded). I continue to experiment with any/all manner of blends but this is my go-to. Afternoon, evening or very late at night, Montgomery has become a reliable friend, seemingly best in medium-sized bowls without too much airflow to overcook and overhheat. If the bowl's too small, the rather stringy blend becomes a bit challenging to manage, that is, to load evently, tamp gently

Tiger

Let's speak straight: while I am a HUGE fan of Greg's most Latakia/orientals heavy blends (as I have written in a long article for Smoker Magazine), I have never raved upon his previous virginia offerings. Some of them are quite dull for my taste (Cairo), most are nice but simply too heavy on the perique and nicotine (Cumberland, Haddo's Delight). Stratford was not bad, although IMHO very similar to C&D Three Friars.

For a long time I was curious to think how a virginia by Greg would have been: my favorites in the genre include Full Virginia Flake, Marlin Flake, and many McClellands. Yes, all flakes... So, the idea of Greg releasing, instead of a very sweet flake, a VERY LIGHT virginia in mixture form did not excite me: I feared it might be too delicate for my palate, probably boring stuff with little taste.

WRONG!

As soon as I loaded my first bowl with Montgomery and lit it, the first impressions were quite flat... Little taste, too delicate, etc. etc.

Then, after five minutes, the miracle! The flavor intensified, and many interesting nuances emerged. The rest of the bowl was an absolute delight!

After several days, I can safely say that this is a great tobacco. In the past week, I have abandoned my huge evening bowl of balkans in favor of Montgomery. And even during the day, I sometimes load a little bowl of it... sometimes just after breakfast. Yes, it's a great tobacco both in small AND big bowls... simply, the experience is different but equally great.

The taste is creamy, moderately and naturally sweet, with echoes of hay and cereals. The impression is like slightly warm milk with a little shot of bitter coffee and only just a micro teaspoon of sugar. Even some hints of cocoa and honey. In the second half of the bowl (especially in bigger ones), flavors intensify and a slight smokiness (probably from the dark fired kentucky, what a great idea) emerges.

It is definitely a different blend from all the other virginias I have tried: some are sweeter but less complex, others are more fruity and sourish (guess which brand I am referring to!). I really can't find no comparisons, except PERHAPS a very vague hint of Royal Yacht's creamy/milky taste (but without the harshness and the intolerable strength).

If I were forced to find faults in Montgomery, it would be that the stringy cut together with the slight moisture level of a freshly opened tin can clog the airflow in your pipe if you press it or tamp it too much, somewhat compromising the draw. If you take care to avoid this, you will be rewarded by a tobacco which in spite of the high percentage of bright sugary virginias DOES NOT BITE even if overpuffed! Not that overpuffing is recommended, unless you want to miss the best nuances. Be comfortable, though, as this blend is not a hell to smoke, it does not require your continuous attention and extremely slow smoking to get some taste. It IS very delicate, but in a good way: the taste is there, it simply is very gentle. Just relax and enjoy this uncomplicated, but very refined and complex, blend. Nicotine content is very low, so it's a good choice if you want to avoid headspins or if you want to enjoy multiple bowls.

I am not a big fan of the genre, but I see myself smoking this blend again soon, as a good change of pace from my usual latakia-heavy blends.

On faith, I bought three tins: one for immediate gratification (duh) and two for ripening. With only three weeks aging in tin #1, I couldn?t wait any longer. Pop it went and I laughed at the albino tobacco shreds that greeted me. A sniff immediately returned me to 1965, playing among bales of straw in the barn. No sweetness here, I thought; no ketchup, no raisins, and no figs. (Why figs? Do that many pipers actually eat figs?)

First round observations: Montgomery (together with my puffing habits)likes tall-bowled pipes, I think because the flavor is subtle and needs to accrete like a snowball: give it five or ten minutes and it blossoms with a wonderful VA/burley taste. I?ve grown fond of burleys over the last few months, and the one used in this blend is a wonderful unusually deep one that provides the counterpoint that is usually provided by latakias in his other blends. I?d like to see it used again and in a higher concentration. The room note is disappointingly cigarrettish, though tolerable. Moisture is spot-on; the nuisance of adjusting is unnecessary. No gurgles, steam, nor bite. Nicotine is mid-range.

This blend fills a gaping hole in the Pease repertoire. As stated in my review of Cairo, I appreciate Greg?s efforts to try to reach us all eventually; his focused blends delight some and put others off? as it should be. I recommend this blend to experienced smokers who can discern and appreciate the subtleties of Virginia and burleys. Good job, Greg!

Opening the tin, you are presented with a very nice VA smell, soghlty sweet, just a little bit grassy. The tobacco is all ribbon and is mostly yellow with a few chards of dark brown. This is a mixture of several Virginias and some Kentucky (Burley). I am senstive to nicotine, so i am glad the Kentucky is just a "smidgeon".

Packs easily and fires up with out too much fuss. This is a tobacco for the contemplative smoker, not the blast furnace stoker. It can get hot if pushed, but if not, is very cool and as all glp mixtures, burns down to a dry clean heel.

The smoke is slighly sweet and is mildly complex. It won't require your undivided attention like say Renaissance, but is not monochromatic. The room note has a high spousal approval rating.

I have just gotten into VA flakes and I am sure VA flake smokers will wonder, how does this mixture compare to a nice Flake? Apples and oranges. The overall flavour and experiences are different. That said, you will not enjoy this mixture to the fullest unless you dedicate a pipe to it. I beleive that all mixtues shine the bgesti f smoked in a dedicated pipe, though.

Montgomery has lighter, some might say cleane,r flavour compered to Flakes. I have made room for both in my jars. The Kentucky adds a nice measure of fullness and the overall exerience is "creamy". If you like a heavier tobacco or one with spice, it looks like the next mixture in the series, Telegraph HIll, will be "it" for you. I like my food spicy and my tobcco round and creamy, so this is a highy recommended new mixtre for me.

Appearance and Tin Aroma:This is a beautiful tobacco to look at! There are rich reds, gold, yellow, and a speck of dark Kentucky here and there. It smells wonderful. The broad ribbons are oily and appear of very high quality.

Packing and Lighting: Easy, I prefer this blend in smaller group 3 pipes. Moisture is perfect, two to three lights max.

Initial Flavor: A subtle complexity from the get go. A little bright though. Start slow.

Mid-Bowl: this blend is very complex, but satisfying. It has a "honey" note at this point. Is there a topping in this? Maybe it is only the processing. Regardless, I like it. I am amazed at how the different leaves are individually detectable, but also mix so well. Yummm!

Bottom of bowl: Strength builds up gently. There are some nice spicy notes that are present as well. DGT works very well at this point too.

Overall: This is a delicious VA blend as is, but I think that aging it will develop this blend into a absolutely stellar blend. I have only had a tin, so stay tuned. This blend can nip, so take it easy.Thank you Greg!

The smoke improved as it made its way down the bowl. The complexity is very nice but is not at all overpowering! The aftertaste is quite clean. Before I knew it, I was at the bottom of the bowl. I enjoyed it more and more as it burned down the chamber. So far it has only taken one relight to finish each bowl of this easy burning tobak. It has also been trained not to bite! I don't know if I will reach for it every time but it seems to be growing on me more and more. Only time will tell.

To me, this is a sign of a great tobacco that has been kissed by a master blender! Recommended!

Don`t matter if you smoke in briar, meerschaum or clay, if you like virginias you will love this blend. Congratulations at Mr.GL Pease, you did it again!

Luis Barra - Chile

Personal Note: It`s remember me my dad`s favorite tobacco (a blend of his owm), I look for this flavor for several years, thanks to the blender.

MAGIC MIRROR: Montogomery, fool!

STAN: But there are heavier blends a little like this, Pease's Cumberland, Esoterica's Tilsbury, Edwards' Colonial or Sebring,....

MAGIC MIRROR: Hush knave! That's the point, it's lighter!

STAN: This is mostly all virginias, no traditional condiments....

MAGIC MIRROR: Poor wretch, if ye wants English-Oriental, Balkans, or virginia-perique, begone! Montogmery is a perfect balance of brights and reds with neither gaining ascendancy. Like long locks of a beauty's long hairs or wavey curls. It's driven by some potent dark Kentucky, giving Montogmery a light to medium body, but with a brilliant richness found nowhere else in the land.

STAN: I get it. I can smoke it before or after I eat and it doesn't cause a headache or anything.

MAGIC MIRROR: Ha Haaa! It's natural and as straight as the day is long. No bite. Cool. Dry. Earthy. Steady burning. Easy to load, especially in a medium to large pipe. Why keep asking me simpleton? Go buy some from the masters at Cornell & Deihl. They just tinned their shipment today. Buy a ton.

[Fade to black]

[two weeks later]...

STAN: I'm back. Master, right now after smoking nearly a full tin (21 bowls) in a new large Savinelli autograph and several bowls in a smaller Dunhill (4) for comparison, with more bowls left over in Pease's new style tin, I'm sold. I have more stashed. About the best I've ever tried. I will recommend this to all in the land.

Magic Mirror: Your're smart, not as much as Pease or myself, but you've learned what is the real deal, Montgomery, and what's not. Now give me your pipes and tins. Ha!

STAN: Band of puffers out there. Help me! But buy some Montgomery first. The Mirror may trade for me....

The ribbon cut was way too stringy to suit me, so I chopped it in my blender for a more even load and burn. I learned that little trick from an article I read in P&T Magazine by famous pipemaker and tobacco distributor Mike Butera. It was one of the best smoking tips I ever picked up.

Moisture content was good and the room aroma pleased my wife. But alas, I couldn't find the beef.

The tobacco appeared to be light goldens and reds in a longish ribbon cut. I, for one, like the ribbon cut as the strands seems to kind of knit together as you smoke so that you don't find particles flying out of your bowl as you bend over.

The initial flavors at first light were grassy with a citrus-like tang. The top 1/3 of the bowl continued this way, but it was not long before the sugars in the VA's began to come through. The red VA really began to sing about 1/2 of ther way through and a spicines began to develope in the aroma. The side-stream smoke aroma really appealed to me and others around me liked the aroma as well. At the bottom third, I was truly impressed. There was no tongue bite, the flavor was musty/sweet and thoroughly enjoyable. No, this is not a blow the top off your head with nicotine delivery system, but there is obviously a fair amount of nicotine in it, posibly due to the presence of some excellent burlies that do give some added richness.

If you are a VA fan, you owe it to yourself to try this. It should age beautifully, but is a very nice smoke new. Highly recommeneded for the VA lovers.

Jay