The tin aroma is absolutely delicious. Pease's website urges a light hand when loading, but I found my tin a little on the dry side, so I actually stuffed it in firmer than normal. Some of the veins and "sticks" are mixed in but I stuffed them right in, relying on them because I trust the blender's craft. Even though dry, it took two or three false lights to get an establish an even burn.

It starts off immediately with that mouth-filling richness I crave in an English blend, and it never ends. From first light the rich creaminess carries me off to that place I hope for every time I light a pipe. There's a certain something that happens when quality VAs marry quality LAT - that same something in Lancer's Slices, that same thing in Abingdon - that causes the whole to transcend the sum of the parts. That's Odyssey.

As the bowl progresses, the flavor and pungency get slowly but steadily stronger, which I think is what turns off some who are not purebred Latakia hounds. For me, that's the icing on the cake. To the bottom of the bowl it remains richly flavorful, never losing its smoky creaminess.

For the first half-bowl I puffed to my heart's content, but I have found with most strong English blends that the cadence and amount of heat applied should become steadily more gentle as the bowl progresses. This counterbalances the increase in strength and keeps the bowl cooler.

I have had Latakia blends that were over the top, but this one is immaculately balanced. The ash is fine and dark gray, and the aftertaste lingers like the glowing coals of a campfire that has been shared with good friends and good conversation.

For me Odyssey is right up there among my premium smokes. I have only tried three or four of Pease's English blends but I am looking forward to sampling many more. A very enthusiastic five stars out of four.

The cut is ribbon - which I prefer - and the tobacco is dark, mixing rich browns with hints of red and black into a color quite unique to itself. And when I smell the tobacco I am greeted with a slightly sweet scent reminiscent of an old leather jacket, broken in by years of wear yet promising even more years still.

When I load Odyssey into a pipe, I fill it loosely to the top, tamp it down lightly and without force, then fill it to top, tamp it down again, and finally overfill and tamp it down evenly with the rim of the bowl. It does take a few lights to get it going, but it isn't anything astronomically terrible. I just make sure that I have three matches instead of two or a lighter present. The reason for Odyssey taking longer to light is because it is an extremely slow-burning tobacco. I can literally fill up my Ser Jacopo and smoke it without break for almost two full hours; Squadron Leader in the same pipe will smoke about 30-40 minutes less time.

I don't think that any tobacco blend is perfect, but when it comes to Latakia-heavy blends Odyssey is about as close to perfect as is humanly possible. The smoke dances around on my tongue, giving me hints of old leather and spices from afar. The Latakia - as said on the tin - is a huge part of Odyssey. It gives this blend a deepness that in itself could be explored endlessly, but there is so much more to it than just Latakia. The Orientals are also huge, adding extra spice and life to this blend. But the most important part of Odyssey is what ties the Latakia and Oriental tobaccos together. Mr. Pease chose to use red and black Virginias to give a smoothness to Odyssey that a yellow Virginia just could not provide. It's the velvety touch that softens the edges of what might otherwise be an overpowering blend. And in the end, this is by far my favorite fall and winter smoke.

For me, this is a blend where I either love it, or I hate it... all from the same 8oz tin date stamped on the bottom as 9/05.

I love the smell of the actual tin itself, and I'll stick my nose there for a couple minutes just to savor the scent. Yet the smoking experience is quite different.

For me, this is one of those tobaccos that loves to bite. I have yet to smoke this once where it didn't. I've tried it in a brier, a cob, and even in a ceramic pipe. I've packed it tight, loose, and everything in between. Every single time, I get bit really hard, which then removes my ability to taste anything.

It is impossible for me to keep this lit unless I keep sucking and sucking, which results in more tongue bite.

The room aroma is quite pleasant though. It reminds me of a campfire with just a hint of spice.

So, if I despise it so much, why do I keep smoking it and why did I give it 2 stars instead of just 1? Because on the rare occasion where I can smoke it without a hard bite, I just love it!

I think the majority of my problems lay in the fact that I'm quite inexperienced. I have a hunch that to really enjoy Odyssey, you have to know what you're doing. This is not a tobacco for the new smoker.

smells great in the pouch. the orientals come through fine. light up is easy, and reveals a beautifull virginia and quite fine orientals and latakia. this is very well tuned and very clean tasting, and my only gripe with it may seem strange: it somehow seems a bit didactic (sic). imo the flavours do not quite unite. but still, an good and interesting smoke which i will definitely try again.

smokes a bit wet even when rather dry, for some reason.

edit.. this is a fussy tobacco.. but one thing improves it greatly.. dry it out! it seems dry right out of the tin.. but somehow the extra exposure to oxygen does help it. It still doesn't live up to expectations but it is a lot better over time.

another edit.. I would just like people to take my review with a grain of salt.. as I have heard from many sources that the pease blends differ from batch to batch.. maybe i got a bad batch.. so take this review in context.. i would also like to add that I am an admirer of consistency so i probably won't take chances with buying more tins.. but hey you might want to give it a try so - so do try it.

This stuff blew my mind. It's loaded with Latakia, but there is still so much complexity to this blend. The sweetness of the VAs poke through as if on cue. Unlike others, I have no trouble keeping this lit and have never experienced anything resembling tongue bite. Amazing weed!

I seriously started freaking out after my first bowl that, if this stuff ever got discontinued, and I didn't have enough in the cellar to last me 4 lifetimes, I would be very upset with myself. If you ever see anybody at any time not smoking Odyssey, it's not me.

Yeah, it?s tough to keep lit, a little heavy in the black leather department (Latakia), but it?s good quality tobacco.

If you have these other products on hand you might try this. 50% Odyssey, 25% S.G. Full Virginia Flake and 25% McClelland Yenidji Highlander.

For me that mixture produced a smoke with a normal relight rate with a terrific taste, no bite, a dry bowl and a fine white ash.

Be sure to let the Odyssey and FVF dry appropriately before mixing this blend if you chose to try it.

Smells like McClelland's Blending Latakia, quality stuff, flat black with dark brown mixed in, 60:40, supple but tending towards dry. Short ribbon cut.

Packs, lights, and burns readily. Dries in around 40 minutes, out of the can. It developes into a powdery consistency after the tin has been opened for a couple of days and frequently causes the pipe stem to get clogged.

Taste-Aroma: Full and robust, while having a nice, soft, velvety interplay of smoky Latakia and perfumy oriental, maybe 70:30. Fairly intense incense, herbal, smoky. Soft puffing gives a nutty taste. It is slightly bitey if puffed rapidly.

I'm thinking that I don't get a VA signature due to the age of the tin, the VA having melded into the blend.

Room Note: Definite, smoky Latakia and herbal oriental nuttiness, medium to full, closer to full, the term tolerable being misleading, but rather, pleasing to pipers.

Strength: Surprisingly low, mild

Overall: Odyssey resets my standard for Latakia and Balkan blends. This is a 7-year old tin and I need to try a new tin for comparison. Better than Westminster, Penzance isn't even close, as good or better than Abingdon, Odyssey having a pronounced interlay of Latakia and Orientals. GLPease labels Abingdon as their fullest Balkan. From what I remember of Abingdon, this 7-year old Odyssey, a member of the Original Series, is richer in Latakia, more flavorful. Other GLPease Balkans include Charing Cross, Kensington, Caravan, and Ashbury.

The powdery consistency mentioned is really agrivating and consistently cloggs the draft hole and stem. Odyssey is not a candidate as an all-day smoke due to the potential for tongue bite, remniscent of Blackpoint and Penzance, in that respect only. As rich as the blend is in taste and aroma, it is correspondingly lacking in nicotine.

A strong 4 stars.

I noticed that 90% of Pease blends are Latakia based, since I am already highly impressed by BC, I am going to try only the VA and Va/Per from this blender.

Odyssey is 3 stars for me and maybe 4stars for Latakia experts.

Quality stuff!

Odyssey and Maltese Falcon are very similar but they do have some differences. Odyssey is a little more complex than Maltese flacon is and it also has a more leathery type taste and scent where I feel maltese Falcon is slightly more sweet.

I find this to be intriguing and absolutley one of the best flavor/ power building smokes ever.

It starts off very tasty and each puff gains more of the overall character of the flavors.

It is loaded with latakia but as the label states there is much more to the story. The va's are blended with a heavy hand in this one also with the orientals slipping through in the background.

The tin aroma is not really an indicator of what to expect in flavor from the smoke, how decieving. This smokes so nicely- forget the tin aroma. Smells a little like a twangy VA barbecue sauce, Smells more like another reviewer said he found westminster to smell like a can of freshly opened tennis balls, but to me with hints of the stuff thay add to propane gas so it can be smelled. Luckily this fades after opening and settles down. Also my tin is 3+ years old and sat in the local cigar shop so long the label and lid are yellow.

This is not even close to what I would consider a Balkan. I find this to be a great english. Not sweet but very well thought out.

Highly reccomended. I guess I am in the Pease Corps now. They are becoming all I smoke. The man just knows what he is doing- much respect to his talent and sense of taste.

Update: I am taking back one star due to the difficulty of keeping this lit and the fact that it is VERY pipe picky. Still a good smoke. Just not my #1.

This one missed the mark for me. I'm not experienced enough a smoker to say what all is happening with this tobacco, only enough to say that there is a lot... and all of it stops just short of harmony.

By all means, give it a try. If this was from any other than G.L. Pease I would rate it higher-- it doesn't suck. Because of his blends I've tried heretofore, I expect better. I expect harmony.

No doubt that on my own Pease odyssey I will encounter more blends that fall short for me personally, and I'm sure he won't mind the honest reviews.

PS Did I use the word 'blend' to much? I hate when I do that

It would have been stellar, less harsh than 965, with great flavor, but it doesn't burn well. I've tried various pipes and packing methods, but it just doesn't want to stay lit. You can chalk that up to user inexperience or a bad batch I don't know. But I'm going to stay away from this for a while.

Now, having said that, I was monkeying around with some Pease Embarcadero, which I really like a ton, but thought to myself that a little latakia mixed into it might be a good experiment. So I did about half and half Odyssey/Embarcadero. I lit it up and let me tell you, it was transcendent. I don't know what else to say, I think I just smoked the best pipe of tobacco I've ever had, and I've been smoking pipes for a while.

update 09/27/08: just smoked a tin of Samarra...Odyssey now a 3 star blend.

This is tobacco turned into an art form.

***BE SURE YOUR BUTANE LIGHTER IS FULL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO TRY TO LIGHT THIS STUFF!!**

I tried this blend based on GL Pease? website and all the ?hoopla? about this blend/brand and thought I would give it a try. I was very disappointed when I opened the tin as it smelled like an old musty gym sock. Putting that thought aside, I packed my pipe and lit up, and lit up, and lit up again! DOES THIS STUFF NEED LIGHTER FLUID OR WHAT!? It didn?t feel overly moist but, THIS STUFF JUST WON?T BURN! I live in New Mexico where the humidity is 2% so I put a pack of this on a paper towel to air out?all day! Repacked my pipe several times, tried a meerschaum, several other pipes, and STILL no luck keeping this stuff lit.

I held off putting in my review for this thinking that maybe it will age and get better but?NOPE. Perhaps the tobacco is too green? I don?t know but when I was able to get a drag in, it was nothing too spectacular. I know you may be thinking that I am not a Latakia smoker but actually enjoy a good Latakia/Oriental/English blend.....that stays lit. I searched the best price for this blend on the internet and thought it was quite pricy compared to other latakia/oriental blends (hence one of the reasons I am not rating this higher). I think this blend got high reviews based on the name ?GL Pease?. But I think I got ripped off. If this is what Odyssey is all about?..I?ll pass. I know I'm beating the ?hard to burn? issue but if you can't burn it, how can you enjoy smoking it?

I had to read the other reviews on here to see if maybe I just got a bad batch but sure enough, there are more than one reviews indicating the same experience. Upon reading Country Gentleman?s comment, he described it exactly like I would.

All other GLP English blends taste better to me, with Charing Cross representing the top achievement and opposite of Odyssey, tastewise.

I purchased five pounds of Odyssey, but it was tragically destroyed by fire. One bowl at a time. I've been smoking a pipe since 1972. A huge blend. A huge pleasure.

And yes, I do find it difficult to keep lit. I need to puff on the pipe often just to keep this lit, however, it doesn't bite me at all. I can usually finish 2/3 of the pipe at which point it goes out and relighting it becomes tiresome. That's fine for me since I smoke most blends that way. It is a very nice blend and I will always have a few tins availabe. I smoke this occasionally and enjoy it very much. Just like I did with the old 759 which, for me, was too rich for an everyday smoke.

Updated:

All the character I mentioned in the above review make this a great blend, but I am downgrading this review because I got tired of fighting to keep this tobacco lit. The burn quality of this tobacco is, in my experience, very poor.

With all due respect to fellow reviewers?.I can?t find myself to rate this tobacco higher. I just can?t get a good burn out of it and didn?t find the taste that spectacular. I will update my review after giving it a few more months of aging. We?ll see?.

A very nice blend.

We as Pipers are privileged indeed to be able to enjoy what we do and this site really makes things a bit easier when one wants to try new blends.

I would like to thank all the reviewers and everyone else that keeps this going.

Mo,South Africa

If you want pure luxury, stick a few tins away for about 5 years. Just finished a bowl out of a 6yr old tin. Unbelievably rich and creamy. Hard to imagine that it can be so bold and smooth at the same time. This blend is truly a classic.

I have noted a tendency in some walks of life, that when someone reaches the pinnacle of accomplishment or popularity, as G.L. Pease certainly has, some "experts" feel the need to take the person down a peg. To suggest that Odyssey is a one-star blend is ridiculous when one considers some of the genuine garbage that is available for review.

The taste and quality of Odyssey is extremely good, and it´s mineral, earthy taste is unsurpassable, but I agree, however, with gorealestate that it is VERY DIFFICULT to keep lit. At first I thought it was due to a personal lack of skill, so I took it to a Pipe Club meeting where there were many expert smokers, even contest winning ones, and even they had great difficulties with Odyssey.

This was such an annoying drawback that I stopped smoking it after managing to finish the second tin. Nevertheless, if you are very patient and don´t have problems with wasting whole bottles of butane gas, you have to try this mixture.

First, I disagree with those who describe the tobacco as strong or overpowering. I think it has a very full taste, but manages to be that way without being overpowering. This is a good thing ;-) I would guess that certainly for people that are generally accustomed to Virginia blends or English mixtures that are softer blends, Odyssey delivers a fullness that may take some getting used to. I think that folks who generally smoke latakia blends or are accustomed to and enjoy fuller tasting tobaccos, won't find this blend uncomfortably strong. That being said, I don't think I could smoke without changing things up through the course of the day. As an aside, I think that part of the "intimidation" of this blend is due to the fact that between the latakia and the stoved Virginias, it's a very dark and imposing sight. It's easy to assume it's almost straight latakia, which of course, it isn't.

Second, one of the things I find especially enjoyable with this blend is how smooth and creamy it is. I don't know if it's the particular source of Greg's latakia or if it's what he has blended it with, but the bottom line is that this creamy character seems to soften the strength of the tobacco in a way that makes it rich rather than simply ballsy.

Next, I agree with the comments someone else made earlier about the moisture of the tobacco. To paraphrase, one of the main points was that tobaccos that come out of the tin wetter than desired can be dried to where it smokes to your taste. I have commented elsewhere that I think many of the Pease blends are drenched with moisture. I find it annoying, but I just open the tin and forget about it. I happen to prefer my tobaccos slighter my dry than moist, so I'm used to not smoking stuff at the time the tin is first opened.

Anyone who like latakia blends should give it a try.

Odyssey is less herbish campfire and more musty leather. Smoke this one in a car or closed room, then come back later and it will smell like a wet dog. That shouldn't stop you from smoking it though. You still love that old dog of yours even if he did get left out in the rain right?

I am very intrested to see how this smokes as it ages.

I don't know if this is an all day smoke for the latakia fans but for me when I'm in the mood for this I really enjoy it.

I'm not sure Odyssey deserves it's top billing. Try it, but don't be too surprised. Read other reviews and I think you'll find my experience is not unique.

Having seen Mr Pease's website, I had high expectations- he waxes lyrical about his blending, and he seems to have a crowd of similarly poetic fans who believe him to be Gods' gift to blending. So he can talk the talk- can he walk the walk?

At first, I wasn't so impressed. The first few bowls started out very good, but then deteriorated about halfway through into a monotonous tonguebite that drowned all flavour, and required a lot of relights. However, with a little drying, it burns all the way through and I've had some outstanding smokes with it.

As with all tobaccos, and especially Latakia, it smokes best outdoors, the cool air brings out the best flavour from it. If smoked peacefully it burns for a long time and the flavor develops somewhat through the bowl. Plenty of latakia, as I like, the orientals seem quite astringent, and the virginia just gives a hint of sweetness. It doesn't have the fermented, yeasty smell of my favourite Dunhills, but you do get that nice salty tang from time to time, and plenty of campfire smokiness. Only a hint of resiny flavours, but it's nice and earthy, in a good way. There isn't any pattern to the flavour development through the bowl- it's different every time, I suppose depending on what got packed in where. As it has got even drier, I get some cigar like notes from time to time, something I notice with a few Latakia blends when they dry out, and in this one the astringency of the orientals is accentuated, giving it some tea like flavours- particularly like China tea, Oolong and Pu'erh, quite woody and dry. However, with drying, the bite has returned a bit, so it must be smoked carefully.

All in all, a very interesting blend, there's a lot to it. But I won't wax poetical about it just yet- it isn't Nightcap.

The flavor is dominantly smoky and sweet with quality turkish to add spice. The baseline is laid by the latakia. The black VAs add a rusky sweetness.

A very opulent blend on the full end of the spectrum which goes well in any gauge chamber.

After 1 hour, 4 hours and then 24 hours of drying time, Odyssey simply would not stay lit for me, despite several attempted packs and several different pipes. I'm not sure what's going on - perhaps I got a "bad" tin, but really, considering the price point and the concept of "small batch blending", quality control should be better here. Much better.

I'm something of a Pease fan and I smoked a fair amount of Caravan a few years back and came to love that blend - it burned well and was simply a marvelous Balkan with lots of complexity.

I haven't re-visited Caravan in awhile, but my experience with Odyssey, or at least with this particular version of Odyssey, must surely be an "oddity", considering the blend's popularity on this site and the blender's stellar reputation.

Many, and in my experience MOST tobaccos are not smokeable right after popping the tin, primarily because of too much moisture. Many reviewers dock the tobacco for this, but that is a mistake, I think, for several reasons. Not all people need their tobacco to be the same humidity, for reasons of packing and smoking styles, pipe qualities including size, and perhaps most importantly, individual body chemistry. And that being the case, it is better for a tobacco to be nearer the wet side of the spectrum because it is easier to dry it out than add moisture. Moreover, the tobacco naturally dries out as you repeatedly open the tin to get some out. So one could argue that it needs to be wetter than optimal at first so it can go "through" it's optimum humidity as you go through the tin. Finally, some say that pipe tobaccos age and "travel" better when wetter than optimal smoking humidity. So rather than complaining about too much moisture, one needs to learn to take care of that himself. That's pipe-smoking 101 for me. Otherwise, I would avoid too many quality mixtures. If it is worth it to you to find the one or two blends that are perfect (for you) right out of the tin, go for it. But I still think it a mistake to blame the tobacco. End of teaching moment.

This tobacco also needs some ATT: air and tin time. Like others have noted, I experienced the "dirty sock" phenomenon at first, where this was mostly just salty and bitter and left my mouth feeling dry. But after two or so hours drying out and two weeks or so sitting in a sealed jar, it began to sing. The sweetness came through moderating and balancing the other flavors nicely, and the particular perfumey character of the orientals was a nice touch. A "top five" latakia blend for me.

For someone who enjoys the English and Balkan blends, this is an outstanding tobacco. Full of flavor without a bite. If you don't like Latakia, then you won't like Odyssey. Not that the Latakia is overpowering, it really isn't but you can't miss its zing in this tobacco.

I would recommend this to new pipe smokers as well as those looking to switch over or try the Balkan/Orientals.

The first hit -- to the nose, to the eyes -- is a motherlode of latakia. And that's the dominating taste when match hits bowl. But if smoked slowly, it doesn't take long for the orientals to come bursting through, and then the Virginias. (I don't think I've ever smoked a blend that so expertly comingled latakias and orientals so that it's sometimes difficult to tell where one leaves off and the other begins.)

To my palate, this somehow falls outside the Balkan lines -- or else it's "Balkan" pushed to the limits. And it actually seems to have more in common with Pease's subsequent Westminster (although it falls short of Westminster's richness and complexity) than it does with, say, Charing Cross or Caravan. But regardless of how you categorize or compare it, this blend is a four-star joy.

At the Chicago pipe show, a few buddies and I pitched in and bought a five-year old tin, curious to see what aging does to a blend.

Lord, it does a lot!

The latakia mellows out some and smells a bit musty (in a good way). When this aged tin is gone, I'll be a sad man. Makes one wonder what five years in a tin would do to Ashbury, Charing Cross, or Westminster. (I'm going to Iwan Ries to buy some tins so that I can find out what six months or so does to them!)

Recommended in its standard form, but if you age it some, highly, highly recommended!

//Second review 04/22/07 below://

I don't know what happened. I cellared a few tins of Odyssey specifically for aging purposes and opened today, 22 April 2007, a 2 oz. tin which had been packed and sealed on 21 April 2006. On opening the tin, the first thing I noticed was the complete lack of distinctive latakia scent. None, zilch, nada. I hope I haven't aged a bunch of Odyssey tins in which the blender forgot the latakia. I went ahead and loaded up a large Cavicchi used exclusively for balkan/english blends. On light-up I could faintly taste the virginias but thus far into the smoke it tastes/behaves as if there were perique in this blend rather than latakia. I wonder if I bought a mis-labled tin of Haddos Delight? Dang... and I was really, I mean really looking forward to trying this tobacco with a year's age in the tin. I'll probably go ahead and finish the tin, but I'm mighty disappointed. I love latakia blends, especially those with some age on them. Thus far the smokes from this tin are distinctively mediocre.

//Original review 10/09/06 below://

I've never had the strength of will to allow a tin of Odyssey to age beyond three months and can only imagine how good it would be with a couple of years or more. Odyssey, for me, is like Esoterica's Penzance ramped up about by about 50 percent. I learned it must be packed rather loosely or it will require frequent relights. I have been smoking it exclusively in an Ardor Ninfea smooth bent and, typically, smoke only on those days (weekends) when I have the full leisure to really pay attention to its nuances. For me, it is spicy, creamy, zesty and sweet - these tastes/sensations start with the very first light and pick up intensity in the last half of the bowl. Typically, I'll have to use a pipe cleaner about one third of the way into the smoke - once it's had its gurgle it settles down until the end. Its end always comes too quickly, leaving nothing but dry gray ash in the bottom of pipe. Very highly recommended. Some day, when I have the extra funds, I hope to buy a full 8 oz. tin of this and put it away where I can forget about it for at least five years.

Much like Dunhill's Durbar, what really stands out here are the orientals. Very tart with a little spice... The latakia is top notch stuff, smoky and rich. The virginias have no bite, and I love how they work in tandem with the orientals... ahhhh... the sweet & sour taste that is such a pleasure on the palate & through the nose. I also can't help but inhale at certain points.

Not much moisture in the pipe and a nice light grey ash... This is truly a masterpiece and an odyssey of the senses.

The experience is digital rather than analogue. Each voice is heard individually rather than ensemble. The effect is of a child prodigy drawing attention to itself persistently: the performance cannot be faulted, the mannerisms could be better. Hence the withholding of the fourth star.

REVIEW 30 JAN 2007: Coming back to this mixture after a year, it is a pleasure to join many others in according Odyssey four stars. A year in the tin has married all the ingrediets, and the final effect is nothing short of superb.

The "Guest Host" (an oxymoron) was Dick Benjamin...and he called on the late, inimitable Rodney Dangerfield to describe how "HUGE" President Carter had become after going into the contaminated area.

Rodney said, "He's so big, he could have a sleazy affair with the Holland Tunnel...I mean....HE'S BIG!!!" Sweating, as usual, Rodney loosened his tie..."I mean...he's BIG! He's so big...."

Comedy aside...Odyssey is a Balkan, albeit with Scottish touches. It is NOT an English; the effect is too powerful for such a classification. There is little subtlty or nuance here. Those looking for such are advised to pick another of Greg's many delicious blends. Currently, Westminster would be my counsel.

I purchased a can of Odyssey concurrent with Westminster. It was just as fresh...all of 3-weeks-old. At first I thought, "Ugh!" Boy, was I wrong! Either this blend has changed...or the components...or my tastebuds...or the "tincture of time" has worked its wonders...OR the crop of the constituents has varied due to climate...source...processing. I could go on forever about all that plays into a blend, but I won't.

Suffice it to say that Odyssey is a deep, rich, full, satisfying tobacco for those who want a left-to-the-jaw of Latakia, but who want to retain consciousness to enjoy the entire bowlful. The black Virginias mellow the effect...and the Orientals provide a stimulus to maintain consciousness. Even way-too-fresh, this is a damned good smoke!

If you loved the REAL Rattray's Black Mallory...or kindred tobaccos...you will be beguiled by Odyssey.

This is a well-tempered Balkan...A Latakiaphile's Dream-Come-True. I am soon to go in-search of some aged stuff!

BTW, I rated the Room Note as "Pleasant to Tolerable" simply because I LOVE the smell of latakia, both in the tin and when it's being smoked (the "pleasant" part). I can't necessarily say the same for those around me (the "tolerable" part of the review).

But I've been giving Old Larry and Mr. Odyssey here some sparring time, and I should say I love them both. That might not be saying much, considering I'd probably give a bar of soap four stars if I was compelled to smoke the thing. Though all kidding aside, Odyssey has earned its marks. There's a big Latakia flavor here that's nicely balanced by the addition of the varying Oriental and Virginias. Larry's blend is damn near overkill on the Latakia, which even still, I very much enjoy. But Odyssey is far smoother, in my opinion, which makes it more ideal for routine smokes.

My freshly opened tin was pretty damp. Damper than I can remember any other Pease blend I've cracked open. I've come to enjoy a nice, crisp tobacco leaf, by some chance coincidence not too long ago. It would be that I'd spend a great deal of time fretting over the moisture level of my tobacco, going great lengths to rehydrate blends that I felt had gone too dry. As it turns out, I plan on airing this sucker out for a few hours to really get it going.

Compared to Larry's blend, you'll see the brighter leaf jump out at you, which I tend to think makes for a more nuanced and delicate blend. I can see Greg being especially finicky about Odyssey back during the "conceptional" phase...micromanaging every last element to his taste. He really seems to set the bar for the rest of us, and not the other way around. The guy's a master at that sort of thing. As far as the marketing is concerned..oh, I won't go there.

I know some call this overbearing, but I would disagree. I'm not getting a nicotine kill on Odyssey, and I'm not complaining. What's great is the flavor, and the new territory I've been able to cover going the Balkan road. My poor London Mixture has been getting jealous. I'll have to pay closer attention to her...when this is all done.

You'd be a bastard to rate this any lower than a four. Smoke Up.

While the tobacco smokes deep and smooth, I also find it very straighforward (particularly w/ regard to the latakia,) if that makes any sense. Smoke aroma is a significant part of my enjoyment, and I didn't find Odyssey having the incense-like fragrance and complexity while burning that I get with, for example, Frog Morton at its best, or Ashton Celebrated Sovereign. Also, I found myself having to relight many times, which surprised me. But these aspects may change as my tin airs out a bit, and might be different for aged tins of Odyssey (this is a newly opened tin of very recent vintage).

So far, on a five-star scale, I'd give it a four. I look forward to exploring the rest of the tin.

Over the past five years or so, I've sampled probably 100 or more Balkan-type mixtures ranging from Pease's other products to those manufactured in the U.K., the Continent, or thrown together by various B&Ms. Most of them are mediocre at best, but thankfully there's a handful of genuinely great ones out there: Abingdon, Larry's Blend, and Balkan Supreme, to name just three.

But Odyssey is, bar none, the best of the lot (IMHO, of course).

This may be the ultimate blend of its type, better even the Balkan Sobranie of old. The latakia is top-notch and definitely in the driver's seat, but it manages not to be overwhelming -- it may be the star of the show, but it's got one hell of an ensemble backing it up. Equally important is the unique combination of stoved VAs and orientals, which interact in such a way as to define "complexity" in the context of pipe tobacco. You really need to dedicate a pipe or two (preferably with large bowls) to this blend if you want to appreciate this latter characteristic fully. Its taste profile is comparable to Larry's Blend, only Odyssey is far richer and has several additional dimensions of flavor. Another comparison might be made to Abingdon, only Odyssey is both sweeter and, again, more complex.

There are two drawbacks. First, as others have pointed out, Odyssey doesn't pack or burn easily. I don't know if this is because of the leaf used or if the cut is to blame, but you can easily go through a book of matches over the course of a bowl. Usually this type of problem is a "deal killer" to me, but not here -- this stuff is actually worth it. The other drawback is that it's too rough on the palate for all-day smoking, which stinks because I might otherwise seriously consider tossing most everything else in my cellar in favor of it. Both Abingdon and Larry's Blend are far easier on the mouth (hence I smoke them more frequently) but Odyssey is what I turn to when I want to enjoy a special occasion or just zone out for an hour or two.

Mr Pease is as close as a "rockstar" in tobacco blending as you can get. He seems to have a freakish talent given his age. I enjoy his writing and philosophies of life and this will not put me off trying his other blends; but this one comes with the caveat "for latakia addicts only."

Smoking this blend has been an absolute delight. It lights easily and maintains a dependable, steady burn. I experience absolutely no bite whatsovever, during or after a bowl. The taste and smell of this tobacco are magnificent. I even liked the way the inside of my car smelled when I got into it the next morning.

Mr. Pease has my thanks and admiration for giving us this superb tobacco. Due to the price of a tin, it will remain an occasional treat, but it most certainly is a treat.

I like this best when I'm hungry, instead of after a big meal in the evening, as is more standard for the style. I think when someone is hungry the taste buds search harder for subtle flavors, and that is exactly the realm where Odyssey lies. Not all bowls I've had are the same. That's one mystery about Odyssey, how it changes even through 2 oz. Not that its ever bad- it's a 4 star at WORST. But every once in awhile I get a bowl of this which goes beyond words, almost an experience not of this world. When this happens I get flavors which are unusual (or unheard of) for tobacco, and yet are 100% natural. A hint of black licorice is definitely there, and even sea salt, like the smell of the ocean. Maybe the best way to describe the flavor of this would be to say, that if you were to compare tobacco to scotch, Odyssey is without question from the Isle of Islay.

It is impossible to get this to bite.. the absolute smoothest, coolest smoke I've ever had. I can inhale and feel nothing, and I've never smoked cigarettes. You could say this tobacco is dangerously good. Try pressing your nose right against the briar and smell the wood while the pipe is lit. The whiff of the tobacco burning right out of the top of the bowl and the warm briar is very nice.

Goes well post-steak dinner with some fine wiskey and water.

Cheers!

Along with enjoying the worlds' best pipe tobaccos, listening to female vocalists is a passion of mine. I simply cannot help but compare this blend to the voice of my all-time favorite female singer, Karen Carpenter. Like Karens' voice, this tobacco blend is deep and complex, rich and full yet smooth and creamy, powerful yet subtle and mellow, forthright yet concealing so much that is only revealed to those who probe endlessly, and always completely satisfying. I can't get enough of it, and will be buying more of it to cellar. I can hardly wait to age some of this stuff. I can only imagine the flavor(s) it will have when aged. I give this blend FOUR STARS in capital letters, but only because that's as many as they'll let me give it. If you are a lover of English and/or Balkan blends and have never tried this Odyssey blend, do yourself a great favor, and get your hands on some as quickly as you can. I doubt you will be disappointed. GOOD SMOKING !!

I pulled the ring on the top of the tin and smelt that special aroma once again. It smelled EXACTLY the same. I loaded a bowl of this 2-year-old stuff... in the same pipe I originally tried it in... and lit... it was amazing to taste...so much like when I had tasted it a few years ago.. but different. The top had come ove and the bottom increased slightly... but the middle tones have definitely come to speak.

I would invite you to go see your tobacconist and buy 2 cans... on for now and one for later. Two years really does it for this regal blend.

Matt

My wife can take it or leave it as far as room note goes.

Excellent tobac.

Meerschaum Man Smoking a Fischer Meerschaum

This is less a display of tobacco flavor fireworks that can be described with the normal descriptive themes, and really one of those lush, ethereal blends that must be experienced personally. There is playful subtlety here, and a robustness that is soft and rounded.

If Balkans are your bag, Odyssey is insanely good stuff.

My wife happens to love the room note that Odyssey evokes and never fails to comment, "I really like that one." In this respect I am lucky that she likes the smell of latakia blends; however, Odyssey and Margate are the only two that I have found so far which possess an aroma that she seems to especially enjoy.

I recommended this world-class blend to those who are seeking a full Balkan or strong English experience. It's a bit hard on my palatte though. As much as I love the powerhouse of flavor, try as I might to smoke this slowly, I invariably scorch the dickens out of my tongue and gums when I smoke this. Margate is the same way with me so maybe I just can't quite tolerate so much latakia yet. It's really good and a flavor monster, but I must bow down and cry "Uncle," because this stuff leaves my mouth feeling like I've been chewing on a campfire for hours after I smoke it.

I'd recommend getting the tin first because I ordered an 8oz bag and it took me over six months to finish it. This is ideal for a nightcap latakia bomb but a bowl of this a day is about as much as I can tolerate. Test your tongue against Odyssey and see if you are man enough for this full Balkan overload of intense flavor.

Rating 4 out of 5 Points.

There is nothing surprising or controversial about Odyssey. It is exactly how Greg describes it on the label. A big, full Balkan blend, that reminds me of the full English tobacco blends of the past.

This is a dark tobacco in the tin, but a wonderful, round tasting tobacco in the pipe. It is rare indeed to find a blend that is this big, but doesn't bite or overwhelm your senses at some point. Odyssey is indeed very refined.

Some of Greg's blends are exceedingly bland to my taste. Odyssey is full of flavor, yet subtle. The latakia is the star here, but the supporting cast props it up dutifully.

If you enjoy exhaling your smoke through your nose, Odyssey won't disappoint if you enjoy this style of tobacco. I get a magnificent display of cocoa, leather, a light cinammon quality...almost as if freshly baked goods were in the house.

I think this is a wonderful blend, and highly recommend it to you if you enjoy this genre.

BACKGROUND: My first job in high school was retail in a mall tobacco store in the Wash. DC area. With a novice palate sampling everything that burned in the store, I finally discovered Latakia. Being a boy scout and used to wood fires when camping, I fell in love with this mysterious smoke. Smoking the store's house blend (very similar to BS white label) grew tiresome and to the urging of the more experienced palates in the shop, I experimented with tinned tobacco. The assistant manager smoked 759 and when accepted my first bowlful I feel in love (with the blend). Well, I was already in love but you know. Working my way through college among the three-store chain, I grew to love VA flakes and moved away from the Balkan blends. Over the years I sadly, I watched as the State Express Royal Navy Cut, Balkan Sobranie Flake and their mixtures disappear forever.

Thirty years later I have opened my first tin of Odyssey Due to the fine and accurate reviews of you good people. The first waft as I opened the tin hit my olfactory senses and triggered synoptic memories from long ago. The color of the leaf and cut is supreme. I do seem to remember that with respect to 759, the Latakia was from Macedonia and was coupled with Smyrna, not Yenidje. Yenidje actually made my mouth dry and was the coupled leaf in the BS White label.

I strongly encourage anyone who fancies a full-bodied, well-rounded Balkan smoke to grab a few cans. It was cold last night on the deck at nine o'clock and the wife was shutting house down saying I was crazy. Yup, bundled up I still had a 1/3 of a bowl to go and I could not put it down.

This would be too strong for me, a flake smoker (the brighter the VA the better), as an all day smoke. Kind of like finishing cutting an acre of grass in late July at 1:00 PM, then drinking a room temp Guinness. However, as a nightcap, it does not get any better than this!

Odyssey is a rare treat indeed, in the sense that I had almost given up on ever finding anything quite like it. From the moment I received my first tin in March 2005 (tin dated 2002), I felt my pulse quicken. The tin aroma on first opening was not particularly distinct among Balkans, yet there was "something afoot" from the start. I poured some Odyssey onto the flap of my trifold tobacco pouch and examined it closely under bright lighting. What I saw looked promising indeed: an abundance of dark brownish-black tobacco (presumably the Cyprian Latakia which forms the heart and soul of this blend) accompanied by variably sized pieces of black, dark red and tan to pale yellow Virginias and Orientals.

This tobacco requires only a light touch when packing, owing to it's rather chunky consistency of un-rubbed out flake and small strands, which form the right packing density almost by filling the pipe bowl incrementally with intermittent tapping of the bowl to settle the tobacco. A minimum of compression is all that's needed.

I found that this tobacco expresses it's fullest flavor potential in larger pipes. The most rewarding experience was accomplished with several larger Dunhill Shells including group 6 and HT XL size bowls along with equivalently sized pipes from other carvers.

Every bowl of Odyssey has been sublime to date, and I'm far from smoking my last! It is a full tobacco with the wonderful attributes of Cyprian Latakia including the typical woodsy flavor underscored by subtle layers of greater complexity, with a collage of sweet and tangy tones resulting from this special Latakia admixed with just the right amount of Virginias and Orientals. Unlike many blends containing large proportions of Latakia, Odyssey can be smoked from start to finish in a large bowl without noticeable nicotine overload. Another pipeful is often warranted following the first (which always seems to end too quickly for me, no matter how long the pipeful actually lasted).

This tobacco yields a nearly pure white ash and smokes very dry. A well lit bowl produces copious amounts of white smoke, adding to the overall enjoyment. I cannot comment on the room note with full accuracy (since I'm biased well in favor of this blend and cannot be impartial), but my wife tells me it has a "presence", which means it probably creates a signature Latakia smell, and might be said, politely, to be pungent. The room odor does dissipate quite rapidly though; I never detect any lingering Latakia ghosts when I enter the smoking room the next morning.

I am enthralled by Odyssey and smoke it regularly; for me it could easily be an all day smoke if I could smoke all day. Others may find it more suitable for an evening or after dinner pipe. After the first 2 oz. tin was more than half gone, I ordered several more tins for smoking and cellaring. I plan on smoking Odyssey as one of my "primary" blends for as long as it's available. I hope it outlasts me!

Congratulations, Mr. Pease; you have made this pipe smoker extremely happy with this fantastic Balkan blend! A true triumph benefitting the Balkan lover!

Odyssey has become the ?standard? by which I judge all other Balkans, and there are so many great ones from which to choose (many of them GLP).

Appearance: A very appealing mixture of light dark browns and nearly black tobaccos in a rough ribbon cut.

Tin aroma: WOW! This blend has everything in prefect balance and yet very ?full? tin aroma. The Orientals are sharp in the nose, the Latakia is rich, deep and smoky and the Virginias are sweet and deep. This tobacco is very satisfying just smelling the tin. I detect leather and smoke, and deep sour cherry/fig/date fruitiness from the stoved Virginias. I don?t detect any Cavendish or other ?extender tobaccos? and everything smells exactly as it should.

Odyssey is absolutely perfect moisture for me straight from the tin (or bag, as I purchase it in 8 ounce bags now) requiring only my careful un-divided attention in packing. This is not because it is difficult to pack (it isn?t) rather, that it deserves my full attention. I find that I need to use a lighter hand (even employing the ?Frank method?) than I do with other blends while packing. This lighter hand seems to bring out even more of this blend?s astonishing subtleties.

Upon lighting, I?m greeted with everything at once, bold in every detail, yet not assaulted. I don?t have to think much about identifying the individual components, they stand out willingly. The Latakia yielding its smoky leathery presence, the Orientals granting the familiar tingle in the throat and nose, and the deep Virginias carrying the other two along in high and low pallet sensations and granting them a sweetness in perfect proportion to the ends of the flavor spectrum. Odyssey lights very easily and I can often finish a bowl with a single light.

Mid Bowl: Somewhere in the middle of the middle, it happens; the complexity of flavors changes and builds. The assertiveness of each component begins to show, and nearly every blessed mouthful of smoke tastes slightly different than the last. At this point I have to pay closer attention to my technique, because it is very easy to begin chugging like a freight train and ruin everything. Generally I opt for a much slower pace and draw in as I?m exhaling the last puff nasally, then rest for sometimes fully 10 long seconds before drawing again. By doing so, I experience this tobacco in two pallet regions simultaneously, adding to its complexity. The slip stream smoke is also wonderful to inhale nasally, where the Orientals live.

Home Stretch: These flavors are all HUGE and just how Mr. Pease does all this while keeping things so refined is beyond my understanding. This blend is like a fine aged Merlot, bold, scintillating even, without ever being harsh. When compared with every other Balkan blend I?ve ever tasted, Odyssey beats them all in depth, fullness, richness and complexity without ever overstating any single aspect. The final third develops along the same lines as initially tasted upon lighting, building on every puff so far. Odyssey just continues to build until suddenly, almost without warning it goes out. I often tamp it all down fairly firmly and strike another match; there is no blast of ashy flavor as with many others, just a very strong smoky ?bonus smoke? that is not to be missed for anything in this world.

Supplemental Notes: I have yet to be able to age this tobacco beyond 18 months, I can?t resist the temptation to open and smoke it. Odyssey is my favorite Balkan blend without reservation, and my second favorite tobacco blend of all time. It is my opinion that Mr. Greg Pease is today?s greatest living blender. Rating for those interested in numbers ****

Try Caravan, too, for a more oriental variation on the theme!

It is the only blend out of all the Balkan's that I've seen described as "creamy", that actually fits the bill. It is elegant yet strong - full of changing flavors and nuances. Best smoked slow and enjoyed...an Odyssey in both name and experience.

To date my favorite Balkan blend. I waited a long time to try it. Built up my own internal hype. Well worth the wait and destined to join Haddo's, Raven's Wing, 3 Friars, Nightcap and Margate at the top of my heap.

It's a big, bold blend. I can see where lovers of latakia would really enjoy Odyssey.

Odyssey lets you know up front that Latakia has rented an entire floor at the tobacco hotel. Great start. But it also is balanced enough that I can easily detect the Orientals and Virginias in the mix while sniffing the tin. Fantastic. The scent is rich and somewhat sweet, and it delivers subtle notes of earthy goodness and dark chocolate. Put simply: It smells huge.

Packing the tobac requires restraint. Too heavy a thumb, particularly in the first 2/3 loaded into the bowl, ruins the smoke. It's a meaty mixture.

Odyssey is a slow smoker, but that doesn't mean you can't puff the hell out of it. It won't bite. It might leave a funny (or horrid) taste in your mouth, but what quick-and-hot smoke won't?

The heft of this blend supports a solid and even burn all the way down. It may smoke a bit wet out of the can, so either letting it dry out on a tray or in the pipe bowl for a while should help. Smoking this stuff on the wet side will not only prolong the duration of the smoke, but also may leave some beefy dottle behind.

The flavors are gigantic. The first third seemed dominated by the Latakia but with plenty of sweetness from the Virginias. End of first third and through the second ushers in the full complexity of the blend, much like its smell upon charring light. Given a chance to surface numerous times, the Orientals play well with the other components and offer up some awesome tastes. The final third -- more like the middle of the final third -- yields again to the Latakia, still lets the smoker know the sweet Virginias are there, and sometimes allows the Orientals to stand out.

I can't help but give Odyssey my highest praise. It's a well-made, complex, and satisfying blend for the lover of full Balkans.

Initially, I found that I could char the top, relight, and smoke to the bottom with maybe one or two relights. But Odyssey is best enjoyed when savored slowly, and smoked right on the edge of going out. The already complex flavor palette increases dramatically at this point. So if you really want to get everything this blend has to offer, keep a good supply of matches on hand. If relights are timely, there is no hint of harshness.

As to room note, well, this is a big Balkan? Don?t expect cheers from people who aren?t fans of big Balkans.

As generous as the portion of Latakia is, it doesn?t overpower the Oriental, and the Va can even be found peeking out once in a while. This isn?t to say that the Latakia is weak, just that the Oriental is quite stout. Odyssey has all the complexity of taste we have come to expect from a GLP blend, but in this case, the nuances aren?t like Daffodils interspersed with Daises ? they?re more on the order of Peterbilts interspersed with Kenworths, with the occasional locomotive passing through. There is nothing delicate or dainty about this blend. If Balkans are your thing, you must try this one.

For the occasional ?odyssey?, I?ll go with this blend for the epic voyage. But for more frequent travels, I?ll stick with flights of fancy on the wing of a raven.

Stepping into this blend after a trial run at Cousin?s Smoke Shop in Cleveland, crown of the Rustbelt, I was expecting to be struck by the raw potency of the mixture. Dusting my bowl with trembling hands, I felt a chill of intimidation brought upon by the proprietor?s warning that this was indeed a serious smoke, not for beginners, not by any stretch of the imagination. Being a tenderfoot, I figured I would just try and light the damned thing, then let the smoke take me where it will. This was indeed the correct strategy. It came on with a deep, yet lighthearted aroma, a song to cast away to. In this moment of birth, G.L. Pease understood the importance of stating his theme, providing an exposition to his epic journey. The first smoke was shared with a friend on a snowy Cleveland Saturday, and of course, was pleasantly overwhelming. The real test, however, was the second, solitary smoke, the ?personal odyssey?.

I had propped a green plaid lawn chair in my backyard, which overlooked an acre of Parma forest and the Cleveland skyline in the distance, with television towers sparkling in between. As I lowered the flame towards my briar, I tried to blot out the sounds of traffic in the distance. I didn?t realize I could trust G.L. Pease and his Odyssey to take care of this problem for me. As the pipe took light, I soaked in the melody of this bold theme. I waited patiently for that moment when the theme would dissipate into the raw improvisation that would become my odyssey. Just as I feared this blend would just ?run the changes?, I tasted the richness of the latakia coupled with a depth of alternating sweetness and bitterness that lifted the sails and lowered my ship upon a pillow of winds. As my senses of smell and taste were increasingly heightened at a steady pace, my mind relaxed and let my head perform simply as an axis around which heavenly clouds of smoke could navigate. Just as I had hoped, the smoke burned true. Each intake was richer in flavor, and as this flew me above dizzying landscapes, the strong nicotine content stayed my body and retained my focus. The clouds grew around me, and I began to sense an almond aftertaste as I dreamily followed the glow of t.v. tower lights in between snow covered branches. This taste heightened with every intake, even as the latakia became more pronounced.

G.L. Pease promotes Oriental tobaccos that ?dance delicately in dervishes.? I couldn?t help but recall Coltrane?s ?India? of the 1961 Vanguard performance. The first strains of improv are a mystery, but through intensely focused minutes, solar winds carry all beings who see the path. When Dolphy enters, harshness and dissonance are no longer applicable, a message is a message is a message. Thus is an Odyssey. My view becomes heightened, the snow glistens, and the world of technology blends true with the world of nature. Not as I would have it, but true nonetheless. Depth exists now not in my vision of the forest, but in swirling tastes and dark aromas. Slinking back into the green stitches, I taste battle in this moment, possibly Henry Morgan taking Antigua with the King?s fleet, but with the next intake recalling the loss of the Roman Empire.

Such is a blend, that requires no relights, no break in the journey. An Odyssey is an odyssey is an odyssey. Hesitant, I explored the depths of the cosmos, while a complete Balkan mix took over my internal cosmos, and through this symbiotic relationship, all the problems of the universe were solved. As Mingus had said, ?Betta get hit in yo? soul!? Say true. I had let the smoke take me where it would, and I have not yet returned.

Thick white plumes of smoke and the pipeful has a noce, but strong, aftertaste.

A very good blend but culd not be an all-day smoke for me. More suited for those special times when you can sit down and savor.

When its good its great.

At first I did not like Oddysey for the same reason that I did not like Caravan- somehow it just gave me a mineral kind of taste that I did not like. In fact, I gave away the last half of my first can. After so many rave reviews, I decided that, for the first time in my life, I acknowledged the possibility that I might be wrong and all the others right. I tried another can. While I will not rave about it like some of the others, I now admit it is a pretty good Balkan. I do not find the range of flavors in it as in my memories of Balkan Sobranie 759, nor does it change flavor going down the bowl as 759 did, but it is still an excellent Balkan. I find myself enjoying it more as I acclimate myself to it, so maybe its a matter of smoking it at the right pace to bring out the best qualities.

I have an unopened can of Caravan in the stash, so maybe I'll change my negative review of it once I've gone through that can.

Physical Characteristics: Does Greg Pease make an ugly tobacco? Every blend of his that I have tried (that's all of them for those of you keeping score), have been visually stunning. Odyssey is no exception; being a study in contrasts. The short, light leaf, the longer jet black ribbons, the dusky earthy Latakia, and sweet, syrupy Virginias, all held together by the Oriental varietals. Odyssey fairly pours itself into the pipe, and does not fight packing in the least. It lights immediately and pleasantly, burning eveny and slowly away to a fine white ash.

Notes: Sweet and smoky all at once, there are depths to this tobacco that my meager smoking sample (1lb so far) cannot suffice to plumb it. Immediately I was taken by the earthy warmth of the Latakia, and was content to marvel at the skillful way it was the star, without overpowering. Then, a tin or two later, I noticed that without the sweet, caramel Virginias, the Latakia would simply have been too much, and the blend would have been monochromatic. Another tin brought the realisation that a simple Latakia/Virginia blend could never be like this, no matter what the skill of the blender, and I mavelled at the selection of precisely the right Orientals to fill in the cracks and round off the edges. I smoked another tin and marvelled at the way that these elements did not compete, as they do in so many blends, first one shining, then the next, but instead worked together, to provide, in my opinion, a smoke bigger than the sum of it's parts.

Verdict: Stop the presses, we have a winner! Ashton's Celebrated Sovereign has been dethroned as my all time favorite tobacco. Buy it!

This is not a blend I'd want to wake up to in the mornings. Of course, there is no accounting for taste and the next reviewer indicates he likes to wake up to this stuff. Be forwarned though, if you are going to smoke it indoors, pick a night (or morning) when the missus is away. (Be sure to use lots of air freshener and keep the windows open while smoking, or your liable to get caught!)