G. L. Pease - Classic Collection: Kensington pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
< PREVIOUS Showing reviews 21 through 40 of 40 reviews of this tobacco
SirLoirn	02/25/2008	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Tin: Looks like Piccadilly, also of the Classic Collection, having a familiar, overall light mahogany hue. While Piccadilly was dry, Kensington is at least so. Medium, somewhat irregular ribbon cut. Kensington displays a balance between smoky Latakia and spicy, perfumy orientals, presenting a mild, mellow smoky oriental scent. Packing & Lighting: Seemed easy to overpack. Being dry, it lit readily. Taste & Aroma: Nice, soft and smooth, to start off, but included a slightly annoying tangy zest on the tongue. After this, it continues a nice presentation, a soft interplay between smoky oriental perfume and VA oats, a well-arranged bouquet of orientals and VA's. This seemed to be elicited more favorably in a large meerschaum. Being mild, Kensington keeps me busy concentrating on trying to elicit more of this aroma. Nicotine: Mild to medium. Room Note: Medium. A pleasant VA afterthought until multiple bowls are smoked back-to-back leaving a cigarette odor. Overall: Kensington has a signature taste and aroma akin to other GLP offerings. 3.8 stars. Based simply on types of tobacco, this Classic Collection tobacco should be compared to Ashbury of the Fog City Selection, Ashbury having a more light oriental quality. Other GL Pease offerings in this genre are Charing Cross and Caravan, out of the Classic Collection and Original Mixtures, respectively.
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Lochinvar	11/24/2007	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Very good tobacco, as are all of the Pease offerings.. IT does not puppoet to be, nor is it, a classic Balkan. I find it somewhere between over the top English and true Balkan. Maybe an all day English blend for one of us strapping Scots. It lacks some of the sour taste I expect from a Balkan, and is not so spicy. The latakia seems to be of good quality, and the blend is well behaved and tasty throughout the bowl. Don't complain that it is too weak, the tin tells you that. A good blend for when you want Balkan taste, but you have already blasted yourself into shellshock with one of the the GLP or Comptons Super Balkans.
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wosbald	10/12/2007	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
This is a review of a 3 year old tin. The tin aroma of this predominately long-cut, wide ribbon is dominated by the orientals, supplemented by moderate portions of latakia. There are goodly amounts of virginia here also. The flavors follow the tin description. A surprisingly sweet balkan with good oriental character and a dusting of latakia. A well-orchestrated composition, this is a fine blend made with quality ingredients and thoughtful blending. Aging is recommended. This did well in a chamber of any gauge.
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bigdummy	09/25/2007	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
I have to admit that this one had to grow on me. I initially popped the lid on this tin last spring (early spring, when Balkans are still tasty) and the tin has an October '06 date on it (I think - me eyes aren't what they used to be). I was completely underwhelmed at the time - Restrained?, uhhh... no. Absent was more like it. Tasted green, hot and well... kinda just smoke-less - nope, save it for later. Well... 6 months goes by with the lid on but tucked safely away in my desk drawer-ador. Last weekend we had a little weather here in SoCal (such as it ever is) and it got chilly enough that thoughts of Balkans and lucious, smokey Latakia came bursting into my VaPer-ized summer thoughts. I happened across the tin of Kensington slumbering in my collection and decided to give it another go. What a complete revelation! I packed my trusty old Castello 33 with a goodly pinch and fired 'er up. I finally got it... this IS a Balkan with restraint - dunno what I was tasting the first time, but I have since gone through half my original tin and I'm gonna bust down Sykes' door this Friday with an order for a few more tins. It's smokey, yeah, but not Pirate Kake by any means - and the orange blossom thing is right on the money. Sweet, smokey and Virginney and... OMG!... gotta go - I have a big Croci just waiting it's turn... I'm givin' this 3 stars because I had to wait 6 months for it to turn into something - but WOW! What a something!
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Talonr1701	08/27/2007	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
If your a Latakia Drip Lover- Read no further..... This is for you smokers out there who, Like me, like a balanced tasteful, easy on the latakia mix. I went out for my Birthday to Bruce's Pipe shop in Ashville (which by the way is a wonderful place) and found a tin of Kensington from early 04. That in itself should have been enough to inspire me, but I had recently been pointed toward this blend by the Dark One, who knows of my sensitivity toward heavy englishes- as a possible smoke of interest. On popping the tin I immediatly got the smell of fermenting virginias- Like canned fruit....Glorious...I packed a bowl in a KW Shell Poker and away I went. The Charlight was an immediate taste of sweetness....spiced figs sitting around a Cedar fire at night.....The burn quality was perfect right out of the tin....Tamp and more sweetness....This is what its about.....This just hit my rotation like Muhamad Ali in his prime on RedBull.....This is like sipping a fine port....Sweet and rich....To the bottom of the bowl its magnificent. It never got bitter or dirty toward the bottom, and just ash and a dry bowl were the remnants. Just prior to this- I cleaned Smoking pipes out of their 2 oz tins. I can't recommend this enough. The word restraint in the description I think was a poor choice. The only restraint I see is a light hand at the smokey stuff- And thats not a bad thing for some of us.
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RMBittner	04/09/2007	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Kensington is billed as a "restrained Balkan." For my palate, it's actually too restrained in the orientals and latakia -- and those are the two ingredients that are essential for a good Balkan, to my mind. I've also found that, regardless of the pipe, it tends toward heat in the bowl (though, I must say, never on the tongue). (My tin was dated 2003; it was opened and smoked in 2007.) As a result, Kensington never reaches the level of oriental/latakia creaminess that I've come to associate with other Pease Balkans. For a Balkan, I'd like the orientals and latakia to shine more; for a medium-strength English, I'd like it to burn cooler in the bowl and highlight the latakia more. In the end, it just didn't end up hitting the right notes for me. If I want a lighter-weight Balkan from GLP (and I tend to love GLP blends), I'll still reach for Charing Cross, where the orientals are more forward, more acrid. If I want a lighter-weight English. . . well, I have a feeling that I actually like my Englishes to veer more toward the other end of the scale in terms of both strength and complexity. Of course, that's just my take. Although I wouldn't point anyone to Kensington as representative of a Balkan, it might just work as a lighter English for those enjoy lighter English blends. . . and who either don't mind the hot pipe or can figure out a way to avoid it.
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dualkarnain	09/21/2006	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
Charing Cross is one of the few blends I've 4-starred on this site; Kensington is a great morning/day trip to the himalayas of pipe happiness prior to the nighttime sojourn to the raucous scorched-tongue. The sweetness and accessibility of this blend is great. No complaints. Recommended. Evoked images include an undead army drumming and marching through lush tropical jungles.
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Jason S. Rundle	06/07/2006	Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant
After a few bowls I must admin I didn't change my rotation, but each time I smoke it, it gives me a satisfying, smooth pleasant smoke, and actually it isn't bland at all, which is what I initially expected. It simply hasn't the over whelming, heavy taste one would expect from a Balkan. It burns the tongue a little if you puff too aggressivly, which I attribute to the Virginias, but much less than other blends of similiar nature.
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Brutos	01/22/2006	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I got this tobacco by mistake from an order I placed. At first I was unimpressed, partly because it wasn't what I ordered and partly from a rather pungent aroma on first light; rather musty like damp, cut grass in a compost pile. After a few bowls I found I liked the brightness of the orientals present and the refreshing quality of a clean, medium weight Balkan with a nice aroma, like a complex blend of exotic spices. My usuals are Odyssey, Charing Cross, Abingdon, Penzance and Squadron Leader. Kensington creates an enticing aroma with a moderate Latakia balance. Clean burning, spicy, refreshing and never overpowering. I alternate this along with Wellauer's English Blend when I want Balkan flavor and complexity in an all day smoke. As with most Pease blends, it comes a little dry in the tin and really improves within a few weeks after opening. This blend really stimulates and wakes up the senses and burns well all the way down to a fine, gray ash.
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Meerschaum Man	12/24/2005	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
As yet another balkan variant, this thoughtful blending of leaves burns easily, leaving a fragrant signature that hints of both the balance and complexity revealed by the rituals of the smoke. No heavy presence here but instead, a wonderfully light essence that does not portend to be some rigid attempt at perfection, but demonstrates a more lively spirit. A slow approach is recommended as this proper presentation of earthly delight is not to be rushed. In the symphony of balkan blends, this is the flute - always light and airy while displaying full range of discourse. I've no problem in recommendation without reservation to anyone wishing to enjoy more of the balkan dynamic experience. Meerschaum Man Smoking a Fischer Meerschaum
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tonyg	06/14/2005	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I was reluctant to try Kensington for a number of reasons: None of the reviews thus far gave it a 4 star rating which is surprising for a Pease tobacco. I was taken aback by the two star reviews. I already have 4 of Greg?s blends in my regular rotation, more than any other blender. I generally do not care for Balkan Blends. Throwing caution to the wind, I purchased a tin. This is one of the finest tobaccos I have had the pleasure of smoking. Everything works perfectly. Unlike other reviewers, I found not even a hint of tongue bite, nor any of the other (few) negative comments expressed in these reviews. I suspect that the reason for the lack of more favorable reviews has to do with othrt reviewer?s preferences for heavier blends. If you enjoy Virginias, English or Balkan blends, do yourself a favor and try this one.
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Beer	09/01/2004	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
At the beginning of my first tin I thought "Sorry Greg, but this one is a bit of a misfire to me". There are some GLPease blends that I don't care for, but it's just a matter of taste as I don't like certain families of tobaccos. This one, on the other hand, seemed a bit questionable as concept and execution. Balkan style with restraint? I thought that Caravan already filled that place, but Greg created this other entry in his Classic Collection: well, I was appalled to discover too little of that typical Balkan oriental spiciness which should be a MUST in this kind of tobaccos. For me, Kensington is just a medium-light EM, very heavy on bright Virginias (not as sweet as the ones in Blackpoint or rich as the ones in Charing Cross) and with just some orientals and Latakia: sort of a stronger, fuller, variation on Piccadilly (which is not exactly my cup of tea). It burns great, and has a very dry taste (with an interesting almost-citrusy note): after a few bowls I can't say I fell in love with it (I usually reach for fuller stuff), but each time I pick it, it gives me a satisfying, smooth and clean smoke. And actually it isn't bland in taste at all, it simply hasn't the huge and heavy mouthfeel one would expect from a Balkan. It burns the tongue a little if you overpuff due to the high Virginia, but much less than other similar blends. If you like a medium English mixture, then this might do for you.
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CaptnDan	05/17/2004	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Kensington promises to be a Balkan blend with rstraint ? and it certainly delivers. The blend is a pleasure to look at, and the tin aroma is as one would expect ? mostly Oriental with an underlying Va sweetness and Latakia undertones. A variety of color from ivory to near-black is pleasing to the eye. Moisture content is perfect. From the first light, the classic Balkan taste range is apparent. The Oriental asserts itself in a well-rounded spicy manner right from the charring light with full rich Va providing support while the Cyprian Latakia adds a smoky fullness. The Va doesn?t assert itself to the point of making this a sweet blend. There is always that hint of an ?edge? that, to me, defines a Balkan. As the bowl progresses, the Va seems to gain power slowly, but never seriously challenging the Oriental. The Latakia stays muted and supportive. Some interplay of flavors is evident throughout, but more pronounced the farther down the bowl. Kensington burns exceptionally well. Nothing but gray powder left in the bowl at the end with minimum re-lights. The bottom of the bowl was so dry that it looked as if the pipe hadn?t been smoked in weeks. Actually, due to the humid environment I am in, the bowl looked drier afterwards than it did before I smoked it ? and this pipe really hadn?t been smoked in several weeks! While Kensington does perform quite well in any size bowl that I tried, from big freehands to a narrow Stanwell, I found that I enjoyed it most in the larger bowls. For reference : My favorite bowls of Kensington were smoked in a Peterson XL-90. I have to agree with Noorrmm ? this is Charing Cross Lite ? and that?s a good thing!
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Noorrmm	05/12/2004	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Appearance: A ribbon cut consisting of about 50% lighter leaf, and the remainder medium and dark. Aroma: A nice aroma of lighter Orientals predominates, with a decent , but not excessive quatity of Latakia. The Virginia component seems to stay in the background. Packing: Packs easily into a wide range of pipe sizes. Lighting: Lights easily, just a charring light, tamp and relight. Initial flavor: Much like the aroma, there is a spicy tang, with some sweet smokey overlay. Definitely Cyprian Latakia. The Virginias seem to be the tangy lemon variety, rather than the darker reds that I usually enjoy. Mid-bowl: A nice complex rray of flavors, with nuances and layers. Never seems to achieve the level of taste I like, but nevertheless quite pleasing. Burns easily, maybe too easily, as it can get hot if you don?t exercise patience in your puffing. Finish: Stays dry right to the end, Summary: This is a ?Balkan with restraint?, in that the Orientals are the dominant players, but it is not at all a heavy blend. In fact, it is for me a Mild/Medium blend, almost a Breakfast Blend. All the flavors I expect are there, but in a lighter, more toned down version. Perhaps this is Charing Cross lite.
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David Cimino	10/18/2003	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Although I smoke full-bodied traditional English blends regularly, for some reason I have never gotten around to smoking any Balkans. It seems natural that a smoker of one would be a smoker of the other. When I want something smooth and failry light, without giving up any flavor or body, I find this blend to be a good choice. I have been smoking it as a morning or all day blend. I don't want to mislead and characterize it as mild. It is not what most people would consider a mild smoke. However, if you regularly smoke fuller English blends and Balkans, this is a nice break to a lighter smoke.
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gee	08/11/2003	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium
I have been smoking this continuously for the past two days, trying to get the taste and hang of it. I have a great fondness for milder Balkans so this should be my cuppa tea, but for some reason I can't quite get it right. I have tried smoking it in a number of different pipes, tried packing it tight and packing it loose, but while the flavour upon lighting is filled with promise, a mildly sweet and subdued Balkan, a perfect all day smoke, I find -- in distinction from all other Pease blends I have tried, and I have almost tried them all -- that this does not burn evenly. Over heating and tongue bite all seem just around the corner. Moreover it can be quite harsh on my throat. Thus while I love the promise of sweetness that this tobacco offers, I much prefer Picadilly and Samarra for a lighter English blend, though with experimentation there are wonderful things lurking about in here.
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JClark	05/25/2003	Mild	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I must say that I am completely shocked that anyone would only rate this blend with two stars. I personally would have rated it with three. However, I feel that for what this blend is, it probably deserves four. It is meant to be a restrained balkan blend, and thats exactly what it is, and I personally don't think it could have been done any better than Mr. Pease has done it with Kensington. Upon opening the tin you see the typical amazing presentation that all the Pease blends are known for. The tobacco is visually beautiful and of course the perfect moisture level right from the opening. This tobacco smokes like absolute silk. No harsh notes at all not even at the end. The flavor is what you would expect slightly full, and fairly rich, but very refined. For me this would be a perfect morning to mid-afternoon smoke. Complimented by a strong cup of coffee this blend sings. Though it doesn't pack enough punch for my regular consumption, I don't look at this as a fault. When I want something more stout, then I just reach for something else, no big deal, when I want something a little lighter, smoother, and more refined, then I reach for Kensington.
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BriarLaw	05/22/2003	Mild	None detected	Very Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
Another high quality blend from Mr. Pease. Nice ribbon-style cut, containing predominantly lighter colored tobaccos. Packs and burns nicely to a clean white ash. This might be a great introduction to Latakia blends as it is very, very subtle. Alternatively, it might be a good "all-day" smoke for those of you who are trying to keep the smell of Latakia under the radar screen so-to-speak, but still want to smoke an English style blend. To sum it up, this is a very, very mild English blend. It is so mild, it will probably not stay in my rotation, but it is a high-quality tobacco and fills a niche.
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Pipestud	04/29/2003	Very Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Pleasant
I was recently sent a free tin of this latest GL Pease addition by fellow reviewer lustra by way of Sykes Wilford. Thanks to both gentlemen for allowing me the pleasure of sampling this marvelous concoction. Kensington is one very cool, dry and sweet smoke. A true Balkan style with just a wafting of the heavier Latakia leaf. A comparison would be a toned down Balkan Sasieni with a bit more sweetness and certainly less bite. Back to back bowls are easy with this brew. The flavor, in fact, is too subtle for me to enjoy on a regular basis. But, on occasion, it will find itself in my tobacco rotation. Many tobaccos taste good, but for some reason, those that are sampled without having to pay for the pleasure seem to taste even better!
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RCUSElder	04/22/2003	Medium to Strong	None detected	Medium to Full	Strong
While I prefer this to Caravan hands-down, I miss the flavor that "Charing Cross" has. Don't get me wrong, this blend is very tasty and some of my friends swear by it, but it is not "enough". This blend shows Greg's continued finesse and smokes as well as most of his other blends. If "Oddessey" or "Charing Cross" are too much for you, then this is the blend for you.
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