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 narrow to medium gauge chambers.

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.