G. L. Pease - Original Mixtures: Cairo pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
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Lochinvar	11/24/2007	Mild	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
Update: The last few tins of Cairo I have bought have been too dry, with no moisture (and thus none of the tasty tobacco oils). I could have gotten a bad run (they are the new tins) or there could be a rat in Denmark. I will investigate further. A very refreshing and unique offering from Mr. Pease, who always comes up with top quality blends. This is, in essence, Presbyterian Mixture with better tobacco and a little more oomph. The smell upon opening is fruity, with a hint of must. The Virginias are of a finer, less cloying taste, and the Orientals have less bite with a spicy/earthy aromatic quality. The perique did not make itself felt to me melding, I am sure, with the Virginia portion of the palate. This is my favorite of the non-Balkan Pease blends.
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DoctorThoss	05/20/2007	Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
This is one of the most unique tobaccos I've ever had the pleasure of coming across. Exotic, tangy, sweet, ephemeral -- the flavor and room note are hard to describe, but singularly intoxicating. It puts me in mind of incense. Really, I can't emphasize enough how very special this mixture is -- one of Pease's most creative moments! Unfortunately, I can't enjoy thanks to some kind of reaction I have to one of the constituents (it pretty much burns holes in my tongue after only a few draws). But don't let that deter you, in all seriousness -- I believe it to be an individual reaction, not an indictment of the tobacco itself. If you'd like to see what an oriental blend sans latakia can be, this is the one to try.
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Fumeur	05/16/2007	Strong	None detected	Medium to Full
It's interesting to me how differently people can experience a tobacco. Unlike other reviewers, I find this to be quite strong, almost overwhelming. It's a rich, complex, intense smoke quite unlike other Virginias I've tried, far darker, deeper and richer. The Orientals are not consciously detectable to me, though I have no doubt that they account for a good part of the depth of the flavor, which is ultimately indescribable, though words like toasty and peppery come to mind. Anyway, I find this irresistible, and I'm sure I'll come back to it often. Recommended.
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Taste Buds	05/12/2007	Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
My first bowl of Cairo was a complete failure. It wasn't the fault of the tobacco but my own. I was expecting an Oriental blend and not an aromatic. The second bowl was excellent because I was comtemplating this blend from a different mindset. As an aromatic, composed of Virginias, orientals and perique with a light vanillaish casing, it is excellent. It burns cool and dry with citrusy notes from the virginias which predominate this blend with the spicy orientals in the background and the peppery perique for support. An original creation that I'll enjoy on occasion. Day two and I've changed my mind. Twenty-four hours has definitely changed my feelings about this blend. I'm downgrading Cairo to two stars.
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speckchaser	04/18/2007	Mild	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
One of the best Oriental blends,in my opinion.Without any Latakia the Orientals are free to lead this blend.The perique and virginia intermingle with the Orientals making a burst of flavor,each coming in and out with their on taste and contribution. Burns well with a relight here and there,but its worth it.Highly Recommended
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dopealope	03/05/2007	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
Every time I open my jar of Cairo, I smile. It has the most beautiful aroma, citrus-y and aged fruit, an almost "mincemeat" scent. And the flavor of the smoke follows. As others have noted this is a blend of high-notes, but while some may find that a minus, I find it an absolute pleasure. This is consistently one of my favorite blends, a sort of benchmark for VA blends in general, and the tobacco I most return to when I am suffering from latakia burn out. It's puzzling why Cairo seems to get so little fanfare among the GLP blends when, to me, it is such a sublime creation (and aged Cairo even more so).
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CheckeredFlight	03/03/2007	Medium	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant
This is a nice smoke. Upon first lite the introduction was inviting, both the taste, as well the aroma, the generated smoke dissipates quickly and does not overcome the room. Definitely a high note, to echo other reviewers, citrus is present, but I would offer (for comment) a flection of "tea". When I opened the tin the aroma seemed to remind me of tea, and the flavor was characteristic of drinking tea, whereby, the slight after-taste dissipated quickly rather than riding on through the evening, night, and next day. I packed this loosely in the bottom of the bowl, then created a wad in the upper portion, this intensified the flavor and helped to sustain the smoke. Smoking this tabacco in a Tankard style pipe, little bite if any at all. Having been jar'd for only 2 months, it will be interesting to see how the flavor and aroma changes with continued aging.
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Mongo	03/02/2007	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
Cairo was the first of Greg's tobaccos that I tried, and from that day until this it's been a favorite. When a fresh can is opened, the odor of high quality tobacco is the main aroma, although there is some nuttiness and a bit of a raisin/fig note as well. I find the moisture level fine from the tin. The tobaccos are lightly colored, with varying hues of beige throughout. Packing is easy, and I tend to pack this in a medium-to-large bowl (Dunhill group 3 to 5). Once packed, it takes two matches to get this blend burning, and relights are few. For the first third of the bowl, the Virginias are dominant. Early on they can bite with hard puffing, but with gentle treatment there are no problems. The Orientals are in the background at this stage, and the Perique wields a small voice. About one third of the way into the bowl, the Orientals begin to come forward in the taste profile. The Perique strengthens as well, but only as a spice behind a wonderfully balanced Virginia and Oriental mix. I find that I can smoke a bit harder here if I want to, but generally I smoke Cairo slowly to extend the bowl as far as possible. In the last third of the bowl the sweetness of the Virginias fades quite a bit, becoming a foundation upon which the Orientals appear at their most bold. Although they never become overwhelming, at this point the Orientals are carrying the majority of the flavor. The Perique strengthens a bit as well, although again it's simply a spice in the blend. At the bottom of the bowl, the tastes once more blend, and the smoke finishes much as it began, but with a more intense flavor. I've tried Cairo in small bowled pipes and have not had nearly the success as I've had in average or large bowls. I recently plucked one of my gray-labeled tins from the cellar, with six years of age behind it. What a dramatic change! The tobacco is a mahogany color, the aromas that arise from the tin are much more complex and remind me of a fine red wine. The aromas of cherries, plums, leather, nuts, and a touch of citrus are all present. Smoking the blend after all of this time was an amazing experience. The bite of the Virginias is gone, the sweetness is deeper and no longer as much of a high note, the Orientals have smoothed without losing character...Cairo after six years is almost miraculous. I was fortunate to have lost a few tins at the bottom of an old wooden chest. I only wish I'd lost many more. My cellar is fully stocked with tobaccos that I intend to leave untouched for another half-decade. Cairo remains one of my favorite GL Pease blends. I've flirted with many of the other tobaccos that Greg's created, but Cairo is one that I always return to. (7/2010 - Edited to fix spelling mistakes.)
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muddler	01/13/2007	Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
I bought an 8oz tin last year. The first few pipefuls were rather indifferent. Perhaps even harsh. But as I returned to it, it improved beyond any expectation. As a VaPer mainliner, I'm amazed at the complexity that came through - nuts & citrus even. It is a remarkable blend that clearly needs to sit a bit & probably shouldn't be commented on before a few months of jar time. In terms of practicalities, it lit easily, tended to dryness & burnt down to a clean white ash. The smoke was fairly uniform throughout. Lovely stuff.
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oldmanpipe	12/17/2006	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
"You're a night in the streets of Cairo...You're a flight in an auto-gyro...." So wrote the ultimate insider, Cole Porter, six decades ago. His lyrics still hold true with this elegant, exotic blend from GL Pease. This blend has consistently rated lower than Odyssey, and I cannot understand why; Cairo, to my palate, is far more intriguing. No one should compare any current blend with the classics of yesteryear, but Cairo reminds me so much of one of my favorites, State Express's "London Mixture." Some of you might remember it. When one parted the gold foil wrapping, a small Oriental leaf greeted the buyer with an invitation to the other side of the world. A leaf of Virginia or Burley would require a shoe-box to display itself intact. One would be remiss to call this blend either a Balkan or an English. It is both, and eloquently-so....Just like its progenitor, London Mixture. I do not believe that was a blend Greg was seeking to replicate...but he came pretty close. For anyone seeking a Latakia fix, perhaps Odyssey is the better choice; but if one is seeking complexity, subtlety, and excitement, this is the blend to pick...the older, the better. Three-years-on...the Virginias begin to sing. Forget the "inconvenient" old-style Pease can. The results are worth the effort! Get a LARGE favorite and relax! One of the best there is. Four out of four stars.
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thedstnguishdgntlmn	11/09/2006	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable
I would take a pass and buy "RICH'S" OLD PERTH. This one is a little hot and not very interesting. Might be for some folks though,just not me.
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Kleophrades	09/19/2006	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild	Tolerable
UPDATE 32 MONTHS ON After reviewing Cairo in September 2006, I jarred what I had and left it to age. Did nearly three years in a cool, dark closet help? Not much. Its Oriental flavor is ever so slightly more apparent, mostly in the nose; it has also acquired a very slight, not-unpleasant resiny taste. But it's still a dull, harsh blend. It's not that I can't appreciate Oriental blends -- I love those put out by McClelland, like Bombay Ct. and Yenidje Highlander. I just don't think Cairo is very good. **** Original Review, 09/2006 The description makes this blend sound delicious, but in fact it is hollow and dull. Words like "nutty" and "robust" certainly do not apply! On opening the tin you're greeted by a strong "ketchup" smell. Love it or hate it, the smell is irrelevant to the smoke. The tobacco is very dry in the tin and can go right into the pipe. On lighting, you get a flavor that is, um, subtle to say the least. It's vaguely reminiscent of Turkish cigarettes, vaguely reminscent of a cigar -- but the mere memory of Turkish cigarette or a cigar is better than the actual taste of Cairo. There's nothing to it -- "there's no 'there' there." The monotony lasts from the charring light right down to the bottom of the bowl; a trip that, fortunately, doesn't take too long given the dryness of the leaf. I smoked one bowl, jarred the rest and will revisit it in 2011, maybe. Age might bring something out; right now, Cairo has nothing going for it. G.L. Pease is frustrating. When it's good, as in Haddo's or Odyssey, it's very, very good. When it's bad, as in Cairo or Abingdon, it's ... well, not very, very bad, just dullsville.
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Talonr1701	08/27/2006	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
I am slowly working my way through the Dark Lords blends- and finding more than I bargined for.... I discovered that I have developed a Latakia intolerance- or its intolerant of me.....While I enjoy it in very small percentages, I will never pass the test for the Drip club... So I was looking for interesting blends out side of that area- Cairo is the answer... A wonderful exotic smoke- Reminds me of the Buffett song "Sitting in a bar in Cairo"- The Orientals spice the virginas in a wonderful way, with the perique supporting the whole- yet it is a subtle, gentlemenly smoke. I love it for contemplation.....Not a putter in your yard smoke IMHO......I love it.
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Professor	08/10/2006	Extremely Mild	None detected	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Unnoticeable
I originally reviewed Cairo on 15 February 2005. This update removes that original review for various reasons. While G. L. Pease is a master blender using quality tobacco, this particular blend is not for me.
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Kiltman	08/04/2006	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
Unfortunately I don?t have as much experience with the Dark Lord?s blends as I?d like. It was only recently that (we?re talking within the past 8 months) that I could get it at the only decent tobacco shop in Albuquerque. I?ve enjoyed all of what I?ve smoked so far of Greg?s Fog City Collection and his other blends have been good too. But, Cairo is, I think, my favorite. I?m a huge fan of VA-Perique blends and the Oriental leaf really elevates a classic blend to new heights.
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traveler	04/05/2006	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
In Cairo I found what I did not find in Haddos Delight-- a balanced Virginia blend with the added complexity of oriental tobacco. Lots of attractive light leaf in the mix. The presence of Perique is apparent and if it is "... a whisper of Perique", then it is more like a stage whisper. The tin aroma has a compelling sweet-sour quality that I very much like. There aren't a lot of Virginia-Oriental blends out there that don't have the dominating influence of latakia as part of their makeup (Campanile comes to mind as a non-perique comparison). Cairo is certainly one to try.
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dualkarnain	03/28/2006	Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
To me Cairo tastes like... a great car stereo system without any woofers. The treble is great. Hints of screeming banshees piercing the night with their seductive voices.
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Tony B	01/05/2006	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I tried GLPease?s Cairo and found it to be a very nice Virginia / Perique / Oriental blend. The Virginia with its natural sweetness was very pronounced with the slightly sour notes of the perique shinning through. The Orientals lent its spicy/earthy quality admirably to the blend with the peppery taste to the tongue that I like so well. I found this blend to pack well and relightings are infrequent. In all I find this tobacco to be integrated into an extremely well mannered blend that I highly recommend.
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Mr.Vince	10/15/2005	Mild	None detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
An interesting blend when I am in the mood for somthing very mild. It's a good blend for breaking in a new pipe with as well.
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Collezionista	10/07/2005	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
As a fancier of both Virginas and Orientals, I can't beleive I overlooked this spectacular blend for as long as I did. What a treat! I love every aspect of Cairo - the color and presentation of the leaf, the mild and natural tin aroma, and the smooth, slightly sweet flavor. While the aforementioned VA's and Orientals are the stars of the show, the Perique seems to add texture and additional dimension to the blend. With its abundance of smoothness and balance, Cairo is as about as good an all day smoke as one can get. Its astonishingly biteless and yet never boring, a welcome combination indeed. Perhaps it isnt the most complex GLP blend, but its easily one of the most inherently enjoyable. Cairo has found its place in my top 10 and is a regular in my rotation.
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