G. L. Pease The Virginia Cream
(2.98)
Distinctively delicious! G.L. Pease seasons fine red and golden flue cured Virginia tobaccos with rare condimental leaf, enhancing the result with a subtle vanilla/bourbon topping that is never overbearing. Rare for a blend of its genre, The Virginia Cream delivers on its aromatic promise from the first puff to the bottom of the bowl, while leaving the pipe clean and free of phantom flavors. An all-American blend ideal for Virginia fanciers craving something a little sweeter.
Details
| Brand | G. L. Pease |
| Series | Heirloom Collection |
| Blended By | Gregory Pease |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Kentucky, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Bourbon, Vanilla |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.98 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 56 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 08, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Very Pleasant |
What a great blend this is! I'm a new to pipe smoking (non smoker up until now) and I've been exploring various tobacco blends to see what might suit me. I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised by this one. The tin note on this one is fantastic. I'm a great fan of a good bourbon but I would not say the bourbon topping takes center stage. The aroma is sweet with a touch of sour or piquancy in the nose. It evokes a good sour mash. There are notes of dried orange peel or candied orange and vanilla and the smokey notes of bourbon. Some have complained of tongue bite on this one and so, as a new pipe smoker who is still learning to slow down and not try to keep my pipe lit by over-drawing, I worried this would be a problem for me. To the contrary, I found I got virtually no tongue bite at all. It took to the match quite well with only one relight after my char. It has a nice creamy white smoke with good vanilla notes, and a bit of spicy perique in the retrohale and sweet and ever so slightly sour notes. Many have called the flavor of this blend sweet.....which it surely is.....but I found, and particularly enjoyed, those slightly sour and spicy flavors coming through. If one were to stay with the bourbon theme I would have to say the spice reminded me of a really nice glass of Rye our a sour mash bourbon like Mitchner's. This may be the first blend I've tried where I actually enjoyed the development of the entire bowl. It evolved a little for me as I worked my way though...the first quarter of the bowl gave me nice Rye flavors early on....mid bowl I started catching ever-so-slight flashes of my grandfather's cigar....and then near the end an unexpected sweetness came through at the bottom of the bowl. I've tried other aromatics in my efforts to figure out what sort of blends I might like and in general I've found I may not be an "aromatics guy". I find many of them are at their best when left in the tin. Most become fairly off putting as the bowl progresses and become downright unpalatable at the bottom of the bowl (IMO). Virginia Cream is the first aromatic (is it really an aromatic??) that progressed wonderfully and finished clean with the original flavors coming through right to the finish...again....sweet with hints of spice and sourness that, for me, was just right. I ws surprised to find it smoked down to a clean and surprisingly dry white ash leaving a very clean bowl. There's no accounting for taste and one man's ambrosia is another man's poison but I'm an instant fan of this one. I'll be adding a few more tins for the long haul to my growing collection.
Pipe Used:
Peterson's Aran
PurchasedFrom:
SmokingPipes.com
Age When Smoked:
New tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 2015 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Very Pleasant |
I thoroughly enjoyed this blend. It's not what I've come to expect from aromatics, and is a nice addition to my cellar.
The tin description is quite accurate. A solid Virginia blend with a not overpowering bourbon/vanilla topping. If you've ever had 1Q I wouldn't even compare the two, as their characteristics are quite different. The 1Q is more so a vanilla extract and sweet Cavendish, and this is a bright Virginia and spicy Kentucky with a bourbon characteristic.
The room note is pleasing as well, having a cookie-like scent I enjoy.
One thing I will note is that this is a fair bit stronger than most other aromatics I've had, giving me quite a surprise at the end. Probably would have smoked a slightly smaller bowl, but it's not intolerable.
If you like Virginia or aromatic blends, I'd recommend you at least try this one. I really enjoy it, and would have given it a 3.5 stars if it were an option. But as it is, four stars!
The tin description is quite accurate. A solid Virginia blend with a not overpowering bourbon/vanilla topping. If you've ever had 1Q I wouldn't even compare the two, as their characteristics are quite different. The 1Q is more so a vanilla extract and sweet Cavendish, and this is a bright Virginia and spicy Kentucky with a bourbon characteristic.
The room note is pleasing as well, having a cookie-like scent I enjoy.
One thing I will note is that this is a fair bit stronger than most other aromatics I've had, giving me quite a surprise at the end. Probably would have smoked a slightly smaller bowl, but it's not intolerable.
If you like Virginia or aromatic blends, I'd recommend you at least try this one. I really enjoy it, and would have given it a 3.5 stars if it were an option. But as it is, four stars!
Pipe Used:
Dagner Blue Collar Poker
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 11, 2015 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Mild | Pleasant |
I hate to be so hard on this tobacco but as a dedicated smoker of both aromatics and VA blends, thanks but no thanks. MB Mixture has been around since the 1950s and blows this out of the water, as do any number of Danish aromatics.
This is an aromatic for people who still want to keep their aromatic-hating street cred, complete with Pease's stamp of approval. Pretty much the apex of try-hard tobacco.
I expect it will have a 3.5+ rating over the years on name alone.
This is an aromatic for people who still want to keep their aromatic-hating street cred, complete with Pease's stamp of approval. Pretty much the apex of try-hard tobacco.
I expect it will have a 3.5+ rating over the years on name alone.
Age When Smoked:
1 month
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 09, 2015 | Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
I'm not sure what to make of this tobacco. I got it a couple of days ago and I have to say this is the first GL Pease tobacco I've ever smoked. The tin note is fabulous. One of the best scents you'll ever get of any tobacco - like a combination of caramel, cappuccino, vanilla and bourbon all in one.
But I'm not sure how to characterize the tobacco in the pipe. Since I got it, I've concentrated on smoking it alone to the exclusion of other tobaccos, smoking about six-seven bowls in 3-4 different pipes (a L'Anatra Hornsitter; a Designer Berlin Baltic-Amber 03 and two others) the first day alone; and I've smoked 3-4 more bowls since. But I did not detect any flavour that suited my taste. Perhaps, in an attempt to ensure it is not classified as an aromatic, care was taken to 'exhume' all the detectable flavouring in the tin note, such that the Black Cavendish (BC) was muted. Yet the Virginia did not seem to me to rear its head at anytime; nor the Perique. I'm uncertain about the Kentucky either. There is not the slightest hint of sweetness or creaminess. I found it bitterish, a tad bland and unbalanced. However, it burned very well, stayed alight and culminated in a grey fine ash at the end.
Not sure if the flavouring was tempered by the addition of lots of Burley though Burley is not mentioned as a major ingredient of the product, except in the form of the BC. If that's the case, it was overdone and, IMO, 'killed off' what would have been an otherwise great tobacco had some of the flavouring in the tin note been left intact. Being a 'mild' aromatic (whatever that means) would have enhanced its quality. It is also quite strong in the nicotine department, which could have been the result of a tad too much Burley.
In final, this is a top notch tobacco which I highly recommend to others, especially GL Pease blend lovers so they can make their own judgement. Some aging might help, but for me and my taste, my 'award' is two-and-half stars at this time.
But I'm not sure how to characterize the tobacco in the pipe. Since I got it, I've concentrated on smoking it alone to the exclusion of other tobaccos, smoking about six-seven bowls in 3-4 different pipes (a L'Anatra Hornsitter; a Designer Berlin Baltic-Amber 03 and two others) the first day alone; and I've smoked 3-4 more bowls since. But I did not detect any flavour that suited my taste. Perhaps, in an attempt to ensure it is not classified as an aromatic, care was taken to 'exhume' all the detectable flavouring in the tin note, such that the Black Cavendish (BC) was muted. Yet the Virginia did not seem to me to rear its head at anytime; nor the Perique. I'm uncertain about the Kentucky either. There is not the slightest hint of sweetness or creaminess. I found it bitterish, a tad bland and unbalanced. However, it burned very well, stayed alight and culminated in a grey fine ash at the end.
Not sure if the flavouring was tempered by the addition of lots of Burley though Burley is not mentioned as a major ingredient of the product, except in the form of the BC. If that's the case, it was overdone and, IMO, 'killed off' what would have been an otherwise great tobacco had some of the flavouring in the tin note been left intact. Being a 'mild' aromatic (whatever that means) would have enhanced its quality. It is also quite strong in the nicotine department, which could have been the result of a tad too much Burley.
In final, this is a top notch tobacco which I highly recommend to others, especially GL Pease blend lovers so they can make their own judgement. Some aging might help, but for me and my taste, my 'award' is two-and-half stars at this time.
Pipe Used:
See Notes.
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 24, 2015 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Very Pleasant |
I'm twenty puffs into this, and I am very, very impressed. Nothing at all like any aromatic I've ever tried, and I've tried all of them.
PurchasedFrom:
PipesandCigars.com
Age When Smoked:
67
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 24, 2020 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Unnoticeable |
I bought this one about a week ago. Summertime, so I thought I would try an aromatic. This has a very nice sweet Virginia tin note, nice ribbon cut and fires up easily. Also puts out a lot of nice smoke. I have been smoking this in a Ukrainian Pear Wood Pipe. This is a very light, natural tasting aromatic with the flavor tending to wane somewhat about half-way down the bowl. Room note, at least outside on the porch is barely noticeable. A really good, light tasting blend for those warm pleasant afternoons. Tin Date: 082419
Pipe Used:
Ukrainian Pear Wood PIpe
Age When Smoked:
1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 10, 2016 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Very Pleasant |
As others have noted, don't come here bashing The Virginia Cream because you expected Pease to create something that's completely impossible. "An aromatic that every Pipe smoker will enjoy, Guaranteed!" It ain't happening.
As far as TVC is concerned, it's a tasty aromatic. The topping is not the star of the show. The Virginia, Dark Fired and Perique take that role. The topping seems to add a subtle natural enhancement to the delicate leaf, leaving one satisfied.
Virginia Cream starts out with as much aromatic taste as it's going to get. At first light you are enveloped with a Cream Soda Float. As the bowl burns further, the tobaccos develop into a beautiful bouquet of Sweet Virginas, with hints of dark fired and perique which adds some spice to the smoke. The cream soda tends to stay on the down low, enhancing the leaf not drowning it down. At the bottom of the bowl, Virginia Cream started to taste similar to C&D's Three Friars, Which was a huge surprise. Virginia Cream isn't goopy, doesn't burn wet, but does leave a hint of its existence in the pipe. Nothing a deep clean or a few bowls of Haunted Bookshop won't cure.
With all that being said, it does better in a large bowl, allowing the tobacco to breathe. I've smoked it in a small cob, it seemed to mute the flavors. Surprisingly, The Virginia Cream reminded me of C&D's Golden Days of Yore. A beautiful aromatic tobacco that does the aromatic magick just like Virginia Cream. The Katerini in Golden Days adds a spice that the perique adds to the Virginia Cream. Two different aromatics, but oddly the same. Strange.
TVC isn't for everyone, but if you're looking for an aromatic to smoke while taking a break of the normal rotation, she'll do.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: Having smoked about 7 bowls of The Virginia Cream, I've had some bowls not live up to the greatness of other bowls. The topping changes between smokes, which has thrown me for a loop. I get caramel and coffee notes from time to time, and of course the CreamSoda/ginger beer note(Love this) The dark fired adds a bit of nuttiness that helps bring forward the coffe note I'm getting. The perique is the culprit of the soda/ginger beer flavor, that this blend exudes. The bourbon reveals itself stronger at first light then dissipates and the vanilla steps forward a bit later. Also Orlik Dark Strong comes to mind in the tin note....weird huh! Over all this blend is excellent, the tobacco is top notch, and the smoke is very complex for an aromatic.
As far as TVC is concerned, it's a tasty aromatic. The topping is not the star of the show. The Virginia, Dark Fired and Perique take that role. The topping seems to add a subtle natural enhancement to the delicate leaf, leaving one satisfied.
Virginia Cream starts out with as much aromatic taste as it's going to get. At first light you are enveloped with a Cream Soda Float. As the bowl burns further, the tobaccos develop into a beautiful bouquet of Sweet Virginas, with hints of dark fired and perique which adds some spice to the smoke. The cream soda tends to stay on the down low, enhancing the leaf not drowning it down. At the bottom of the bowl, Virginia Cream started to taste similar to C&D's Three Friars, Which was a huge surprise. Virginia Cream isn't goopy, doesn't burn wet, but does leave a hint of its existence in the pipe. Nothing a deep clean or a few bowls of Haunted Bookshop won't cure.
With all that being said, it does better in a large bowl, allowing the tobacco to breathe. I've smoked it in a small cob, it seemed to mute the flavors. Surprisingly, The Virginia Cream reminded me of C&D's Golden Days of Yore. A beautiful aromatic tobacco that does the aromatic magick just like Virginia Cream. The Katerini in Golden Days adds a spice that the perique adds to the Virginia Cream. Two different aromatics, but oddly the same. Strange.
TVC isn't for everyone, but if you're looking for an aromatic to smoke while taking a break of the normal rotation, she'll do.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: Having smoked about 7 bowls of The Virginia Cream, I've had some bowls not live up to the greatness of other bowls. The topping changes between smokes, which has thrown me for a loop. I get caramel and coffee notes from time to time, and of course the CreamSoda/ginger beer note(Love this) The dark fired adds a bit of nuttiness that helps bring forward the coffe note I'm getting. The perique is the culprit of the soda/ginger beer flavor, that this blend exudes. The bourbon reveals itself stronger at first light then dissipates and the vanilla steps forward a bit later. Also Orlik Dark Strong comes to mind in the tin note....weird huh! Over all this blend is excellent, the tobacco is top notch, and the smoke is very complex for an aromatic.
Pipe Used:
Cob and Briar
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
11 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 01, 2016 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Very Pleasant |
I really enjoyed Virginia Cream and especially the hint of Vanilla (tasted a little like it had nutmeg in it) mixed with a muted, but noted alcohol. The Virginia and chunks of whatever the darker leaf was, burned pleasantly and without bitterness, even as I hit the bottom third of the bowl. Subsequent bowls of this blend in a variety of style pipes brought the same results, although a Dublin shaped pipe that I smoke aromatics in, made the presentation stronger and actually, to me, better, as the smaller space gathered in all the flavors as I puffed. And my wife and kids actually didn't run for cover when I smoked it. Really good stuff.
Pipestud
Pipestud
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 26, 2016 | Mild | Mild | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
Tin note is very similar to C&D Pennington Gap. Same bourbon-y aroma. Tin was packed so full, when the tin was popped the tobacco pushed the cardboard disk right out of the can! Moisture was just perfect. Not too much to make lighting difficult, and not too dry to make this smoke hot and acrid. I love sweet Virginias, and the topping was well paired with this tobacco. The bourbon vanilla is not noticeable as far as flavor until you are halfway through the bowl. It performs as more of a sweetness than anything. Room note is quite enjoyable, very toasty and sweet. The downfall of this blend, it stings the hell out of my nose. I'm not sure if it's because of the maturity of the leaf, or if is the condimental leaf they added. Hopefully if will tone down a bit with some age. I will revisit again in a few months or so and see what age will do. I don't have a problem recommending it, but I'd probably let it sit in the cellar for a few months.
Age When Smoked:
2 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 29, 2015 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
Light, bright, with a little extra on the room note. I've preferred Latakia forward blends, but was gifted a small sample of Virginia Cream by a friend who said it could easily be classed as a Virginia not an Aromatic. This was a good smoke and the brightness of VA was there. I tasted hardly any "vanilla and bourbon" but that might be representative of this being first a VA and second a lightly topped aromatic.
Pipe Used:
Cob
PurchasedFrom:
Friend
Age When Smoked:
Fresh from bag from fresh tin
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