G. L. Pease Temple Bar

Mostly bar with a tiny bit of loose leaf, and a massive tin nose of orientals. Smells like a combo of day old socks, tree leaves and old books. One thing I learned from some of the other GLP plugs is that you have to cut them just so to get the most from them. Not this one. It didn't matter how I cut it, or even IF I cut it or just broke off pieces and loaded, this one smoked the same.

I've made a lot of references to the quality freefall of C&D-sourced tobaccos in the past and I don't intend to dwell on it here except to say that this one is thankfully free of that, as was Blairgowrie to a degree. Granted, the VA's could be sweeter here but what I enjoy here is the marriage of the huge sour note and the spice. None of the constituent tobaccos really leads the proceedings except on occasion. One of the things I love about Greg Pease's blending expertise is his ability create artistically innovative blends that no one else seems to be able to do (Russ Ouelette's vision runs in a different direction and Ernie Quint's traditionally inventive is different still). Even the Pease blends that miss the mark for my tastebuds seem to be purposeful. I normally don't like a lot of sour flavor but Temple Bar connected with me very well. It had tang, pepper, spice, a hint of sweet and that gargantuan sour. 3.5 stars but not quite 4 yet. I'm going to buy some more.

My first tin of Temple Bar contained a nice sized piece of cake (2X2 by 1 inch tall) with a small amount of shake. It was modestly moist, but not overly so. There isn’t any mention of any topping, but both my wife (a pipe smoker too) and I detect some sort of spirits added to this blend. Maybe it has something to do with fermentation, but the level of sweetness in the smoke leads me to think otherwise. It is easy to break apart with a knife and TB contains large pieces of leaf. I mainly smoked this tin by cutting a bunch of small pieces with some rubbed out on top. A lighter pack seemed to offer the best results. As I mentioned, TB is pretty sweet in a very good way. It is somewhat complex and the flavor is pretty deep although I would put it just a notch above medium. The Virginias are well done and for me I taste a little more red than bright. True to the description, the Perique has been lightly added and it adds a little fruit and pepper to the smoke. The Orientals are in a supporting role and like other reviews, there is a bit of “wood” flavor to them. TB offers up a consistent sweetness throughout the smoke. Temple Bar doesn’t bite, nor does it burn warm. When it comes to Virginia or VaPer blends, I tend to smoke them mainly well aged. It will be hard to keep my hands off of this one for a while as I expect this to age really well. Three and a half stars, soon to be four.

Temple Bar presents as a square plug of medium to light browns. Tin note features fresh cut hay, oats, very mild herb and just a touch of more pungent Perique in the background. The tin note is largely barn yard feed of various descriptions - so much so that it reminds me of the feed room in my barn - delicious Virginia aromas. And I wished for a moment I selected a pipe typically paired with Virginias as opposed to the wider bowled Oriental smoker I chose instead - more on that later. The charring light brings grass, parchment and some cardboard notes with a touch of salted nuts.

Progressing into the true light and first third of the bowl, a more assertive spiciness emerges, featuring black and white pepper, with a backdrop of that initial parchment and some basswood reminiscent of a good burley. The flavor profiles are very consistent through mid-bowl, the smoke is cool and dry and the condimental Perique here is harmonious rather than discordant - no small task for any blender. The finish is crisp, smokey, dry, and very slightly ashy, with somewhat more assertive wood and nut notes overtaking the peppery spice.

Overall this reminds me of a spicier and less sweet version of Oak Alley and it wouldn't surprise me if these blends are related in concept and perhaps even in the early stages of production. However, Temple Bar is the more assertive and stronger blend.

Tasted blind, I would swear there is burley here. But who am I to question the blender's description? Regardless, a very enjoyable blend. In reference to my note on pipe choice above, I found that smoking this in a Dublin brought out the Virginias in the first third, with a touch of sweetness and tang, whereas a shallower and wider bowl accentuated the Orientals. Either way this was a spicier blend that Oak Alley, with smokey and woody Orientals and a burleyesque backdrop of parchment, cardboard, salt and nuts. Produces copious amounts of grey smoke that may be off-putting to non-smokers.

Edit: this blend seems to really come alive in a tall, narrow bowl. It's also great in a quality MM cob.

Here's another beautiful looking plug from Pease. The tin note is wonderful and sweet. I found a quick 15 minute dry time was enough for this one. After lighting there is a blast of earth and spice. It settles into a very smooth medium-bodied smoke. The red and bright Virginia are well-bonded and neither one dominates with equal parts earth and hay. The Izmir is slightly muted but when it shines it's great, spicy and sour. The Perique has a very very subtle role with mostly spice and pepper.

Compared to Regents Flake this is much earthier, less sweet, and a little more in need of age. This is recommended now, and ought to be stellar after a year or two.

Thanks, Greg. Thank you very much I was just happy as a kookaburra by the billabong then here he comes out with 2 new tobaccos that might interest me. I just can't resist. So I pull out this plug and it is a good one. I grab my cleaver and cutting board and reduce it to small pieces that will fit into my pipe. Now am not usually a big Oriental guy, but I smoked 3 bowls the first day. It is a repeater because it is so complex. It worked great in each pipe I tried and yet was unique in each. It is the most complex tobacco in my larder. I really like it. I have not tried it in a big bowl, yet. I smoke it every day now. Update, I like it better every day. Can't wait to try the Regent's, but this one may get an upgrade on its score soon.

This is a pretty nice smoke. Virginia forward supported by the Orientals and just a wiff of Perique. It's sweet and fruity with an underlying mildly sour, woody spiciness. Has a nice depth to it. You have to push it fairly hard to get it to misbehave. Smoked it cubed and rubbed and got the better burn with the rubbed. A pleasant and enjoyable blend. Rock solid 3 stars.

Medium in body and taste. No added flavorings.

Whenever I do a review, I like to google the names of the blends. For instance, since I live a sheltered life, I never knew that Temple Bar from their website is “The Temple Bar Pub Dublin Ireland is home to the largest whiskey collection in Ireland.” I also read on the web that they carry over 450 different kinds of rare whiskeys. I never knew that. Now, on to the review. I was given around 4 nice size bowls of this the other day to take home and smoke from a gentleman at the club whom we will designate as “L”. The tobacco that was given to me was already broken into pieces from the original plug. This is a true and blue Oriental Blend as there is no Latakia in it according to the description, Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia. I found this to be smooth with an occasional mild sourness which I am guessing comes from the Oriental which for me was what I detected the most but I am sure other opinions will vary. An overall nice change from your normal English Blends. Kind of wish I could have seen the plug but that is neither here nor there. A good smoke from a good friend. What more could you ask for? Last note, I did not find the nicotine content strong as I have read from other reviewers but we are all different. I use but I hate this term “Your Mileage May Vary”.

The bar is nicely put together and is light brown a few streams of lighter tobacco and flecks of darker. It smells sweet, earthy, spicy (herbal), exotic, and just a tinge sour.

It's easy to cut and rub out, which I have found to be the best way to load it into a pipe. Lights easily and remains lit with slight but firm tamping.

This smoke is quite an interesting mix. Again, to me, it's a unique experience. I can detect the virginia's from their sweetness, but they are not overly sweet, which are enhanced by the spicy (herbal) aspect of the orientals. The perique adds some dark fruit notes and sometimes a little bit of spice (pepper). There are hints of earth and woods throughout the smoke as well, again balanced by the slight sweetness and the, almost incense like, spice. The smoke is complex enough to keep ones mind interested while they enjoy this 'exotic' tobacco.

Thanks to my buddy for giving me a huge sample of this. I have some cellared as I think it will be even more awesome after a few years.

Hearty like Master Pease's other plugs.

Cool and slow-steady burning with a rough ribbon cut. If you chop and rub too fine, it doesn't taste very good to me and becomes harsh. So keep it kinda on the thick side. It also does not DGT well.

The splendid Virginia is in each puff (mostly red, well fermented and cherry-like but only semi-sweet). Always savory and at times intense flavor. The darker leaf (including Perique) subdues the Virginia from dominating.

It does appear to me to be an evening smoke rather than all day.

For those who like their Virginia thick and full but not way too sweet.