G. L. Pease Regents Flake
(3.03)
A generous measure of fine Izmir leaf is layered on a sturdy foundation of mature red and sweet bright Virginia tobaccos, then pressed and allowed to mature and ferment in cakes before being sliced and tinned. This is one for the lover of Oriental mixtures, with their exotic and enticing incense-like aroma and brilliant flavour. Rub up a flake or two, fill a cherished pipe, and prepare for an exceptional smoking experience.
Notes: Regents Flake starts as a base of red and bright Virginia leaf, seasoned with generous amounts of fine Oriental tobaccos. A very small percentage of perique is added to enhance the fruitiness of the Virginias, as well as to work its magic amplifying some of the lovely exotic, almost floral qualities of the orientals. Pressing and aging in cakes brings out the best of the leaf, after which the blocks are cut and sliced into flakes. The aroma is rich, malty, fruity and just a little earthy. In the bowl, beautiful Virginia flavors, subtly sweet, are enhanced by the spice and sweet/tart character of the orientals, and the room note is wonderful.
Temple Bar is made from the same components, but optimized as a plug version of Regents Flake.
Released 7/12/2016
Details
| Brand | G. L. Pease |
| Series | Old London Series |
| Blended By | Gregory Pease |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Oriental |
| Contents | Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.03 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 21 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 11, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
The mature red Virginia is very tangy, dark fruit sweet with earth, wood and a minor spice note, and is a team player even though there’s more of it than there is of the other tobaccos. The citrus sweet, grassy bright Virginia also seems to have a drop of honey in a support role. The raisin, plum, figs and spice from the perique mostly lurks in the background. The Izmir is a tad smokey, earthy, very woody, mildly floral and musty, and moderately spicy along with a buttery sweet and more sour taste as it constantly competes with the Virginias. At times, it will dominate. Given that, you will still notice all the inherent characteristics of the tobaccos most of the time. The nic-hit is a little closer to medium than it is to mild. It’s medium in strength while the taste level is just past medium. The flakes are lightly moist and not thick, and I saw no need to dry them. Mildly complex, it burns at a reasonable pace for a flake; cool, clean, and even with a fairly smooth flavor. It has no weak or harsh spots, and won’t bite. Requires a normal number of relights for a flake product, and leaves virtually no dampness in the bowl. The after taste is mildly woody sweet and rather pleasant. The room note is pleasant. It’s not quite an all day smoke, but those experienced in Oriental blends may find it closer to being one.
-JimInks
-JimInks
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 2018 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Oh McClelland's No. 24, why did you have to go? First stop on my No. 24 Replacement Train was to sample Pease's Va/Or type blends, beyond Cairo. Regent's Flake and Temple Bar are very, very similar; therefore I'll write one review for both. The Va aspect behaves as one would expect and has been described in other reviews, with the Perique showing through a bit more in Regent's Flake, and the Oriental, bringing a strong woody component, shining a bit more in Temple Bar. Overall, Regent's Flake is a bit more rich, creamy, and sweet while Temple Bar brings a more delicate and complex offering. Regent's Flake is a real pleasure to smoke when it comes to how smoothly the draw remains consistent and how trouble free it is in regard to not needing relights. It is a very consistent smoke throughout the entirety of the bowl.
Between the two, my favorite is Temple Bar, due to the complexity and distinctiveness between the different leafs. If you are opposed to plugs, stay away from Temple Bar, though I enjoy the preparation aspects and variety in presentation.
I give Temple Bar 4 Stars, while assigning 3 Stars to Regent's Flake.
Between the two, my favorite is Temple Bar, due to the complexity and distinctiveness between the different leafs. If you are opposed to plugs, stay away from Temple Bar, though I enjoy the preparation aspects and variety in presentation.
I give Temple Bar 4 Stars, while assigning 3 Stars to Regent's Flake.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 14, 2019 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I am always slightly hesitant to try blends with oriental leaf.. I was an English blend smoker early on in my piping and kinda just got burnt out on the flavors of latakia and oriental... I tend to smoke almost exclusively virginia blends now.. Regents flake opens a new door to me.. these occasional virginia/oriental blends you find on the market.. and I have to say it is quite pleasant.. the oriental, far from offensive, sits like jelly spread on toast.. the base is surely the bright and red Virginias.. It also offers a nice sour slightly tangy and floral note.. it is somewhat musty as others have stated.. and I like it.. Seems like it would age really well.. like other pease blends it is not in your face.. you have to unlock it slowly over the course of several smokes.. It is a great change of pace for the virginia smoker.. and i could also see it appealing to those who like English blends who may want to shake things up a little.. Also worth mentioning is the occasional perique blast.. mostly on the retrohale.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Upon opening a tin of Regent’s Flake, the scent is sour and musty. I prefer to smoke it without rubbing it out. The moisture level is pipe ready and I have smoked it that way, but when dried for a few minutes, I seem to get a little more sweetness. The Izmir leads the way but as the bowl progresses, there is a dark fruit/jam quality that emerges that I find very pleasant. The musty Izmir takes center stage at first light then the light tang and sweetness from the reds begin to show themselves. As others have mentioned there is a little citrus on the high end. There is enough sweet flavor to tease me, but the Turkish serves to mute that a bit. There is a light pepper quality that stands in the background throughout the smoke. There isn’t any bite, but the spice will really show itself If pushed. I would have enjoyed this more with a tad bit more Virginia and slightly less Izmir although lovers of that leaf will enjoy this blend. I liked it, but I think a couple of years in the cellar will provide more of what I’m looking for in this blend.
UPDATE: I just opened a tin that the PO had left out in the hot, summer Texas sun. I think that those that like to "tin bake" will find this outstanding.
UPDATE: I just opened a tin that the PO had left out in the hot, summer Texas sun. I think that those that like to "tin bake" will find this outstanding.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 22, 2021 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
The flakes are light brown and there are some darker streaks in there. Tin note is kind of fruity and musty. The flakes are not too moist. I've had the tin open for weeks and it has retained it's moisture well.
I like to fold and pack this into the pipe carefully to try and get even burning. I haven't tried rubbing it out. Always starts off with Virginia and Perique flavors of dried fruit, some plummy flavors and woody accents. In steps the Orientals and you can get more dusty, woody notes mixed in, smokey notes, incense and tagine spices.
Nicotine is medium, strength is medium, taste is medium. Burns well. It's just an interesting and enjoyable blend. I would even say luxurious. I also love the aroma. It's never boring, but it's never too complex. It's right there, and it's repeatable. For me it's an all-day blend.
I like to fold and pack this into the pipe carefully to try and get even burning. I haven't tried rubbing it out. Always starts off with Virginia and Perique flavors of dried fruit, some plummy flavors and woody accents. In steps the Orientals and you can get more dusty, woody notes mixed in, smokey notes, incense and tagine spices.
Nicotine is medium, strength is medium, taste is medium. Burns well. It's just an interesting and enjoyable blend. I would even say luxurious. I also love the aroma. It's never boring, but it's never too complex. It's right there, and it's repeatable. For me it's an all-day blend.
Pipe Used:
Various briars
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
Age When Smoked:
Less than one year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 19, 2020 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
Smoked 3 years old, rubbed out, roughly 10 - 12% humidity, kept in a mason jar this whole time.I like it.I'm using it to break in this big Demuth system pipe.The smell in the jar is very tobbacoy,in a smooth, refined way.I can definitely taste some Perique in there.LIke some of the other smokers say,a suggestion of citrus here and there.This seems to go better in a large chamber,as there is more time to get all the components working together.Have used some smaller pipes, with less flavor development.Recommended.
Pipe Used:
Wm Demuth Wellington system pipe
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
2017
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 19, 2020 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
If you are looking for a mild-medium tangy take on Izmir, this could be for you. It's well-balanced by the VAs. Worth trying any time of year, especially if you don't often indulge in Orientals. On the other hand, despite being a (fairly broken) flake, it does burn on the fast side, so sip or risk a little burn rather than tang!
Pipe Used:
cobs
PurchasedFrom:
smoking pipes
Age When Smoked:
4 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
G. L. Pease - Regents Flake (Old London Series).
The blend's right on the cusp of being badged as a Broken Flake, they're still in flake form but starting to break apart. It's dark brown in colour, and of a good moistness.
At the beginning the Oriental/Turkish tobaccos' are without doubt the stronger of the bunch, with the Virginia coming in second place, and the Perique right down the scale. Then, about ten minutes in, I start to taste more of the Perique; not lots of sharpness, but it's definitely more tasty. The Oriental/Turkish comes over in a calmer style than it often can: there's very little, if any, sourness. The Virginia offers a gentle sweetness throughout: in a way that doesn't bombard me with hay and grass alone. Over the duration of a smoke I find the bowl burning steady, leaving only clean ash.
The room-note's quite pleasant, and the nicotine's about medium.
I like Regents Flake, but don't love it.
Recommended.
The blend's right on the cusp of being badged as a Broken Flake, they're still in flake form but starting to break apart. It's dark brown in colour, and of a good moistness.
At the beginning the Oriental/Turkish tobaccos' are without doubt the stronger of the bunch, with the Virginia coming in second place, and the Perique right down the scale. Then, about ten minutes in, I start to taste more of the Perique; not lots of sharpness, but it's definitely more tasty. The Oriental/Turkish comes over in a calmer style than it often can: there's very little, if any, sourness. The Virginia offers a gentle sweetness throughout: in a way that doesn't bombard me with hay and grass alone. Over the duration of a smoke I find the bowl burning steady, leaving only clean ash.
The room-note's quite pleasant, and the nicotine's about medium.
I like Regents Flake, but don't love it.
Recommended.
Pipe Used:
Meerschaum
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
One month
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 08, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Unnoticeable |
I bought a couple tins of this because 1) I'm a fan of many Pease blends, and 2) there was no perique listed in the ingredients. So I opened the tin, filled the pipe, and lit up. My mouth was filled with the biter sting I associate with cheap perique. Into a jar it went and I figured it would take a few years to be smokeable. Weakling that I am I decided to try it again a week later. I packed a bit looser as I do for the few perique blends blends I like and much to my surprise I found myself smoking a very pleasant sweetish oriental and virgina blend. It still had a tang, but the perique had backed way off instead of going to war on my tongue. So hats off to Greg yet again. Jar it, pack it lightly and I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Pipe Used:
Eltang biliard
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
I am not particularly drawn to 'oriental' blends - I seem to prefer the robust Virgina and Va/Per blends, and also plug tobaccos. [The moisture seems better controlled in them??] I found the best way to load my pipe(s) to be lightly rubbing out the flake - this gave a more consistent taste, and balance of taste, in the pipes I am currently smoking [Petersen 999 and 80s - parallel sided/narrower] Also smoked in wider bowls with a taper - but here the Flake seems inclined to get a bit too "spicy" for me in them! [Petersen D/L System 9s and a Rattray 03 billiard] Mind you - I am a little undisciplined in my smoking having a 'cadence' a little too quick at times.
The Izmir leaf is fairly smoky and perhaps a bit sour but the taste is consistent throughout a 'disciplined' pipe. The burn is dry even though the flake feels slightly moist in the tin.
No re-light problems - getting 45-60 minutes from a bowl with re-lights only if put down for more than 5 minutes or so.
Noted that more moisture seems to come out of the tobacco in my tapered bowl pipes. I've also noted that if I smoke too quickly the taste rapidly becomes very sour and unpleasant.
This is proving a good after-dinner tobacco for me, and the following morning the mouth-taste remaining is more than acceptable.
The Izmir leaf is fairly smoky and perhaps a bit sour but the taste is consistent throughout a 'disciplined' pipe. The burn is dry even though the flake feels slightly moist in the tin.
No re-light problems - getting 45-60 minutes from a bowl with re-lights only if put down for more than 5 minutes or so.
Noted that more moisture seems to come out of the tobacco in my tapered bowl pipes. I've also noted that if I smoke too quickly the taste rapidly becomes very sour and unpleasant.
This is proving a good after-dinner tobacco for me, and the following morning the mouth-taste remaining is more than acceptable.
Pipe Used:
Petersen 80s, 999, D/L System 9s, Rattary 03
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
Packed 7 June 2016
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