G. L. Pease Haddo's Delight

Ah, Haddo's Delight.  A masterpiece. 

A truly unique tobacco and among my all-time favorites. 

Tin note is of liqueur topping, similar but lighter to that of Barbary Coast. A brandy note, with a touch of rum.  I find this a variation on a theme of toppings shared by Haddo's, Barbary Coast, and Cairo.  Beyond this initial note are the expected aromas of dried fruits: figs, dates, raisins. But in Haddo's the dried fruit flavors are more pronounced than the average plum-sided VaPer. After all, Haddo's Delight is not truly a VaPer, but rather a hybrid - I suggest it is the King of Hybrids. 

While Haddo's ages divinely, it is smokable right out of a fresh tin. Presentation is ribbon cut, so minimal dry time is needed: maybe 10-15 minutes prior to packing. Takes a match well and, once going, requires very few relights. 

The initial flavor is dominated by the topping, but this soon gives way to the most amazing VaBurPer flavors out there today. Rich, thick, creamy clouds of smoke as the bowl progresses with a delicious and copious Perique of the stewed fruit persuasion. The Virginias are soft and biteless, the burley provides a solid foundation to it all, and there is a hint of sweet, natural Cavendish making periodic appearances. 

Once deep into the first third of the bowl, approaching mid-bowl, the deep, dried fruit flavors assert with an amazing interplay of slightly sweeter stewed fruit. But the sweetness here is anything but cloying. It's a deep, rich, refined and natural sweetness, held in check by a touch of burley and an array of Virginias that simply could not be more smooth-smoking.  

After mid-bowl, an amazing transformation takes place: the plummy-side Perique flavors begin to yield to a more savory note. The dried fruits are still there in the background, but the peppery side of Perique shows its face.  This is the real treat for Perique lovers as this is the only blend I'm aware of that demonstrates both sides of glorious Perique tobacco - and shows each side in all its glory. 

To my palette, this blend is a symphony of flavors masterfully blended: balanced, nuanced, deep, contemplative, and simply unique even among celebrated tobacco blends. I simply cannot say enough good about this blend - and I'm not the only one: odes, websites, and many a pipe has been dedicated to it. Very creamy mouthfeel and a surprisingly cool burn when sipped.

 I can't give five stars, so I'm going with four. 

I wanted to love this blend, but it was a little too much for me.

The topping is very fruity and alchololic, like rum soaked prunes. This flavor, combined with the heavy dose of figgy Perique, resulted in a very dark, spicy, and one-dimensional smoke.

I love what artisional blenders like Mr. Pease are doing to expand the enjoyment of our hobby, but this blend was just too Perique and booze forward for my tastebuds. Perhaps it will settle down a bit with age (I refuse to give up on a tin).

One more club sample I had the other day from a 16oz tin dated 051005. A good 14 years under its belt. This has a very, very strong tin odor that reminded me of Nehi Grape even though this says it is flavored with rum. Another of the pipe club members noticed the same thing. This is a very perplexing blend in that the flavor and taste though very powerful does not remind me of rum but then again, I don’t partake of the Devil’s Nectar anymore and maybe it is a Spiced Rum. But definitely a liquored flavoring whatever it is. About halfway down the bowl it did tame down a little bit. Maybe it fermented in the tin too long because I really could not detect the Perique much though it did also have a little spiciness to it at times, maybe that was the Perique coming through. I would have classified this as an aromatic if it was up to me. Not bad, glad to try it but will not be revisiting this one.

I know most people say that in order to get the most out of a particular blend one must smoke at least two tins or more and I have in no way done that... yet. I just couldn't wait to tell you all what I thought of this blend.

I have this habit of reading tobacco reviews a lot while I'm sitting online at work and at home, the wife gets a little annoyed by this I think but I really enjoy learning about tobacco. So I have been looking at different perspectives on this tobacco and as with any tobacco I suppose there are people who love it and people who loath it. I happen to love it after only one bowl no less! In my internet search I stumbled upon a review by someone who drew my attention to the fact that Oliver Haddo was a caricature of Aleister Crowley in a book called "The Magician" written by W. Somerset Maugham. And I would say that Mr. Crowley would probably be pleased by this blend because it really is Magick. Now on to the review.

Upon opening the tin I was greeted by a strong smell of some sort of alcohol, not quite sure what type, I'm thinking rum. What ever the smell was it smelled delicious. I loaded up my La Scala because it has a slightly bigger bowl using the method suggested by Rich Hacker where you trickle in tobacco and tap the side of the pipe to settle it and lightly press the tobacco with your finger and repeat till at the top. I filled it fairly loosely as per the suggestion of Puff. And off I went to to balcony. After the lighting had been done I settled into a wonderful smoke. The taste reminds me somewhat of Peterson's Special Reserve 2007 only much much better because Haddo's smoked with no bite whatsoever. It did burn a bit hot but that was, in all fairness, probably my fault because I was smoking it a bit fast because I liked it so much. I could definitely taste the perique which is a big plus as I am becoming more and more a fan. It had a pretty strong nicotine content, made me feel like I should have eaten before trying out this one. Never the less I really did enjoy this one more than I have enjoyed a blend in a while. This is only my second foray into Mr. Pease's blends and I am not sorry for it. My first was Maltese Falcon which I still enjoy very much.

This will be a part of my rotation for the foreseeable future. I plan on getting a few more tins to begin my cellar I can't wait to see how this changes with age. It can only get better and that makes me very happy. I give it four stars.

Update 4/5/06: I somehow could not bring myself to throw away the rest of the tin, so I kept trying to smoke it. Vile, nasty stuff. Just kept getting worse and worse. Today, I poured the rest of the tin into the toilet and flushed it. Now I have an unopened tin dated Jan 7 2001 that I do not want. If anyone would like to trade for some Caravan, Odyssey or Samarra, drop me a line at [email protected].

This was the first offering from the house of Pease that I tried. I acquired a can on the strength of the reviews here. I opened my can in Deadwood while on vacation.

Very nice appearance in the can, and the tin aroma was heavenly. Notes of fruit and spices with a nice sweetness. I could not wait to pack my pipe.

I have since packed this stuff in several pipes ranging from a full bent CAO meerschaum to a full bent GBD to an il Ceppo to a Kirsten. I nearly always have the same result. The bowl starts out delicate with a very nice sweet and (I hate to use this word as it is in the tin description, but it is the perfect word) piquant taste. I am loving it. Then I start to get this tickle at the back of my throat. I smoke Escudo and Kingfisher and do not have the same tickle, so I don't think that it is from perique in general. Then the flavour goes all to pieces. I smokes with a burnt, charred taste that I can't get past. I end up dumping the bowl.

One time, in the CAO the entire bowl was delicious, but only one time.

I smoked about half the tin, and am now going to throw away the other half. Very disappointing.

Haddo?s is serious tobacco, the stuff of professionals. It attempts to reach the apex of blending perfection to such a degree that it is at once magnificent and overwhelming. Though I try not to be pedantic in my reviews, this one requires a breaking down of the elements.

Appearance: large, shaggy, course cut strands of rich, blackened Cavendish, sweet hearty Virginia and bold, tangy Perique. It is thickly cut and thoughtfully packed like a McClelland, but it is in a class by itself. Careful detail obviously went into marrying these tobaccos. Each of the leaves is blended perfectly to form a dazzling interplay of colors and aromas.

Tin aroma: Beautiful and bouquet like. Figs, stewed fruits, plums, prunes and coconuts create one of the most delectable and inviting aromas offered in a two-ounce can. I could revel in the tin aroma alone. It?s almost a shame to light this product.

Packing: Firm yet loose. It?s moist enough to pack easily yet dry enough to get started on the first light. There is just the right amount of firmness and sponginess.

Burn: Like a fine cigar, it has its moments of billowy, creamy smoke and other times when it seems to hit a knot and choke. I only needed two additional relights, but you never know when the draw is going to get a bit stubborn on you. The pipe tends to get a bit juicy as well, though it leaves the bowl virtually dry upon emptying.

Taste: Haddo?s reacts to the room and the pipe in which you are smoking it as well as to temperature and humidity. Each day (or is it by the hour?) it seems to behave differently. This is not predictable and one-dimensional by any means. This is not a blend for the neophyte. It takes a seasoned palate to appreciate Pease?s skill. The Cavendish cools and relaxes. The Virginias provide just the right amount of sweetness and the Perique is not a garnish, but rather, a main course. The Perique awakens a vivid, sweet/sour tanginess on the palate that enlivens the taste buds but can overwhelm if you don?t react well to that leaf.

Room note: Aromatic, chocolaty and pleasant, though it fails to leave a lasting impression. Entering the room five minutes later, the aroma dissipates with very little distinguishable traces.

Effect: This has a physical effect on me, probably due to the large amount of Perique in the blend. Sometimes it?s a buzz, other times it?s a queasy feeling. Be careful not to inhale a drop of the smoke or a spot of juice. It will close your throat and make you gag. Don?t smoke this while walking or operating a vehicle. Find a comfy sofa in which to relax and chill out for a while. Haddo?s is like a sinfully rich dessert. You want to eat more and more, but if you do, you?ll feel sluggish and regretful later.

Summary: Haddo?s is one of the truly great accomplishments in the art of connoisseur tobacco blending. Greg Pease is a skillful and imaginative perfectionist. Nevertheless, unless you have the stomach and physicality to endure Perique, be forewarned. HD is like a ten-course degustation at a French restaurant: a delectable, over the top sensory adventure that can quickly go from pleasurable to nauseous. I suppose this is the case with anything that aspires to reach the summit. It?s almost too much of a good thing.

Because this is such a complex beast, I must give Haddo?s two separate ratings:

Taste/presentation/aroma: Five of five stars Physical sensation: Two of five stars

The only way I can somewhat enjoy this blend is to sip it slowly. That goes against my nature and ruins the experience. Gets harsh and nasty if I smoke it like I usually do. Having said that, I can see where others may like it. Somewhat recommended.

Appearance: Somewhat random cut, consisting of about 60% reddish leaf, and 40% darker. I could not separate the perique from the cavendish by eye.

Aroma: A definite perique presence tingles the nostrils, adding a slightly sour note to the sweet and earthy aroma of the blend. There seems to be an additive, or special process here.

Packing: Packs easily into small and medium size pipes. With this much perique present, I did not try any large bowls. I like perique, but prefer moderate amounts.

Lighting: Lighting is about average for a va/perique blend, neither too slow to cach, nor too quick.

Initial flavor: Wow, it?s in you face. Big red virginia flavor, nutty cavendish background, and the raisin/fig taste of perique. There is something slightly sweet in the Cavendish, but it?s identity is elusive.

Mid-bowl: Everything settles down into a lovely melange with layers of taste. There is a substantial fullness to the smoke with just a touch of tingle. Puffing too fast increases the tingle, so slow puffing is definitely in order. Moisture is sometimes present, but not excessive.

Finish: Like many perique blends, this finishes a little bit stronger than the middle but not unpleasantly so. Ash is dark gray, and there is little or no dottle.

Summary: An excellent blend for the va/perique fanatics, and I will return to it periodically. It may be too rich for an all-day smoke, but one bowl satisfies your craving for quite a while. Wonderfully rewarding for evening relaxation.

Particularly liked: Richness and flavor.

Particularly disliked: For me, just a bit too much perique. YMMV

I was surprised how much I disliked this one. Surprised because it was one of those that I was sure I would enjoy. I tend to enjoy the VaBurPer blends and I also love GL Pease Blends. This was not what I expected. It is like smoking an aromatic Va Per. I don't know what the topping would be, but it felt like someone soaked this quality leaf in a cheap grape soda.

It was horrible and a one star to my personal tastes, but as I do know a few people who enjoy it and it was possible to finish a bowl of this in a cob or a Meerschaum, I will give it two stars. It also packs a decent nic hit if you can bear to get through a bowl.