G. L. Pease Barbary Coast

Nice Burleys but did not like the toppings. It reminds me very much of some of the old timer blends that my pipe smoking mentors preferred but I don't. This one will not go into my rotation, not sure I will even finish the tin.

In my decade of pipe smoking I have tried many a blend, most of which I have enjoyed immensely, regardless of type. I must say, though, that I've never really given burleys a fair shake. My first experience was W.O. Larsen's Kentucky Gold. That blend bites me every single time I try it, no matter what. Then there was Mac Baren's Golden Extra. Not bad at all, but who has time for that when I've got all these Va/Pers!?! Then, of course, I had to try Prince Albert. Not bad, either, but I already smoke cigarettes. Perhaps that's why I never gave burley blends much attention. I was already smoking burley all day, every day. Maybe I needed to try a pipe tobacco with less a component of burley than more. About two years ago I picked up a tin of Barbary Coast. I've had a couple of Pease latakia blends and know he's a serious blender that uses quality tobacco. If nothing else, I could give the tin away as a gift. I've been on a Va/Per kick for the last few years but this winter I've decided to re-explore some old tobaccos and discover new ones. I popped this open and was surprised and excited. I've gone through about a quarter tin thus far and am still forming a solid opinion but have been enjoying each bowl more and more. Nutty yet sweet. The topping adds rather than subtracts, IMO. A nice change of pace for me, this tobacco is. Only time will tell if I keep this around. It seems I always take the middle road with my recommendations but I find it hard to say "you must try this" or "you must not try this." Barbary Coast is interesting enough to get my somewhat recommended rating as of now.

I've been looking forward to smoking this one for some time. Upon opening the tin, the tobacco was a bit of a PG mess; not super-wet, but wet enough to be noticed. The tin note was interesting, definitely cased, a note of fruit, and I thought I detected some alcohol based additive, too. I loved the fine cube cut of this baccy, and, I thought I was going to be in for a nutty burley treat, but on lighting, all I got for the first third of the bowl was a blast of casing.

The nutty burley taste I expected was completely lost until around the first third of the bowl and, then, whammy, my expectations were suddenly met. The casing went deep into the background, and a wonderful nutty burley at last came to the forefront (there's a quality burley buried underneath all that casing! What the perique does for this blend, I couldn't say). The rest of the bowl was a delight to smoke and wonderful on the snork. The nicotine level was higher than I usually like. Burley purists may have an issue with this blend, be warned.

Overall, I enjoyed this baccy, but was taken aback by the dire amounts of both PG and casing. I wish Pease would decrease the amount of casing and allow the burley to shine through more.

So, in the end, this gave me a strong 2 star smoke (2.65 stars).

Somewhat recommended.

Keep on Pipin'

Full flavor and nicotine hit with first light at Barbary Coast. Pepper, tang and spice accompanied by a hint of creamy sweetness from the alcoholic topping. Out of the fresh tin (out of which it smells awesome) it had a tendency to turn into some evil, sharp, scratchy and overwhelming Burly/Perique beast, even with the slowest sipping applied. I like Irish Flake and SG Black XX, but this one puts cold sweat on my forehead and makes me dizzy.

It was only after almost two years of aging that it smoothed out and became bearable/palatable to me, but still failed to excel or give me something I’m craving for. I might never find out if it was my particular tin, because I wont buy another.

I much prefer Pennington Gap as the smaller cousin if you will without the fuss (to me), leaving the tins of Barbary Coast to those who can really enjoy it.

Well there's a first time for everything and this is the first G. L. Pease blend that I really didn't get along with.

There are very few burley mixtures that I can smoke but I feel that this had the potential to be one of them. It's a shame because the flavors in this mixture do work, and like many of Mr. Pease's quality blends there's excellent balance here, not only between the components comprising this mixture but also in the primary flavor & the subtleties that seem to want to develop down the bowl.

Barbary Coast has a delightful semi-sweet musty mulled-wine flavor that's supported by a delicate perique spice note. The perique is used perfectly and as for the brandy topping, I think it's superbly done. While I wouldn't classify Barbary Coast as an aromatic, in my mind this is what a good aromatic tobacco should taste like.

So what's my problem then? Barbary Coast is mélange of stubborn cubed burley and shredded kindling-like VA and perique ribbons. The Cubed burley presented two problems for me. For one, it didn't want to stay lit and two, once I got it lit the more subtle flavors were rapidly whisked away, and usually within minutes my pipe was on the verge of overheating. Even using the most delicate gravity fill approach that I could possibly conjure up with minimal tamping and delicate puffs, this blend wanted to either burn like molten magma or not at all. The results were almost always the same - Hot pipe, subtleties gone and a crispy tongue at bowl's end.

I have one more tin of Barbary Coast in my cabinet. It's got a good amount of age on it, and it's much older than what I recently smoked. At some point I'll tempt fate, pop it open and see if the results are the same. Yes the flavor potential with this blend is that good.

This is the second tin of Barbary Coast that I have gone through over the last month, and I can now sit down to write a review. I really wanted to like this blend from G.L. Pease, but I can not bring myself to do so. I alternate between different Virginia- Perique blends like Escudo and McBarrens HH Acadian Perique, both of which are my favorite tobaccos. I also like Hado's a lot. Westminster, with its heavy Latakia presence, I do on the road, as the wife can't stand it. Back to the review: In Barbary Coast its like the potential is there, but was never fully realized. I give it an A for effort and intention, smell and feel, but B minus for execution and the actual smoking of the blend. Tin aroma is a bit much on the brandy casing, but reminds one of dried fruits, especially dried prunes to my nose. Consistency of the tobacco is marvelous, and very easy to pack, just use a light hand. The Burly is also very nicely sweet, although subtle. The Perique comes on strong past mid-bowl. Barbary Coast (non-aged) arrives much too moist to my liking, and will require multiple lightings, at least for the first third of the bowl. Poured the entire tin onto a plate and let it air out for two days, then it lights and keeps lit much easier. But something is missing here. The sweetness of the Virginias and Burly is never fully realized. Does one subtract from the other here? Don't know. Perique is just about right. All is all, I was not wowed by this blend and give it only 2.5 stars out out four. Sorry Greg!

I often smoke during my 45-50 minute drive to work. So, I have little patience for a "high maintenance" tobacco. Regretably, Barbary Coast is such a tobacco. It requires several relights, regardless of how carefully I fill the bowl, or how I smoke. That does not lend itself to safe driving.

In every other respect, this is an excellent tobacco. High quality tobacco is clearly evident. There was absolutely no hint whatsovever of bite. The taste, though a digression from my usual VA and VA/P blends is wonderful. The delightful taste of great tobacco treats my taste buds while smoking. And the lingering taste on my palate is enjoyable.

But, driving or not, I lose patience quickly with a tobacco that extinguishes frequently and requires relights. It detracts from the pleasurable experience of smoking a great tobacco, which is the only reason I smoke the stuff in the first place. I have aired it out for brief periods several times. Tonight, the tin is staying uncovered over night. I hope it works, but it may also be counter productive, stealing the satisfying taste that I seek. For the high maintenance I must give it two stars only.

Preparation & Burn: 7/10 Easy to pack. Not a fan of the cut though, it doesn't feel pleasant to pack. Burns cool enough, no bite. Not many re-lights at all. Because of the cut, it can be a tiny bit harsh and burn a bit fast.

Taste: 11/20 This is a decent blend, but there's so much more I'd rather smoke before this. Burley lovers shouldn't miss out though, it's a unique blend.

Mildness: 7/10 My idea of a good smoke is a relaxing, low nicotine session. Therefore, the milder the better. Not much nicotine here.

Total: 25/40

Upon opening this tin I was greeted by a wonderful aroma of raisons, figs and plums. The tobacco itself looks equally as wonderful. With great anticipation, I packed my first bowl, which packs easily. That's where the joy began to lesson. I found the flavor to be flat. I continued to smoke through the tin and now that I have reached the end, it really remains a disappointment. Pease blends are designed with aging in mind so I have cellared three or four tins and see what happens next year.