G. L. Pease Stonehenge Flake
(3.43)
From Gregory Pease: In 2001, I had the honor and pleasure of collaborating with G.H. & Co.'s John Gawith on a very special tobacco, and after nearly a year of development, Stonehenge Flake, a modern VA/Perique blend steeped in English tradition, was born.
Fine Virginias are layered with Louisiana Perique, and just a touch of Burley for added body and a fuller flavor, then steamed, hot-pressed, and matured. The cakes are thinly sliced and tinned, ready for your smoking pleasure — today, and for many years to come.
Notes: Stonehenge Flake was produced in December 2001 in a very limited edition of approximately 1500 2oz tins.
Previous notes: Stonehenge Flake is a wonderful traditional flake comprised of bright flue-cured and sun-cured leaf from Brazil, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, with just a touch of Malawi Burley added for a bit of body, and a slightly fuller flavor. Then, we added a hint of genuine St. James Parish Perique, for its special piquant contribution. Once blended, the leaf was steamed, hot-pressed into blocks, and aged, to allow the flavors to meld and marry. The mature blocks were sliced into thin flakes, and cut into 2" lengths. This blend was a special limited release and is no longer made.
Stonehenge was re-released into production in Friday, 23rd June 2017. The re-released edition is manufactured by the precise formula and protocol John Gawith and Gregory Pease developed in 2001.
In the end of 2022 this issue has been discontinued.
Details
| Brand | G. L. Pease |
| Blended By | Gregory Pease and John Gawith |
| Manufactured By | Gawith Hoggarth & Co. |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Perique |
| Contents | Burley, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Cocoa / Chocolate |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.43 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 79 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 03, 2017 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I do tire of newbie pipers giving a review of pipe tobacco when they don't have a clue as to what they are speaking of. If you did your homework and checked a tobacco out by knowledgeable pipers you might save yourself some embarrassment by spewing out meaningless blather about a fine pipe tobacco. First of all, to think this would not have some of the Lakeland essence when John Gawith had a hand in it shows a severe lack of discernment. That is what Gawith pipe tobacco is all about, the wonderful Lakeland floral essence. This essence seems to be either loved or loathed and I am in the former camp. Here it was done with a very light hand. But to say this smells like a nursing home or an old woman's perfume is insane! What I get from the tin note is wonderful chocolate floral hay like notes. It is beautiful pipe tobacco, don't let uninformed pipers drive you away from it. It's great stuff from the minds of two master blenders and is reserved for pipers who appreciate the finer things in the vast and glorious world of pipe tobacco!
To my dear friend wild rage: I am not a spammer and no I do not have any association with the manufacturer. Furthermore, my intent was not to be creative, only to stress a point. All of which I commend you for giving a perfect example of. Your point of reference, Dark Birdseye has no mention of the G&H essence in it as is the case with most of the G&H descriptions as you testify in error that they do. However, at the top of this page part of the description for this tobacco states that it is steeped in the English tradition (aka Lakeland essence). Anyone who knows anything about pipe tobacco would and should know that, hence my reference to newbie ignorance. Lastly, Mr. Pease needs no deceptive gimmicks to boost sales. He is a master blender who's ability sells his product on it's own merit.
To my dear friend wild rage: I am not a spammer and no I do not have any association with the manufacturer. Furthermore, my intent was not to be creative, only to stress a point. All of which I commend you for giving a perfect example of. Your point of reference, Dark Birdseye has no mention of the G&H essence in it as is the case with most of the G&H descriptions as you testify in error that they do. However, at the top of this page part of the description for this tobacco states that it is steeped in the English tradition (aka Lakeland essence). Anyone who knows anything about pipe tobacco would and should know that, hence my reference to newbie ignorance. Lastly, Mr. Pease needs no deceptive gimmicks to boost sales. He is a master blender who's ability sells his product on it's own merit.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 11, 2014 | Medium | Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Dark colored very thin flakes with a tin aroma of a light Lakeland blend, and very earthy undertones. I struggled with folding, so ended up rubbing this out a bit. I actually tried different levels of rubbing out and settled on a light rub.
Unfortunately, no prep took away a seriously vexing problem I had with this blend. It sizzled my tongue from start to finish. It wasn't an all-out burning assault but it was most unpleasant. As a smoker of many aged Pease and aged G&H blends, I have no real idea what caused this disconnect. Clearly, this didn't require further aging! But it detracted from what could have been a pleasant experience, because the taste of this (what I could discern) was what I expected... a marriage of a light Lakeland essence with it's attendant burly sweetness a la G&H, with the robustness and full flavor of a Pease creation. Two of my favorite blenders - what could go wrong? A chemical imbalance with my palate, I guess. Talk about disappointment!
As I seem to be the only one with this issue, I can definitely recommend that G&H and Pease lovers give this a try if they find a tin reasonably priced. As someone who rates based on personal experience, however, this merits 2 stars. Great tasting but that tongue sizzle ruined it for me. My problem rather than the blend, so if this union interests you, by all means check it out.
Unfortunately, no prep took away a seriously vexing problem I had with this blend. It sizzled my tongue from start to finish. It wasn't an all-out burning assault but it was most unpleasant. As a smoker of many aged Pease and aged G&H blends, I have no real idea what caused this disconnect. Clearly, this didn't require further aging! But it detracted from what could have been a pleasant experience, because the taste of this (what I could discern) was what I expected... a marriage of a light Lakeland essence with it's attendant burly sweetness a la G&H, with the robustness and full flavor of a Pease creation. Two of my favorite blenders - what could go wrong? A chemical imbalance with my palate, I guess. Talk about disappointment!
As I seem to be the only one with this issue, I can definitely recommend that G&H and Pease lovers give this a try if they find a tin reasonably priced. As someone who rates based on personal experience, however, this merits 2 stars. Great tasting but that tongue sizzle ruined it for me. My problem rather than the blend, so if this union interests you, by all means check it out.
Pipe Used:
meerschaum and morta
Age When Smoked:
13 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 17, 2002 | Medium | Medium | Full | Pleasant |
Description: Flakes are very thin cut, perhaps a millimeter or slightly more thick. Mottled dark brown and medium in color. Overly wet when first received, but dried rapidly in a sealed, but loose baggie, and smoked well as received as well as when drier. For those of you who are amused by watching flakes attempt to levitate out of the bowl when first lighting, this one is quite a performer.
I smoked a three bowl sample that I received from one of the princes in the online pipe community. I prepared this by completely rubbing it out. A Savinelli pot that I have used for VA and VA/Perique flakes for some time was the venue. Initial light displayed perfume qualities similar to most Lakeland tobaccos. Overall flavor was very good with a high level of sweetness, no nasal burn, and very full flavor through the middle and lower registers of the palate, augmented by the spiciness of the perique. This is the best flake that I have ever smoked, with an incredible depth to the flavor that is only now becoming noticeable in most VAs for me.
I recently traded away two tins of this for an F&P release that is out of production, and suspect that I may come to regret the departure over time, although not the trade. I understand that the limited release of this blend was due to the small allotment of Percy Martin perique available for the blend. While never stated by the blender, this of course leaves open the hopeful, optimistic, fantastic, or even delusional possibility of subsequent releases in the future.
In the meantime, a rating of 4 stars must be interpreted as wishful thinking rather than actual practice due to limited availability.
(October 2002)
I smoked a three bowl sample that I received from one of the princes in the online pipe community. I prepared this by completely rubbing it out. A Savinelli pot that I have used for VA and VA/Perique flakes for some time was the venue. Initial light displayed perfume qualities similar to most Lakeland tobaccos. Overall flavor was very good with a high level of sweetness, no nasal burn, and very full flavor through the middle and lower registers of the palate, augmented by the spiciness of the perique. This is the best flake that I have ever smoked, with an incredible depth to the flavor that is only now becoming noticeable in most VAs for me.
I recently traded away two tins of this for an F&P release that is out of production, and suspect that I may come to regret the departure over time, although not the trade. I understand that the limited release of this blend was due to the small allotment of Percy Martin perique available for the blend. While never stated by the blender, this of course leaves open the hopeful, optimistic, fantastic, or even delusional possibility of subsequent releases in the future.
In the meantime, a rating of 4 stars must be interpreted as wishful thinking rather than actual practice due to limited availability.
(October 2002)
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 01, 2017 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
I have to say, I was hot to get my hands on some Stonehenge, if only because of its provenance. However, as with most GLP offerings I have tried, it took some time and some effort to finally get the best of this blend. The reviewed tin is new production, dated 06-20-2017. I never tried the original release, but I do have some G & H Louisiana Flake to compare, as this is supposed to be either the same or nearly the same blend, and I am curious to see just how similar they are.
In the tin, this Stonehenge is disheveled, moist, heaped, broken flakes that are dark brown with some lighter flecks. Tin note is subdued, damp, moldering silage with a little fig, molasses and dark cocoa. And that is pretty much that; nothing that presaged greatness. Straight from the tin, it lights with persistence and it burns down OK with some attention, including a couple of re-lights. Given its origins, I was not surprised by the Lakeland geranium smell that came up at the first match, but I was surprised by how strongly it came up, to the point where it nearly swamped the tobacco, and I resolved to dry it out some before smoking it thereafter. As it turns out, it benefitted from some rest, and spindling it and drying it first tempers the geranium and allows Stonehenge to really bloom in the small pots I use for VA/Pers. Naturally, I much prefer smoking it this way, and my recommendation is based on some rest and drying it first. Though the steam pressing seems to have melded the VAs and Perique in Stonehenge, and they rise together, they do unfold and some generally floral notes soon appear to grace what I take to be earthy, brown VAs and a little Burley that tastes like filberts. The silage and figs remain, only now they are actually fragrant and faintly musky, almost cigar-ish. The spices from the Perique are there, but they are tame, and they never rear up or bite, being in this regard reminiscent of Dunbar. The tastes ramp up gently to medium, and they develop quite nicely down the bowl. Strength is just over medium. Room note is tolerable. Aftertaste is a lengthy best-of-the-smoke.
Yes, there are already plenty of great VA/Pers that are currently available, including GLP’s own Telegraph Hill. Yet Stonehenge holds its own, IMO, a solid 4 star blend that will likely get even better with age.
In the tin, this Stonehenge is disheveled, moist, heaped, broken flakes that are dark brown with some lighter flecks. Tin note is subdued, damp, moldering silage with a little fig, molasses and dark cocoa. And that is pretty much that; nothing that presaged greatness. Straight from the tin, it lights with persistence and it burns down OK with some attention, including a couple of re-lights. Given its origins, I was not surprised by the Lakeland geranium smell that came up at the first match, but I was surprised by how strongly it came up, to the point where it nearly swamped the tobacco, and I resolved to dry it out some before smoking it thereafter. As it turns out, it benefitted from some rest, and spindling it and drying it first tempers the geranium and allows Stonehenge to really bloom in the small pots I use for VA/Pers. Naturally, I much prefer smoking it this way, and my recommendation is based on some rest and drying it first. Though the steam pressing seems to have melded the VAs and Perique in Stonehenge, and they rise together, they do unfold and some generally floral notes soon appear to grace what I take to be earthy, brown VAs and a little Burley that tastes like filberts. The silage and figs remain, only now they are actually fragrant and faintly musky, almost cigar-ish. The spices from the Perique are there, but they are tame, and they never rear up or bite, being in this regard reminiscent of Dunbar. The tastes ramp up gently to medium, and they develop quite nicely down the bowl. Strength is just over medium. Room note is tolerable. Aftertaste is a lengthy best-of-the-smoke.
Yes, there are already plenty of great VA/Pers that are currently available, including GLP’s own Telegraph Hill. Yet Stonehenge holds its own, IMO, a solid 4 star blend that will likely get even better with age.
Pipe Used:
various briars; small pots preferred
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
Age When Smoked:
young, with just a little rest
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 29, 2020 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
An absolute winner and instant favorite for my cellar collection and rotation. The Virginas have a fermented and aged character to them, which may be one sets this blend apart from other Virginia and Va/Per blends. The Red Virginia and Perique's dark fruity character take the lead.
The Burley comes into play with its earthy and nutty notes in second place. The Perique is light in its spiciness however, which isnt necessarily a negative but should be pointed out. The top note of cocoa/chocolate is perfectly light and adds just enough extra depth. On top of everything mentioned is the fact that there is less than a year of age on the tin Im smoking. This will be even more marvelous as time goes on. Grab some Virgina smokers!
https://youtu.be/STtaJkxNPUg
The Burley comes into play with its earthy and nutty notes in second place. The Perique is light in its spiciness however, which isnt necessarily a negative but should be pointed out. The top note of cocoa/chocolate is perfectly light and adds just enough extra depth. On top of everything mentioned is the fact that there is less than a year of age on the tin Im smoking. This will be even more marvelous as time goes on. Grab some Virgina smokers!
https://youtu.be/STtaJkxNPUg
Pipe Used:
Peterson system, Erik Nording, Rattray Dark Ale
Age When Smoked:
10 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2018 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The flakes come firmly pressed and are a mottled brown. They look a little like many GH flakes but are just stuffed in the tin. The tin note is earthy and there is a hint of almond. I rubbed this out to smoke it.
There is a lot of flavor here. There is the familiar Lakeland sauce, and the Virginia base is a mellow sweet with a little overripe fruit. There is some depth to the flavor that I attribute to the burleys used, but I have a hard time picking them out in the flavor profile. The perique gives it a little pepper on the snork and contributes to the overripe fruit as well. I had a curious hint of celery that I get sometimes with Lakelands. This is probably just some characteristic of my tastebuds, because I don't think it is a common flavor for people to find.
The smoking experience was uneventful. It smoked a little slow and the flavors were consistent.
This has been a very pleasant smoke. I recommend it.
There is a lot of flavor here. There is the familiar Lakeland sauce, and the Virginia base is a mellow sweet with a little overripe fruit. There is some depth to the flavor that I attribute to the burleys used, but I have a hard time picking them out in the flavor profile. The perique gives it a little pepper on the snork and contributes to the overripe fruit as well. I had a curious hint of celery that I get sometimes with Lakelands. This is probably just some characteristic of my tastebuds, because I don't think it is a common flavor for people to find.
The smoking experience was uneventful. It smoked a little slow and the flavors were consistent.
This has been a very pleasant smoke. I recommend it.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 03, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Extra Strong | Overwhelming | Unnoticeable |
If there's a worse tasting tobacco, I haven't found it....
I knew about Lakeland Essences, but I wasn't prepared for a "we're gonna wash your mouth out with soap and then spray cheap perfume in it" experience. Wow! Aghhh!!
I enjoy Royal Yatch, HH Vintage Syrian, JackKnife Plug, Gaslight, Nightcap, Viprati, HH Bold Kentucky, Escudo....all part of a wide variety of Vapers, VaBurPers, Straight Virginias, English/Balkans, Dark Fired KYs on my shelf and in my cellar - nothing in my worst imaginings prepared me for how truly unappealing (read awful) a pipe tobacco could be.
I'm about to reload the Vauen Churchwarden in which I smoked the GLP Stonehenge Flake with my favorite VaPer (technically VaBurPer) - H & H Viprati - in hopes of disinfecting my mouth and pipe, recovering my pipe equilibrium,and wiping out any possible ghosting. Fortunately, it only took 15 minutes to realize Stonehenge wasn't for me.
I appreciate our great variations in taste and am delighted others can enjoy this blend.
I knew about Lakeland Essences, but I wasn't prepared for a "we're gonna wash your mouth out with soap and then spray cheap perfume in it" experience. Wow! Aghhh!!
I enjoy Royal Yatch, HH Vintage Syrian, JackKnife Plug, Gaslight, Nightcap, Viprati, HH Bold Kentucky, Escudo....all part of a wide variety of Vapers, VaBurPers, Straight Virginias, English/Balkans, Dark Fired KYs on my shelf and in my cellar - nothing in my worst imaginings prepared me for how truly unappealing (read awful) a pipe tobacco could be.
I'm about to reload the Vauen Churchwarden in which I smoked the GLP Stonehenge Flake with my favorite VaPer (technically VaBurPer) - H & H Viprati - in hopes of disinfecting my mouth and pipe, recovering my pipe equilibrium,and wiping out any possible ghosting. Fortunately, it only took 15 minutes to realize Stonehenge wasn't for me.
I appreciate our great variations in taste and am delighted others can enjoy this blend.
Pipe Used:
Vauen N177 Churchwarden
PurchasedFrom:
P&C
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 26, 2017 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
The re-release of the venerable Stonehenge Flake was long overdue, yet it seemed to happen at the perfect moment. This beautiful blend offers an exquisite balance of sweet and savory Virginias, nutty and rich Burley, and tangy and spicy Perique. Stonehenge Flake offers the fortunate smoker a medium-bodied, full-flavored experience. Take your time, and enjoy each sip.
I am pleased to submit the first review of the re-release here.
I am pleased to submit the first review of the re-release here.
Pipe Used:
1976 Dunhill 59HU Root Briar
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Original re-release, received 6-26-2017
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 24, 2010 | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
NOTE: Review of Stonehenge Flake's 2017 re-release in the last paragraph.
I was fortunate enough to obtain one of these rare (1 of 1,500 two ounce tins, manufactured in 2001) from Pipestud's Consignment Shop. This tastes/smokes nothing like you'd expect from the tin aroma. Shades of Lakeland style flavoring that seems to compliment & enhance the sweetness of the mixture. This stuff really starts producing a good flavor after a fourth of it has burned off when the initial harshness begins to fade into a fairly strong savory blend that smokes mildly.
Easily rubbed out or folded, it smokes cool either way. Plenty of rich, creamy smoke with respectable strength. I loved the chocolate/cocoa flavor but it did not overtake the rich tobacco taste. I've never tasted anything like this before or since. I didn't notice the soapy flavor so much that some have mentioned but I surely noticed an alluring flavor from the smoke. This blend reminded me a little of vintage St. Bruno Flake, only not as strong. The combination of top shelf leaf is expertly blended, smells good, burns great, smokes mild & sweet, requires minor maintenance & produces minimal moisture.
The flavor remains throughout the bowl and doesn't get harsh or bitter toward the end. Drying it out pretty good will provide a better smoke and doing so won't diminish the flavor. One of the best of this genre that I've ever smoked. This blend kept me coming back for more. I suggest airing this out until the sharpness from the aroma subsides...as should be done with any tobacco that has been enclosed for a long period. Be careful because the thin flakes dry out quickly if the tin is left open too long.
This stuff commands a premium & has already become legendary. So, try to reward yourself with at least one tin. Truly remarkable. Therefore, IMHO, SF easily obtains a four star rating for an expertly crafted masterpiece. Sampled in a size two Dunny Shell Briar & a size 2 Stanwell... NOTE my comments on the newer SF below...
October, 2018 AD... Anno Domini, the year of our Lord. About the re-released Stonehenge Flake: First of all, there's nothing much to be noted from the tin aroma. This review is based on a second bowl I've sampled in a clean Meerschaum to be sure I was getting the truest, purest flavor from this blend. I lit up and took several good puffs & at that point, didn't really notice much other than a regular tobacco taste/flavor. Then, I let the pipe sit & cool for about twenty minutes, tamped & then relit. I always use this DGT method regardless of what tobacco I'm sampling. Upon relighting & after a few more tokes, I started noticing a little more sweetness & then the cocoa flavor came bursting through, although very slight, it complimented the smoking experience considerably & this mix started tasting so good, I just wanted to jet-stream this stuff but maintained my composure & continued sipping this wonderful concoction. The flavoring seemed to have more of a chocolate flavor that I didn't notice so much in the 2001 version but could be due to the age difference. However, I noticed the flavor becoming more pronounced after about one third of the way through & at the halfway point, tasted even better as the mixture melded into a delicious flavor & remained until the finish &... FWIW, more of the cocoa flavor & sweetness was obtained from my Meerschaum than my briar. It fired back up again with a few tokes after being left unattended for a while. I'm rating this newest edition with four stars & have acquired a few more tins for the cellar... It's amazing how a few years of age can react on this tasty treat. This is another one of those excellent blends that demonstrates the finer procurement & blending process of experienced professionals in their craft. Great job!
I was fortunate enough to obtain one of these rare (1 of 1,500 two ounce tins, manufactured in 2001) from Pipestud's Consignment Shop. This tastes/smokes nothing like you'd expect from the tin aroma. Shades of Lakeland style flavoring that seems to compliment & enhance the sweetness of the mixture. This stuff really starts producing a good flavor after a fourth of it has burned off when the initial harshness begins to fade into a fairly strong savory blend that smokes mildly.
Easily rubbed out or folded, it smokes cool either way. Plenty of rich, creamy smoke with respectable strength. I loved the chocolate/cocoa flavor but it did not overtake the rich tobacco taste. I've never tasted anything like this before or since. I didn't notice the soapy flavor so much that some have mentioned but I surely noticed an alluring flavor from the smoke. This blend reminded me a little of vintage St. Bruno Flake, only not as strong. The combination of top shelf leaf is expertly blended, smells good, burns great, smokes mild & sweet, requires minor maintenance & produces minimal moisture.
The flavor remains throughout the bowl and doesn't get harsh or bitter toward the end. Drying it out pretty good will provide a better smoke and doing so won't diminish the flavor. One of the best of this genre that I've ever smoked. This blend kept me coming back for more. I suggest airing this out until the sharpness from the aroma subsides...as should be done with any tobacco that has been enclosed for a long period. Be careful because the thin flakes dry out quickly if the tin is left open too long.
This stuff commands a premium & has already become legendary. So, try to reward yourself with at least one tin. Truly remarkable. Therefore, IMHO, SF easily obtains a four star rating for an expertly crafted masterpiece. Sampled in a size two Dunny Shell Briar & a size 2 Stanwell... NOTE my comments on the newer SF below...
October, 2018 AD... Anno Domini, the year of our Lord. About the re-released Stonehenge Flake: First of all, there's nothing much to be noted from the tin aroma. This review is based on a second bowl I've sampled in a clean Meerschaum to be sure I was getting the truest, purest flavor from this blend. I lit up and took several good puffs & at that point, didn't really notice much other than a regular tobacco taste/flavor. Then, I let the pipe sit & cool for about twenty minutes, tamped & then relit. I always use this DGT method regardless of what tobacco I'm sampling. Upon relighting & after a few more tokes, I started noticing a little more sweetness & then the cocoa flavor came bursting through, although very slight, it complimented the smoking experience considerably & this mix started tasting so good, I just wanted to jet-stream this stuff but maintained my composure & continued sipping this wonderful concoction. The flavoring seemed to have more of a chocolate flavor that I didn't notice so much in the 2001 version but could be due to the age difference. However, I noticed the flavor becoming more pronounced after about one third of the way through & at the halfway point, tasted even better as the mixture melded into a delicious flavor & remained until the finish &... FWIW, more of the cocoa flavor & sweetness was obtained from my Meerschaum than my briar. It fired back up again with a few tokes after being left unattended for a while. I'm rating this newest edition with four stars & have acquired a few more tins for the cellar... It's amazing how a few years of age can react on this tasty treat. This is another one of those excellent blends that demonstrates the finer procurement & blending process of experienced professionals in their craft. Great job!
Pipe Used:
Dunhill 2S, Meerschaum Billiard, GBD Billiard
PurchasedFrom:
Pipestud's Consignment Shop & Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
One 2001 & One April, 2018 Tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 27, 2002 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Overwhelming | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The first thing I noticed when opening the tin was a spicy smell and a very moist flake. I had to let it air dry for a while before I could get a good light out of it. This has a very soapy taste at first that seems to subside slightly about midway through the bowl. I can?t seem to get past this. I?m not much of a flake smoker (they burn a little hot for me) but I love all of the GPL blends. I purchased 3 tins of this, one to try now and two to cellar. I?ll let the opened tin dry a little, go back to it later and see if the soapy taste is as dominant, and update this review. Until then I will stick with BC and Haddo?s
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