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 1 - 10 of 52 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2016 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The various Virginias offers a range of flavors: plenty of fermented stewed ripe and tangy dark fruit with a lot of earth, some tart and not tart citrus, and a few grass notes, along with a minor hits of tea and vinegar. They also provide a mild floral quality which is slightly more obvious in the first half than it is later on. They form the major base of the blend. The touch of Malawi burley has some earth, nuts, toast and wood far in the background. The deep raisins, prunes, plum and moderate spice from the Saint James perique continually underscores the experience. The cocoa topping is lightly applied, but works well in concert with the Lakeland-esque additive. These toppings do tone down the varietals a mite, though the Lakeland recedes some in the last third of the bowl, more so than the cocoa, which weakens slightly. No chance of bite or harshness, and sports no dull moments. The nic-hit is a step closer to medium than it is to mild. The flakes are a little moist, but need no dry time. Burns a little slow, and fairly cool with a rather consistent taste that also has a little creaminess. Leaves just a little moisture in the pipe, and requires some relights. Has a pleasant after taste that lingers. Not an all day smoke, but it’s a repeatable one, provided you can find a tin.
As for the new version, I find few differences. The fermentation from the Virginias is barely present, but that was due to the aging process anyway. The Lakeland essence is a tad stronger and the cocoa is a little more more obvious than that, and a bit more prominent than the 2001 version. Again, I attribute this to the age of the original as related to fresh. As with the older production, the Lakeland loses a little of its impact by the last third of your smoke, and the cocoa hardly does (same as the 2001 sample). The only other thing I observe is that the perique is tad less noticeable here, but I’d attribute that to the freshness of the blend because the toppings of the old were muted just a little over time, and their full influence when fresh would naturally reduce the effectiveness of some varietals that are added in small amounts. The Malawi burley is moderately less affected. For the most part, the tobaccos deliver as they did in the past. The bottom line is that the differences are due to the aging process, and not a change in recipe as the variables aren’t quite as obvious as this review makes them seem in cold print.
-JimInks
As for the new version, I find few differences. The fermentation from the Virginias is barely present, but that was due to the aging process anyway. The Lakeland essence is a tad stronger and the cocoa is a little more more obvious than that, and a bit more prominent than the 2001 version. Again, I attribute this to the age of the original as related to fresh. As with the older production, the Lakeland loses a little of its impact by the last third of your smoke, and the cocoa hardly does (same as the 2001 sample). The only other thing I observe is that the perique is tad less noticeable here, but I’d attribute that to the freshness of the blend because the toppings of the old were muted just a little over time, and their full influence when fresh would naturally reduce the effectiveness of some varietals that are added in small amounts. The Malawi burley is moderately less affected. For the most part, the tobaccos deliver as they did in the past. The bottom line is that the differences are due to the aging process, and not a change in recipe as the variables aren’t quite as obvious as this review makes them seem in cold print.
-JimInks
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14, 2017 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
One of the all-time great tobaccos, IMO. Stonehenge Flake is a deeply dark and rich flake formed leaf that has been specially processed to be bold in presentation and it ages like nobody's business. The Virginia leaf was incomperable, the Kentucky/Burley filled the palate with a nutty goodness and the overall depth of the presentation was almost unbelievable. And the Perique element was so restrained that I never really noticed it as a player. As fine a leaf as was ever put in a can!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2014 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I cannot speak to Stonehenge Flake when it was first produced as I had not smoked any at the time of its release. But what I can speak to is that SF aged into one fantastic flake. As a person that finds Pease blends very “hit or miss,” and I have smoked almost all of them, IMHO, this flake was one of Greg's finest achievements. Age has turned this into a sweet, lightly spicy smoke. The neatly cut flakes are very easy to work with and I prefer to cut them into small pieces with a small amount rubbed out to get the ball rolling. At this point in time, I find the sweetness of the Virginia’s rule the day, with the burley providing a bit of body and strength to the blend. I have noticed that the drier smoke Stonehenge, the more the Gawith Hoggarth flavors come out. I was lucky enough to squirrel a half dozen tins away before the current $100+ eBay price that is now fairly common. With just three tins left, I doubt I will miss SF enough to spend that kind of coin for more, but it will be sorely missed all the same. I would sure love to see Greg Pease to do another limited venture with a different company other than C&D like he did here with GH. It think it would open a lot of doors for new mixtures and flakes. Very highly recommended.
Age When Smoked:
13 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 25, 2009 | Medium to Strong | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Very Pleasant |
A masterpiece. a blending marvel. from the other reviews i get the feeling the cellaring potential was lost on this when it came out. I managed to acquire a large stash of this and boy, am i glad i did. age has done things to this blend that are miraculous. Incredible sweet, getting stronger in taste and body and yet there are these ethereal fruit tastes, apricot, mango,orange. the lakeland essence wisps in and out of the smoke. I can see crystals all over the really thin flakes. the tobacco itself is starting to get that certain feel to it that only age can provide. perfect with Earl grey tea.even better with brandy. The perique, oh the perique! The perique is of the variety that is no longer easily had. how i wish it still was available.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 28, 2018 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
G. L. Pease - Stonehenge Flake.
I've had this in my cellar for a while now, everytime I went to it I just couldn't bring myself to open it! But this weekend temptation got the better of me.
The tin contains just one stack of flakes, which are dark brown and quite thin. The nose from the tin is a tangy one and the moisture makes it smokeable right away.
At the start of a bowl the most abundant of the tobaccos are the Virginias, being sweet, tangy, and fruity. The Burley wakes up as a bowl's smoked and gives the smoke a clear nuttiness. Throughout a bowl the Perique occupies last place, giving just a very light touch of vinegar. The chocolate topping isn't 'strong', don't think of Bob's Chocolate Flake, think more along the lines of Louisiana Flake. It burns well at a medium temperature and doesn't bite.
Nicotine: medium. Room-note: pleasant.
Stonehenge Flake? Four stars:
Highly recommended.
I've had this in my cellar for a while now, everytime I went to it I just couldn't bring myself to open it! But this weekend temptation got the better of me.
The tin contains just one stack of flakes, which are dark brown and quite thin. The nose from the tin is a tangy one and the moisture makes it smokeable right away.
At the start of a bowl the most abundant of the tobaccos are the Virginias, being sweet, tangy, and fruity. The Burley wakes up as a bowl's smoked and gives the smoke a clear nuttiness. Throughout a bowl the Perique occupies last place, giving just a very light touch of vinegar. The chocolate topping isn't 'strong', don't think of Bob's Chocolate Flake, think more along the lines of Louisiana Flake. It burns well at a medium temperature and doesn't bite.
Nicotine: medium. Room-note: pleasant.
Stonehenge Flake? Four stars:
Highly recommended.
Pipe Used:
Barling Meer'
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 26, 2004 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Stonehenge Flake is a very limited edition of approximately 1500 2oz tins, developed jointly by G. L. Pease and Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. that completely sold out...practically within hours of its release.
I recently bought a tin and, collector?s value tossed aside, I anxiously popped the top to try it. The tin is dated Dec 2001 ? it is now July 2004.
The aroma was semi-sweet with some slightly tangy undertones. The flakes are dark with some brighter reddish-brown highlights. Looking closely, I can see traces of crystallized sugars on the surface of the flakes. It was a bit on the moist side for my tastes, but once I rubbed it out, it only took another 10 minutes or so for it to dry to where I like it. Or maybe I was just so anxious, I decided I liked it the way it was after 10 minutes. Who knows?
I rubbed the flakes out completely and got ready for the big test. The flame hit the leaf, and a mild sense of panic hit me. I detected the trademark Gawith Hoggarth floral-soap taste. Oh no? I thought of what I paid for this? This couldn?t be happening. I thought of the only other Gawith Hoggarth blend I had tried ? Bob?s Chocolate Flake. Oh no? But then I remembered all of the pleasant experiences I have had with tobaccos carrying the name Pease, and I settled down a bit as the soapy taste receded. It never left entirely, but it stayed so far in the background that I found I could enjoy the tobacco. And enjoy it, I did.
The natural sweetness blends exceedingly well with the Perique in this blend. The Burley forms a solid foundation and holds up the lower end giving body to the smoke, while the sweetness and the Perique dance around.
Overall, a very pleasant smoke. The burn is nice and even, and the balance is sublime.
Stonehenge Flake isn?t easy to find, and those who have it aren?t going to part with it easily, but if it is within your means, get some. I will of course give this a 4-Star rating, but as it has been said here, to say that this is something I will smoke regularly is wishful thinking on my part. There can?t be that much of it left out there!
I recently bought a tin and, collector?s value tossed aside, I anxiously popped the top to try it. The tin is dated Dec 2001 ? it is now July 2004.
The aroma was semi-sweet with some slightly tangy undertones. The flakes are dark with some brighter reddish-brown highlights. Looking closely, I can see traces of crystallized sugars on the surface of the flakes. It was a bit on the moist side for my tastes, but once I rubbed it out, it only took another 10 minutes or so for it to dry to where I like it. Or maybe I was just so anxious, I decided I liked it the way it was after 10 minutes. Who knows?
I rubbed the flakes out completely and got ready for the big test. The flame hit the leaf, and a mild sense of panic hit me. I detected the trademark Gawith Hoggarth floral-soap taste. Oh no? I thought of what I paid for this? This couldn?t be happening. I thought of the only other Gawith Hoggarth blend I had tried ? Bob?s Chocolate Flake. Oh no? But then I remembered all of the pleasant experiences I have had with tobaccos carrying the name Pease, and I settled down a bit as the soapy taste receded. It never left entirely, but it stayed so far in the background that I found I could enjoy the tobacco. And enjoy it, I did.
The natural sweetness blends exceedingly well with the Perique in this blend. The Burley forms a solid foundation and holds up the lower end giving body to the smoke, while the sweetness and the Perique dance around.
Overall, a very pleasant smoke. The burn is nice and even, and the balance is sublime.
Stonehenge Flake isn?t easy to find, and those who have it aren?t going to part with it easily, but if it is within your means, get some. I will of course give this a 4-Star rating, but as it has been said here, to say that this is something I will smoke regularly is wishful thinking on my part. There can?t be that much of it left out there!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 2003 | Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Pleasant |
Yeah, I say that I smoke this regularly, but we all know THAT is a lie. I smoke this on special occassions, because there ain't no more. At least not in this current iteration. There is a strong rumor that Greg may bring it back again in a slightly different form.
Stonehenge is the perfect tobacco from my standpoint. I enjoy everything about it and I wouldn't change anything about it other than its availability.
Exceptional taste at all points in the bowl. It smells great in the room. It is heaven to nose breath this stuff.
I have six tins of this stuff stored away for special occassions. It's a cruel joke that it isn't readily available! Of course, I would have to fall in love with a blend that lasted about one day on the retail market.
Stonehenge is the perfect tobacco from my standpoint. I enjoy everything about it and I wouldn't change anything about it other than its availability.
Exceptional taste at all points in the bowl. It smells great in the room. It is heaven to nose breath this stuff.
I have six tins of this stuff stored away for special occassions. It's a cruel joke that it isn't readily available! Of course, I would have to fall in love with a blend that lasted about one day on the retail market.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| 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
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