G. L. Pease Blackpoint

This blend is magnificent. Overall, it is consistently flavourful, balanced and well-behaved.

Revisiting this blend in a recently purchased second tin, I found that even my happiest memories of this blend fell short of its actual performance. In the first place, this blend is packed with flavour. Nuts--I think almonds and walnuts--take pride of place in flavour and aroma. The Latakia adds a robust smokiness without overpowering the other flavours with "essence of charcoal". The orientals, Virginias and Perique intermix hints of dark, tangy fruits with various spices (Nutmeg among them) and floral perfumes--very subtle perfumes.

The smoke is as smooth as silk, and as voluminous as a steam locomotive in winter. It also leaves an unoffensive room note.

Mechanically, this blend is a gem. It is easy to light and keep lit in the right pipe, and it smokes cool even in breezy conditions. Almost every bowl of the last batch burned down to a fine white ash with almost no dottle and no wetness (even though I am a wet smoker). It almost never burns hot, and do not recall having to relight a bowl, once I figured out its favourite packing style (medium tight in wider, shallower bowls--I used Peterson's 999).

I recommend this blend without reservation to any and all English smokers. Aromaticons may want to proceed with caution, but this blend may also work as a gateway into the dark side of the English spectrum. An 8 oz package of this blend has my name on it in the near future.

Pack employed: finger stuff method. Pipe used: various (usually wider and shallower bowls) including Peterson 999. Cheers!

Once upon a time, in a rare trip through la-la land, I tricked myself into believing that Blackpoint was the intermediate level blend between Abingdon and Charing Cross. Wrong. Blackpoint is a light English and, at the same time, the lightest Balkan blend I have ever smoked. Blackpoint makes an absolutely beautiful presentation on opening the tin, with it's rather fine cut and panorama of colors that run the gamut from blond to nearly black. The tin aroma is fairly light but pleasant and you want to light up right away. When I lit this blend, I joined a minority of reviewers who feel this blend is too light for their enjoyment: pipestud 2003-05-25 (yet, once again), Jason S. Rundle 2006-06-06, Noorrmm 2006-08-31and Philo Beddoe 2011-11-12. Basically, we all think this blend is primarily a Virginia and oriental mixture with a smattering of both latakia and perique. I know that this puts us all at odds with both the majority opinion and the strong descriptors ascribed to Blackpoint above. So, I will leave it by agreeing with reviewer Ehrling 2013-12-10 and, with him, ask the eternal questions: Did I smoke the same blend as most reviewers? Did I get a bad batch from the tinner? Is there something wrong, or, did I miss something?

This reminds me of Chelsea Morning but a bit more Lat heavy or Dunhill Nightcap. Very pleasant and easy to smoke. Update: Really lovin this stuff. A great English. Dont really taste the Perique at all though. This is not at all a Vaper as it has way to much Lat to be categorized as such. Update 2. Getting a little bored with the mono flavour of this. Taking it down to three stars. Still very good tobac though. Just not holding my attention long term like most of Greg's other English blends.

Not my cup of tea, this is good tobacco for sure but too mild and one dimensional for me. I like my English/ Balkan mixtures full of flavors and with a good dose of strength as well, Blackpoint has neither. Smells great in the tin, similar to Frog Morton, once lit it tastes of smoky peat and leather, the taste does not change or get stronger as the bowl is smoked down.

Charing Cross is one of my always on hand blends, it is tasty, complex and full in body. Blackpoint fails to live up to the high standard set by C.C.

I liked this one better than Abingdon, if only because the perique and (I think) lower amount of latakia smoothed this out and made it a bit sweeter than Abingdon. I can't say I really noticed the perique that much. A good smoke. However, I liked Charing Cross even better.

I like this blend, it's one of the few JLP blends I've tried that didn't start and end with "Tabasco", only a little spice (tin had 6 months of cellering). It burns slow, Medium "N", no bite and complex. It starts with Latakia , then the Orientals come in with a very nice balance. I wouldn't say it's sweet, more creamy, salty, smokie and smooth and I can't find the Perique. My only issue is that it seems to burn a little damp,(even after drying) and gives me some gurgle, this tends to require relights during the second half of the bowl. I could find a place in my rotation but I'd have to do a comparison against McC's "Legends" or "Jubilee", that I think are very similar and are tough competition.I think this one is heavier with the Latakia and leaves a slight bitter smokieness after the smoke.

updated 11/11/2013- No Gurgle ? this is 4 stars all the way

I am new to non-aromatics, my first introduction being Cornell & Diehl's wonderful Epiphany classified by many as an "American English." I suppose I would classify Blackpoint in the same way, but this is by no means a knock against it. First light warms my palate with citrus notes -- most likely the lemon virginia -- coupled with light latakia creaminess and rounded off with peppery perique. As it approaches the bottom of the bowl, the perique seems to manifest itself more strongly, which is especially more noted in the nose. It is not overpowering, however, and seems to be the perfect touch for that "piquant finish" Pease was going for. The complexity of this fine tobacco is a joy; I find myself searching through and through for the splashes of flavor each tobacco is working to produce, the sign of a truly luxurious blend. This blend reminds me of an exquisite tea, mellow and calming, perfect for an all day smoke. I am eager to try most everything Sir Pease has to offer, and I look forward to more masterfully crafted blends such as these.

I thoroughly enjoy this blend.

From the tin:

“Blackpoint is a luxurious blend of Red and Lemon Virginias, Cyprian Latakia, exotic Oriental tobaccos, and a perfect measure of Louisiana Perique for a lively, piquant finish.”

I find it to be big in flavor and possessive of a wonderful slipstream. With that lovely sour pull at the end of a mouthful of sweet virginia that perique provides, this blend really sees the spectrum of taste. The latakia is present, somehow combining with the perique in an engaging smoky prickle. The orientals are robust. This blend has a starchy sweetness that reminds me of roasted chestnuts...not exactly, but you get the idea.

My tin is just a few months old and smoking well. It has improved the longer the tin has been open. Seems it's ribbon, rough cut and a little flake, which loads easy and burns with affluence. Blackpoint is in the same vein as Artisan's Blend concerning ingredients, though Artisan's includes Syrian Latakia and Blackpoint – Cyprian. Dry smoking, this blend is sweet, smoky, spicy, and, well, pretty complete. Nicotine is perhaps a bit stronger than halfway on the scale. Enough to satisfy and not dizzify. Blackpoint is a very honed and focused blend. It's rounder than Westminster,and though perhaps not as “classic”, equally impressive.

Four and One Half Stars on a scale of Five.

I rate this a medium to full taste because it is an "English style" blend. This is one of the best of the type. Very good flavor, no unusual odors or aftertastes. Very smokable right from the can, no processing required. I like it better than "965". Not as strong either. The only downside to this blend is the small amount I bought. I wish I had at least 6 oz. or more to really evaluate this fine tobacco! Update: In my opinion, most of G.L. Pease product is in a level above every other pipe tobacco available. Especially when considering how good it is at the moment of purchase. We need a new category (5 stars?) in order to properly review Pease product. My thoughts are: "How can every person on this planet not smoke a pipe?" after trying this and other G.L. Pease offerings.