G. L. Pease Kensington

I have to admit that this one had to grow on me. I initially popped the lid on this tin last spring (early spring, when Balkans are still tasty) and the tin has an October '06 date on it (I think - me eyes aren't what they used to be). I was completely underwhelmed at the time - Restrained?, uhhh... no. Absent was more like it. Tasted green, hot and well... kinda just smoke-less - nope, save it for later. Well... 6 months goes by with the lid on but tucked safely away in my desk drawer-ador. Last weekend we had a little weather here in SoCal (such as it ever is) and it got chilly enough that thoughts of Balkans and lucious, smokey Latakia came bursting into my VaPer-ized summer thoughts. I happened across the tin of Kensington slumbering in my collection and decided to give it another go. What a complete revelation! I packed my trusty old Castello 33 with a goodly pinch and fired 'er up. I finally got it... this IS a Balkan with restraint - dunno what I was tasting the first time, but I have since gone through half my original tin and I'm gonna bust down Sykes' door this Friday with an order for a few more tins. It's smokey, yeah, but not Pirate Kake by any means - and the orange blossom thing is right on the money. Sweet, smokey and Virginney and... OMG!... gotta go - I have a big Croci just waiting it's turn... I'm givin' this 3 stars because I had to wait 6 months for it to turn into something - but WOW! What a something!

Charing Cross is one of the few blends I've 4-starred on this site; Kensington is a great morning/day trip to the himalayas of pipe happiness prior to the nighttime sojourn to the raucous scorched-tongue.

The sweetness and accessibility of this blend is great. No complaints. Recommended.

Evoked images include an undead army drumming and marching through lush tropical jungles.

After a few bowls I must admin I didn't change my rotation, but each time I smoke it, it gives me a satisfying, smooth pleasant smoke, and actually it isn't bland at all, which is what I initially expected. It simply hasn't the over whelming, heavy taste one would expect from a Balkan. It burns the tongue a little if you puff too aggressivly, which I attribute to the Virginias, but much less than other blends of similiar nature.

Although I smoke full-bodied traditional English blends regularly, for some reason I have never gotten around to smoking any Balkans. It seems natural that a smoker of one would be a smoker of the other. When I want something smooth and failry light, without giving up any flavor or body, I find this blend to be a good choice. I have been smoking it as a morning or all day blend. I don't want to mislead and characterize it as mild. It is not what most people would consider a mild smoke. However, if you regularly smoke fuller English blends and Balkans, this is a nice break to a lighter smoke.

I have been smoking this continuously for the past two days, trying to get the taste and hang of it. I have a great fondness for milder Balkans so this should be my cuppa tea, but for some reason I can't quite get it right. I have tried smoking it in a number of different pipes, tried packing it tight and packing it loose, but while the flavour upon lighting is filled with promise, a mildly sweet and subdued Balkan, a perfect all day smoke, I find -- in distinction from all other Pease blends I have tried, and I have almost tried them all -- that this does not burn evenly. Over heating and tongue bite all seem just around the corner. Moreover it can be quite harsh on my throat. Thus while I love the promise of sweetness that this tobacco offers, I much prefer Picadilly and Samarra for a lighter English blend, though with experimentation there are wonderful things lurking about in here.

I must say that I am completely shocked that anyone would only rate this blend with two stars. I personally would have rated it with three. However, I feel that for what this blend is, it probably deserves four. It is meant to be a restrained balkan blend, and thats exactly what it is, and I personally don't think it could have been done any better than Mr. Pease has done it with Kensington.

Upon opening the tin you see the typical amazing presentation that all the Pease blends are known for. The tobacco is visually beautiful and of course the perfect moisture level right from the opening.

This tobacco smokes like absolute silk. No harsh notes at all not even at the end. The flavor is what you would expect slightly full, and fairly rich, but very refined. For me this would be a perfect morning to mid-afternoon smoke. Complimented by a strong cup of coffee this blend sings. Though it doesn't pack enough punch for my regular consumption, I don't look at this as a fault. When I want something more stout, then I just reach for something else, no big deal, when I want something a little lighter, smoother, and more refined, then I reach for Kensington.