G. L. Pease Piccadilly
(3.12)
Picadilly is a provocative blend of several Virginia tobaccos, delicately spiced with latakia, and finished with Louisiana perique. The alluring flavor is revealed in layers throughout the smoke. It's lighter and sweeter than the others, but still rich, with hints of cinnamon and citrus. A perfect "English Breakfast Mixture."
Notes: Piccadilly was released in March, 2003
Details
| Brand | G. L. Pease |
| Series | Classic Collection |
| Blended By | Gregory Pease |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Latakia, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.12 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 77 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 02, 2017 | Mild | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Out of a baker's dozen Pease recipes I've had, this is my favorite. Piccadilly Circus is a place in London where several roads meet and is bustling with activity, and this blend echoes its namesake. It's an intersection of great flavors and wonderfully pleasant aromas in both tin and room.
A tin of Piccadilly is full of short and curly golden brown ribbons of three different Virginias, with flecks of Latakia and Perique all over. The unmistakable aroma of Latakia is there and dominant, but whiff a little more and there are noticeable overtones of that naturally sweet smell of Virginias and Perique.
The flavors in Piccadilly are consistent from beginning to end and very pleasant. Essentially, it tastes like a great Va-Per with Latakia added, but that's an oversimplification. It's flavors are a balance of Virginias on the savory side (as opposed to grassy), with a gentle Latakia smokiness, and just enough perique to add its lovely hallmark flavor mix of sweet and peppery. Piccadilly's casing or topping (I cannot tell which) adds some distinct flavors to the mix. Although it's very, very light, there are distinct-but-subtle hints of citrus and quite possibly honey. That said, it's miles away from being unnaturally sweet, and most definitely not classifiable as an aromatic. The bulk of its flavor comes from the mix of its component tobaccos—not from added flavors. This all combines to make Piccadilly a really superb smoke.
Aside from its great flavor—one I almost never get tired of—Piccadilly's nicotine content is low, and therefore perfect for any time of day. I can easily have a large pipe of this on an empty stomach and not get dizzy (I often smoke it before breakfast), yet I'm still left satisfied by the nicotine. Being able to enjoy a blend with so much flavor and perique is a great attribute. Furthermore, no matter how hard I push it, it'll burn hot, but never bites my tongue—impressive considering it's largely composed of Virginias.
In nine months I can't find anything I don't like about Piccadilly. Two different pipers told me about consistency issues with G.L. Pease blends (I've experienced it with Temple Bar), but so far as these two batches of Piccadilly I've had—which were made several months apart—are concerned, they're consistent on all fronts.
A tin of Piccadilly is full of short and curly golden brown ribbons of three different Virginias, with flecks of Latakia and Perique all over. The unmistakable aroma of Latakia is there and dominant, but whiff a little more and there are noticeable overtones of that naturally sweet smell of Virginias and Perique.
The flavors in Piccadilly are consistent from beginning to end and very pleasant. Essentially, it tastes like a great Va-Per with Latakia added, but that's an oversimplification. It's flavors are a balance of Virginias on the savory side (as opposed to grassy), with a gentle Latakia smokiness, and just enough perique to add its lovely hallmark flavor mix of sweet and peppery. Piccadilly's casing or topping (I cannot tell which) adds some distinct flavors to the mix. Although it's very, very light, there are distinct-but-subtle hints of citrus and quite possibly honey. That said, it's miles away from being unnaturally sweet, and most definitely not classifiable as an aromatic. The bulk of its flavor comes from the mix of its component tobaccos—not from added flavors. This all combines to make Piccadilly a really superb smoke.
Aside from its great flavor—one I almost never get tired of—Piccadilly's nicotine content is low, and therefore perfect for any time of day. I can easily have a large pipe of this on an empty stomach and not get dizzy (I often smoke it before breakfast), yet I'm still left satisfied by the nicotine. Being able to enjoy a blend with so much flavor and perique is a great attribute. Furthermore, no matter how hard I push it, it'll burn hot, but never bites my tongue—impressive considering it's largely composed of Virginias.
In nine months I can't find anything I don't like about Piccadilly. Two different pipers told me about consistency issues with G.L. Pease blends (I've experienced it with Temple Bar), but so far as these two batches of Piccadilly I've had—which were made several months apart—are concerned, they're consistent on all fronts.
Pipe Used:
Various Differently-Shaped Briars and M.M. Cobs
PurchasedFrom:
SmokingPipes
Age When Smoked:
Two batches; one fresh, the other 1yr old.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 23, 2013 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Original Review_This is a nice blend that fills a "niche" for a mild Latakia morning smoke. There's no bite, good on the relight and reminds me of "Squadron Leader" or maybe even a smoother EMP but without the "lemon pucker" . It has the same ribbon/shag cut that I like to ball and stuff in one piece for loading.. Although Oriental is not listed and Perique is, I catch a hint of Oriental but very little Perique and the "N" is slightly higher. To me this is more of a "Brown" Virginia/Oriental forward blend with only the hint of Latakia. Very nice, very smooth but lighter in flavor as compared to some of Pease's other blends .
Revised Review 5/22/16 - I Just opened a tin with two years of age and one month open to breath. This is greatly improved over what I remember my original review to be. I think it reminds more of "Chelsea Morning ", but with a lot more Balkan flavor and "lady N". I like the ribbon cut better than CM's rubbed flake cut. I will replace CM with Piccadilly as a lighter morning blend and it deserves a full 4 stars.
Revised Review 5/22/16 - I Just opened a tin with two years of age and one month open to breath. This is greatly improved over what I remember my original review to be. I think it reminds more of "Chelsea Morning ", but with a lot more Balkan flavor and "lady N". I like the ribbon cut better than CM's rubbed flake cut. I will replace CM with Piccadilly as a lighter morning blend and it deserves a full 4 stars.
Pipe Used:
cob
Age When Smoked:
revised 2 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 08, 2010 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
GLPease himself says that of his Latakia blends (to-date) this one has the least percentage of latakia. That doesn't mean that it goes unnoticed like it does in Fillmore, in fact I find the opposite in that the latakia is enough to mask whatever perique there may be in this blend. In essence, the opposite of what Fillmore does in containing enough perqiue to make the latakia practically undetectable. Anyways, for the blend itself, I'd say that the tobaccos are of good quality, as wood be expected from GLPease; however, in terms of complexity, it would be lower on the scale than many other GLPease blends. The smoke is consistent throughout, which is good, but it's slightly boring without much variation from the top through to the bottom of the bowl. I would recommend this as an introduction to latakias as it's not very strong and far from overwhelming like other latakia blends can be; however, if you're looking for a smoke to sit down and give thought to (i.e. contemplate which flavors are shining through and how the smoke changes as the bowl progresses) this blend won't be it.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 25, 2009 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Halfway between an English mixture and a Vaper with a Latakia twist, Piccadilly is very unique among GLPease tobaccos, away from subtle Virginias/VaPers and heavy Balkans. Lighter on Latakia than Samarra, this all-day English is already among my favorites.
Sit back and sip this outstanding tobacco. You won't regret it.
Sit back and sip this outstanding tobacco. You won't regret it.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 02, 2009 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Darn good. I was looking for a series of blends that would offer a change of pace from the darker, full-bodied blends that I was used to smoking. I got worn out on some of the latakia dumps that love so much. Picadilly, is sleak and crisp. There is no lack of flavor here. It stimulates my senses in the morning. I love it with lapsang suchong tea. I get citrus notes as stated in the tin description provided as well as mild salted pork and a subtle sweetness and peppery spice provided by the perique. It reminds me of peking duck. BAM! this is a home run. This is now a major staple in my smoking diet. Piccadilly is stimulating, its a contemplative blend that makes me quite happy in the morning, when I can usually be a bit of a buzz kill. Excellent.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 09, 2008 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
This is a very light blend that reminds me a little bit of Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe, only with more high notes and some additional sweetness. It's extremely mild (about the same punch as Frog Morton) with a heavy emphasis on the lighter Vas. The tin description of having "hints of cinnamon and citrus" is spot-on accurate. There's not a lot of change as the bowl burns down, but it does pick up a little depth when you get to the last third. The latakia is certainly noticeable throughout the smoke, but it rarely draws attention to itself. The perique is barely detectable, and I honestly think the blend could use a little more to offset the nip of the brighter Vas. As is usually the case with GLP blends, the quality of the tobacco and the presentation are first-rate.
The burning characteristics are about average. Expect some relights and you might need to tamp a few times, but nothing too onerous. It will bite you if you rush things, which is easy to do because of the mild flavor. Again, a little more perique would be nice here ...
This is realistically somewhere between 2 and 3 stars. It doesn't strike me as anything special, but it's certainly enjoyable when I'm in the right mood. I heartily recommend this to the Frog Morton crowd or those looking for a replacement for the aforementioned EMP. If you like full-bodied smokes, however, look elsewhere.
The burning characteristics are about average. Expect some relights and you might need to tamp a few times, but nothing too onerous. It will bite you if you rush things, which is easy to do because of the mild flavor. Again, a little more perique would be nice here ...
This is realistically somewhere between 2 and 3 stars. It doesn't strike me as anything special, but it's certainly enjoyable when I'm in the right mood. I heartily recommend this to the Frog Morton crowd or those looking for a replacement for the aforementioned EMP. If you like full-bodied smokes, however, look elsewhere.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 09, 2006 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Piccadilly, as noted, is one of the original blends in the G.L. Pease Classic Collection, along with Blackpoint, Charing Cross, and Kensington. Of these four, Piccadilly was the lightest, though to me it seemed a close cousin to Blackpoint, the same riffs in the higher register, the same contribution from the Perique throughout.
I have read many reviews comparing Piccadilly to Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe, and if the Latakia content is the sole criterion, the comparison is fair. Apart from that, these blends could not be more different. EMP is far more reliant on the Oriental component than Piccadilly, which derives its unique qualities from the combination of Virginias in the blend and their interplay with the Perique.
Pipe selection matters a lot in the taste and enjoyment of many blends. In a small Sasieni, the grassy notes of the pale Virginia component are quite noticeable. In a large Dunhill billiard, this is muted by the other tobaccos raising their heads from the start. In a tobacco mixture with as many subtleties as Piccadilly, I would recommend a larger bowl to open-up the blend sooner. This will happily not cost any loss of nuance and change as one makes his way through the smoke; there are surprises aplenty.
This is described as "the perfect English breakfast smoke." Not for me; no matter how little Latakia there might be in a blend, it does not sit well with me until after lunch. In the morning, I stick to my favorite Burleys.
The can used for this review is 19-months-old, wonderfully improved from the fresh can I smoked in 2003. A couple of years should only make it even better.
Refreshing, surprising, smooth...Four out of four stars.
I have read many reviews comparing Piccadilly to Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe, and if the Latakia content is the sole criterion, the comparison is fair. Apart from that, these blends could not be more different. EMP is far more reliant on the Oriental component than Piccadilly, which derives its unique qualities from the combination of Virginias in the blend and their interplay with the Perique.
Pipe selection matters a lot in the taste and enjoyment of many blends. In a small Sasieni, the grassy notes of the pale Virginia component are quite noticeable. In a large Dunhill billiard, this is muted by the other tobaccos raising their heads from the start. In a tobacco mixture with as many subtleties as Piccadilly, I would recommend a larger bowl to open-up the blend sooner. This will happily not cost any loss of nuance and change as one makes his way through the smoke; there are surprises aplenty.
This is described as "the perfect English breakfast smoke." Not for me; no matter how little Latakia there might be in a blend, it does not sit well with me until after lunch. In the morning, I stick to my favorite Burleys.
The can used for this review is 19-months-old, wonderfully improved from the fresh can I smoked in 2003. A couple of years should only make it even better.
Refreshing, surprising, smooth...Four out of four stars.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2005 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I have to admit, that I was prepared to dislike Piccadilly. I didn't like the name, and I generally don't like lighter blends because they can end up tasting and smelling bland. Not so with this blend! I think this tin is dated 2003, but it's hard to tell because the stampings are always so faint on GLP's tins. The smell in tin is light, but delicious and rich. Others have described the look and feel, so I'll not repeat their observations. The tobacco is at the perfect hydration for firing up, and wow, was I rewarded from the very first bowl for doing so. This blend possesses a rare harmony of tastes and textures. There's a clear Virginia base here, but it combines beautifully with the small amount of latakia and perique in the blend. Piccadilly is the model of sophistication in a pipe blend. As you can tell, I was completely won over by GLP on this one because I came into the experience expecting flat, hot air. What I got was a great viognier experience.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 20, 2003 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is one blend I was hesitant to review due to my preference for "fuller" flavored tobacs, but after a tin, I am hooked. Upon opening of the tin, you are greeted by mostly bright leaf with an occasional speck of black. The tin aroma is a delicious smoky-sweet raisin aroma. Moisture is perfect and packing and lighting is a breeze. Initial flavor is of sweet virginia with the occassional flavor of the latakia coming through. The perique is sensed more than it is tasted. This is a perfect morning blend that can be smoked back to back without tongue-bite or flavor overload. For being a lighter blend, it still has a complexity that keeps you interested. Greg has used different types of virginia leaves in this blend and the "layering" can definitely be noticed as you smoke. There is not much of a building of strength as you finish the bowl and I have found myself suprised many times that I was finished with just powdery dry ash left! While this blend is not my main staple, I find myself reaching for it in the mornings quite often. Another winner. Rating 4 out of 5 points Enjoy...
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 25, 2020 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Presentation: I love the labels on the Classic Series. All the labels have the same coloring and artstyle, being a drawing of a pipe but they each have a different pipe. That's so cool to me.
Cut: C&D style ribbon cut, perfect moisture.
Tin note: Smells of sweet, tangy smokiness.
Tasting notes: Very bready, slightly smoky, woody, and the slightest bit of spice on light up. Smokiness comes in more as the bowl gets going and the spice will become a bit more obvious. Some tanginess and earth here and there.
Mechanics: N/A -- A well behaved blend.
Extra Remarks: I'd say this blend has a flavor intensity similar to Early Morning Pipe, mild to medium for sure. The flavors are good and there is enough going on to stay interested although this is no puzzle of a blend. As with so many other Pease blends it is very well balanced. A very pleasant blend, 3 stars.
Also: Merry Christmas to anyone reading the day this was posted.
Cut: C&D style ribbon cut, perfect moisture.
Tin note: Smells of sweet, tangy smokiness.
Tasting notes: Very bready, slightly smoky, woody, and the slightest bit of spice on light up. Smokiness comes in more as the bowl gets going and the spice will become a bit more obvious. Some tanginess and earth here and there.
Mechanics: N/A -- A well behaved blend.
Extra Remarks: I'd say this blend has a flavor intensity similar to Early Morning Pipe, mild to medium for sure. The flavors are good and there is enough going on to stay interested although this is no puzzle of a blend. As with so many other Pease blends it is very well balanced. A very pleasant blend, 3 stars.
Also: Merry Christmas to anyone reading the day this was posted.
Pipe Used:
Bent Apple Meer
Age When Smoked:
1 year
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