G. L. Pease Charing Cross
(3.29)
Charing Cross is a traditional Balkan style blend of fine Virginia leaf, richly seasoned with smoky Cyprian latakia, and spiced with the exquisite and exotic tobaccos of the Orient. This is the one for latakia lovers. Hints of roasted cocoa beans, orange zest, green pepper and campfires. This is the big one - fuller than Blackpoint, and a little less sweet.
Notes: Charing Cross was released in March, 2003.
Details
| Brand | G. L. Pease |
| Series | Classic Collection |
| Blended By | Gregory Pease |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Balkan |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.29 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 53 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 07, 2010 | Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
May as well get this one in now while I'm thinking about it. I've thought of little else lately!
Mr Pease apparently feels his Odyssey is his "biggest" tobacco in this series. I've never smoked that one but if it's bigger than this one, it'll be too big for me! This one is gargantuan... humongous.... gigantic... elephantine...! That's to say it is a robust, hugely flavorful and intense smoke. It's almost to the point of "flavor overload", yet it's also nuanced if the smoker can draw his attention away from the obvious. The cut of this is all over the map and the moisture content was perfect upon opening the tin. Drying out further elicted no improvements. The orientals and latakia played nicely with the virginia, but this was no democracy. The Eastern leaf ruled! And it did so with a smoky, leathery, toasty SHOVE but of the friendly variety, like one among the best of buddies. A lover of latakia will certainly find this blend compatible but the oriental fan will not mourn the absence of his favorite condiment. The various components have been blended so harmoniously and yet it was like mixing my two favorite heavy taste indulgences.... like pouring single malt scotch into my high octane chili (and yeah, I'm gonna try that!). Is there really such a phenomenon as "too much of a good thing? I find the idea dubious at best.
Burley lovers, stay away! If you like a wisp of latakia with your golden VA, forget this one. But if you want a mouth-filling ZING that comes with every puff and you love to be excited by your tobacco (and you like middle-eastern leaf in large quantities), never eat another porterhouse steak with a Guiness Stout without following it up with this fantastic tobacco. There are many tobaccos that make the smoker say "Wow, this is an excellent tobacco!". There are few that demand a screaming response like "HO-LEEEEE CRAP, this is a good smoke!". This one fell... er... no, it POUNCED into the latter camp. 🙂
Mr Pease apparently feels his Odyssey is his "biggest" tobacco in this series. I've never smoked that one but if it's bigger than this one, it'll be too big for me! This one is gargantuan... humongous.... gigantic... elephantine...! That's to say it is a robust, hugely flavorful and intense smoke. It's almost to the point of "flavor overload", yet it's also nuanced if the smoker can draw his attention away from the obvious. The cut of this is all over the map and the moisture content was perfect upon opening the tin. Drying out further elicted no improvements. The orientals and latakia played nicely with the virginia, but this was no democracy. The Eastern leaf ruled! And it did so with a smoky, leathery, toasty SHOVE but of the friendly variety, like one among the best of buddies. A lover of latakia will certainly find this blend compatible but the oriental fan will not mourn the absence of his favorite condiment. The various components have been blended so harmoniously and yet it was like mixing my two favorite heavy taste indulgences.... like pouring single malt scotch into my high octane chili (and yeah, I'm gonna try that!). Is there really such a phenomenon as "too much of a good thing? I find the idea dubious at best.
Burley lovers, stay away! If you like a wisp of latakia with your golden VA, forget this one. But if you want a mouth-filling ZING that comes with every puff and you love to be excited by your tobacco (and you like middle-eastern leaf in large quantities), never eat another porterhouse steak with a Guiness Stout without following it up with this fantastic tobacco. There are many tobaccos that make the smoker say "Wow, this is an excellent tobacco!". There are few that demand a screaming response like "HO-LEEEEE CRAP, this is a good smoke!". This one fell... er... no, it POUNCED into the latter camp. 🙂
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 2013 | Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
My "go to" Balkan blend. Sets the standard by which I judge all others. The Latakia in this blend hits all the right spots for me. Can't recommend this any higher.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28, 2013 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This is one of my very favorites when I feel like something substantial after a good meal in the evening. To me, the Latakia is balanced perfectly with the very present Orientals-- this one has a certain "old world" Balkan character that brings back memories of a certain old white tin. With anything this full though, you have to pay attention, pack well and smoke well to get the maximum enjoyment out of it. Not the sort of thing you stick in your face for cleaning the garage or yardwork. I think this blend is full of nuance, but you have to sit, relax and allow it to take you on it's journey.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 03, 2019 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Strong |
Simply put: this has to be one of the best English/Balkan blends out there. It truly is outstanding. Richer and stronger than Westminster, not as complex but fuller than Maltese Falcon, it just stops short from reaching the sturdy headiness of Gaslight (and in my view, more enjoyable). Though present and solid, the Virginias tend to remain in the background, while the Latkia takes on the Orientals in an epic interplay of flavors. A true Game of Thrones which the Latakia most definitely wins.
For my palate this is an evening smoke, for that time when all business is over and one is peacefully left alone with a single malt and Vaughn William's The Lark Ascending. Chapeau indeed.
For my palate this is an evening smoke, for that time when all business is over and one is peacefully left alone with a single malt and Vaughn William's The Lark Ascending. Chapeau indeed.
Pipe Used:
Dunhill Chestnut
PurchasedFrom:
Joshua Ward
Age When Smoked:
N/A
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 2018 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
G. L. Pease - Charing Cross.
It contains many different colours of ribbon, yellow, black, brown; the brown ones account for the majority of it. The unlit note suggests a blend that's potent with Latakia and Orientals. The moisture scores 10/10.
The Latakia and Orientals work wonderfully which one another, smoky, woody, hearty, and very flavoursome. The Virginia gives lesser flavour than these, but the smoke gets a poke of freshness from it. Charing Cross makes clouds of cool smoke, without a bite to be had. It burns well, requiring only the occasional tamp, and rarely a relight.
Nicotine: above medium. Room-note: I quite like it.
Charing Cross? Not a blend for the beginner, but a fairly heady one making it more suited to the seasoned smoker. Four stars:
Highly recommended.
It contains many different colours of ribbon, yellow, black, brown; the brown ones account for the majority of it. The unlit note suggests a blend that's potent with Latakia and Orientals. The moisture scores 10/10.
The Latakia and Orientals work wonderfully which one another, smoky, woody, hearty, and very flavoursome. The Virginia gives lesser flavour than these, but the smoke gets a poke of freshness from it. Charing Cross makes clouds of cool smoke, without a bite to be had. It burns well, requiring only the occasional tamp, and rarely a relight.
Nicotine: above medium. Room-note: I quite like it.
Charing Cross? Not a blend for the beginner, but a fairly heady one making it more suited to the seasoned smoker. Four stars:
Highly recommended.
Pipe Used:
Ramazan Lee Van Cleef Rep'
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
Age When Smoked:
12/13/17
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 29, 2018 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
UPDATE: 11/20. This tobacco may be the best Balkan there is. Now I need to clarify this statement. I am not sure where a Balkan begins and an English ends. With that said, this is the best in some genre. I am smoking a 2016 tin and flavors just get better and better. Orientals age well, so do top shelf VA's. Latakia is supposed to dull, and maybe it does, but it is sure here in spades. The creamy sweetness is still here but the woody and spicy orientals on a bed of sweet, earthy Virginia's . I will say my updated review has an added note on the finish. The leathery, buttery qualities linger on the palate, making this a favorite after a great meal. This is a gold medal tobacco. Buy and cellar as much as you can. You will miss this if it disappears. This has one of the best tin notes in the Balkan world! Every time I reach for this tobacco I can hardly wait to stick my nose into the tin/jar. Latakia did you say? Upon opening you get hit with creosote, campfire, pine tar and some woody/sour notes. It is unrivaled. The smoke itself is a Balkan delight. I love the malty flavor of Balkan blends and this one is a Latakia powerhouse but that is not all it has to offer. The Orientals are first rate. When you start this smoke you are greeted with smokey and sweet Cyprian Latakia, This to me is a great way to start!. As you get to the 1/4 mark you get the Orientals, woody and spicy. The maltiness that I love starts around this point. This is where the Virginia's and Orientals tame the Latakia and provide the wonderful malted milk ball like flavor I love. This blend provides that but it is darker and richer than most other Balkan blends. The orientals also have a nice spicy flavor to them and the woodiness is really brought out on the retrohale. This is one of the best Balkan's I have smoked, definitely top 5.
Pipe Used:
Briar's and cobs
PurchasedFrom:
B&M
Age When Smoked:
2 years +
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 01, 2004 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
A good balkan (but on the rounder side), not very far from Odyssey. It has a sec, clean taste. If Greg modelled this on Balkan Sobranie 759 or Original Mixture, he failed: it hasn't the overwhelming and at times bitter taste of OM or the rich sweetness of 759. I have been smoking a lot of 759 lately, and it's clearly different (but of course it has much aging on its shoulders). But this doesn't mean that Charing Cross is a failure of a tobacco! It simply is a great mixture by itself, no comparisons needed.
I tend to prefer it to Odyssey because of the moderate sweetness and body increase that it develops during the bowl.
Highly recommended, only a notch inferior to Blackpoint.
2019 UPDATE: After may years and many tins, I can just add that this blend has incredible complexity and development. While Caravan (another favourite of mine) has a tangier edge, more Orientals-biased, Charing Cross surprises every time by how gradually it builds up in power and layers of flavour. It starts on a sweet Virginia note, relatively subdued, and then becomes more and more dominated by the Latakia, and it becomes drier and more austere, a powerhouse. A fantastic blend time and time again.
I tend to prefer it to Odyssey because of the moderate sweetness and body increase that it develops during the bowl.
Highly recommended, only a notch inferior to Blackpoint.
2019 UPDATE: After may years and many tins, I can just add that this blend has incredible complexity and development. While Caravan (another favourite of mine) has a tangier edge, more Orientals-biased, Charing Cross surprises every time by how gradually it builds up in power and layers of flavour. It starts on a sweet Virginia note, relatively subdued, and then becomes more and more dominated by the Latakia, and it becomes drier and more austere, a powerhouse. A fantastic blend time and time again.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15, 2019 | Medium | Medium to Strong | Mild | Pleasant |
Something between Balkan Sasieni and GLP Odyssey.Cool smoke bold and tasteful. Good all through the end. Delicious, gentle on nicotine. Definitely I’ll add to my rotation. Another great blend by Mr. Pease. A Balkan lover should indeed try this wonderful tobacco.
Update: it can be a all day smoke, without hurting your tongue. If you’re going in an adventure outdoors this is the tobacco to take with you.
Update: it can be a all day smoke, without hurting your tongue. If you’re going in an adventure outdoors this is the tobacco to take with you.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Writers Shaw
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 08, 2018 | Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Overwhelming |
This is a deep flavored Balkan mixture. Wild delightful to many, some will find this overwhelming. The smokiness is wonderful, but bordwrline overwhelming when smoked on the deck with my wife. Charing and full light were fine, with wonderful burnability. I nitial flavore reminds one of smoking Cajun ribs on the grill. Rather spicy to my palate, but everything plays well with the high quality Virginia leaf in the blend. A third of the way through, and with a properly warmed bowl, the marrying of the Virginia, Oriental, and Cyorian latakia fla ors are sublime. At mid bowl, I have detected a sweet rasin note that drifts in and out. Quite delightful. The blend seems to get sweeter as the smoke progresses. The oriental tobaccos are adding a teasing tanginess that seems to make bith the sweetness and amokiness of the blend that much more delightful. The nicotine hit is mire pronounced as the smike progresses. Quite a delightful smoke for balkan enthusiasts, I highly rexcomend.
Pipe Used:
Chicom Specimen circa 1975
PurchasedFrom:
Indian River Tobacco Traders,Grand Rapids, MI
Age When Smoked:
less tahn a year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 04, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
Charing Cross is yet another impressive Pease blend. Like most of his efforts, this is a tobacco of subtlety, refinement, and elegance. That's not to say this stuff doesn't have a forceful side--it does--but the tobacco's muscle and strength never stretch the seams of this beautiful blend.
The leaf is of high quality and this tin arrived with ideal moisture. The cut is broad enough that it can be a little challenging to pack into a small bowl, but it's great in bowls with squat, wide-mouthed shapes.
And the tin description? Most accurate I've yet come across.
Edit: Just a bump up on this one for the sake of honesty. I've come to respect Charing Cross' potent beauty more and more everyday. For my money (what little there is), this is the finest Balkan available today. A masterpiece.
The leaf is of high quality and this tin arrived with ideal moisture. The cut is broad enough that it can be a little challenging to pack into a small bowl, but it's great in bowls with squat, wide-mouthed shapes.
And the tin description? Most accurate I've yet come across.
Edit: Just a bump up on this one for the sake of honesty. I've come to respect Charing Cross' potent beauty more and more everyday. For my money (what little there is), this is the finest Balkan available today. A masterpiece.
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