G. L. Pease Abingdon

This tin is dated 021918. Upon opening the tin, it has a nice strong Latakia/Oriental smell arising from it. I had smoked a few bowls of this and revisited this blend some more last night and throughout the day since I am on a mini-vacation. The first two bowls of this had a really tart, acrid taste to it. It mellowed out somewhat toward the end. This is one of the few blends where I started out not really liking it but the more I smoke it the better it tastes. Maybe it took my pipe some time to adapt to this one as well as my taste buds but it is a nice strong-tasting tobacco with little sweetness that I could detect. Maybe that is what threw me off in the beginning, the lack of sweetness. So, with a little patience this has grown from a 2 to a 3 star for me.

This one had me fooled by both description and tin aroma. The former suggests a heavy hitter while the latter indicates a lighter latakia mixture. To me it's neither and both... let me try to explain.

The strength of Abingdon lies in it's contrasts... Latakia is forward but smokiness is not over the top, same goes for the zesty lemon virginia, very present! Background orientals and the red virginias do smooth out this dark-to-zesty-contrast somewhat, but it is still drawn into two different directions, which creates an interesting smoke bigger and somewhat fuller than the sum of its parts. Not overly complex by my standards, but most likely schizofrenically straightforward enough to hold my interest for the upcoming weeks. As a bonus, the aftertaste is dark, fresh and amazing!

Recommended!

Good solid Balkan blend. The tin note is as expected. Big. Lots of leather, smoke, cedar, frankinsence,floral and a lemony piquant aroma. This is from a 2009 tin. So it had plenty of time to age and mellow out. The moisture was spot on and it lit right up. I was initially expecting a harsh smoke but, I packed my pipe gently and was rewarded with a nice smooth and creamy smoke. Not harsh at all. You can clearly taste all the flavors in the tin note. The Virginians and orientials truly round out this blend an give Abington a sweet floral/herbal tasting smoke. Its quite enjoyable. The latakia is there but, the smokiness acts more as a complement and not a front runner. There is no hint of bite and it leaves a very pleasant after taste. Good stuff!!

This is a delightful Balkan.

It is rich, but I wouldn't call it robust; nor would I call it powerful or forthright, but I would characterize it as still possessing subtlety and finesse. I don't get "dark flavors of wood and leather" (although there is wood and leather) but I do get the delicate undercurrents of sweetness, and earthy notes (though I wouldn't qualify them as "deep"). The Orientals do provide some herbaceous character, but I wouldn't call this a "big Balkan blend."

I will come back to this every couple of years to see what age has done to it.

Good stuff, and with age potential.

I am not an EM lover, but I suggest everyone willing to leave the Latakia shores must make a last stop at Abingdon. Two things I love about this tobacco: the pretty big cut (which always makes for a consistent smoke, evolving and various) and the toasted aroma I get from a not-so-smokey and excellent Latakia. Packs and smokes easy.

For those who never knew the Latakia bombs of the past, Abingdon is a lesson about WHAT a Latakia bomb really tastes like (and, if you never tried, you don’t know and you don’t expect).

There's truth in advertising when Greg says Abingdon is "the fullest Balkan style blend in the range" (at least out of the ones I've tried).

Latakia and Orientals predominate, and mingle together to give that leathery, slightly oily/buttery flavor and aftertaste I associate with a heavy English/Balkan blend. I don't detect much added presence from Virginias, but I'm sure others may.

Cut is a very nice ribbon (nicer than many of the other choppy cuts produced by C&D), and packs and lights easily. May need a little drying, and requires an average number of relights.

My only criticism of Abingdon is that it can be pretty sharp in the flavor department, or perhaps overly focused. It's not overwhelming in nicotine, but rather just a very strong flavor.

Overall, Abingdon is spicy, sour, leathery, and oily (in a good way), and is a really full, satisfying blend- when you've finished a bowl of Abingdon, you'll know you've smoked. Not something I could smoke all day, but something I really look forward to when the mood strikes.

A very good balkan blend. Lat. is upfront and good and smoky sweet. Orientals are always present with a slight bitterness that I like from them. The VA's are there too and very sweet. Maybe too sweet for just VA's?

Here is the only issue I have with this blend. I think there is a top note that is just more than the blend should have. Maybe just a little sugar water added to the mix? Something, I know a lot of English blends are topped for room note help but something here is more than that yet not quite distinct enough for me to say exactly what it is. Also, I cannot help but wonder if PG solution was added. The tobacco is moist and maintains it moister for a very long time. It takes about 1 hr. of drying time to get it right.

These little issues aside this is a great blend in its own right. Not the best balkan I have had but it is very good. Those who love the big balkan's should give this one a try.

A nice tobacco. I like the cut, semi shag, easy to light and kept lit. This I classify as a mild Balkan with plenty of flavor. Many times you get a mild tobacco and it just doesn't bring a lot of flavor ( Squadron leader comes to mind), this one is complex. I like to ball and stuff this tobacco for packing.

I don't find this real sweet or dominated by Latakia as some of the other reviewers have said, but that's why some of us smoke, " Captian Black" , individual taste. I do find a taste of split oak logs, found the same thing in Dunhill's London Mixture, different, nice, interesting. I can see myself going for this any time of day.

My only problem with this is it is more peppery than I like. I have to agree with "Darth Vader 03/28/2013"

Almost through a 2oz tin of Abingdon... overall, a very good smoke!

I don't have much to add in the way of flavor/aroma descriptions that hasn't been said already. My last Pease tasting was a 2oz tin of Charing Cross which I smoked throughout the end of Winter into the Spring. I would say that they are both "big" blends. I find Abingdon to be a little more Latakia-forward, whereas Charing Cross lets the Orientals shine a little more. Don't get me wrong, they both offer a significant punch of both, but that is their chief difference. Virginias provide a nice canvas for the dark, smoky hues of the Latakia in Abingdon, with Oriental spicy notes giving definition and offering contrast to the broad brushstrokes of the Cyprian leaf. But there is balance here which I find attractive... as opposed to, say, Pirate Kake or Capt. Earle's Diamond Head - both extremely heavy on Latakia to the point of salty dry-ness and rather uni-dimensional experiences. Abingdon is also relatively gentle in terms of nicotine.

I like this blend quite a bit. It has lit and burnt consistently across pipes and I've always found it very satisfying. It is obviously made of quality tobaccos and has been blended with considerable care and finesse. Is it extraordinary? Maybe not. Is it a solid Balkan offering the best of what this style of blend should offer? Absolutely. And perhaps this makes it remarkable in its own way.

I will definitely buy some to cellar for future enjoyment. My tin was quite young (Jan 2011) and I'd like to see what a little time does to it. I also have a tin of Pease's newest, Lagonda, which in the wake of such smoking pleasure as I got from Abingdon and Charing Cross, should also be a fantastic blend.

If you like "big" Balkans... definitely give this a try.