G. L. Pease Abingdon

I was already a fixture in my local smoke shop when Greg Pease's blends exploded on the scene with a big splash. All blends were opened for sampling as they came in and I smoked a bunch of them. As to whether I smoked Abingdon or not, I can't remember specifically. My recollection is that I preferred the Englishes in the blue and white label series. The other telling thing is that I did not hoard these blends in the Classic Series. Last year I bought a 2003 dated tin from a seller on ebay so that I could get to know this blend better. I opened it recently and found a strongly pungent Balkan style English mixture that was your expected black and brown and tan colors with a portion of a lemon yellow Virginia added. I thought it looked great and lit it up. For all of this blend's pungency, all of it's insistently strong taste and all of its abundant smokiness; it smoked with a surprisingly high register. This blend smokes rather dryly and is some what astringent to the palette. Some reviewers attribute this quality to the inclusion of the yellow Virginia component, but its use in English blending is well established. I don't think the lemon Virginia is the issue. Rather, I would like to get something a little toasty tasting in the mid range of this blend's components - something that would soften and sweeten this blend's inherent sourness. All in all, a three star blend that is reaching for four star status. I have begun a regimen of micro blends with Abingdon as their English base and the results were pleasing. This definitely raises the rating to four stars.

I am inaugurating my first review after being witness to a rather unorthodox review that triggered a heated reply. I find it irresistible not to opiniate on the matter, even if just a little.

The first comment was overboard in its approach. But I appreciate the fact that the world of pipe tobacco can be a passionate affair, especially when one is seeking the ideal blend but has not found it (I am here interpreting what could possibly be the underlying point in the first comment, but as I am no medium or paranormal expert, this is under all reserve).

The other comment was also overboard. But both comments are now deleted. Too bad (or maybe not?) for those who have not read those comments. It was quite interesting.

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And now on with my first review!

I ordered Abingdon based on all the positive reviews stating that this tobacco is rich, bold, Latakia-smoky, tasteful,a great Balkan,etc. etc. I recently received an 8 oz tin and, frankly, was surprised of the low content of Latakia. Abingdon is displaying mostly golden and light brown tobaccos with only a low presence of black/dark brown. The tin aroma confirms the lack of Latakia.

If I may: my knowledge of a Balkan blend is of Orientals and Latakia having a significant presence. So I had to recall my impression by doing some research. The ideas, definitions and conceptions of a Balkan blend being at the least diversified, I isolated the common trends in this topic which confirmed my original knowledge. A Balkan blend contains Latakia and Orientals as the main components. Some VAs may/can be added. The addition of Perique, Cavendish and/or Burley would not constitute a Balkan blend but would rather constitute an English blend.

As this is a GL Pease blend, I looked for his definition of a Balkan blend: "predominately based on Oriental tobaccos and Latakia, and just enough Virginia is used to provide structure and balance."

Unmistakingly, the reader will agree that this definition supports the conclusion of my research.

To summarize, to be a Balkan blend, a tobacco blend HAS to be rich IN BOTH Orientals and Latakia. Otherwise, it is NOT a Balkan. Now, Abingdon is not rich in Latakia. So I think the comment that "(censored) makes up facts as he goes" is questionable. I believe the question of asking where is the Latakia was pertinent: my little research confirms the significant presence of Latakia as being key in a Balkan blend.

For the sake of pipe tobacco blending integrity,I also ask the question: where is the Latakia in this "Balkan blend"?

As I am extremely knowledgeable in the field of pipe tobaccos but am certainly not the definitive authority, I will not try to address and resolve the issue of what a Balkan may, should or may, should not be. I will not attempt to define the percentages that Orientals and Latakia may or should be to be considered a Balkan.

What I can say with certainty is this: Abingdon IS NOT "rich and robust, powerful and forthright, yet still posessing subtlety and finesse" as advertised on the tin. Because it lacks Latakia, Abingdon does not unveil "dark flavours of wood and leather" that "mingle with delicate undercurrents of sweetness, and deep earthy notes" as advertised.

Tentatively, I can declare that Abingdon does not correspond, based on these facts, to a Balkan blend. Yes, undoubtedly, it could be labelled as an Oriental mixture or a light English blend. And this is why it triggers disapointment on my part: I was expecting a Latakia-rich, robust blend and Abingdon did not deliver.

Instead, I ended up with something that could be compared to Highland Targe. Would, then, Highland Targe, as it presents similarities with Abingdon, be a Balkan? The question is opened.

On a positive note, Abingdon lights and burns well. It also has a sweet, delicate flavor that, as it lacks Latakia, unfortunately becomes quickly bland and tasteless. When I think that I still have 6 oz to go...sighs.

Abingdon, a Balkan blend? GL Pease's "fullest" Balkan style blend in the range? And, not only does everybody praise this blend but most say it's strong? Are you kidding me?

G.L. Pease tobaccos are nothing more and nothing else than an attempt to produce good tobaccos that is failing. PERIOD. Nicely tried but nevertheless not working.

Where's the fricking Latakia in this blend, boys? There is 5 times more Latakia in other Balkan blends that I know. There is a lot more Latakia in Balkan Sasieni than this and it is a Balkan blend. There is a lot more Latakia in Bill Bailey's Balkan blend.

This is VAs, some Oriental and scarce (NOT EVEN 10%) Latakia presence. If you like getting ripped off and buy into it, good for you. But this is it for me for my interaction with Gl Pease.

This is the fourth blend that I try and I am getting frustrated. I can't rely on the reviewers when it comes to GL Pease blends because either the reviews are biaised, either most of the reviewers do not know what a good tobacco mixture is.

I learned my lesson!

My high water mark for balkans. All I can think of is licking the inside of a chimney. I'm going back to less creosotic blends.

I hate green olives. I think green olives possess one of the most repellent flavours in existence. However, I can't get enough of them. I crave them. Sometimes, nothing else will do.

Similar is my attitude toward latakia and oriental leaf. Foul! Ghastly! And yet I crave latakia blends. My interest in Abingdon was piqued by the promise of its full flavours.

When it arrived, (yet another sustaining shipment from the good people at Knoxcigar in Tennessee) I sampled it immediately. I was surprised by its mildness. It's quite good, very earthy, very natural, and very corky, but not as full as I was expecting. Very straight forward, it lacks the complexity of Penzance but has more subtlety than 965 or London Mixture.

Throughly enjoyable.

When you open the tin a thick Ribbon cut pleasing to the eye appears. The cold smell of smoke and leather is not overwhelming, and it already indicates that we are facing a Balkan mix where the latakia is well compensated by the rest of the ingredients. It should be noted that this cold aroma, which exudes creaminess (if expression is allowed), is reproduced later during smoking.

When you start to smoke it the first cold impression is confirmed: the taste is balanced and the smoke it produces is silky to creamy, and its aroma is delicate, fragrant and generally delicious. If smoked at the right pace, towards the middle of the pipe and until the end, you can sometimes taste buttery nuances, which leads me to think that the exterior color of the tin is not there by chance. When that happens it becomes one of the richest tobaccos I've ever had. In fact, if I had been able to extract that flavor more frequently, I would have included it, without a doubt, among my favorite tobaccos.

I think older smokers will find here an interesting mix when it comes to complexity.

I'd also like to highlight the fact that it worked great on a Meerschaum. The only flaw I would point to is the fact that the tongue can sting a bit at times.

Easily a four star.

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.