G. L. Pease Telegraph Hill

Tins (12) Purchased 2005

Fillmore? Telegraph Hill? Different parts of The City. Flake versus Ribbon...apples and oranges, therefore no comparison in my book.

Definitely benefits from some aging, and I don't think three years' worth is sufficient...better now than it was then. Better balance of sweet, tangy and sharp Virginias with the spice and pepper of Perique making itself known only after the quarter bowl mark, for me, at least. This is a transitional Va/Per for me...summer into fall and winter into spring. Not enough Perique refreshment for the dog days, and the Virginias aren't deep enough for snowy, cold gray days by the fire...that's why they invented Latakia.

Very Highly Recommended

Update 6-24-06 I am definitely upgrading to four stars. Sometimes tobaccos grow on you, sometimes not. Not sure what happened here, but going from two to four stars is a leap. I am obviously enjoying TH much more now. The amount of perique seems just right now and I detect hints of berries, fruit, and faint citrus. A wonderful smoke when your palate is clear. TH is starting to resemble more of a toned-down Haddos rather than Bayou Morning. Enjoy.

aj



Old:

The tobaccos used by Greg are high quality and Telegraph Hill is no exception. However, Telegraph Hill did not quite do it for for me. This is rather odd since I enjoy many of the C&D offerings, especially Briar Fox and Bayou Morning. Telegraph Hill is not Bayou Morning, nor does it attempt to be. However, there are similarities. Anyway, the perique is far too weak for my liking and there is a dry ashy taste about mid-bowl. However, there is a short lived creaminess which is nice. Adding some blending perique helps Telegraph Hill, but I still find it a little boring.

*Revised* 29 May 2005 - I got tired of a friend going on and on about how good TH was. Since our tastes are very similar, I had to wonder why he liked it so much. He brought his tin over one night and it was a whole different experience for me than the first tin I got. I guess the first tin I purchased had something strange going on with it, so I purchased another tin the next day myself.

With the tin my friend had and this tin, I experienced a very rich and fragrant blend that when sipped slowly had layers of subtle flavors. Very, very unlike the first tin I purchased that was tasteless. From past experience with peace blends this should also age wonderfully If I can leave it alone long enough.

Challenging, but rewarding. Very subtle, but savory notes. Small sips give you blasts of flavor. Great first bowl of the day smoke. Highly recommended. -Spiral Out

Everything that needs to be said about this blend has already been said. It is a smooth and solid blend that sets its own bar when it comes to VaPers. Nothing else (IMO) comes close.

The description that G.L. Pease uses to promote this blend says it all: “A sturdy foundation of Virginia tobaccos, each chosen for its particular character, is enhanced with fine flakes of perique for a refined smoking experience. Telegraph Hill is rich and flavorful, with a satisfying, lingering finish. Each sip builds upon the last, creating a marvelous edifice of taste and aroma.”

Enough said. Buy yourself a tin (or tub) and enjoy. 4 Stars

Another trip to my local B&M and I found a tin of 2018 Telegraph Hill hiding on the shelf. One of the series that I had not tried yet, so picked it up to give it a good home.

Nice whoosh when it was opened which is always a nice promise of things to come. Ribbon cuts mostly VA with def ribbons of perique mixed in. Moisture content was good, moist but not so moist to need drying.. even though I'm learning it is better with a little dry time.

With the ribbon cut, packing is easy. Also, with the ribbon cut I find it wants to burn faster than its broken flake cousins and really demands a slow smoke with sips to pull out the tastes.

The taste reminds me of other ribbons in the series. The VA's really lead the way and the perique gives spicy highlights which come in and out of the bowl. Produces average to above average amount of moisture when smoked. Nic level is perfect to me, I can smoke multiple bowls without objection.

I'm looking forward to trying the other Fog City blends that I haven't yet.. especially if I can find them with some age on them already 🙂

Given the 4-star reviews by JimInks and other reviewers that I hold in high regard, for me this was a no-brainer for any VaPer fan to purchase. I'm not sure why he says this is "not quite" an all day smoke. For me, it certainly has become so. It's a "no-fuss" blend, being very easy to pack and to keep lit, with no bite, it delivers the citrus of the VA along with just enough dark fruit from the Perique. It also develops well down through the bowl, with the Perique becoming more dominant, which may have somthing to do with the fact that my 8oz bulk purchase now being four years old.

Presentation: All labels in the Fog City Selection look the same. A gold stripe across the bottom, a white background, with a gray sketching of the streets of San Francisco.

Cut: A thick ribbon cut, perfect moisture level.

Tin note: Smells fruity and tangy with a figgy untertone, a very nice smell.

Tasting notes: Tastes creamy and grassy on light up. Draws are a short fruity sweetness followed by a zesty tang, followed by a grassiness and then a woody finish. I taste some very slight bread and some earth with the grassiness. The spice is very present on retrohales. A pleasant toastiness appears on some finishes. Some might find this a spicy blend, although I just see the spice as one of a few main players.

Mechanics: N/A -- A well behaved blend.

Extra Remarks: What an excellent blend! It doesn't have a lot of fruitiness of red virginias that I tend to long for in VaPer blends, but I didn't mind. This blend was so well balanced and complex, like a playlist on shuffle with flavors. Don't retrohale too liberally if you are not a fan on spice though! I don't think I would ever get bored smoking this blend. 4 stars.

First of all I have to warn you that this review is based on several tin cans never less than five years old. I have not tried the Telegraph in its earliest youth.

If a novice smoker asked me for a recommendation of a va / per where the perique can be clearly appreciated without it being overwhelming, I would recommend Telegraph Hill.

In the tin it has a very intense vinegar aroma, balsamic, fresh, and with a touch of spices, coming from the perique. These nuances are reproduced later in the flavor, after lighting the pipe, also adding, from time to time, a spicy point. The smoke is fresh, tasty, smooth and very pleasant. It does not bite at all and it burns perfectly, although it does so at a faster pace than average.

Another attraction of this tobacco is that it has a very strong personality, and I would say that in taste it is unlike any other va/per that I have tried that is currently marketed. The way I see it, this is one of the best va/per of those produced at the moment, once McClelland and Dunhill disappeared from the market.

I think this review makes it very clear how much I like Telegraph Hill, and to you, who are reading this review, I would recommend that if you like this type of mix with virginia and perique you should not miss the opportunity to try it. I'm almost sure you will thank me...