G. L. Pease Telegraph Hill

I've given Telegraph Hill two star but I think it a somewhat better tobacco than that (two and one-half would be about right, in my estimation). On the plus side, it's made from high quality leaf and has no obvious flaws from a taste, aroma or smokability standpoint. On the other hand, it's from one of the world's premier blenders and costs a lot, hence, much is expected of it. So, bottom line, while I like TH, I like a lot of other VaPers, including some that are much less expensive, a lot more.

For me, TH falls down on several counts. First, the Virginias are a lot less Virginia-like than most other VaPers. In particular, the Virginias in TH are not very sweet or fruity tasting but instead are more grassy and nutty (if I didn't know better, I would have guessed that TH was a burley-Perique blend rather than a VaPer). Second, the Perique component dominates TH from the first puff until well down the bowl. If you like Perique, as I do, this is not a bad thing but, in TH there just isn't enough Virginia flavor to balance out the spiciness of the Perique. Third, by the time the Perique ceases to dominate the palate (about three-quarters of the way down the bowl), the rather lackluster Virginias do not provide much in the way of a flavor alternative and the smoke becomes rather bland.

On the plus side, the cut and moisture content are excellent right out of the tin so TH is easy to pack, light and smoke. Nor is there any bite, bitterness or other objectionable characteristics to detract from one's smoking enjoyment. Unfortunately, there just isn't enough enjoyment from me to want to smoke it again.

Pease Pilgrimage Reviews (a tasting journey through every GLPease blend) Tin date: 1/29/10

I'm just going to have to admit that these Pease vapers are not pushing my buttons. They all have that ashy characteristic that feels kind of like licking an ashtray. Don't get me wrong, I know from other reviews of these and other similar tobaccos that this style of smoke is quite appealing to many smokers, but there is just something about them that does not do it for me. Telegraph Hill is the same as the others, just too plain and ashy. I'm attributing it to body chemistry.

But I am not about to give up!

Since all these vapers have been quite dry from the tin I am going to assume that this is how Mr. Pease designed them, so I'm going to continue experimenting with packing and with different pipes. I have been trying these in my star Virginia pipes, but I realize that it may require a different combination.

Union Square is one of my desert island smokes, so I know Pease has the Right Stuff. I'll try these with some age, I'll try packing them a bit tighter, I'll try some other pipes, and I promise I'll update my opinions should they change.

I like this blend on the rare occasion I can get it to burn right. There's something in this that causes it to more often than not burn awkwardly. Something in this blend doesn't like to burn with the rest of it. Perique flakes? I'm not sure, but I have to spend way too much time coaxing and messing with that aspect of the smoke to enjoy it fully. It's like this in Briar's of various make, cobb's and meerschaum's. When it goes ok, it's really good, one of the better Va/Per blend's out there, but it wants to burn weird.

I feel I should have let this tin age before I cracked it. If I read the date stamp correctly, it was tinned weeks before I got it. First few bowls tasted very lemony, sharp but seemed to have potential. I jarred the rest for 2 months.

It didn't seem to change much with a little jar time, goes best in a cob. It's spicy, but sorta reminds me of smoking an old parchment, like a musty scroll from centuries ago, in a good way.

I bet if I put some away for a year it would be magic, as it stands, the jury is out. 2 stars until I try some of this with age on it.

Not bad if one likes Virginian blends. I took this as a break from my usual latakia smoke. Asked for a mild Va with a bit of perique and this is what my tobacconist at Barclay and Rex recommended. If I go for a Va. preferred Solani VA in the yellow tim (flakes) or a McClelland especially the Xmas blend. It is what it is and if one likes a mild Va, then this could be a nice smoke. Will update as I work through the tin...second pipe was better than the first so maybe before I am done, will really like it and have to change the score from a two star.

Update: Starting to enjoy the Va tang as a break from full latakia blends. Changed the recommendation to a 3 star if put into the context of a Va/Perique blend

I smoked this blend side by side with Stratford, another ribbon cut VAPer by GLP. Both cans were of similar age, tinned just days apart. This blend contains darker leaf than Stratford. There is definitely more Perique and it is long cut. I’d estimate 6-9% of Louisiana leaf by visual inspection. The tin aroma is sweet, funky, acetic plum. This was drier than any other C&D produced blend I’ve ever smoked. The leaf, however did not turn to dust, and was pliable. It burns uncannily well. There are dark, earthy dry hay notes. I also enjoyed some pleasant hints of crisp, fresh autumn leaves. This is spicier than Stratford. I question chili, black, or possibly white pepper on the palate. There are some nice yeasty baked bread notes when smoked in a wide bowl.

To summarize, the smoke was earthy, woodsy, and savory. I did get some fatigue and frank tongue bite after multiple bowls. I also found that the Virginias had the same sort of rough mouthfeel that I have suffered with some (not all) other C&D products. This is not a bad blend, just not for me.

Preparation & Burn: 7/10 Easy to pack. Burns cool enough, no bite. Not many re-lights at all. A bit harsh if not sipped and burns a bit fast.

Taste: 12/20 This is a decent blend, but there's so much more I'd rather smoke before this.

Mildness: 7/10 My idea of a good smoke is a relaxing, low nicotine session. Therefore, the milder the better. Not much nicotine here.

Total: 26/40

Fine leaf,optimal proportion Va-Per but...raw!This is the last but not the first Pease´s blend with this problem.What´s the matter?Pipe smokers,we buy tobacco and not very cheap by the way,simply to smoke it.After that if we like it we try hunt a decent quantity for cellaring.It´s ridiculous to pay right now and putting in the bowl not before a couple of years.Outrageous.

Tin: Date stamped on bottom: 100906(09OCT06). Lightly musty, tangy wheat-straw aroma. Mostly red, some light tan. The Perique is supple, not a hard flake, and comprises ~5%. The tobacco is supple, springy and moist. A week later, I would say it has fruity tone; this may be due to the tin being opened for a week, or a change in perception.

Packing & Lighting: Some of the tobacco is long and stringy. Took several matches to get this stuff to stay lit, and then a lot of frantic puffing to keep it that way, partly due to the way it was packed. In another pipe, it behaved better. When smoked outdoors on a cool day, it produced the usual moisture in the stem.

Taste & Aroma: Rather unremarkable, stale, particularly compared to other Fog City Selections. No bite.

Smoked in another briar a week later, it is vaguely pungent woodsy.

Nicotine: mild to medium. The Perique does not contribute much.

Room Note: Somewhat sharp, smoky, tolerable.

Overall: Maybe I got a bad batch. A few flecks looked molded. The perique presence seemed to be perceptible only after the tin had been opened for a few days. Compared to other FCS blends, 2 stars.