G. L. Pease Laurel Heights

The tin note reveals a nice smelling tobacco. My tine had perfect moisture. The light was smooth and even. The initial lighted flavor is a mild Virginia in nature. Visually, the blend looks like a Red Virginia blend with a Bright Virginia and Cavendish mildly mixed in. My nose did not detect any Latakia. Mid bowl, the flavor seemed to be more sonorous, deeper and broader in flavor. There does ssem to be some mild topping of grapefruit on some other citrus flavor as the bowl progresses. The slight lemon tangy notes are a wonderful surprise later on.The flavors get delightfully and more boldly complex as the bowl burns further. An even heated bowl seems to be essential to get the most flavor out of the bowl. While I would not rate this as a "beginner " pipe tobacco as I feel that much of the complexity would be missed by an inexperienced palate, a seasoned pipe smoker will covet and relish the delightful complexity of flavor for such a visually simple looking tobacco. I recommend this highly for those who are looking for a more sophisticated and nuanced smoke that is enveloped in a unique cornucopia of flavors . Do be aware that the nicotine hit is stronger than on might suspect, so be sure to take with a beverage ofrsome food.

This is the best red Virginian smoke I have ever had. It is a straight tobacco with nice toasted flavorsand some wonderful nuttiness i just can't get enough of. Out of the can smells just like a good straight tobacco, feels a bit dry but thats very decieving its actually quite moist. I've been looking for a great red virginian for a lot of years so glade i found this one.

Side note: for me this is the ultimate hunting smoke. Al i can think of when smoking this is fall, leaves, cool mountain air, venison backstraps on the camp fire, and the joy of the coming winter with its wood smoke and spooning.

Though I like newly minted Laurel Heights just fine, the lot I am smoking now has 5 years on it, and age certainly helps it. Young or old, LH lights and burns well right from the tin, but it works better for me if I first rub it out, to take some of the spring out of it, and to avoid the effects of expansion as it lights. The VAs used for LH are mostly full and include some fairly piquant leaf, as VA goes. Perhaps it's because of this, but I prefer LH from a small-ish, narrow pipe, and - above all - take it S-L-O-W. By starting slowly and "adapting to taste", one has a fair chance of enjoying a personalized version of the myriad tastes and scents that Pease describes (above). Otherwise, you're on your own, and it may get hot and/or harsh. It took me a while, but I've come to love this stuff. Still, know that LH is decidedly "tobacco forward", and it's not a candy-ass VA. As for the smattering of Latakia, either it does not factor or it helps. In any case, I have no problems with LH that I could ascribe to Latakia. Regarding the "strength" of LH, the nicotine here is of the stealth variety. You might not notice it until you're done; but by then it's well above "medium". Likewise, the aroma is richer than "medium", but not at all strong and, if you smoke it right, the rich and interesting tastes also build to more than "medium".

Summing, I'm glad I stuck with Laurel Heights long enough to enjoy much of what Pease goes on about, along with my own variations. It was somewhat of a challenge early on; but now it is on my favorites list, thus worthy of 4 stars from me.

Update: A year in a jar has further transformed LH, yet for the better. No longer a challenge, but easy-breezy to smoke, with delicate, floral notes and a "spectrum" of scents and tastes that runs from "high" to "low", and everywhere in between. Long drying has reduced the nic effect for me, too; now it's mild to medium. Today this is my favorite VA.

Update, 11-16-2015: From a tin dated 02-2015: LH was/is very dry, with the color and consistency of ground up particle board. Smokes and tastes fine, but - as ever - "it's "not the same" as earlier production. Sigh...

My first bowl of this was a bit of a suprise and also somewhat disappointing. The citris flavours were a bit bitter initially to be completely honest....but.... after a bunch more bowls its really grown on me. There's a real complexity to this and it has the usual "GLP's" finest tobacco in the world look and feel. Burns well and reasonable nicotine Yes i am a GLP fan but i dont love all of his offerings. Three stars at the moment and we will see after the the other half of the tin. This tobacco has a very luxurious taste to it.

Tin finish, up to 4.

The whole Fog City collection is dificult to classify. The overall concept is variations of Virginia mixtures, but in a robbon-cut form. The temptation is to compare them to flakes, which would be a mistake. They are almost a genre unto themselves. It is interesting to read how the tiny smidgeon of Latakia in this mixtre has the attention of so many pipe smokers. To all who want to try this mixture I recommend letting it sit in the tin for at least a month and two months is better. C&D who blends glp mixtures is a small operation and do not have room to cellar tobaccos, hence when you get it, the tobaccos are still getting to know each other. The mixtures from overseas have been sitting around in their tins smoothing out for some time before whe apply the match to them. I let my Laural Heights sit for a month and then smoked it. I smoke a wide variety of diferent mixtures and didn't detect the Latakia. This is a very "round" VA mixture with medium complexity, but the sterling quality i like is the richness and creaminess of the smoke. Not a knock you over richness, but that subtle richness that is slightly sweet with no pepperiness (sometimes called spiciness) that allows me to smoke it all day without tongue fatigue. I will be bying more for the cellar as Virginias just get better and better with age. I suspect our friend with the one star rating smoked his LH when it was just made. In a perfect world, all tobaccos would be aged like single malt scotch (BTW, Macallan is primo with LH), but alas, we must do the aging ourselves. This mixture is highly recommended for VA lovers as an all-day smoke and as an alternative to heavier flakes.

I am currently smoking a bowl of L.H. with much satisfaction to my early evening needs for smoke and green tea. I can somewhat agree with the description of the manufactures claims, a rather red to dark matured Virginia and maybe hints of roasted spices being the prominent taste. It gives me the impression of having some oriental, not that I could tell it was latakia at first. If I can describe it similar to any other tobaccos it would probably be Peterson standard mixture or Presbyterian but with a mellower, sweeter and more light strength. Loved it!

Im a big fan of Pease tobaccos. This one is a very nice, well balanced, very enjoyable, easy smoking Virginia, which I prefer to sip slowly. It’s my go to preference for a morning-early afternoon pipe; with or just after some good coffee! The majority of the reviews cover the characteristics; natural Virginia sweetness, orange peel, oats, fresh, clean, etc. I smoke VA, VAPer, slices, flakes, ribbons, as well as English/Scottish blend with varying amounts of Latakia. I don’t detect any Latakia jumping out, but that may be the goal here. Try it, you’ll like it 👍!

The presentation is a nice ribbon that is not too moist. The blend is mostly red Virginia to my eye, but there are some brights in the mix too. You may occasionally see a rare piece of black tobacco, which will be the Latakia, but you might not see any really. Hard to find. The smell is sweet and tangy, and a bit pungent in a good way.

Starting flavors remind me of Telegraph Hill, like the Virginias are the same, just balanced in different proportions, maybe more red Virginia in Laurel Heights. The combustion is good, and I get notes of oats and leather, strawberries, and some fermented character similar to Perique, and much of the blend reminds me of STG's Escudo. There are bread notes, orange, cinnamon, some smokiness in the blend but it is in the background in the beginning, and comes to the fore towards the end, manifesting as an earthy leather-like note, and even green tea, reminiscent of Opening Night. There is a taste that gives me the sense that there are orientals in the blend as well. I get woody notes accompanying the leather, and at this point it reminds me of Drucquer's and Sons Blairgowrie, but that could be a ghost from Orientals.

The strength is medium and I would say the nicotine strength is the same. This has more nicotine strength than most Virginias, to me. I get that full feeling I get with blends containing Latakia.

Amongst Virginia blends, the blend is unique, and I would recommend any Virginia-lover try it. It burns well, it's flavorful, exciting, and it's widely available. It's got more natural character than many Virginia flakes presently on the market.

Miscela perfetta per chi vuole accostarsi al Latakia , ma non vuole la pesantezza delle miscele inglesi. L'alta qualità dei tabacchi regalano a questa miscela un bouquet unico che vira tra ilo dolce dei virginia allo speziato del Latakia che sembra quasi giocare a nascondino. Una miscela tutto giorno, facile da fumare e facile da caricare. Una stupenda sorpresa.