G. L. Pease Fillmore
(3.20)
A thick sliced, broken flake in the Scottish tradition. Ripe red Virginia tobaccos are combined with a generous measure of fine Louisiana perique and then pressed to marry the components and deepen the flavors. The cakes are sliced and gently broken before tinning. Fillmore presents an elegant sweetness and delightful piquancy, enhanced by a creamy richness that develops throughout the bowl. Sit back, and enjoy a lovely, leisurely smoke!
Notes: Fillmore was released in June 2006.
Details
| Brand | G. L. Pease |
| Series | Fog City Selection |
| Blended By | Gregory Pease |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Perique |
| Contents | Latakia, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | 2 oz and 8 oz tins |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.20 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 22 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 19, 2007 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Much has already been said, from the cut to the composition of this blend, so I won't spend further words on this.
I am a fan of GLPease latakia-based tobaccos, but his Virginia offerings rarely have clicked for me: I am fond of Barbary Coast and Montgomery, I like Stratford very much, and I find the rest either good, OK or too strong for my taste.
Fillmore is no exception. While I like the flake cut, as it packs well and burns exquisitely, and I love the tin smell (fruity, deep, nutty)... I haven't been stunned by the actual smoking experience.
Mind you, this is a tobacco with a lot of personality, and quite different from most other Va/Perique flakes around. It doesn't fall in the category of "vary tasteful but plain sweet and sour, and bitey" (McClelland), or in the category of florally scented flakes (some Lakeland district stuff), or in the category of "very delicate, honeyed but wimpy". It is a strong experience in terms of flavour, and different from all the categories above although it has something in common, of course, with some of them.
Personally I find the taste of Fillmore nicely alternating between a dark nutty and caramelly sweetness, a citric sourness, and a hint of smokiness. So far, so good. What I don't particularly like is that in the second half of the bowl it becomes earthy and grassier, with some bitterish notes that I am not very fond of. Towards the end, it gets a slightly ashy and dirty character that covers some of the nice flavours I had experienced before.
Overall, it's not a bad tobacco, and if you are looking for a "different" Va/Perique flake (with a stout flavour and a strongish dose of nicotine, perhaps a bit too much for me) definitely give it a try. I have a couple of tins stored away, and I will check if aging helps in solving the minor issues I have had with my first fresh one. So far, I would say that it's an OK smoke but that I'd not be eager to reach out for another tin for a while.
2011 Update: Smoking a four year old tin now, and I can confirm my review. It has become smoother, less grassy, but all the rest still applies. Not a bad tobacco at all, quite tasty. However, I must point out a thing that I had not said in my previous review: I find this tobacco a bit too strong in the nicotine department, a thing which all other GLPease Va+Perique blends have in common. Unless I sip this one very carefully, and in a small bowl, it always hits me a bit in the stomach. Not as strongly as Haddo's or some Lakeland blends, sure... but still a bit too much. Give it a try if you want a nicotine heavy tobacco, because the flavour is actually quite good and it's very different from other Fog City offerings.
I am a fan of GLPease latakia-based tobaccos, but his Virginia offerings rarely have clicked for me: I am fond of Barbary Coast and Montgomery, I like Stratford very much, and I find the rest either good, OK or too strong for my taste.
Fillmore is no exception. While I like the flake cut, as it packs well and burns exquisitely, and I love the tin smell (fruity, deep, nutty)... I haven't been stunned by the actual smoking experience.
Mind you, this is a tobacco with a lot of personality, and quite different from most other Va/Perique flakes around. It doesn't fall in the category of "vary tasteful but plain sweet and sour, and bitey" (McClelland), or in the category of florally scented flakes (some Lakeland district stuff), or in the category of "very delicate, honeyed but wimpy". It is a strong experience in terms of flavour, and different from all the categories above although it has something in common, of course, with some of them.
Personally I find the taste of Fillmore nicely alternating between a dark nutty and caramelly sweetness, a citric sourness, and a hint of smokiness. So far, so good. What I don't particularly like is that in the second half of the bowl it becomes earthy and grassier, with some bitterish notes that I am not very fond of. Towards the end, it gets a slightly ashy and dirty character that covers some of the nice flavours I had experienced before.
Overall, it's not a bad tobacco, and if you are looking for a "different" Va/Perique flake (with a stout flavour and a strongish dose of nicotine, perhaps a bit too much for me) definitely give it a try. I have a couple of tins stored away, and I will check if aging helps in solving the minor issues I have had with my first fresh one. So far, I would say that it's an OK smoke but that I'd not be eager to reach out for another tin for a while.
2011 Update: Smoking a four year old tin now, and I can confirm my review. It has become smoother, less grassy, but all the rest still applies. Not a bad tobacco at all, quite tasty. However, I must point out a thing that I had not said in my previous review: I find this tobacco a bit too strong in the nicotine department, a thing which all other GLPease Va+Perique blends have in common. Unless I sip this one very carefully, and in a small bowl, it always hits me a bit in the stomach. Not as strongly as Haddo's or some Lakeland blends, sure... but still a bit too much. Give it a try if you want a nicotine heavy tobacco, because the flavour is actually quite good and it's very different from other Fog City offerings.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 24, 2010 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Strong |
Beautiful, thick broken flakes.
However, too peppery in taste for my liking and rather on the harsh side. Probably the need for aging.
This is one downside of Peases's blends. Often, they are not sufficiently aged when tinned.
However, too peppery in taste for my liking and rather on the harsh side. Probably the need for aging.
This is one downside of Peases's blends. Often, they are not sufficiently aged when tinned.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22, 2021 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
This is a pleasant enough smoke I suppose. But when I reach for a VaPer, I don’t expect to be greeted with Latakia. And, to my unsophisticated palate, the lat is front and center, right where I DON’T want it.
If you’re perfectly fine with latakia stomping all over your picnic, you’ll probably love this.
I mean it’s an otherwise perfectly serviceable smoke. But I’ve steered clear of latakia ever since moving on from a brief, torrid affair with English blends early in my pipe smoking journey. Since I’ve moved on, I’ve come to consider latakia pretty much unbearable.
So this is a one-star blend for me. But I’m giving it two stars because I’m sure it has its fans.
But I caution those seeking straight up VaPer bliss to look elsewhere... unless you really like the lat.
If you’re perfectly fine with latakia stomping all over your picnic, you’ll probably love this.
I mean it’s an otherwise perfectly serviceable smoke. But I’ve steered clear of latakia ever since moving on from a brief, torrid affair with English blends early in my pipe smoking journey. Since I’ve moved on, I’ve come to consider latakia pretty much unbearable.
So this is a one-star blend for me. But I’m giving it two stars because I’m sure it has its fans.
But I caution those seeking straight up VaPer bliss to look elsewhere... unless you really like the lat.
Pipe Used:
Various
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh from tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
never bites and stays lit very easily. but too spicy and too dry. went through an 8 ounce tin. don't think i will be getting any more of this.
Pipe Used:
dublins, apples and brandies
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 10, 2015 | Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
Hmmm. Let me preface this by saying that I don't know if me or the blend was the problem.
This stuff dried out super quick. I took some out and it was damp, and left in on a sheet of paper for about an hour before filling. In that time, it went very dry and was hard to pack and it was flaking.
Lit up quick and easy, and there is the issue, I don't know if the hot and bitter taste was that I dried it out too long, or that is just how it is. Regardless, it was hot and had a bit of a bitter and unpleasant stingy taste on my palate.
It calmed down though, and I found that sipping was best as any amount of quick puffs made it go very hot.
The smoke was thick and dense of good quality VA and a hefty dose of Perique. It was fairly mono the whole way, but I noticed it needed a lot of tamping and attention. The ash was clean and white, and down near the end it got a bit more interesting with some heavier flavors coming through.
All in all, a bit disappointed. Again, it could have been too dried out, but it was just a fairly heavy VaPer which needed a lot of fiddling with to get it to behave with a big tendency to burn hot.
Pretty hefty Nic hit too.
This stuff dried out super quick. I took some out and it was damp, and left in on a sheet of paper for about an hour before filling. In that time, it went very dry and was hard to pack and it was flaking.
Lit up quick and easy, and there is the issue, I don't know if the hot and bitter taste was that I dried it out too long, or that is just how it is. Regardless, it was hot and had a bit of a bitter and unpleasant stingy taste on my palate.
It calmed down though, and I found that sipping was best as any amount of quick puffs made it go very hot.
The smoke was thick and dense of good quality VA and a hefty dose of Perique. It was fairly mono the whole way, but I noticed it needed a lot of tamping and attention. The ash was clean and white, and down near the end it got a bit more interesting with some heavier flavors coming through.
All in all, a bit disappointed. Again, it could have been too dried out, but it was just a fairly heavy VaPer which needed a lot of fiddling with to get it to behave with a big tendency to burn hot.
Pretty hefty Nic hit too.
Pipe Used:
Bent Cherry
Age When Smoked:
2 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 02, 2009 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This broken flake comes in 2 tin sizes....2 ounce and 8 ounce tins. I have a couple of the 8 ounce tins and so my review is from one of them. Not sure how old the tin is as the date stamps are blurred but it's companion has a paper sticker dated September 08 on the base. Once the lid is popped one is greeted by the sight of a broken flake set in layers between paper dividers...which I dumped straightaway. The flakes are medium dark brown with lighter flecks and the smell is pleasantly sour spicey with a citrus undertone, very clean and fresh. It smells young and therein lies it's weakness.... To put it simply...as far as I am concerned this tobacco is marketed far too quickly to live up to the hype written on the label. It's not a bad tobacco by any means but it's far short of it's well known competitors, at least smoked as young as it is. I found it very one dimensional; there was no depth, no richness, no spicy suprises. Greg is a master at either marketing his products or tobacco blending. I completely agree with the first but the jury is still out with the second.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 2009 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Hahhh... This is nor good nor bad tobacco. To me it does not give much pleasure in smoking.
My rate: 2,3
My rate: 2,3
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2022 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is a very authentic tobacco that takes me back to olden times. A solid vapor. The perique is very pronounced. It makes this blend very lively and one that you need to stay on top of less it bite you. It stays lit well. Absolutely best enjoyed with micro puffs. Now it is not uncommon for vapors to leave wretched tongue burn. But it's a real art learning to smoke tobaccos like this. It's not an all day smoke. You want to keep the temperature low, and almost let it go out. Season vapor smokers have nothing to worry about. Now some tobacco's that can burn your tongue, do it in a sneaky way. They fool you, but not this one. It is very straightforward. It also feels like a very dry smoke in the back of your throat. This is not one of those "smooth as chocolate milk" blends.
Rustic Virginia taste and real, authentic perique. There isn't much else detectable here. This blend seems like tobacco in a very pure form, without much polishing. But if you keep the temperature low and let it smolder a little a very nice old flavor begins to come out of it. I hate to use the term woody or earthy, because everyone says it. But this one really puts you in mind of some good old tobacco smoked in the south in the mid 1800s. Took me a few bowls to really figure it out. But the third bowl I'm really enjoying. None the less I won't be buying more of this. It's just a little bit too harsh for me.
Not a great tobacco for the novice. Not an all day smoke. But the vapor purist may love this.
Rustic Virginia taste and real, authentic perique. There isn't much else detectable here. This blend seems like tobacco in a very pure form, without much polishing. But if you keep the temperature low and let it smolder a little a very nice old flavor begins to come out of it. I hate to use the term woody or earthy, because everyone says it. But this one really puts you in mind of some good old tobacco smoked in the south in the mid 1800s. Took me a few bowls to really figure it out. But the third bowl I'm really enjoying. None the less I won't be buying more of this. It's just a little bit too harsh for me.
Not a great tobacco for the novice. Not an all day smoke. But the vapor purist may love this.
Pipe Used:
Old cob
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes and cigars
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 04, 2017 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Strong |
I think this is the best flake from Pease. Red virginia (winey-like) and perique (chily) So this is like smoke cheap red wine with pepper. I dont like red virginia (american tradition), so if you like red winey virginia, try it. If you prefer european virginia (grassy,citrous,leafy ones) stay away. Good quality, just boring for me do to the boring souced-winey red virginia. Winey : like red wine, but cheap one, drugstore wine, poored with water.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Neatly arranged broken flakes that look like little sticks (or thick toothpicks). Perfect moisture. I do not rub it out, I directly stuff these flake sticks into the pipe for best results. Excellent smoking conditions. Pleasurable slow and cool burning. Even if you draw at a higher pace, you never get tongue-bites, it only raises the temperature slightly, never up to a problem.
The blend is composed of Virginia and Perique exclusively; no casing, no flavouring. The Perique is much more peppery than fruity, and this pepper often dominates the smoke. The Virginia mainly releases bread notes and almost no sweetness. It irritates me that every bowl is quite different. Some may find this interesting. Personally I would prefer considerably less pepper out of the Perique here, and a wider palette of Virginia flavours.
The blend is composed of Virginia and Perique exclusively; no casing, no flavouring. The Perique is much more peppery than fruity, and this pepper often dominates the smoke. The Virginia mainly releases bread notes and almost no sweetness. It irritates me that every bowl is quite different. Some may find this interesting. Personally I would prefer considerably less pepper out of the Perique here, and a wider palette of Virginia flavours.
PurchasedFrom:
Internet, www.smokingpipes.com, USA.
Age When Smoked:
New, out of the tin.
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