G. L. Pease Westminster

After reading reviews of this tobacco, I was so excited to spend the big bucks to try it. The first bowlful was okay, but boy has it gone downhill since then! My problem is that I have to continually 'fight' this tobacco. Hard to light. Hard to keep lit. Hard to puff. Just not an enjoyable experience at all. This stuff cost me $14 for a 2 oz tin. Thing is, I can get an ounce and a half of el cheapo drugstore tobacco like Prince Albert for less than 3 bucks and actually enjoy it much much more.

I have read others talking about various ways to age, dry or otherwise treat this stuff. Look, I am not a tobacco chemist. I do not have a cellar, nor do I want one, nor do I care to take time to somehow treat what I have spent many a hard earned buck on. I want something that I can take straight from the package and smoke and enjoy. This is definitely not it, and it has in essence turned me off of GLP altogether.

Update: 10/28/09 I opened a tin of London Mixture (Orlik) last week and compared it with Westminster that has been properly jarrred. The harshness I mentioned with Wes' before would be better defined as an ashy note. When I find an appealing tobacco I can smoke it bowl after bowl, and Wes' cannot even hold a candle to LM by Orlik.

Westminster certainly has the credentials by its birth to the House of Pease. I feel great efforts were afforded it at its inception, yet this homage to London Mixture pales, as well as, individually standing by itself. No quality corners were cut in its components or construction. Whereas Odyssey's depth and sweetness I covet, Wes' appears unnecessarily dry and harsh as if some austere measure to casing and topping had been employed in its manufacture. Mind you the Raspberry Cocoa Cavendish overload isn't acceptable either, but by gum those early blenders had an innate sense when culling and curing tobaccos. My best indicator in judging a new tobacco blend is how quickly a tin lasts. Westminster is lying about my house whereas Odyssey instantly disappeared.

I did not enjoy this at all a waste off my time and money.I may have had a bad batch.i guess i'll never no .

I think Cornell and Diehl's Cyprian Latakia is as characteristic as McClelland's ketchup smell, but I'm starting to develop an aversion to it here. It works great in Gaslight or Quiet Nights, but if you're going to advertise an all-day English blend as a replacement for some perceived deficiency in Dunhill's London Mixture, blend with an eye toward harmony.

American artisan blenders are doing with Latakia what American microbrewers did with hops - favoring it to the detriment of the blend. It's the sign of an unsophisticated palate.

Stick with London Mixture if you're looking for London Mixture, it's far better than this impostor.

Took awhile to figure this one out as it is fairly complex. Four bowls smoked and I am really let down by this one after reading many good things about it. Tongue bite is prominent. Throat affects were light. Actually had a sore tongue after first bowl and thought it was just me or a reaction to always having to light it back up. Frustrating is about it in a word I guess I could say if a one word summary is warranted here. I won't be buying it ever again and I can tell it won't get any better with age, probably worse.

Can't say i like this after 6 bowls in 4 pipes after 3 weeks time. Too close to cigar leaf taste for me and the ol woman who can tolerate alot of lat/ oriental fumes can't stand it. Seems like after awhile it tastes like what a dirty ashtry smells like.Maybe i got a bad tin as I do smoke 5 Balkans in my rotation and can't get past that cigar taste in this one. took alot of attention to keep it lit and with all the relights I got tounge burned. Won't be getting anymore .

This tobacco is not for me, too subtle, too bitey, and smells downright weird. although I can see why some would love this. Its certainly a tobacco to be treated with respect, insomuch as amaturish packing or the slightest misstep will make it taste awefull.

I have little patience for tobaccos like this, having only been smoking pipes for a few years. perhaps I will "grow into it" but I doubt it.

I'll stick with my sweet delicious smokes that taste nothing like tobacco, if this is an example of what is the "best" tobaccos are like.

Update: awefull stuff