G. L. Pease Westminster

This blend seems a bit short on flavor. Perhaps some of its subtleties are lost on me, as I prefer a bit more kick, such as can be found in Penzance or EMP. It's fine tobacco though, but there are some drawbacks. It can be difficult to keep lit, perhaps because it's quite moist right out of the tin. Also think it 'provides' slightly more tongue bite than other similar tobaccos. Overall, something that I may want to smoke occasionally, but not a mainstay for me.

OK this is a good English blend but I really don?t see what all this hype about it, it is nicely balanced with high nicotine kick, but also there is a lot of other good English blends in the market today.

Seriously, this blend is nothing if compared to the legendary SG Squadron Leader (if there is any comparison?), and for twice the price I don?t see why should I buy this "MADE IN USA" English blend, as long as I can buy the original, the TRUE English-Lakeland made blend Squadron Leader from SG MADE IS U.K. THE MOTHERLAND!

When I buys red wine, I prefer the wine from France, and when I buys English blend I also prefer when it is from England.

It's a decent English blend. However, there are blends as good or better available in bulk that are a lot more cost effective.

Very good, classic English Mixture, very Latakia-oriented. A true balkan, deep, tasty, it would be one of the best tobaccos around if a foul burning didn't ruin an otherwise pleasant experience.

I agree with the prior reviewer. I found absolutely nothing admirable about this blend. Tin aroma is mostly a smoky, Cyprian Latakia essence. I let the tin air out ocassionally for a year and stored it in a zip-lock, freezer bag. It was a good moisture content when sampled a second time. Upon first light, I received a bitter, rather harsh invasion upon my palate. I persevered however, determined to finish the entire bowl in order to give a definitive, objective review. Flavor/taste was one dimensional after the initial bitterness & harshness subsided. The smoke becomes more tolerable & milder but carries with it little flavor other than a Latakia dominance. I was disappointed that this stuff really didn't deliver the palate pleaser that I was anticipating... but that's just me.

Many seem to like it rather well although many had rated it, like me, an objectional (2) complaining of similar reasons of taste, quality & burn rate. Were they all wrong? No one is ever wrong when it comes to taste preference! I was waiting in anticipation for developing flavor but nothing really noteworthy ever transpired. It certainly wasn't to my liking and didn't agree with my palate. This Latakia forward blend didn't allow the other varietals to play much... mostly just bench warmers. For those who enjoy this stuff, wonderful!

It's obviously not for everyone & especially me. If you are looking for a blend that offers litte more than a Cyprian Latakia flavored tobacco taste, here you go. This GLP offering prompted me to ponder...should I try another GLP English mixture? With so many other quality English/Balkans available, why take the risk of wasting more $$. Just an average blend IMHO, of course... maybe due to a conflict with my palate chemistry, to the trash can, as it were. I'm just an amateur, homeboy blender myself & have created blends with much better flavor. I'm not criticizing G. L. Pease mixtures... it's just one of a few that I've tried. I doubt seriously if I could improve on his D & S Levant mixture however... it's extraordinary with a flavor that will take you back in time & is a delicious Balkan blend.

There is so much more out there to be enjoyed at present but the future is looking bleak in the Latakia department. The Syrian variety seems to be gone for good & even "quality" Cyprian is becoming rather hard to acquire. There are blends available today that still taste like "real" tobacco. Drucquer & Sons Levant Mixture is only about thirty-six dollars per 200g tin... almost 1/2 lb. & outweighs many of the overpriced "collectibles" by a tremendous margin. Unbelievable that many rated this a four star blend. That's like saying this is as good as the BSOM... what the hell? D & S Levant Mixture is far superior to this mixture with a similar price tag & has become one of my favorite Balkan blends. English mixtures? Leave it for the Brits. I'm through blabbing via my critique. Next!

I agree with the prior reviewer. I found absolutely nothing admirable about this blend. Tin aroma is mostly a smoky Latakia essence. I let the tin air out ocassionally for a year and stored it in a zip-lock, freezer bag. It was a good moisture content when sampled a second time. Upon first light, I received a bitter, rather harsh invasion upon my palate. I persevered however, determined to finish the entire bowl in order to give a definitive, objective review.

Flavor/taste was one dimensional after the initial bitterness & harshness subsided. The smoke becomes more tolerable & milder but carries with it little flavor other than a Latakia dominance. I was disappointed that this stuff really didn't deliver the palate pleaser that I was anticipating... but that's just me. Many seem to like it rather well although many had rated it, like me, an objectional (2) complaining of similar reasons of taste, quality & burn rate. Were they all wrong? No one is ever wrong when it comes to taste preference! I was waiting in anticipation for developing flavor but nothing really noteworthy ever transpired. It certainly wasn't to my liking and didn't agree with my palate. For those who enjoy this stuff, wonderful!

It's obviously not for everyone & especially me. If you are looking for a blend that offers litte more than a Latakia flavored tobacco taste, here you go. This GLP offering prompted me to ponder...should I try another GLP English mixture? With so many other quality English/Balkans available, why take the risk of wasting more $$. Just an average blend IMHO, of course... maybe due to a conflict with my palate chemistry, to the trash can, as it were. I'm just an amateur, homeboy blender myself & have created blends with much better flavor. I'm not criticizing G. L. Pease mixtures... it's just one of a few that I've tried. I doubt seriously if I could improve on his D & S Levant mixture... it's extraordinary with a flavor that will take you back in time & is a delicious Balkan blend.

NOTE: 2018 Addendum: I have read about a few of G. L. Pease's quality, "Champagne" blends that have received rave reviews but unfortunately, command a premium and remain out of reach for the average piper... Bohemian Scandal for instance. Maybe his most famous but how is the average piper ever going to know this positively... like so many other world famous blends that are "Gone With The Wind".

How would many of these Latakia ratings turn out if people who don't favor Latakia were to voice their opinion? I think pipers that are "hung up" enough on Latakia blends to pay $50.00 + for a tin of the Germain's BS or $200.00 for a small tin of "wimpy" Penzance should move on & leave their palate cravings behind. I could purchase two pounds of Levant mixture for less than that & I think it's much better even from a fresh tin. However, if they've got the $$, more power to them.

There is so much more out there to be enjoyed & the future seems to be looking brighter. There are blends available today that still taste like "real" tobacco. Drucquer & Sons Levant Mixture is only about thirty-six dollars per 200g tin & outweighs the overpriced "collectibles" by a tremendous margin. I'm through ranting... I urge people to come to their senses but in the end, there will always be people who have more money than sense... Do I care if they pay hundreds to obtain a tiny tin of air to satisfy their whims? Not in the least & don't believe inflated prices help the economy... Like J. D. Wentworth says... "It's your money," but not for long! Next!

Briarpatch wrote:

>>> Preface: I have been smoking Dunhill Standard Mixture Medium for near-on 30 years, believing that it has no equal anywhere on earth. But it is gone now, and so I begin a quest for my Holy Grail: A substitute to replace the standard on which all English tobaccos are based. In an email from Mr. Pease about his possible substitutes he suggested that I start with Westminster. Well, I haven't much good to say about the stuff, though I had eagerly anticipated it. Westminster is long on the strong/harsh aspects and short on the rich/creamy/smoky/complex aspects. <

>>> Description: BLEND 805 Blend 805 was the absolute standard, the hallmark blend - in the same range as Dunhill 965 and Dunhill Standard Mixture, various Rattrays blends, and a multitude of now long gone blends and compounds from legendary English and Scottish houses. <<<<<

description of Blend 805 reminded me on Westminster - was it Friedman&Pease or older ? but i am sure it was not english - it was US made

the Westminster Tobacco:

Named after the Westminster Community Schools in Vermont

The tobacco comes in a peanut jar with 2 oz.

Smell: forest, ham, spices

Taste: Lots of Latakia - then times this times this, quite unbalanced.

To make it positive to say, not the herb to get it to smoke by the way. The Virginia is too underpowered. Nicotine medium strong - Is clearly the Latikia although smokes sweet, but has little nicotine.

Notes: Tabak: 2,5 stars

as to be a London Mixture failed : 1,5 stars

edit:

Just to say, never heard from Blend 805 untill this week. Maybe because the lack of internet LOL

The aroma is a mixture of leather, horse sweat and extinguished fire camp. Sounds like Latakia? Well, too much Latakia in this case. It creates a strange taste of ashes mixed with soap. This being said, this tobacco as a certain balance and it burns well.

Preface: I have been smoking Dunhill Standard Mixture Medium for near-on 30 years, believing that it has no equal anywhere on earth. But it is gone now, and so I begin a quest for my Holy Grail: A substitute to replace the standard on which all English tobaccos are based.

In an email from Mr. Pease about his possible substitutes he suggested that I start with Westminster. Well, I haven't much good to say about the stuff, though I had eagerly anticipated it. Westminster is long on the strong/harsh aspects and short on the rich/creamy/smoky/complex aspects. When you first light up a bowl of SMM and breath it in through your nose and swirl the smoke in your mouth, it is a true thing of wonder, fine enough to want to eat, and good enough to forego desert in lieu of a pipe every time (well, except Thanksgiving...). Not so with Westminster. This is just a ho-hum smoke, nothing that would develop anticipation for the next bowl. And certainly nothing like the magic of SMM that kept me anticipating for 3 decades...

Moisture content is slightly dry (right out of a fresh tin) and burn rate a tad fast, though neither is egregious.

This is the 4th Pease blend I have tried (Caravan, DaVinci, & Maltese Falcon being the others), none having been to my liking. In my drawer and coming up are Odyssey, Kensington, & Blackpoint. We'll see...

If you like (or would like to try) English blends without rich smokiness (and why you'd enjoy that is beyond me) perhaps you'll find something here.

I, in order to make use of this tin, will mix it 50/50 with Pirate Kake, the one being clean and a bit harsh, the other richly smoky, boring and mild. I think it will result in my being able to finish off both with good flavor!