G. L. Pease Westminster

I want to state up front that I am a fan of Greg Pease; that I like his english blends; have discussed english blending with him and how he helped bring the Drucquer and Sons english blends back to their former glory. Greg has been the blender for our NASPC yearly blends since 2000.

Although around since 2007, I didn't try this blend until this summer. I read our reviews and noted that some thought it four star quality, while others didn't feel as strongly. So, I bought a tin and popped it. Most definitely an english blend - what I classify as a "sour english" with a nice solid smokey quality. Yes, the cut was somewhat rough. However, this wasn't a problem as my method is to put some on a sheet of paper and let it sit out overnight. The next day I rub it out to a smaller consistency. From the first bowl forward it was enjoyable - moderately strong and smokey with an underlying solidity that made it an above average smoke. The only problem that I had with this blend was that each bowl became increasingly more and more peppery as I came down to the finish. I am not talking tongue bite here - but a spiceyness that showed itself consistently in every bowl. I thought: "this blend is just too dense for my tastes".

Here's how I solved it. I had previously purchased five or six tins of the Orlik-era Early Morning Pipe (why - I don't know) and they were just sitting around mocking me. So, I popped one and began to mix-down the Westminster with it. The EMP, by the way, was poorly sealed and bone dry and had to be rehydrated - terrible for a tin that, at most, was seven years old or younger. After some experimenting, I found that the magic button-pushing blend was 60 per cent Westminster and 40 per cent EMP. Try it - you'll like it.

My natural inclination is to give Greg's english blends four-star ratings, but any blend that I have to alter this much to make it a good smoke loses a star - 3 stars, but I still reccommend it.

update on 1/22/14 since original review on 8/27/13. I have update this one to 3 stars from my original 2. It just really needed some extra aging. I will certainly purchase again but will wait at least a year before opening and then will keep in one of my pipe tin humidors to age a little longer. I have even been able to get used to the chunky cut and what needs to be done to pack it properly. Bravo G.L. Pease, but I would suggest that you include a recommendation to age this one on the packaging. The tobacco is nowhere near as skunky and proper English flavor profile that I love has developed with time. I will leave my original review below for comparison:

I really wanted to like this blend. Alas, I find that it never jumps out at me, and I never think about it unless I see the tin. When I see the tin, I sometimes decide to pack a bowl and hope that I may like it more.

There are a few problems with this tobacco. The first is that the cut is not fun to pack. It is all chunky - and not in a good way like Hyde Park. I love latakia blends and have over a dozen in stock at any given time. My favorites range from My Mixture 965 to Commonwealth (I absolutely love SG's Westmorland Mixture but put it in a category of its own). This one would not make my top ten. The other problem that I seem to notice is that the peatiness that I normally enjoy from English blends (think great Islay Single Malt)seems to be more skunky than Bowmore-like or Laphroaig-like. This becomes more pronounced when drinking something sweet while smoking this blend. Maybe that will quell with age.I will try to age what remains in a sealed jar and see if it gets better over time.

I am currently smoking it in a pipe dedicated to latakia blends (I have more of these than any other pipe) as I write this. One time, I even tried smoking it in a Savinelli Author pipe that I had previously dedicated to Westmorland mixture to see if that would help. It did not.

Is this a bad tobacco? No! I just feel that I get a bigger bang for my buck with other latakia blends like Ashton Artisan's blend, Ashton Consummate Gentleman, Squadron Leader and several others. If you have tried this blend and really like it, then you might want to try some other latakia blends and see if it is just that you like English/latakia blends. I would still say this is better than Frog Morton or Frog Morton Across the Pond. I would really like to find a latakia blend from North America that I think can compete with Europe. If the price was lower, I would purchase a couple of tins and cellar them for a few years to see what happens (one for two years and another for three). But I just can't justify spending the money when blends like Ashton's Artisan's blend and so many others are just amazing right out of the tin. I have made my own latakia blends that have turned out better than this one. Sorry, G.L. Pease, but I must be honest. One thing can be said, and that is that it does burn rather cool and does not bite in the least bit. I may change my review after I have aged it for a while in a dark, cool corner of my basement...where I age all my wine and Belgian ales.

As another reviewer mentioned, some age does this blend wonders. I am smoking one of 3 tins purchased in 2011. The tin I initially popped 2 years ago seemed very harsh mid bowl and jumpy as if the components didn't meld.

Fast fwd 2 years, sampling 2nd tin in an Ardor bulldog used for English blends. It is very integrated. The main word that comes to mind is "creamy". It is hard to discern the components. There is plenty of dark leaf in there, but the leather and salty aspects of Latakia are in the background to my taste buds. The smokiness is mostly sensed on the nasal exhale. There is a slight sweetness on the lips. This mixture has enough body and depth, but does not overwhelm the senses. Great for the early afternoon pipe.

I find the flavor experience above is consistent from top to bottom. I consider this a good thing. Tin desc. calls this an everyday English. I agree. Nicotine impact is low. This one is a keeper and I plan to add more tins to the cellar.

Another good blend from GLP. I wouldn't consider this outstanding, and I don't think it was meant to be. This blend to me is like mashed potatoes, and mashed potatoed when made well are very good, but they are still just mashed potatoes. It delivers what it promises. I found it to be smooth and simple. My tin was very dry, unlike review below me was too wet? Might've been a different smoke if it was more moist. Rating: Enjoyable.

Update: I smoked this out of my "magic" pipe, a 50 year old Larsen Copenhagen with a deep bowl and wide fishtail mouthpiece. I call it "magic" because it seems to bring out the best in every smoke. I really tasted the earthiness and sweetness of this tobacco. It was not nearly as simple as I thought out of my other pipe. This is a slow smoker, fast pulls can exacerbate the earthy tones towards unpleasantness. At one point it really tasted like a campfire, and the exhale reminded of me of that feeling after sipping a nice whiskey or scotch, with a warmth/spicyness. I'm sticking with 3 stars, and my rating: enjoyable.

This blend reminds me of an old favorite, Early Morning Pipe, but with more of a lat kick. Tasty, woodsy, and not too strong. An excellent morning blend or a late night taste with a good single malt. Classic English.

Smelled wonderful in the tin and did not disappoint, a very good english blend.

Complexity is what I'm after when I reach for Westminster. And that's what I get. I It hasn't hit my "remarkable" button yet. Maybe too young? It has, however, effectively peaked my curiosity towards other Pease blends, for which I have tried none. I know, shame on me.

Update: I have been working my way through my tin and this blend surely warrants an upgrade to three stars. A nice, frilly English blend.

Like all blends from Pease, quality tobaccos and a thoughtful hand in the blending room. A very English - English blend. Medium sweet Virginias, nice light Orientals and Cyprus Latakia in spades. Flavors show that typical Pease balance.

The only problem I have is the bite, sipping the smoke helps but if you let your attention lag for five minutes your tongue may pay the price. Nice blend - I just don't want to have to be so diligent in my pipe puffing.

I'll try another tin later, sometimes my tongue seems to be more susceptible to bite than others. And since I usually don't have harshness issues with Mr. Pease's mixtures, I'll have to double check this one, and Update as needed.

I found with this one, like Odyssey, needed some airing and drying time before it hit its stride (not counting the very first smoke, a not unusual occurrence for me), giving the best smokes a few weeks after opening the tin. It is very light in the nicotine content. It also needs to be packed rather densely for best results. The flavor is initially bitter, though I'm very sensitive to bitterness (a hereditary trait, evidenced by the cream and sugar I take in my coffee). Later, however, it smooths out and is rather earthy, spicy, and pleasant. There is a kind of "dissonance" in the flavor that I absolutely love; it kind of dances on the palate and keeps it on its toes (if a palete can be said to have toes). There is also a real treat here in the sidestream. There it is smoky and sweet, with a definite earthiness and some je ne se quoi. Overall, this reminds me of a rubbed out version of Germain's latakia flake, one of my favorites. With more nicotine this would be a gold-standard for me. As it is, it is quite good. I put it in my favorites in part because I have not been overly impressed with any latakia mixtures lately.