G. L. Pease Westminster
(3.34)
Westminster: The very essence of the traditional English mixture; rich, elegant, refined, and exquisitely balanced. New World red Virginias are enhanced with a gentle caress of bright leaf, then lavishly seasoned with rich oriental tobaccos and generous measures of noble Cyprus mountain latakia. Westminster is a satisfying blend, presenting layers of flavor to delight the senses and develop in the bowl. A perfect everyday English mixture. Full bodied.
Notes: Westminster was introduced in January, 2007.
Details
| Brand | G. L. Pease |
| Series | Heirloom Collection |
| Blended By | Gregory Pease |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 ounce tin, 16 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.34 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 31 - 40 of 282 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 15, 2022 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Tin with a production date of "September 1, 2021.
Appearance: a high-quality blend, from light and red Virginia, to dark latakia, with flecks of orientals, presented in a ribbon-like, almost evenly sliced form. Pease claims that in creating Westminster, he carefully studied the composition of Dunhill London Mixture, trying to achieve, among other things, an external resemblance. At first glance, the blend may seem a bit dry to the touch, but in fact its moisture content is perfect.
Flavor from the tin: tar, tan leather with its sourness, dry moss in the foreground, with the leather prevailing in my opinion, and the latakia feeling bright but unobtrusive. Wood, earth, sweet hay, dried fruit, paprika are in the background. The woody note is relatively dense and gaining strength in the air, interfering with the main bouquet, but the rest of the notes remain in the background, but noticeable and recognizable. A subtle creamy and creamy note comes in the air to this bouquet after a couple of minutes, completing the composition.
Taste: A balanced bouquet of fresh meadow herbs, chestnuts and dried fruit, with a slight set of spicy spices that are indistinguishable from the components, supported by a noticeable but not too dense note of smokiness from the latakia, adding also a bit of sweet molasses. There is also a slight woody note that intensifies by the middle of the pipe. Virginia also adds to the flavor, the tobacco becomes sweeter, the fruit and herbal note becomes fuller, and the flavor of roasted chestnuts is literally palpable. The latakia, on the other hand, becomes subtle, but still palpable. The tobacco smokes gently, but there is one hitch that a beginner might not like: fresh Virginia, alas, slightly tingles your tongue if you slightly increase the draft. This tobacco should be smoked as slowly and leisurely as possible when fresh. I guess it also doesn't like fuss when it's aged ( jumping ahead - I'm hoping to find an aged can on sale and try it before the fresh one I bought matures). But this blend clearly isn't one of the strong ones - especially when you consider the recommended smoking speed. A full medium pipe gave me a full hour of enjoyment without any hint of nicotine kick. The tobacco burns into an almost white ash, leaving some moisture in the pipe.
In the smoke you can detect, along with the smokiness, smoldering wood and the scent of leather, a subtle musky note. It is loose, but quite persistent.
Bottom line: an absolutely amazing, exceptional blend, even compared to other Gregory Pease blends. It should absolutely be in the collection of every lover of English blends. As for the whole Heirloom Collection, I have mixed feelings about the Maltese Falcon, but Key Largo and Westminster will no doubt find their place on my shelves.
Appearance: a high-quality blend, from light and red Virginia, to dark latakia, with flecks of orientals, presented in a ribbon-like, almost evenly sliced form. Pease claims that in creating Westminster, he carefully studied the composition of Dunhill London Mixture, trying to achieve, among other things, an external resemblance. At first glance, the blend may seem a bit dry to the touch, but in fact its moisture content is perfect.
Flavor from the tin: tar, tan leather with its sourness, dry moss in the foreground, with the leather prevailing in my opinion, and the latakia feeling bright but unobtrusive. Wood, earth, sweet hay, dried fruit, paprika are in the background. The woody note is relatively dense and gaining strength in the air, interfering with the main bouquet, but the rest of the notes remain in the background, but noticeable and recognizable. A subtle creamy and creamy note comes in the air to this bouquet after a couple of minutes, completing the composition.
Taste: A balanced bouquet of fresh meadow herbs, chestnuts and dried fruit, with a slight set of spicy spices that are indistinguishable from the components, supported by a noticeable but not too dense note of smokiness from the latakia, adding also a bit of sweet molasses. There is also a slight woody note that intensifies by the middle of the pipe. Virginia also adds to the flavor, the tobacco becomes sweeter, the fruit and herbal note becomes fuller, and the flavor of roasted chestnuts is literally palpable. The latakia, on the other hand, becomes subtle, but still palpable. The tobacco smokes gently, but there is one hitch that a beginner might not like: fresh Virginia, alas, slightly tingles your tongue if you slightly increase the draft. This tobacco should be smoked as slowly and leisurely as possible when fresh. I guess it also doesn't like fuss when it's aged ( jumping ahead - I'm hoping to find an aged can on sale and try it before the fresh one I bought matures). But this blend clearly isn't one of the strong ones - especially when you consider the recommended smoking speed. A full medium pipe gave me a full hour of enjoyment without any hint of nicotine kick. The tobacco burns into an almost white ash, leaving some moisture in the pipe.
In the smoke you can detect, along with the smokiness, smoldering wood and the scent of leather, a subtle musky note. It is loose, but quite persistent.
Bottom line: an absolutely amazing, exceptional blend, even compared to other Gregory Pease blends. It should absolutely be in the collection of every lover of English blends. As for the whole Heirloom Collection, I have mixed feelings about the Maltese Falcon, but Key Largo and Westminster will no doubt find their place on my shelves.
Pipe Used:
Peterson 69, POTY 2019
PurchasedFrom:
Online
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 21, 2020 | Medium | Medium | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Fantastic English / Balkan Blend. Although it is Latakia dominant, the smokiness from the Latakia is not overwhelming; rather it blends beautifully with the Virginias in creating one of the most uniquely sublime smoking experience.
Pipe Used:
Wessex Freehand, Savinelli Straight Stem Billiard
PurchasedFrom:
Local B&M
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 07, 2018 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
A note up front: I've never had the original Dunhill London Mixture, so even though Westminster was designed as an homage to that venerable blend, I won't be discussing any relation it may or may not have to the tobacco currently smoldering in my pipe.
Anybody who's never had an English blend should start with Westminster. To me, it's the archetype of the genre.
The pros:
I. It's extremely balanced, without too much weight given to any one component. I don't think anyone would describe this as a 'Full English' or a 'Mild English'. It's very middle-of-the-road, in a very good way.
II. It's extremely satisfying, with plenty of smoke volume, and a flavor that's perfectly situated between 'bland' and 'challenging'. If you want to shut out the world and tease apart the nuances of flavors, Westminster can satisfy. If you want to just fill a bowl and smoke without mental gymnastics, Westminster can satisfy.
III. It holds your interest. I've taken a tin of Westminster and one pipe on long backpacking trips, and happily smoked the entire two ounces without ever once wishing I had brought other blends along.
IV. It smokes easily. I like to give it a little drying time, but the ribbon cut packs and lights easily, with about an average number of relights, and very little moisture or dottle left behind in the bowl.
V. It's got a little 'something'. I'm not somebody who can smoke a bowl and tell you all about the individual components in a super nuanced way, but I can tell you the Orientals in Westminster add a zesty spiciness which really helps keep the Latakia from hogging the spotlight.
Lastly a couple very minor cons:
I. The room note isn't exactly pleasing to non-smokers. But hey, it's an English blend. Nobody expects it to smell like Vanilla Cavendish. No points removed.
II. There are often a few twig-like pieces in a tin of Westminster, which I think are Latakia, and which are probably stems. They aren't really a problem, but they don't burn well, and they can interfere with getting a good pack. I tend to remove them if I come across one as I'm packing my bowl. I'd prefer they weren't there, but they in no way reduce my enjoyment of this blend. No points removed.
Westminster may be my all-time favorite tobacco. If tobaccopalypse happened and I could only pick one tobacco, I'd be hard pressed to find one I'd prefer to this. I never order tobacco online without throwing a tin or two of this stuff into my cart. A true desert island smoke.
Anybody who's never had an English blend should start with Westminster. To me, it's the archetype of the genre.
The pros:
I. It's extremely balanced, without too much weight given to any one component. I don't think anyone would describe this as a 'Full English' or a 'Mild English'. It's very middle-of-the-road, in a very good way.
II. It's extremely satisfying, with plenty of smoke volume, and a flavor that's perfectly situated between 'bland' and 'challenging'. If you want to shut out the world and tease apart the nuances of flavors, Westminster can satisfy. If you want to just fill a bowl and smoke without mental gymnastics, Westminster can satisfy.
III. It holds your interest. I've taken a tin of Westminster and one pipe on long backpacking trips, and happily smoked the entire two ounces without ever once wishing I had brought other blends along.
IV. It smokes easily. I like to give it a little drying time, but the ribbon cut packs and lights easily, with about an average number of relights, and very little moisture or dottle left behind in the bowl.
V. It's got a little 'something'. I'm not somebody who can smoke a bowl and tell you all about the individual components in a super nuanced way, but I can tell you the Orientals in Westminster add a zesty spiciness which really helps keep the Latakia from hogging the spotlight.
Lastly a couple very minor cons:
I. The room note isn't exactly pleasing to non-smokers. But hey, it's an English blend. Nobody expects it to smell like Vanilla Cavendish. No points removed.
II. There are often a few twig-like pieces in a tin of Westminster, which I think are Latakia, and which are probably stems. They aren't really a problem, but they don't burn well, and they can interfere with getting a good pack. I tend to remove them if I come across one as I'm packing my bowl. I'd prefer they weren't there, but they in no way reduce my enjoyment of this blend. No points removed.
Westminster may be my all-time favorite tobacco. If tobaccopalypse happened and I could only pick one tobacco, I'd be hard pressed to find one I'd prefer to this. I never order tobacco online without throwing a tin or two of this stuff into my cart. A true desert island smoke.
Pipe Used:
Various
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 08, 2016 | Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
One of my favorite blends. I smoke a rotation of English/Balkan blends, and this is currently my #2 after Night Cap. It's more mellow than Night Cap, in that it is less peppery and earthy, and a little sweeter. The mixture in the tin smells great, with a distinct Latakia presence. On lighting, the Latakia bursts open, but is quickly balanced by the other leaves, some sweet Virginias and spicy Orientals. The blend is so well balanced, at any time you can single out the different flavors if you focus, but they merge together wonderfully and stay that way for about half the bowl. The tobaccos are of very fine quality in their aromas. The second half tends to get sweeter, developing an egg-nog like character. My guess is the Virginias are prepared in a way that causes this, however it doesn't taint the pipe. The spiciness lingers and the Latakia hangs on all the way through, making for a rich finish. This is a rich blend with good complexity, but mellow enough to enjoy when you're not quite in the mood for a monster blend. I recently got 8 ounce tins for the "cellar"
Pipe Used:
Nording, Brogg
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
Age When Smoked:
new, 6 mo.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2015 | Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Strong |
An underwhelming dryness and generally messy appearance hide a very well balanced and fantastic blend.
A cool, leathery, and very full Latakia flavor sits on a musky base to deliver a good nicotine hit. Copious smoke production leaves unsurprisingly dry bowls at the end. The modern reference for English blends.
A cool, leathery, and very full Latakia flavor sits on a musky base to deliver a good nicotine hit. Copious smoke production leaves unsurprisingly dry bowls at the end. The modern reference for English blends.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 19, 2014 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
IMO, Greg Pease has succeeded in (re)creating a textbook "medium English" balance with Westminster, but don't try it expecting something like you might get from the Lakelands, etc. Tin note and taste are of a piece, all right (no March Hares here), with the Lat up front, a nose ahead of the peaty, fragrant, not-so-spicy Orientals, with a solid, soft and broad swath of VAs supporting and flanking, but never stealing the show. Moisture from the young tin I smoked was perfect for smoking straightaway. W handles, packs and lights with ease, then it burns down pretty fast compared to some others of its ilk. Even young, the Lat is soft, and it smells to me of sandalwood. Too bad I am tired of the "sandalwood" thing, which I mention because this did affect my experience with the W. The VAs are sweet but not saccharin, and rich-ish rather than piquant, and they work well to steer the blend, along with the fairly mellow (for GLP...), loamy Oriental leaf. The tobacco seems ready for smoking, but it's hardly "pre-conditioned" in the sense that a "true English English" might be. Room note is nice - for a blend with Orientals in it. Strength just nudges medium. Aftertaste is "best of", all the way.
I suspect that most who want a first quality, "typical English blend" will like Westminster just fine, as long as they are OK with the real tobacco aromas and tastes from the varietals in this blend; W is not "helped" by additives, or at least, not much. It is very well balanced, top to bottom, and it is even fairly refined, all but lacking the sharp, almost prickly "tobacco forward" qualities that mark so many GLP blends, especially when they're young. With age, W will likely soften and become even more refined, and I'll give my stash another go in a few months. Meanwhile, I find Westminster very good, and "on target", but not at the top of its category, nor overall. Withal, 3 stars from me, at least for the nonce.
I suspect that most who want a first quality, "typical English blend" will like Westminster just fine, as long as they are OK with the real tobacco aromas and tastes from the varietals in this blend; W is not "helped" by additives, or at least, not much. It is very well balanced, top to bottom, and it is even fairly refined, all but lacking the sharp, almost prickly "tobacco forward" qualities that mark so many GLP blends, especially when they're young. With age, W will likely soften and become even more refined, and I'll give my stash another go in a few months. Meanwhile, I find Westminster very good, and "on target", but not at the top of its category, nor overall. Withal, 3 stars from me, at least for the nonce.
Pipe Used:
various briiars; one is as good as another
PurchasedFrom:
4 Noggins
Age When Smoked:
3 months, plus
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 29, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Strong |
Westminster has a very similar flavor profile to many English mixtures that have the word "Balkan" associated with them. If I were to posit that English mixtures contain four basic flavor elements present in some particular character, strength, and proportion to one another (coffee stout, campfire, cinnamon/spice, and incense), AND that Dunhill's London Mixture has these four in precisely equal proportion, then I would also say that Westminster is balanced heavily to the coffee stout and campfire points of the compass in comparison. It is rich and sweet, with chocolate, coffee, and woodsmoke flavors dominating. There is a bit of spice present as well, more baked goods than incense, though.
I find that the taste of the tobaccos is satisfying, but somewhat muddled overall. I miss some of the sharp edges and detail of my favorite English mixtures (London Mixture and Red Rapparee). And there is a bit too much latakia for my taste. Not that I don't like a lot of latakia, but that I miss what it replaces in the blend. After all, it has to add up to 100%.
And the cut. I'm pretty sure I could make better ribbons with a chef's knife. I guess the wonky blend of shapes and sizes is supposed to be charming, but I have a hard enough time getting a uniform tobacco to burn the way i want. The sense of accomplishment and triumph over adversity I feel when I make it to the bottom of a bowl of Pease tobacco does not bolster my self esteem. It is too much like work. Maybe a broader bowl would help? Maybe a better attitude?
I find that the taste of the tobaccos is satisfying, but somewhat muddled overall. I miss some of the sharp edges and detail of my favorite English mixtures (London Mixture and Red Rapparee). And there is a bit too much latakia for my taste. Not that I don't like a lot of latakia, but that I miss what it replaces in the blend. After all, it has to add up to 100%.
And the cut. I'm pretty sure I could make better ribbons with a chef's knife. I guess the wonky blend of shapes and sizes is supposed to be charming, but I have a hard enough time getting a uniform tobacco to burn the way i want. The sense of accomplishment and triumph over adversity I feel when I make it to the bottom of a bowl of Pease tobacco does not bolster my self esteem. It is too much like work. Maybe a broader bowl would help? Maybe a better attitude?
Pipe Used:
cob
PurchasedFrom:
smoking pipes
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 18, 2014 | Medium | Medium to Strong | Medium | Strong |
Upon first opening the tin, the smell immediately reminded me of 3 Oaks--rich, smokey, and peaty. The tobacco was somewhat moist (just right for a tin, if you ask me), the ribbon cut was even, and the color beautiful--a lovely mix of medium-dark, red/brown virginia, and golden leaf. There were a couple stems, but overall it was clear that the tobacco was of the highest quality, and carefully selected.
I first tried this in one of my better pipes, a one star Ferndown straight dublin. I packed using the infant/lady/man method, and lit carefully. Alas, I am a hot smoker and enjoy thick rich smoke, puffing too frequently. Because of this, I did not at first enjoy Westminster. It burned hot, and I got a touch of tongue bite from the red VA. In the same sitting I then loaded a small Peterson straight billiard, with something of the same experience, though I smoked a bit slower. Third I tried my Stanwell Hans Christian Anderson (church warden), and enjoyed it more. However, on these first three smokes I would have given this a two-star rating.
The next day, I let the tobacco dry for 20 minutes on the table before loading up my Peterson straight bulldog, and I found the experience completely different. It was more forgiving, though I have since continued to find the pack and light particularly important to this blend.
On the charring light the latakia was forward, but paired with the spicy orientals it became almost creamy. This was completely pleasant! On the second light, rainbox peppercorns came to the nose with the earthyness of the red virginias pleasantly sitting in the back of the throat. Wonderful.
This is a round, well-balanced blend. It's earthy, peaty, smokey, with a hint of spice and herbs on the nose. After smoking it for a week now, I absolutely love it, and rate it among the best english blends I've had, if not the best. If Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe is a C note, G.L. Pease Westminster is playing a full Cdim chord. If you want a transcendental experience, carefully and ritualistically prepare your bowl with a cup of hot earl grey, with a dash of cream. Incredible.
I give it 3.5 stars, only docking that last 1/2 for the finicky nature of the blend.
I first tried this in one of my better pipes, a one star Ferndown straight dublin. I packed using the infant/lady/man method, and lit carefully. Alas, I am a hot smoker and enjoy thick rich smoke, puffing too frequently. Because of this, I did not at first enjoy Westminster. It burned hot, and I got a touch of tongue bite from the red VA. In the same sitting I then loaded a small Peterson straight billiard, with something of the same experience, though I smoked a bit slower. Third I tried my Stanwell Hans Christian Anderson (church warden), and enjoyed it more. However, on these first three smokes I would have given this a two-star rating.
The next day, I let the tobacco dry for 20 minutes on the table before loading up my Peterson straight bulldog, and I found the experience completely different. It was more forgiving, though I have since continued to find the pack and light particularly important to this blend.
On the charring light the latakia was forward, but paired with the spicy orientals it became almost creamy. This was completely pleasant! On the second light, rainbox peppercorns came to the nose with the earthyness of the red virginias pleasantly sitting in the back of the throat. Wonderful.
This is a round, well-balanced blend. It's earthy, peaty, smokey, with a hint of spice and herbs on the nose. After smoking it for a week now, I absolutely love it, and rate it among the best english blends I've had, if not the best. If Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe is a C note, G.L. Pease Westminster is playing a full Cdim chord. If you want a transcendental experience, carefully and ritualistically prepare your bowl with a cup of hot earl grey, with a dash of cream. Incredible.
I give it 3.5 stars, only docking that last 1/2 for the finicky nature of the blend.
Pipe Used:
Ferndown dublin
PurchasedFrom:
The Senate
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 02, 2010 | Extremely Mild | None Detected | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Pleasant to Tolerable |
God forbid someone says anything against Pease tobaccos... Whenever someone does not like Pease's tobaccos, some reviewers become defensive or attack the reviewer like the one on top of me... MY TASTES AND IMPRESSIONS ARE MINE AND SHOULD NOT BE CRITISIZED BY ANYONE! I don't critisize people that find Pease's tobaccos to be great, splendid, etc.
Original Review 2 oct 10
Sighs. This was rumored to be a substitute to Dunhill's London Mixture.
LM was rich, spicy, slightly sweet and tasty. And I miss it very much. This is tasteless, bland, impersonnal. Westminster is no replacement of LM. Pretending to be so is nothing less than an insult to Dunhill.
I will NEVER buy any GL Pease tobacco again. I might be dumb but I ain't stupid.
Original Review 2 oct 10
Sighs. This was rumored to be a substitute to Dunhill's London Mixture.
LM was rich, spicy, slightly sweet and tasty. And I miss it very much. This is tasteless, bland, impersonnal. Westminster is no replacement of LM. Pretending to be so is nothing less than an insult to Dunhill.
I will NEVER buy any GL Pease tobacco again. I might be dumb but I ain't stupid.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 17, 2010 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
This tobacco, as the other ones by G L Pease, is insanely overrated. It is flat, harsh and boring. Skip this and the other Pease offerings and by a real English tobacco: MyMixture (yes by Orlik), Penzance, Royalty, Squadron Leader or Presbytarian. G L Pease' single talent is writing the alluring descriptions on his cans. Unfortunately, the tobacco is nowhere near those little poems.
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