G. L. Pease Embarcadero

This one was a puzzle for me.

I loved the tactile presence of the flake; it's like velvet to the touch. And, in some ways, it's like velvet in the bowl as well -- very soft and smooth. Which is extraordinary to me in a blend based on red Virginia, which has always struck me as a harsher or rougher smoke in the past.

There were individual puffs that were revelatory. But, most times, the Orientals merged so well with the Virginias that they disappeared altogether. I didn't expect them to be showcased here -- I realize Embarcadero is not an Oriental blend, per se -- but I really expected them to at least be perceptible over the course of a bowl.

Maybe the emphasis on Orientals in the tin description raised my expectations too high; maybe I made it through an entire tin without finding the pipe that would help this blend really shine. Whatever the case, it was somewhat of a disappointment to me.

But, as a fan of Greg Pease's blends in general, I bought a lot of this when it was first released, so I may well come back and revise this review after making my way through another tin or two.

The virginias in this mix are impeccable, but I've learned that I simply can't tolerate Izmir. The flavor is sweet and the room note -- for a Va - is remarkable, and there's just enough nicotine to be noticed. It smokes cool, but bites more than I'm willing to accept for a Va (unlike Filmore, which seems to be mostly the same tobacco with perique instead of Izmir). I can understand why some people like this, but it just didn't ring my bell. As others have pointed out, though, there may be some serious aging potential here, so I've cellared some more tins.

Sweet and sour chicken, anyone?

This is a striking, original mixture that makes you sit up and go, whoa, now that's something different. The sweet and sour taste is most unusual, and may be one of a kind.

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want sweet and sour chicken for every meal, and I find it hard to imagine making this a regular part of my rotation.

It's an interesting change of pace, and the quality is indisputable, but I probably won't be buying this one again any time soon.

A tobacco that looks and smokes very similar to Fillmore. The difference is that it tastes slightly less spicy (of course much less citrusy, since Fillmore had Perique and Embarcadero has orientals), it is smoother and slightly lighter in nicotine (thus more tolerable to my taste).

Like Fillmore, it smokes dry, regular and with absolutely no bite. It is quite a "quiet" tobacco, with no particular highs but pleasant and refined. To me, like its brother, it is still a bit underwhelming and with some slightly troubling (but almost undetectable) bitter notes. I can see myself smoking it with pleasure, savoring its subtleties, but not craving for it. It will certainly appeal to those who like a Camel cigarette once in a while and seek something similar in a pipe tobacco but with more body, complexity and refinement.

Nice, but unspectacular: again, for me, orientals without Latakia do not strike a particular impression. Certainly better anyway IMHO than, let's say, Presbyterian Mixture (a similar blend that comes to my mind).

Sorry, this not my cup of tea. I can see that it is high quality tobacco, but it is too dry and strong for me. Nice tin aroma though.