G. L. Pease Embarcadero

I like almost all of Pease's blends. Embarcadero is a medium strength virginia and Oriental leaf blend. Its not really unlike Regent's Flake. And might be compared with Gawith's Sam's Flake or McClellands Pebblecut. But this one is perhaps not as complex as the others I just listed. it certainly has its fans, though. I like oriental non latakia blends. I love Pebblecut in fact, and McC's #24, but this one just felt a bit 'meh' to me. There is nothing wrong, just not enough that is right. I prefer Pebblecut for instance because (after a bit of drying out) the taste is genuinely complex....an overused word in these reviews. But it is exactly that. Embarcadero is very nice and the main thrust is Virginia. The form is broken flake....as many of Pease's blends are, and C&Ds blends. The form is exactly like Exhausted Rooster for example. Maybe I wanted more of Izmer or whatever exactly the oriental leaf is, but maybe thats not it, either. I dont know. This is subjective this pipe smoking thing....and this blend has a huge fan base. I know it sells better than other Pease Virginia blends, so maybe its just me. I liked it, the taste is subtle with Virginia in front. The nic hit is approaching medium...maybe reaching it actually. The room note is OK. Smoke it in a smaller bowl as it does tend to get a wee bit monotonous toward the end. Good... maybe very good...tasty.... but perhaps not great.

Revised 1/1/2017- Sitting over in my stash of "misfit tobaccos", I decided to retry this blend from my original open tin (2 years old). It was bone dry ( I mouth breathed on it a few times for packing ) and I couldn't remember why I didn't like this ? Upon lighting , I immediately remembered the blend , but this time I felt like there was more to this than just "spicy heat". Reading the tin I realized I was dealing with just a Virginia and Izmir blend. There was no burley or Latakia to tame this. However, I don't know if it was a my new "Mental outlook", tin age, or drying, but this blend was improved. I was now getting a very Sweet and Sour smoke, without the heat, almost like I was dealing with a VaPer. I think I finally realized what Greg was trying to accomplish. The only other blend that I remember smoking with Izmir is C&d's "Sunday Picnic" and it has a similar flavor profile and had similar spicy heat.

Embarcadero, comes ready to smoke,is a full 2ozs. and will satisfy those "N" cravings ( I'm very surprised at so many "Medium" ratings). Just don't expect to fire away on this one, as it could get harsh and blister your tongue. I do recommend letting this rest for 6 months (1 star fresh /3star aged

Embarka is a pretty good broken flake, smokes slow, easy to pack and pretty darn tasty. Full Bodied in my thinking, not for the weak of heart, I wish they had left out the izmir leaf, not a great fan of that, or lightened up on the perique. But it is a tasty smoke. Recommended for vaper fans.

I find this blend satisfying every time I smoke it. In the same family as a couple of C&D beauties: Sunday Picnic and Red Carpet, which are both stronger in nicotine. Not sure which of the three I like best but they are all quite good when in the right mood.

Very easy to smoke. Not a fussy tobac. Reminds me a bit of Dunhill standard mixture. Good not great.

Sweet at the start with the high frequency of the Virginian coming through mid-bowl. A pleasurable experience, the blend is flavorful and satisfying from beginning to end. Sweetness and fruit are not too strong and coffee notes remain throughout the burn.

I cellar-ed this product in January 2011 and at this writing have smoked half the tin in the past 90 days. It stored well and retained just enough moisture to hold a broader range of flavors during this period.

Even burning, seemingly well cured and smooth smoking. From the three others I have tried, I estimate that most of this brand's blends are not hurried to market or overly topped.

It was bought from a shop in Arizona, where the retail price of $15.00 was on the high end, but I will choose this particular brand and consider another blend first. Acceptable quality, the third product in G.L. Pease line that I have tasted.

Another unique and complex witches brew by wunderkind Greg Pease.

Sweet dark and creamy rich virginias developes with deftly blended izmer. I'm thinking there might be a bit of cigar leaf here as well.

Folks, there is a complex myriad of flavors here far beyond my descriptive abilities. I believe every smoker will percieve this quite differently.

Setting : Wintry evening with a snifter of brandy watching Independence Day or really any good adventure film where the good guys win.

*My 50th Review*

I have not reviewed for a long time, in part because I was too busy, and in part because I just haven't been excited by anything lately, tobacco wise.

First, this is a nice, earthy, spicy, slightly sweet weed. Smells very sweet in the tin, almost aromatic. But in the pipe it is just a refined, natural taste. This is what I was hoping to get from Peterson's Irish Whiskey and other similar things I have smoked in the last year or two. Quite strong, really. After smoking this, Westminster (by the same blender) really seemed tame in the nicotine department.

Also, I found this much better in the presentation and mechanics department than Filmore. Maybe I just got a bum tin of Filmore; will try that one again later.

Don't know about the Izmir; didn't really taste anything I would describe as turkish. But the overall effect was nice, and I don't doubt that leaf added to this, however covertly in my case.

A solid smoke, well worth the try.

I would say this blend comes under the heading of all day blends. Why? Well, it is very mild, easy on the tongue, has a good flavor and aroma, and it can be smoked without sitting and giving it you all attention to get the little nuances out of it. It is what it is, a nice VA with touches of Oriental mingling through it. It smells like a sweet VA in the pouch and is composed of a semi rubbed out medium to dark brown leaf, and it was of the right moisture content to smoke out of the tin. It loaded easy after a little more rubbing out and it stayed lit almost all the way down in a lazy, slow, creamyness that is very enjoyable. It never has a high point nor does it have a low point, it stays coonsistant all through the smoke. It could not bite you if you wanted it too. At the very bottom it does taste a bit ashy, but that is at the very bottom and it smokes down to a powdery ash with no dottle left in the pipe. I liked this blend, wished it was just a little sweeter but it pleases with the smoothness of the smoke. The room note is all pipe, not one tht will gather people but not one to chase them away either. All in all, a good smoke and I would recommned trying it.