G. L. Pease Embarcadero

I think of this like the wise old uncle to Sunday Picnic, if you're familiar with that, and the younger cousin to Fillmore. (As a side note, I get the feeling that for every good C&D blend, there is a GL Pease blend just like it but much more sophisticated. Master/apprentice situation under that roof for sure.)

Anyway, this is a gift to Virginia lovers who like to ponder the more earthy, savory qualities of pipe tobacco, yet without having to go Latakia land. As everyone remarks, complex red Virginias are in the foreground - darker, matured, etc. - and the Izmir gives that spice we like, and also a good degree of mustiness that really melds well with the red Virginias. The sourness is great, like what a touch of vinegar does to something fried (and salty). The blend is also ripe for fermentation, does not take long to transform.

The blend is still medium bodied, and very well balanced at any age. As noted, this has more worldly experience than Sunday Picnic, which is green in comparison, and but it's not as mature and complex as Fillmore, for which the touch of Latakia opens all kinds of terrifyingly delightful doors.

Embarcadero is a delightful Virginia Oriental blend with a distinct spiciness. The flake presentation in the can is very nice, although some may find the tobacco somewhat moist. The room note is quite nice out of the tin. My wife commented on how nice it it smelled in the tin. The room note is pleasant , with an overall nice medium flavor. It lights very easily for me. It pairs wonderfully with a nice cup of Ethiopian Harrar coffee in the morning. The sweetness of the Virginia's is somewhat subdued, but all in all, a nice blend.

You know how smells can instantly transport you back in time? I had that olfactory trip when I opened a tin of this delightful blend. It took me back to the seventies when I started smoking a pipe and was buying drug-store Amphora in the green pouch. Don't get me wrong, Embarcadero is an infinitely finer tobacco than that, but the tin note is indeed similar: lots of grass and hay, with a spicy top note. (And that old Amphora was better than most stuff on the shelves at that time.)

This has the perfect moisture content right out of the tin. The broken flakes fall into shreds that I think are best gathered together in a pinch and stuffed in the bowl lengthwise in a somewhat loose pack, perhaps with a bit of tinder on top, leaving room for expansion. The result is a cool and slow burn with no relights, and despite the tendency of all my pipes to gurgle I found it to be a dry smoke as well.

I like pure Virginias as part of my rotation, but like a VaPer, this blend is a good way to enjoy my favorite leaf with a bit of added interest, here provided by the Izmir. It lends an incense-like, spicy fragrance and also its own floral sweetness to the blend. This relationship between the two leaves evolves down the bowl in a give-and-take that keeps things interesting. It took me a few bowls to appreciate these subtleties, but now I find this is an excellent change of pace from a pure Virginia or VaPer. It also leaves a mildly sweet, pure tobacco aftertaste.

This blend starts off with what I would describe as a touch of cedar and a yeasty taste. As it progresses, one may detect dark toast and light roast coffee. This blend is average on heat, and should not be pushed with puffing as it may get bitter. This seems to be common to many high Burley or Oriental blends. If this happens all you need to do is drastically slow the puffing for a minute or two. Maybe even let it go out, then tamp, and knock much of the ash out, then relight. Taste is consistent, with the exception of the very bottom of the bowl. I'm glad I bought this, even if it's not one of my go tos. It is a good blend to change things up.

I am a Pease fan but don't love everything he makes, and wasn't too sure what to expect with Embarcadero. Lately I've been trying blends showcasing Izmir, so of course I had to give this one a shot. Fortunately I wasn't disappointed. What I feared most was that the Izmir would be overshadowed by too much Virginia, but this was far from the case.

The cut is very interesting. It looks like long, thick (as opposed to wide) ribbons each comprising a few leaves pressed together. After a moment's contemplation I decided not to rub them out and to just stuff 'em in the bowl. This ended up working out fine. The leaf lit readily and quickly, and in a rare instance-- for me-- required not a single relight, ending up in a tidy little pile of perfectly fine ash at the finish. As far as the smoking, there were three chapters: 1. The first dozen or so puffs had me fearing that this was a bland blend. I simply got very little flavor at the outset. Fortunately this lasted only a minute or so. 2. The smoke quickly but sneakily developed a ton of flavor and complexity. The official description is startlingly accurate: there is a definite bready flavor, like the sweet yeasty undertones in a good French bread. Again similar to the official description, it immediately had me thinking of a fine "bready" champagne. The Izmir dances tantalizing upon this toasty-sweet floor. At times the oriental tang is bold, at times subtle, but embracing and exotic throughout. 3. The last third or so of the smoke is a bracing, robust flourish of Izmir. It presents more kick but in a mouthwatering, roundly satisfying, defiantly pleasing way. A delicious climax.

Overall, this was a deeply pleasing smoke, fascinating on the palate, that I can't wait to revisit. One caveat is that I am a fairly consistent puffer, and I suspect that had I not smoked this in a churchwarden, on a cool day, I may have put myself in danger of some major tongue-bite. I attribute this to my own recalcitrance about sipping, not to the blend. I recently tried McClelland's Smyrna and found this not only ketchup-free but less bitey, more Izmir-y, and much, much tastier in every regard. Highly recommended!

Between this and Fillmore, I've found my basic couple of tobaccos. I love this stuff. Upon opening the tin, the aroma of ripe figs and raisins is quite wonderful. I notice the aroma of the oriental tobacco, but it doesn't mute the Virginias or take center stage. Upon lighting the pipe, the oriental leaf immediately subdues the sweetness of the Virginias, but that sweetness is still there. About half way through the bowl I get a hint of a flavor and aroma kind of like roasting chestnuts. Although the tobacco was a little moist for my taste when I first opened the tin, it still lights easily and burns cool all the way to the end of the bowl. I'm going to Columbus Wednesday and plan to buy many tins of this and Fillmore to cellar. I think these will both be spectacular with a little age on them.

I like most Pease blends though some do not burn so well. Not a problem with Embarcadero:It stays lit, has an outstanding tin aroma and the taste is exquisite. Of the last 4 or 5 tins of Pease tobacco that I have purchased, this is easily my favorite over Lombard, Piccadilly, Cairo and Blackpoint (though Blackpoint shows a lot of promise).

Does it measure up to Haddos Delight, Cumberland, Montgomery and Stratford as my favorite blends in this genre? Only time will tell. But I believe this to be a very enjoyable and well-balanced blend in a variety of pipe styles and sizes. I can't ask for much more than that: Well done!

I have yet to find a Pease blend I didn't like. Embarcadero is no exception. It's a very unique blend and does take some care to smoke but when smoked thoughtfully will reward you with a sweet, smoky, and spicy heaven that few can rival. Obviously tobacco reviews will vary and reviewers have their own tastes but it's hard for me to think there isn't something everyone should like. In the tin it has a very sweet grassy smell, but when you light up is when the bliss begins. This is not for me an everyday smoke rather one that needs to be visited once a week or so.

I recently moved away from the SF Bay Area, and after reading some of the reviews of this tobacco, I couldnt resist it, as I am a very big fan of Pease blends, and his Cumberland is at the top of my top ten I think. This tobacco is similar in some ways, it has the richness and complexity of the virginias, complimented by spicy orientals. It is a beautiful appearing tobacco in the tin as well. I smoked this stuff in my clay pipe and it is so full of various flavors and sensations that it is a truly contemplative smoke, if that means anything. I highly recommend this tobacco, try it for yourself, but give yourself some time and smoke it mindfully. If you want to absentmindedly puff away on something, smoke something else because this one deserves your attention.