G. L. Pease Embarcadero
(3.13)
Rich, ripe red virginias are combined with top grade Izmir leaf, pressed and aged in cakes, then sliced into flakes and tinned. The result is a wonderfully fragrant, natural blend with subdued sweetness, more "brut" than "demi-sec", delightful toasty flavors, and hints of nuttiness and roasted coffee. Satisfying and refreshing; a comforting smoke, with enough complexity to keep it interesting.
Notes: Embarcadero was released in July, 2007.
Details
| Brand | G. L. Pease |
| Series | Fog City Selection |
| Blended By | Gregory Pease |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Oriental |
| Contents | Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.13 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 51 - 60 of 96 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 01, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
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!
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!
Pipe Used:
Peterson Churchwarden Prince
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 25, 2013 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant |
A great disappointment. In my HMO doesn't match up to reviews. Will not order more but happy to have tried. Nothing more to be said.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 22, 2012 | Extremely Strong | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A punch in the stomach. This is the second blend, after TEN RUSIANS that messed up my stomach. A nice blend for sure. I smoked it in the morning with my coffee, without having eaten something first…. PUNCH. I smoked it at noon before lunch……..PUNCH. I smoked it in the afternoon with my coffee………PUNCH. But I smoked it in the evening, after dinner, and it was pure pleasure. Very strong in nicotine, but also in taste. It contains Virginia and Oriental tobacco from Izmir. The red color of the Virginia is very clear once you open the tin. But even the room note is nice. If it was a little friendlier with my stomach, I would classify it in one of the top spots on my preferences.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 17, 2011 | Extremely Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Tin: Pease dates his tins on the bottom with a stamp labelled mmddyy. Mine is 101608. A cake that has been sliced, then broken into flakes, which are extremely soft and delicate. Mildly moist and soft. Very light scent of sweet clover hay and raisins. Mostly dark brown with a few flecks of dark tan Izmir oriental. Comes in a unique cardboard package, with double-eared flaps, the same shape as the tin.
Packing and Burning: It is the easiest flake to pack because it is so soft and supple; it was just stuffed into the pipe with moderate force. Takes a lot of puffing to keep it lit.
Taste & Aroma: I can understand many of the mentioned nuances, albeit to a subdued extent: sweet and sour, wine-like, cigaresque, nutty cacao. Perhaps mostly cigaresque, overall, contrasting darkly with the expectaions from the tin aroma. Smooth, soft, and biteless.
Nicotine: Strongly contrasting with the dainty tin aroma, far from being subtle, it is a whale; like nicotine had to be added, to give something with such a pleasant tin scent, so much strength.
Overall: I am going to have to pass on this, as far as giving it the highest rating. I am partly in agreeement with the overdone artisanal tobacco aura. The flapped package is a hassle. The nicotine versus tin aroma is like a wine drunk, when what you really expected was a champagne buzz. A strong 3.2 stars.
Packing and Burning: It is the easiest flake to pack because it is so soft and supple; it was just stuffed into the pipe with moderate force. Takes a lot of puffing to keep it lit.
Taste & Aroma: I can understand many of the mentioned nuances, albeit to a subdued extent: sweet and sour, wine-like, cigaresque, nutty cacao. Perhaps mostly cigaresque, overall, contrasting darkly with the expectaions from the tin aroma. Smooth, soft, and biteless.
Nicotine: Strongly contrasting with the dainty tin aroma, far from being subtle, it is a whale; like nicotine had to be added, to give something with such a pleasant tin scent, so much strength.
Overall: I am going to have to pass on this, as far as giving it the highest rating. I am partly in agreeement with the overdone artisanal tobacco aura. The flapped package is a hassle. The nicotine versus tin aroma is like a wine drunk, when what you really expected was a champagne buzz. A strong 3.2 stars.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 28, 2011 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Not so sure about this one. Perhaps it's the 'Izmir leaf'? For lack of a better word, it tastes a bit bitter. Almost cigarette like. And it is on the wet side.
Sliced flakes including this one generally annoy me. They create a mess, rolling them out and stuffing the pipe.
Sliced flakes including this one generally annoy me. They create a mess, rolling them out and stuffing the pipe.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 07, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 18, 2009 | Strong | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Nothing special here. Just the Trademark taste of crap! I cant believe I fell for the GL Pease line. Have not found one variety I would buy twice!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 16, 2009 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
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!
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!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 22, 2009 | Mild | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Sweet and sour chicken is right. Out of the tin, the aroma is similar to SG's Bracken Flake, minus the chocolate/coffee smell. But when you light it, these two tobaccos, oriental and virginia, create a strange mixture that tastes like sweet and sour sauce at a chinese restaurant. Not my thing. It's blended very well, obviously there was a lot of work put into it, but it's quite disappointing to have the sweet virginias muted by the orientals. I love orientals, but they're better suited center stage, such as in Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 10, 2008 | Mild | Very Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
The tin I'm smoking from as we speak is about a year old and, as I recall, I realy didn't want a second pipe out of it when it was new. However, I now think I might put a few tins on the shelf for next year...or the year after. Tin aroma after a year is still somewhat cardboardie but I assume that's because of that silly little circle of cardboard with two overlapping flaps that make it difficult to get down to the tobacco. I wonder, though, does that packaging technique help to maintain the moisture level? It was perfect a year ago and it still is! Packs right, lites right, burns cool and tastes very smooth. My palate is not educated enough to go into detail on the flavors,(I enjoy every thing from Prince Albert to Plum Cake) but flavor is very.....pleasant. If your playing around with various Virginia's and might enjoy something with character, give it a go.
Update: 10/10/08 while reviewing the reviews I noticed that I was the only smoker that considered this blend to be 'mild'. The only thing I can figure is that I need to recalibrate my notion of strength. We all know that six million Frenchmen can't be wrong.
Update: 10/10/08 while reviewing the reviews I noticed that I was the only smoker that considered this blend to be 'mild'. The only thing I can figure is that I need to recalibrate my notion of strength. We all know that six million Frenchmen can't be wrong.
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