G. L. Pease Meridian
(3.41)
Meridian - balanced, poised and sophisticated. Cyprus latakia is layered with fine Virginia tobaccos and small leaf Orientals, then pressed, sliced and tumbled into ribbons. More savory than sweet, with classic structure, medium body, and captivating complexity, Meridian is the perfect companion for a mid-day stroll or with the afternoon tea.
Notes: Meridian is the third entry in the Old London Series. A classically styled blend that's wonderful when young, but with a good backbone for longer aging. It's a medium-full mixture, with flavors that evoke memories of some of the great latakia blends from days gone by. Red and orange Virginias are joined by a generous, but not overwhelming measure of Cyprian leaf, for a wonderfully earthy foundation. The spicy/sweet Oriental tobaccos add fullness, and an exquisite aroma. Not as "big" or as full as Westminster, but similar in style. An excellent blend for a relaxing afternoon smoke, or as a delightful "amuse bouche" before dinner - Meridian was introduced in October, 2010.
Details
| Brand | G. L. Pease |
| Series | Old London Series |
| Blended By | Gregory Pease |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Balkan |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 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
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.41 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 28 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 2022 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The 100-gram tin that came into my hands had been on the shelves for almost eight years and had a release date of "September 14, 2014." AFAIK, Cornell & Diehl, which makes Gregory Pease blends, no longer uses this packaging, having switched to 2 oz. and 8 oz. tins. The 3.5 ounce tins caused many complaints - the tobacco in them often dried out due to poorly soldered seams, or even went moldy. I have had a few experiences with dry tobacco from these tins - in particular, I now have two of them being restored. Nevertheless, with Meridian I was lucky - the tin I bought almost completely retained its tightness, and the tobacco only slightly dried, I recovered it literally in a couple of days.
Appearance: due to the cake press and fine cut method of preparation, the tobacco, sliced by flake and then broken up into individual strips, has an almost even brown-wood color, with a hue similar to that of chestnut wood. Occasionally there are slightly lighter and slightly darker pieces of ribbon, but overall, the composition is almost uniform - there are no bright dark flecks of latakia or light virginia, in the tobacco. As I said, I had to moisten the tobacco a bit, but I think in fresh tins its moisture content will be perfect.
Flavor: The cake pressing had the best effect on the blend, creating quite a "monolithic" and complex bouquet, which is difficult to separate to its components. Tan leather, some pine bark, a light note of tar and tarry smoke, moss, a little musk, coriander and paprika. Despite the good maturity of Virginia, its typical notes of hay, floral hues and bread are well hidden in the overall bouquet, appearing out barely and noticeable only after a few minutes.
Taste: quite smooth, even and calm. Only a faint hint of smoke flavor and the density of the overall taste bouquet tells the beginner about the presence of latakia in the blend. The basic tune is played by full-bodied woody and earthy notes, a little bit pungent, spicy-sweet and salty taste - to all appearances, a mix of oriental and latakia, similar to the mix of meat juice with spices, but without pepper (coriander, a little muscat and hot paprika) - and simultaneously, a slight astringent bitterness, like from black tea or dark stout. Initially the tiniest bit pungent, Meridian quickly takes on an overall softness of flavor, with that familiar creamy, smoky, enveloping note that I like so much about Chelsea Morning. However, the Meridian is free of perique, and so the tobacco feels even denser on the palate, lacking the inherent bright spice and fruity notes of the perique. The blend requires some attention if you want to experience all its nuances. As you smoke the tobacco continues some transformation of taste: in the middle of the pipe sweetness and spice of paprika almost completely disappear, a slight malt note appears, bringing the association of tobacco taste with English stout. The overall taste becomes more "dry". It is worth noting that the taste of the blend in bents is somewhat brighter, and the spiciness in the flavor is more noticeable and lasts longer, than in staright shapes. The blend has a medium strength, smokes cool, burning into a light gray dusty ash and leaving a minimum of moisture in the bowl and mouthpiece. The aftertaste is subdued, and also resembles the aftertaste of a stout - malt, a slight bitterness.
The smoke from the tobacco is woody and tarry, not bright, quite persistent on the flavor.
What's the bottom line? I approached this tobacco long and cautiously, as the reviews on it are quite contradictory. Now, having gotten to know it better, I think that in its aged form it is quite capable to be spare for my favorite Chelsea Morning (if I'd out of it). Gregory Pease's nostalgia for Syrian latakia and the desire to experiment in search of combinations of Cyprus latakia and orientals that could give a similar taste in total, gave its fruit - the tobacco taste, indeed, reminds the taste of English blends with a small amount of Syrian latakia. This tobacco can be advised to someone who is interested in unsweetened English blends, but is wary of coming across bright latakia flavors. I think I'll buy more big tins while they're still on sale - the tobacco matures beautifully.
Appearance: due to the cake press and fine cut method of preparation, the tobacco, sliced by flake and then broken up into individual strips, has an almost even brown-wood color, with a hue similar to that of chestnut wood. Occasionally there are slightly lighter and slightly darker pieces of ribbon, but overall, the composition is almost uniform - there are no bright dark flecks of latakia or light virginia, in the tobacco. As I said, I had to moisten the tobacco a bit, but I think in fresh tins its moisture content will be perfect.
Flavor: The cake pressing had the best effect on the blend, creating quite a "monolithic" and complex bouquet, which is difficult to separate to its components. Tan leather, some pine bark, a light note of tar and tarry smoke, moss, a little musk, coriander and paprika. Despite the good maturity of Virginia, its typical notes of hay, floral hues and bread are well hidden in the overall bouquet, appearing out barely and noticeable only after a few minutes.
Taste: quite smooth, even and calm. Only a faint hint of smoke flavor and the density of the overall taste bouquet tells the beginner about the presence of latakia in the blend. The basic tune is played by full-bodied woody and earthy notes, a little bit pungent, spicy-sweet and salty taste - to all appearances, a mix of oriental and latakia, similar to the mix of meat juice with spices, but without pepper (coriander, a little muscat and hot paprika) - and simultaneously, a slight astringent bitterness, like from black tea or dark stout. Initially the tiniest bit pungent, Meridian quickly takes on an overall softness of flavor, with that familiar creamy, smoky, enveloping note that I like so much about Chelsea Morning. However, the Meridian is free of perique, and so the tobacco feels even denser on the palate, lacking the inherent bright spice and fruity notes of the perique. The blend requires some attention if you want to experience all its nuances. As you smoke the tobacco continues some transformation of taste: in the middle of the pipe sweetness and spice of paprika almost completely disappear, a slight malt note appears, bringing the association of tobacco taste with English stout. The overall taste becomes more "dry". It is worth noting that the taste of the blend in bents is somewhat brighter, and the spiciness in the flavor is more noticeable and lasts longer, than in staright shapes. The blend has a medium strength, smokes cool, burning into a light gray dusty ash and leaving a minimum of moisture in the bowl and mouthpiece. The aftertaste is subdued, and also resembles the aftertaste of a stout - malt, a slight bitterness.
The smoke from the tobacco is woody and tarry, not bright, quite persistent on the flavor.
What's the bottom line? I approached this tobacco long and cautiously, as the reviews on it are quite contradictory. Now, having gotten to know it better, I think that in its aged form it is quite capable to be spare for my favorite Chelsea Morning (if I'd out of it). Gregory Pease's nostalgia for Syrian latakia and the desire to experiment in search of combinations of Cyprus latakia and orientals that could give a similar taste in total, gave its fruit - the tobacco taste, indeed, reminds the taste of English blends with a small amount of Syrian latakia. This tobacco can be advised to someone who is interested in unsweetened English blends, but is wary of coming across bright latakia flavors. I think I'll buy more big tins while they're still on sale - the tobacco matures beautifully.
Pipe Used:
Peterson POTY 2013&2017, 69, 106, 9BC
PurchasedFrom:
Online
Age When Smoked:
2014
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 2016 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
My expectation were rather low given the underwhelming appraisal the blend got from the smokingpipes.com Pease reviewer. I was glad I ignored him. Here's why. Meridian is superb as an apéritif and should be tried on its own rather than in conjunction with other sweeter tasting Pease blends. Meridian is "dry" (if I can say that) rather than sweet like (for example) Maltese Falcon (a great mixture in its own right). I am really tempted to say: "just a lovely tobacco!", but that wouldn't be enough, it is subtle, flavorful without being overwhelming and smokes especially well in the late afternoon with drinks, before dinner. One of the best Pease blends in its genre -- and I've tried all his English/Balkan blends with the exception of Quiet nights. Four stars now, will be positively off the charts when aged I predict -- looking forward to trying that!
Pipe Used:
Ser Jacopo, Dunhill, Upshall, M&K
Age When Smoked:
tinned on 11/27/15
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 03, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Meridian has become a mainstay in my rotation of latakia mixtures. It fits the bill nicely for an anytime type English. It’s perfectly balanced and well suited to my average smoking mood, which usually has me reaching for a medium strength tobacco with good flavor and a bit of character.
The Old London style tumbled-cut provides enough variation in flavor to keep things interesting without any loss of focus. Meridian has the same full flavored, even-keeled temperance of Lagonda, only Merdian's flavors are more poignant and delivered with less latakia. There are plenty of complexities here, some of them are quite subtle and can easily pass by undetected, but when I sit down and give this blend my undivided attention, the nuances can be quite spectacular.
The Virginia’s are more earthy than they are sweet and they lend a delicate toasted cereal note to the flavor. There’s a slight sweetness which blends perfectly with the herbaceous and savory Oriental tobaccos, which by the way are clearly the focal point of this well-crafted mixture. The smoke is smooth yet it feels quite lively on the tongue. Meridian is spicy! Nasal exhales give a bit of that Turkish tobacco zip, along with a semi-sweet woodsy note and a touch of evergreen.
This is a fine blend. It's a perfect choice for a cool fall afternoon or even a summer evening smoke. In my humble opinion, Meridian is Greg Pease doing what I believe he does best, and that's balancing the flavors of fine oriental tobacco with rich Virginia's and latakia.
The Old London style tumbled-cut provides enough variation in flavor to keep things interesting without any loss of focus. Meridian has the same full flavored, even-keeled temperance of Lagonda, only Merdian's flavors are more poignant and delivered with less latakia. There are plenty of complexities here, some of them are quite subtle and can easily pass by undetected, but when I sit down and give this blend my undivided attention, the nuances can be quite spectacular.
The Virginia’s are more earthy than they are sweet and they lend a delicate toasted cereal note to the flavor. There’s a slight sweetness which blends perfectly with the herbaceous and savory Oriental tobaccos, which by the way are clearly the focal point of this well-crafted mixture. The smoke is smooth yet it feels quite lively on the tongue. Meridian is spicy! Nasal exhales give a bit of that Turkish tobacco zip, along with a semi-sweet woodsy note and a touch of evergreen.
This is a fine blend. It's a perfect choice for a cool fall afternoon or even a summer evening smoke. In my humble opinion, Meridian is Greg Pease doing what I believe he does best, and that's balancing the flavors of fine oriental tobacco with rich Virginia's and latakia.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 21, 2011 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Pease Pilgrimage Reviews (a tasting journey through every GLPease blend)
Appearance: A tumbled flake in which very few flakes survived the assault. I rubbed mine out just a little bit more before stuffing. Quite dry in the tin, perfect for packing, perfect moisture level for a ready light and easy, consistent burn.
Tin Aroma: A delicious, earthy English aroma.
Flavor: “Seeeerian Latakeeee-a? We don't need no steenkin' Seeerian Latakeeee- a!”
With Meridian around, I really don't care so much about Greg's lack of Syrian leaf. By backing off on the Lat (which is just another type of Oriental leaf, right?), and amping up the delicious Orientals (which, BTW, are perfectly chosen and proportioned), we get a similar effect (at least to my taster) as we would from Syrian Latakia.
Less smoky and earthy than Quiet Nights, more complex than Chelsea Morning, more flavorful than Westminster, with an Oriental tang in my nose and soft palate, this blend certainly deserves all its accolades. Although there is much debate regarding the terms “English” vs. “Balkan,” my take has been that a Balkan blend has a predominance of Oriental leaf. According to that definition, I would classify this is a Balkan blend, and not a Latakia Bomb like Quiet Nights, at least in the first half of the bowl. The flavors are actually very complex, and quite delicious.
But one of the things I like about this blend is its chameleon character…
As the bowl progresses, the Cyprus weed does seem to move forward in the flavor. That oily Latakia taste becomes distinct but is still tamed by its blending buddies. The savory Oriental character diminishes and the Virginias end up an afterthought. A little light toastiness makes it through the richness, especially when sipping, but you gotta love Latakia if you're going to enjoy the second act.
I expect this chameleon act to subside with age. I would think the Latakia will smooth out and the Orientals and Virginias will blend and mellow, making this blend more complex and less likely to change so much during the smoke. More than most blends, I am excited to see how this one will age.
One more point…when I say that a particular blend is pipe-dependent, what I mean is it only tastes good in certain pipes. Well, Meridian does change from pipe to pipe, but it's always good. My Danske Club (Stanwell) Vario Billiard emphasizes the Orientals all the way through. It has a largish, cylindrical chamber. The above description of a strong Latakia presence near the end comes from my large-bowled Nording freehand with a tapered bowl. Experiment to see which one treats you best.
Stock up, fellow pipesters! This is another four star blend from GLP.
Appearance: A tumbled flake in which very few flakes survived the assault. I rubbed mine out just a little bit more before stuffing. Quite dry in the tin, perfect for packing, perfect moisture level for a ready light and easy, consistent burn.
Tin Aroma: A delicious, earthy English aroma.
Flavor: “Seeeerian Latakeeee-a? We don't need no steenkin' Seeerian Latakeeee- a!”
With Meridian around, I really don't care so much about Greg's lack of Syrian leaf. By backing off on the Lat (which is just another type of Oriental leaf, right?), and amping up the delicious Orientals (which, BTW, are perfectly chosen and proportioned), we get a similar effect (at least to my taster) as we would from Syrian Latakia.
Less smoky and earthy than Quiet Nights, more complex than Chelsea Morning, more flavorful than Westminster, with an Oriental tang in my nose and soft palate, this blend certainly deserves all its accolades. Although there is much debate regarding the terms “English” vs. “Balkan,” my take has been that a Balkan blend has a predominance of Oriental leaf. According to that definition, I would classify this is a Balkan blend, and not a Latakia Bomb like Quiet Nights, at least in the first half of the bowl. The flavors are actually very complex, and quite delicious.
But one of the things I like about this blend is its chameleon character…
As the bowl progresses, the Cyprus weed does seem to move forward in the flavor. That oily Latakia taste becomes distinct but is still tamed by its blending buddies. The savory Oriental character diminishes and the Virginias end up an afterthought. A little light toastiness makes it through the richness, especially when sipping, but you gotta love Latakia if you're going to enjoy the second act.
I expect this chameleon act to subside with age. I would think the Latakia will smooth out and the Orientals and Virginias will blend and mellow, making this blend more complex and less likely to change so much during the smoke. More than most blends, I am excited to see how this one will age.
One more point…when I say that a particular blend is pipe-dependent, what I mean is it only tastes good in certain pipes. Well, Meridian does change from pipe to pipe, but it's always good. My Danske Club (Stanwell) Vario Billiard emphasizes the Orientals all the way through. It has a largish, cylindrical chamber. The above description of a strong Latakia presence near the end comes from my large-bowled Nording freehand with a tapered bowl. Experiment to see which one treats you best.
Stock up, fellow pipesters! This is another four star blend from GLP.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 21, 2023 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
My impressions as I smoke it. Excellent Flavor, Citrus, touch of smokeyness, touch of sweetness, very well balanced. A touch of spice. The retrohale is very pleasant and brings the flavors to the front.
I really enjoy this as the Latakia and orientals are very well blended, one is not overwheleming the other components. The balance of the Orientals to Latakia allows each to meld in flavor.
The Latakia is just in the right balance with the other tobaccos. It allows the Oriental come through pleasantly. As an English/Balkan it is a daily smoke.
I really enjoy this as the Latakia and orientals are very well blended, one is not overwheleming the other components. The balance of the Orientals to Latakia allows each to meld in flavor.
The Latakia is just in the right balance with the other tobaccos. It allows the Oriental come through pleasantly. As an English/Balkan it is a daily smoke.
Pipe Used:
Various
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
tinned one year ago
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20, 2022 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
To give you a hint from where my below impressions are coming from; I favor aromatic blends (vanilla being my favorite), although I am finding I enjoy English/Scottish blends more frequently, which I could not stand when I first started smoking a pipe. I have been trying more of the English/Aromatic combo blends, which I have found being more and more of that I am reaching for for my everyday smoke
Opening the tin I smelled the Latikia right off the bat, it was nice and smokey/leathery and was the singular scent I smelled.
The flavor I tasted was the Latikia, but it was mild and not overwhelming with Virginias and Orientals in the background mixed in. To me, this is very similar to Maltese Falcon.
Out of the tin the tobacco was dry. Was able to light this without issue and few relights were needed. I did not have any tongue-bite with this blend.
Opening the tin I smelled the Latikia right off the bat, it was nice and smokey/leathery and was the singular scent I smelled.
The flavor I tasted was the Latikia, but it was mild and not overwhelming with Virginias and Orientals in the background mixed in. To me, this is very similar to Maltese Falcon.
Out of the tin the tobacco was dry. Was able to light this without issue and few relights were needed. I did not have any tongue-bite with this blend.
Pipe Used:
Rattray Goblin 99
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 25, 2021 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Very nice English blend. Smokey, leathery, and a little spice/floral from the Orientals. Not overpowering with the latakia, but you'll definitely notice it's presence. Virginia gives it a hint of fruity/tangyness, but it's not an overly sweet blend (more savory as the description says).
No bite. I did have to relight a bit more than average, probably due to not giving it enough dry time.
Highly recommended for any pipe smoker.
No bite. I did have to relight a bit more than average, probably due to not giving it enough dry time.
Highly recommended for any pipe smoker.
Pipe Used:
Benton Select and various MM cobs
PurchasedFrom:
SmokingPipes.com
Age When Smoked:
2 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 18, 2020 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Based on ~one year old tin.
The cut is a rubbed out flake, and doesn't pack the best if you pack it straight away, but who cares? You could rub it out further if you like, but the pieces will still be thicker than a European-produced blend.
The tin note is like dried fruits, barely sweet though, with a distinct green olive hint. You can also smell some leather, but to me it isn't really smokey.
The immediate taste has leathery hints, woody hints and this morphs into a combo of the two with a creamy sweetness and considerable spice on the tongue. The spice is like chili spice and cooking spices. It really reminds me of a tajine with a combination of creamy sweetness and spice. Think cinnamon, clove, cayenne, raisin, etc. At some points there is some woody tanginess that is both refreshing and a nice variation. There are also hints of smoke and meat, and grain sweet bread which get their isolated fame throughout the smoke. A bowl of Meridian is a somewhat constant changing back-and-forth of these flavors.
The strength is medium. The nicotine was unnoticeable. The taste is medium to full.
I would recommend this to people that like Orientals, as well as those that like Latakia and savory blends. This one is a winner for me, if I want that meaty and savory tobacco flavor. Four stars.
The cut is a rubbed out flake, and doesn't pack the best if you pack it straight away, but who cares? You could rub it out further if you like, but the pieces will still be thicker than a European-produced blend.
The tin note is like dried fruits, barely sweet though, with a distinct green olive hint. You can also smell some leather, but to me it isn't really smokey.
The immediate taste has leathery hints, woody hints and this morphs into a combo of the two with a creamy sweetness and considerable spice on the tongue. The spice is like chili spice and cooking spices. It really reminds me of a tajine with a combination of creamy sweetness and spice. Think cinnamon, clove, cayenne, raisin, etc. At some points there is some woody tanginess that is both refreshing and a nice variation. There are also hints of smoke and meat, and grain sweet bread which get their isolated fame throughout the smoke. A bowl of Meridian is a somewhat constant changing back-and-forth of these flavors.
The strength is medium. The nicotine was unnoticeable. The taste is medium to full.
I would recommend this to people that like Orientals, as well as those that like Latakia and savory blends. This one is a winner for me, if I want that meaty and savory tobacco flavor. Four stars.
Pipe Used:
Lumberman,bent apple
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
One year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 2019 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
The cut is somewhere between a thick ribbon and a broken flake. Very attractive. Sweet Virginia’s and musty orientals lead the way, with a solid Latakia backbone. I’m a fan of Pease’s English blends, and this one is becoming a personal favorite. This reminds me of Westminster, only slower burning (due to the thick cut), and with a little less Latakia. I’m kind of glad that this one flies under the radar. I love it. I’m going to stock up. There are a lot of Latakia blends out there, but I think this one is mine!
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Full | Tolerable |
Have I found an English blend that I like more than Samarra or Plantation Evening?! I think I very well may have. I'm smoking a bowl of this right now and am enjoying it immensely. I have to say, this is a bit of a sleeper hit for me. I have seen or read many reviews of Chelsea Morning and Quiet Nights on sites and on YouTube, but this blend is very neglected.
At initial the initial light, I'm hit with latakia and sour orientals. Once Meridian gets going, however, I can taste all components of this tobacco; the slightly sweet, but bready Virginias, the sweet, sour, and buttery orientals, and the smoky, pungent latakia in the rear. The constituents dance around in this mixture, but never meld so much that I can't tell what's in it. The latakia is always present, but never overwhelms and is supported by the orientals at all times. This is a sour blend, but it is well tempered by semi-sweetness and smokiness at all times. There is a hint of creosote/tar flavor from the oily latakia, but it's always pleasant. Is there a topping? It's very faint, but I think I might taste one.
Meridian is definitely a great all-day smoke and I have smoked three bowls almost back-to-back today. It's a welcome mid-range speaker that is a great change of pace from my usual woofers. I was a little reluctant to purchase it, due to it not getting much attention, but I am more than happy that I did. I swear fealty to the Dark Lord. I am ashamed of my doubt!
At initial the initial light, I'm hit with latakia and sour orientals. Once Meridian gets going, however, I can taste all components of this tobacco; the slightly sweet, but bready Virginias, the sweet, sour, and buttery orientals, and the smoky, pungent latakia in the rear. The constituents dance around in this mixture, but never meld so much that I can't tell what's in it. The latakia is always present, but never overwhelms and is supported by the orientals at all times. This is a sour blend, but it is well tempered by semi-sweetness and smokiness at all times. There is a hint of creosote/tar flavor from the oily latakia, but it's always pleasant. Is there a topping? It's very faint, but I think I might taste one.
Meridian is definitely a great all-day smoke and I have smoked three bowls almost back-to-back today. It's a welcome mid-range speaker that is a great change of pace from my usual woofers. I was a little reluctant to purchase it, due to it not getting much attention, but I am more than happy that I did. I swear fealty to the Dark Lord. I am ashamed of my doubt!
Pipe Used:
Peterson 80S and a Savinelli Antique Shell
Age When Smoked:
Tin date of August 2016
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