G. L. Pease JackKnife Plug

This blend came in a different form than I usually smoke; a single block, pressed rather loosely and with some rather large, moist leaves visible. With my lifestyle, I don't have the time to slice, dice, cut, cube... tobacco for a smoke so I've thus removed a *. I just peeled some layers and folded and packed but in doing so, a non uniform packing and burn resulted. The smoke was enjoyable in multiple size/style pipes with a true tobacco taste that was stong and consistent with just a hint of the VA sweetness. If you have the time for the proper preparation of this blend it's a delight. Someday, I will and will reorder.

This is certainly a very good tobacco. The truth is, though, that I simply prefer a nice Latakia based or straight Virginia over this any time of the day.

Within the category of blends that contain VA and KY, I just rate GLP Cumberland even higher. I love that JKP comes along as a plug. I love the smoking characteristics of this blend. I really like the taste - but still - there's just something I cannot pinpoint this blend lacks.

Still, a solid 3.5/4 stars.

Extremely unique and flavorful smoke.. I found it to be, perhaps, the most earthy/savory of blends that I have tried.. it's strength in flavor is not quite matched by strength of nic.. but it does hit pretty hard as you get towards the bottom of the bowl.. the quality of the Kentucky is most unusual.. it has not as much of the barbeque as it does earthy/spicy notes.. the tangy quality of the Virginia melds with the Kentucky notes to create a very interesting combination.. it isn't something you can put into singularity.. it reminds me more of a whole meal of flavors.. For me these are the positives for this blend.. one issue with this blend is that I really have to be in the mood for it.. with all the flavor comes a degree of harshness and rawness of leaf.. maybe aging it would tone that down a little.. also the cut.. it is a delicate plug.. nothing like your 3ps European style plug.. it tears apart easily and you are left with all sorts of leafy awkward chunks.. despite this, it burns pretty well after it is dried out.. can bite a little.. but the smoke is of a rich creamy character.. it is something you gotta try.

More of a crumble cake than a plug IMHO, I'm more used to the solid blocks of plug tobacco that many seem to have difficulty with.

I bought 2 tins at Christmas, they were both dated 12/18, and tried the first one straight away, big mistake, this plug is so much better with a little age on it, 3-5 years would do it proud, anyway, this has six months on it and I'm glad I waited to review it as the first tin did not impress me at all.

Presentatation, a block of crumbly tobacco that comes apart in the hand, care must be taken to ensure that the Kentucky "outer jacket" is cut and rubbed out in proportion with the burley / Virginia inner body, a nice relatively easy tobacco to prepare with very fine quality leaf, I would expect nothing less from the great man himself, holding Mr Pease in the highest esteem for his knowledge of tobacco.

Takes easily to the match, the Kentucky and burley Virginia rotating around, vying for position, medium in strength with a pleasant aftertaste. A very good but for me at least, not a remarkable plug. I'm very glad I got to try this but I wouldn't get out of bed at 6am just to order it nor would I be trolling the Internet, God forbid, were this by some horror, to be withdrawn, though I can see why many love this.

Once again, IMHO, there are many other finer plugs (which is about all I smoke these days) more easily available to me, on the other side of the pond.

Verdict, 2 1/2 stars plus 1/2 star purely out of respect for Mr Pease from whom I have learned so much about tobacco.

Well worth a try if your a plug smoker, I think in my case, I read all the hype and perhaps expected too much of this, which is a shame really. I can't see myself stocking up on this, nor for that matter ordering it again, unless on a whim. But again, very glad to have had the opportunity to try it.

JackKnife Plug starts with the KY in the lead. It is earthy, slightly nutty, has a dry woodsy note but is only slightly spicy compared to other Dark Fired KY's I have smoked. The red VA's are very tangy with notes of earth and dark fruits that follow closely behind the KY and at times take the lead. The bright VA's are grassy with a slight citrus note and maybe a woody note as well and follow behind the other two but are constantly noticeable. Overall a very good blend. It ranks above Mac Baren's Bold KY and Old Dark Fired, as well as Peter Heinrich's Dark Strong Flake and Orlik's Dark Strong KY. However, it does not surpass (IMO) G H & Co.'s Brown Irish X or their Dark Bird's Eye, nor does it come close to SG's Lakeland Dark or Solani's Silver Flake. That said this is still a very good blend that should be tried by anyone who enjoys VA's with KY. It may turn out to be your go to blend. 3. 5 stars rounded down as I enjoy so many others in the category more.

this was my first exp w a plug, and im very glad. the plug really looks like no other ive seen, as it has a core of dark fired kentucky. it can be hard and inconvenient to cut a flake off at times but thats ok the good things in life take time.

the flavor is nice and in depth but its not overly complicated. its sweet and earthy, there is a nice play between the virginia and the dark fired. and it burns nice and cool.

all in all i highly recommend this stuff.

Nice to see Pease break into the plug market. This one was perfect. Cut well...never had the plug fall apart. Great Virginia smell and taste. Not too hot with a slow draw and sufficient time for a little drying after cutting and breaking apart. I usually prefer a blend with perique, but this was real good. On to the next Pease plug.

Strong. Smokey. Dark. JackKnife Plug goes well with Triple Play in your standard rotation. A strong heavy smoke that is perfect to have outside before bed, could be in your rotation with nightcap. Inside I don't recommend it. Outside this tobacco pairs well with a camp fire, I am enjoying one now actually and the JackKnife Plug smells and tastes just like this oak wood fire.

I prefer Triple Play as it is much lighter but retains all the strength and flavor of this tobacco. G.L. Pease always delivers with quality leaf and this is no different. Highly recommended but only 3 stars due to other offerings from Pease being better.

My review is of the 'Ready Rubbed' variant.

If I had reviewed this based on my first bowl I would have said 'shredded cardboard infused with nicotine' and given one star.

Fortunately I persevered. At the very beginning of the bowl I still find this a bit on the rough side, a slight VA sweetness is there but the Kentucky is peppery and strong and actually makes me sneeze a couple of times on exhale through the nose. Hang in there a few minutes and then the reward comes - moderate VA sweetness countered by Kentucky spice and interplay back and forth between them. This blend is big and solid - think 'meat and potatoes'. Definitely a manly smoke, and the nicotine is powerfully present. This is not quite nuanced enough to make my 'A' list but definitely a quality product and worth a try, especially if you like tobacco that makes hair sprout all over your body. For me this gets three stars (for now). To be continued...