G. L. Pease JackKnife Plug

A small square 'wad' of what looks like compressed autumn leaves in a variety of brown's greet the piper as he/she busts open the seal on this neatly packaged tobacco product.

The said wad, is reasonably pliable enough to be able to break pieces off with your fingers. (Unlike Peterson's perfect plug which in comparison to JKP resembles a near impenetrable block of obsidian!!)

For this particular adventure, I 'tore & crumbled' a piece from the 8 month old JKP before me, and filled up a medium cob. Initial impressions were that whilst this is not an aromatic, there were fruity essence's to it that others have also noticed. The stuff was also at just the right moisture levels for ignition......'Houston'

Other than that, it smoked well with all players in the game glowing smoothly without bite and in the medium category of strength and flavour. Room note was actually surprisingly pleasant, though some others may not agree.

I can't get this in the EU and only have two tins left. I have to order this on-line from the States which is laborious, as it has to go via a third party for re-packaging in order to keep customs/import duty at bay for when it gets to me. The whole process takes about 2 weeks from initial order, which does get pretty old but is a necessary evil if I want access to the likes of GLP's, C&D, Esoterica, and cheaper 100gm tins I can't get in the EU.

(Side note - Odd how we in the EU want what the yanks have in abundance, such as GLP, Esoterica, C&D, etc.. and they scream for what we have here in the EU in equal abundance, which is basically anything by Sam Gawith LOL!!)

However back to JKP, I will be ordering more of this as time goes by for sure.

Nice...

3.5 out of 4 (rounding up)

Jackknife Plug is a Virginia flake but with added Kentucky’s to add a distinctive spice to it. I quite enjoyed the daily ritual of using my favorite knife to cut fine slices into the plug and rubbing it out thoroughly (it has a moderate moistness level).

This is the kind of tobacco that is “what you see is what you get”: Not very complex, but the Kentucky’s kept it interesting and is an overall enjoyable smoke. It has the taste of hay and grass, with a peppery aftertaste that will surely wake you up in the morning. Goes great with red wine as well.

You get what you pay for with this one. I can picture a group of Union soldiers using their Bowie knives to cut into this plug during Gettysburg, with Old Longstreet’s elite, Confederate Virginian division led by Pickett smoking this very same blend before their legendary last charge. You’ll probably enjoy it more since you don’t have cannon hellfire and a hail of bullets awaiting you on your path to glory. "Virginians! Virginians! For your lands! For your homes! For your sweethearts! For your wives! For Virginia! Forward... march!"

Most of the plugs I like are flavored, most of the dark fired Kentucky I like tastes pretty strong, and Jackknife Plug is neither of those things. It comes off like a pretty generic Va/Bur.

It's made of quality leaf as far as I can tell, but it just doesn't bring enough flavor to the mix. HH Old Dark Fired is a far better option for a strong Va/Bur with good flavor.

Jackknife is notable for its nicotine content though, this is punchy tobacco. Find a comfy chair before smoking it.

In the end, though, it's more bland than good plugs or good Va/Burs. This one is best left to the true fans of C&D burley, smokers looking for a good strong English-style plug will be disappointed.

Maybe it was the shape of the tin, but when I opened it, all I could smell was cayenne pepper flavored peanuts that were musty. Suffice to say I was not eager to smoke it.

After sawing off a flake, which was no easy task... get a super sharp knife since cutting this plug is like slicing a rock. I wadded some up into a ball and packed a bowl. It lit and burned better than expected.

The initial harsh smell was gone and I was left with a fairly flavorless dry smoke. While it wasn't so dry it hurt my throat, it was not an enjoyable experience either. Most blends have some sort of distinction when burned, but JackKnife was just boring. It didn't have the depth of an English or the fun of an aromatic. Perhaps it isn't boring, but rather an acquired taste... it reminded me of a cigar which others seem to like, but I find bitter.

I can understand the appeal of a plug cut with all its pomp and circumstance to prepare (and this was my first time smoking a plug), there just wasn't much payoff.

G.L. Pease - Jack Knife Plug.

Normally, I loathe preparing plug tobacco, it's a choice of either lumpy tobacco or a cut finger! I was quite impressed with how easy Jack' is to get ready to be smoked though; it's about halfway between a plug and a krumble kake so it doesn't need 'precision' slicing, I can just cut or tare some off and rub it. Nor is it soaked to the core, it's possibly the driest plug I've had; that's not meant negatively, it has just the right amount of hydration to be fresh yet it's still easy to crumble and light. I enjoy the smell from the plug but to get the most aroma it has to be crumbled.

As I mentioned, it has the perfect water content to enable swift lighting. And then, the smoke that's given off and the burn really do justice to any time spent on prep'. The smoke is the ultimate example of the word 'robust'. I don't get much, if any, citrus notes from the Virginia; there's a slight hay/grass taste maybe, but none of the lighter flavours I usually associate with lighter Virginias. For me, it's the dark fired Kentucky that forms the majority of the smokes taste; this is what drew me to the word 'Robust'. The nicotine quantity is another area where this doesn't mess about: very strong.

This is one of the better plugs I've loaded my pipe with: arrives in good condition, great full flavour, superb burn, and no tongue bite.

Recommended.

An excellent smoke. Very smooth. No hint of bite at all. I've found that I prefer to smoke this in a larger bowl pipe with slices cut a little thick. The aroma reminds me of my smoker in the tin, very nice. The more I smoke this the better I like it. The flavor is rich pure tobacco taste with hints of BBQ and beef jerky. It burns nicely and the bowl developes richness as it progresses. I would recommend this for smokers that prefer true tobacco flavor as opposed to aromatics. I sincerly hope this blend remains available for a very long time. I will always keep it in my rotation.

Finally got some and it was worth the wait. You do get the occasional wisp of cigar flavor, but this is not a cigar flavored baccy. Love the plug style and with a good char to start, it smokes fine from the tin. Medium to strong on the nicotine but certainly not an overwhelming smoke. Greg has done it again! 4 thumbs up. Update. This stuff is seriously good. What will it be like in 10, 20, 30 years time??

Well, I'm officially over the hill. Way back in January I added this one to the new tobaccos list and then didn't go back and add a review...maybe because the data on the item was available long before I was able to snag a tin for myself. This won't be a long drawn out thing...but I hafta say right at the start that I don't remember seeing a new tobacco that's hit such an absolute home run right out outta the dugout! Everybody seems to love it...the form, the strength and the subtle flavors...which don't scream, but do say "Kentucky" with a clear voice. I'll admit that I followed the hints and teasers on Greg's blog prior to JKP's release with growing excitement...WOW!...A PLUG! A straight tobacco plug...one using Kentucky as a flavor base! Sure, I knew that I'D like it, but I thought that the majority of the pipe community would balk at the plug format and the moderate Kentucky flavors. WRONG! A resounding HOORAH has gone up from all corners. No one could be more pleased than I am...well, maybe Greg. lol And...since no one ever seems to remember...great job over at Cornell & Diehl on the 'making' end. It's one of those few things that every time I think about, I just break out smiling! Life is good. So this one is the start of a new series, eh? Life is VERY good!

This is most definitely among my all-time favorite blends. SecretAgentMan's review is spot-on with my own experiences. The layering is beautiful; stronger, darker, more oily leaves are put on the outside, and the lighter, drier ones are sandwiched in the center. According to Mr. Pease, this is done intentionally. It smells like a barbecue, a tannery, and a cigar manufacturer all set up shop inside the tin—a strange and wonderful aroma that you'll surely go back for another whiff of.

Jackknife is like a lovable, gruff uncle who's not quite the full shilling—a perfect mix of aging elegance and a bit crazy. Upon first light, the first of many flavors you'll experience is that unmistakable taste of cigar. However, as soon as the char light is done and the ember takes hold, the flavor develops into something truly awesome. There are so many great, savory flavors swirling around in this stuff that I couldn't possibly list them without testing my sanity.

Extending the uncle metaphor, the flavor development of Jackknife is like hearing your favorite story from him. Though it's told a bit differently each time, it's still the same story. I suspect the seemingly endless layers are the culprit behind this storytelling of flavors. Each time you slice some of this up, you're getting just a little different mix of leaves, but once fully lit, it's just like the last time you had it. As you can guess, I'm pretty keen on Jackknife Plug! There's a lot of strength in both flavor and nicotine content, so if you're sensitive to nicotine, steer clear.

NOTE: Although I don't like anyone telling me how to prep my tobacco, if you heed Mr. Pease's advice, you'll be rewarded. Cutting it into a shag is the only way to go; anything else just doesn't let this stuff really shine. Also, be sure to cut down through the entire plug right against the grain, lest you miss out on all of the delicious flavors those layers have to offer.

To wrap this review up; Jackknife Plug is a wonderful plug blend that tobacco connoisseurs should try at least once—especially purists with a taste for the strong stuff. If you enjoy GH&Co. blends, or Mac Baren's HH lineup, it's fair to assume you'll enjoy this.