G. L. Pease Lagonda

I wanted to love this blend. I love latakia and Oriental-rich blends as a rule and am particularly impressed with other Pease Blends such as Abingdon and Charing Cross. I even give props to the curious Haddo's Delight. Pease's latest English offering just fell a little short of greatness.

Out of the tin, the presentation and aroma are wonderful. It loads easily and lights easily.

I'm not totally sure I understand the process, but the flavors in Lagonda are fairly well integrated and while I can taste all the leaves, I find them much more harmonious in this blend. The latakia is firmly there, the Orientals are rich and exotic, and the Virginias definitely sweeten things up a bit. Much more finesse than expected.

However, I found this blend to be more than a little bitey and it definitely smoked a little hot in comparison to previous GLP's I've tried.

I might try it again in the future, but will revisit CC and Abingdon as well as other Pease English/Balkan blends first.

All in all, not a horrible tobacco, but definitely not a Pease classic.

UPDATE 4.11.12 Okay, so I've come to terms with Lagonda. Honestly, it's probably (for me) the most temperamental English blend I've ever smoked... and I only realized this when I reeeeeeaally slowed down and smoked it more like a VA. The bite calmed down and the flavors really started to shine. Along with the rich Latakia background and a generous bouquet of Oriental goodness, I got a rich, almost caramel-ly sweetness which I've never experienced in a tobacco before... especially an English-style blend. I think this blend is probably much more unique than I gave it credit for... and now that I've lived with it for a while, I think I'm starting to get "it". It is a BIG blend with intense flavors, but very well- done if approached with respect and patience. Promoted to 3-stars!

Holy Grail tobaccos. Do they really exist? I don't know, but, if they do, this one is on my short list. If you are a smoker of Latakia blends, you simply must try Lagonda, it is truly a sublime example of the genre, which exceeds in certain areas where others have only dabbled.

The tin note of Lagonda is at once familiar, and unique. This is what some call a Balkan, what some call an English. If this is to be likened to something, or put into a category, it would be that of BS 759, and it is "like" that blend itself, in some ways, but in others, not. It is perhaps a tad lighter in Latakia "trunk", I of course don't know the proportions, but this is my impression. It also exhibits a more embellished strain in the oriental passages, though, no less of a Virginia "backbone". It smells of the classic genre, but is more complete and rounded than usual. We'll get to that...

The "Old London" presentation here is familiar to those acquainted with Meridian, and Chelsea Morning. For me, this processing is a marvel, and I am wholly impressed and even infatuated with it. It is the difference between home-baked bread, and mass-produced and bagged bread in terms of both aroma and flavor. This form packs and lights well. It also isn't too greedy with the flame-which keeps things on the cool side, and this is also most welcome. Its the best of the flake and the ribbon forms in one.

At the match, Latakia lays the scene and that familiar type of comfortable blend starts to settle on the tongue. And this is one of the high points, because though it is like those blends, there's more "it" to it. Again, the home baked bread advantage comes to mind. Its as though the flavors in other blends of the type, which aren't pressed together in their ingredient forms, never quite bloom, or puff-up to this level, or its simply the recipe. Or both. And, this is where the surprises start...

The flavors are not at all homogenized. They are not equals. They are a trio, none of which are background, or cameos. This clearly is a full Latakia mixture, but not to the point of overshadowing the Virginia, which is often the case. These sweet Reds are quite warm and present. They ascend through the Latakia like a leaping dolphin, and are just as playful. Likewise, the orientals are clearly swirling at all times, but they never tilt the blend to dryness, which could easily happen-either in a way that one enjoys, or the way one likely wouldn't. This blend is neither sweet, nor spicy enough to use either word as a one-word descriptor for it. Neither is it heavy enough to be called a "Lat Bomb".

Now, of course, the common words to use here are "complex" and "balanced", but I want to apply neither in my review, though I would never disagree if someone called Lagonda those things. It is. But I think it goes beyond those terms. I say Lagonda is strikingly Harmonious, in the way that a family of singers is harmonious, not complex and balanced like a large professional choir. Lagonda is rustic and lively. It's delicious, and absolutely bursting with flavor, natural Tobacco Flavor.

Which brings us to the topic of the suggestions of casings or toppings. I don't mean to be contentious, but I say: there's no chance that this blend is cased, or topped. I think that perhaps the characters in the blend that I describe above could lead one to suspect an added flavoring, because like I say-this level of harmony in this type of blend (to my experience) has not been achieved before with only natural tobaccos. Also, on GLPease.com the introduction to the entire Old London Series states clearly that there are no flavorings added to the members of that series. Have a look! http://www.glpease.com/Tobacco/OldLondon/index.html

Cheers all. Clearly, I like this blend. I love it. I've spent time with 759 lately, and blends that are said to be like it. And they're all fine. Comparing aged blends to new blends is unfair, in my opinion, but even still, I can't imagine that I would ever prefer 759 over Lagonda. Its not a clone of it, or a replacement for it, its the evolution of it.

Once again, I could not wait a few months for this to settle. I left work early today, I found out my Uncle just passed. I was feeling down, so I poured a glass of Crown Royal, and opened this new tin of Lagonda. I usually smoke at least 2 ounces of a blend before I write, but this is too good not to share my experience. A bit moist, but 10-15 minutes out of the tin dries it perfect. This is like no other English I have ever smoked. It's perfectly balanced, but missing the sweetness in most GLP blends. As the reviewer below, there is some casing in here, but it is impossible to tell exactly what it is. It delivers a smokey, graham cracker like flavor, that leaves the palate feeling clean and refreshed. The perfect nicotine shot is found here, whether it be the first bowl in the morning with coffee, or the last bowl of the night with your nightcap of choice. Greg, you have done it again. I will have to say, this bumps Blackpoint out of my 1st place spot. Stock up, I am sure age can only make it that much better.

This review is based on a tine dated 4/21/2021.

The tin note is smokey and incense-like and the orientals are there. With time in a jar, this becomes more barbecue-esque. The cut is beautiful. It's basically a former loosely-pressed flake that was rubbed out, and I enjoy the way it packs and allows for a longer and richer smoke. Slightly moist, but it's good to go right away. Dry to your preference.

This is a Latakia-forward English mixture. Behind the Latakia, is the Turkish, and then Virginia. You'll taste all of the ingredients through most of the bowl. This is a savory, salty, and earthy blend. Loads of leather and smoke, salty smoke, meat, some toasted bread, hints of spices. Lagonda reminds me of Meridian more Latakia driving the experience. At times it reminds me of Gaslight which is apt, because all three blends are siblings in the Old London Series. It's extraordinary with loads of flavor, and I must note that what (to me) makes these blends special is the processing.

This tobacco burns well, no bite to speak of, full of flavor, and taste. The strength is about medium. The nicotine is mostly unnoticeable. The aroma coming off the pipe is the best of any Latakia/English/Balkan mixture I've ever had. It's like a toasty smokey smell.

I think anyone that likes Latakia will like this blend, and English and Balkan blend-lovers will comfortably park here. Highly-recommended.

I was just browsing in my local brick and mortar when I noticed a tin of this on the shelf. The first one I picked up had obviously sat there for some time since the lid had yellowed slightly and was starting to warp. So I pulled the tin down and decided to look at the date. 10/14/16. Needless to say I did what any self respecting gentleman would do and decided it should come home with me.

This blend comes in a simple tin with the image of a early automobile on it. Simple but effective especially this is part of the Old London Series, which I probably should do a review of. When I opened my tin I found some tumbled out flakes that are a little irregular. The tobacco is very black. When I stick my nose in the jar I smell rich loamy earth, campfire, a deep sweetness, light hay, and a back note of creosote. Friggin' delightful. It's dry enough to light right out of the tin and that's the way I prefer this one.

When lit this reminds me of Pirate Kake in several ways, and I think it must have a high portion of Latakia. The Latakia is deep, rich, smooth, earthy, smokey, creamy and powerful. It has the same sort of the creaminess and depth that you find in Pirate Kake. The Orientals are a little hidden but they add a sweet, herbal tang, and a soft incense like note that drifts in and out of your smoke. The Virginias are in that background giving body and sweetness. This is a sweet, smooth, and consistent smoke.

The taste is a medium. The flavor sticks around a little, and gives a pleasant aftertaste. The strength is a medium. No bells and whistles from Lady N. The Latakia makes the room note a bit potent, but I love the smell of English blends and I normally get compliments when I smoke them, but your milage may vary. This is an excellent tobacco and one that's easily smoked.

When I first opened this tin of G.L. Pease Lagonda, I had a flash that I was opening a McClelland blend; same dark color and same kind of pungency. On touching the blend, all of that disappeared; it wasn't damp. The tin aroma was interesting, hard to identify and drew up vague memories of some other blends I have smoked in the past. Smoking the blend was enjoyable in an aromatic English way; which is interesting, in that, there is no claim of any added toppings or flavorings or anything. It has to be that the Latakia and Orientals are driving this naturaly. Yes, the blend was enjoyable to smoke, but, only to a point. Here is where I agree with reviewer Beer 2013-02-03 that there is a falling short on development in the smoke as you go down the bowl and go from pipe to pipe. With every smoke I felt we were going to go somewhere and, likewise, felt we failed to get there. My tin was eight years old on opening and that might have darkened the tobacco some. Still, I felt it lacked what a brighter component might have added and began blending that type of tobacco into it. This was , to my tastes, successful and I recommend this blend to the reader at three stars.

Another of the bombing gifts I received from the brothers of briar. I grabbed the tin on a whim a week ago and killed it promptly.

The tin note is rich and smokey sweet and delicious to my nose. The cut is supposed to be ribbon, but I find it closer to a well rubbed flake than a loose ribbon. It has some bits that benefit from a little rubbing out. Mostly dark in color and almost shiny.

It lights, burns and smokes well enough. It's tastes like it smells mostly. Smokey and rich with a surprising sweetness to it that is very nice for me. I'm beginning to appreciate Balkan blends more and more recently bc of these characteristics. Produces a good volume of smoke and burns fairly dry for the first two thirds of the smoke. The bottom can be a bit moist, and letting it sit for a min to cool before a relight is suggested.

All in all this is good stuff. Than again G.L Pease is top of the class for English and Balkan mixtures in my experience. I would recommend this one without hesitation.

Same series as Chelsea Morning and Meridian, same thick ribbon cut. Lagonda has slightly more Latakia and this becomes evident when smoking as there's more of a campfire smell and taste compared to the other two. Personally I rather like the extra Latakia, although it should be said that it's still only a part component of the mixture and doesn't take center stage. There's also a slightly more spicey note to Lagonda, and the spice has a different character than the other two in the series, suggesting it comes from Orientals rather than Perique.

Chelsea Morning and Meridian are both regular smokes of mine, and at first I was slightly taken aback by the slight extra spiciness of Lagonda. However the more I smoked it the more I began to appreciate its qualities, and it's interesting that Chelsea Morning now seems to be rather tame and uninteresting in comparison. I like the Latakia campfire, and there's a sweet/sour underlying note to the Orientals that becomes more evident with each smoke.

An interesting and complex blend that *might* be better than the other two in the series depending on your taste preferences.

There's a debate about the difference between an English style tobacco and a Balkan. The difference is subtle at best. I like an English. My preferences are for Dunhill 965, Perfection, and Frog Morton Across the Pond. If you examine the tobaccos that make up the mixture, Frog Morton and Lagonda have the same tobacco makeup: Latakia, Orietal, Turkish, and Virginia. I'd like to rate Lagionda at a 3.5 stars, because in my opinion, while it is an excellent tobacco, it is just behind my favorite Engkish style tobaccos, as mentioned above.