G. L. Pease Sextant
(3.31)
Sextant is a classic mixture harmoniously married to a Navy flake. Ripe Virginia tobaccos are first blended with Cyprian latakia, fine Orientals, and a touch of dark fired Kentucky leaf, then infused with a hint of dark rum before being gently pressed, matured and sliced. The flavor is rich, bold and satisfying, the aroma an enchanting interweaving of traditions.
Details
| Brand | G. L. Pease |
| Series | Old London Series |
| Blended By | Gregory Pease |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Kentucky, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Rum |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 ounce tin, 16 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium to Strong
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.31 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 31 - 40 of 70 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 2012 | Strong | Medium | Medium | Overwhelming |
Okay, folks. This is my first review. I've been smoking for 40 years and finally decided to take a crack at reviewing some of the tobaccos I've tried. I'm not as gifted at picking out particulars as many of you are. I plan to give a more general review; how does it small, room note, and is it a pleasant tast or does it make you want to toss it out.
I picked up two small tins of Sextant at the Chicago show this spring. I've smoked many of Greg's blends and overall, I've enjoyed them. Wish I could say the same for Sextant. Upon opening the tin, the aroma is almost nauseating. The taste is relatively mild considering the tobaccos used. I was rather surprised at this. The problem is that there just isn't enough kick to make it memorable. I should add that this was smoked in a large Larryson calabash that had never seen any other tobacco (got that at the show, too). Where this blend really loses out is in the room note. As mentioned, I smoke many strong blends (Odessey, Blue Mountain, Maltese Falcon, Spilman Mixture, etc). My wife is very tolerant. However, this was the first time she told me to put it out or get out (outside that is). After leaving the room and coming back (something I do often to get a good idea of the odor), Had to agree with her. This was noxious to the extreme. I have a bowl or two left in the tin and after I finish that, I will buy no more.
Without a great taste to make up for its other shortcomings, I simply can't recommend this tobacco. Sorry, Greg. Better luck next time.
I picked up two small tins of Sextant at the Chicago show this spring. I've smoked many of Greg's blends and overall, I've enjoyed them. Wish I could say the same for Sextant. Upon opening the tin, the aroma is almost nauseating. The taste is relatively mild considering the tobaccos used. I was rather surprised at this. The problem is that there just isn't enough kick to make it memorable. I should add that this was smoked in a large Larryson calabash that had never seen any other tobacco (got that at the show, too). Where this blend really loses out is in the room note. As mentioned, I smoke many strong blends (Odessey, Blue Mountain, Maltese Falcon, Spilman Mixture, etc). My wife is very tolerant. However, this was the first time she told me to put it out or get out (outside that is). After leaving the room and coming back (something I do often to get a good idea of the odor), Had to agree with her. This was noxious to the extreme. I have a bowl or two left in the tin and after I finish that, I will buy no more.
Without a great taste to make up for its other shortcomings, I simply can't recommend this tobacco. Sorry, Greg. Better luck next time.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 2012 | Medium | Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This blend took a few smokes to grow on me. It prefers, at least in my opinion, thick walled pipes with a medium sized bowl, in a smaller bowl it gets a bit to sharp and in a larger bowl in my opinion it's just to much smoke, to rich of a blend to be smoking for that long. With that said, once I figured this out, I loved the blend, I'm still smoking it and will probably buy more, this one has become a fast favorite. I love the burley/va interplay overtop of the hint of leathery latakia with that nice hint of rum to top it all off! I don't care for aromatics, and this blend isn't one, the rum complements the existing tobacco flavors very well in my opinion and does not overwhelm anything. The flakes are easy to rub out and pack, virtually falling apart in your fingers!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 12, 2012 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
As it happens, I am smoking a six year old tin of GL Pease's Sextant, courtesy of my recently restored time machine. It has propelled me into the year 2018 and I am smoking a tin I bought in april 2012. When I first smoked it then, I was pleasantly surprised by the smoothness of this broken flake where VA, Orientals, Kentucky and Latakia are blended in perfect harmony. I can taste a faint anise flavouring so presumably this has been used, as well as a rum topflavour. The story now in 2018 is pretty much the same but all the rum has evaporated and the tobacco is darker and mellower now. I think I will return to 2012 again and finish that tin asap 🙂
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 16, 2019 | Medium to Strong | Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
This is a pretty gosh darn good smoke.. the latakia is too much for me.. but.. the way the blend is composed gives a robust flavorful experience.. the addition of Kentucky is very unique.. as is the 'navy' character.. my one complaint is it at times just tastes like a robust English.. maybe a bolder black mallory.. but at other times you just get lost in it and enjoy its uniqueness.. smoky.. sweet.. robust.. enough strength to meet any evening.. but very particular.. a solid smoke.. for me not a regular smoke.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 01, 2019 | Medium to Strong | Mild | Medium to Full | Strong |
This came in broken flake form. I always talk about the rustic appeal of Cornell and Diehl's flakes. No complaints here. The tin note was woody and smoky, and there are some fruity sweet notes as well with a touch of a sour vinegary, meaty smell. The moisture was okay right out of the tin, but drying would help with combustion.
Note on the flavoring: it is said that the rum is the same rum used in Navigator. It adds a nice sweetness to the blend, more in the way of a tropical fruit taste.
Smoking slowly gave me leather notes, sweet pastry, baking spices, incense. The nutmeg note is superb. It's something I occasionally get with Navigator and Cumberland as well. It's a phenomenal note to pick up in a tobacco blend. There were also some cigar-like notes that appeared towards the end of the bowl. This blend is a nice treat for me, and unique among the blends containing Latakia. The dark-fired Kentucky and rum add interesting flavors. Four stars.
Note on the flavoring: it is said that the rum is the same rum used in Navigator. It adds a nice sweetness to the blend, more in the way of a tropical fruit taste.
Smoking slowly gave me leather notes, sweet pastry, baking spices, incense. The nutmeg note is superb. It's something I occasionally get with Navigator and Cumberland as well. It's a phenomenal note to pick up in a tobacco blend. There were also some cigar-like notes that appeared towards the end of the bowl. This blend is a nice treat for me, and unique among the blends containing Latakia. The dark-fired Kentucky and rum add interesting flavors. Four stars.
Pipe Used:
Various briars
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh from tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 31, 2018 | Medium to Strong | Medium | Full | Tolerable |
To me, Sextant is a rum forward blend, with enough nicontine to be a morning smoke. The added rum flavouring does a great job in merging the smoky latakia and the nutty somewhat fiery kentucky. This unholy trio grants this blend it's own unique character and flavor profile with a unified aroma. Excellent!
Even though I taste some virginia, I have a hard time detecting the nuances of it due to the other components and the rum... fortunately that's a non-issue for me, as I enjoy rum in all shapes and forms, especially the dark ones.
Highly recommended!
Even though I taste some virginia, I have a hard time detecting the nuances of it due to the other components and the rum... fortunately that's a non-issue for me, as I enjoy rum in all shapes and forms, especially the dark ones.
Highly recommended!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2018 | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Full | Strong |
I find myself reviewing tobacco that I am in love with and this is no different. My tin was old and just about to bust when I cracked it. The note from the tin was rich tobacco and rum. My first experience was supprisingly boring - not at all what I was expecting. Subsequent bowls brought out the latakia and it was love from then on out. I have never been one to have a tobacco change flavor throughout the bowl. This one moves from dark rum to latakia puff by puff. Very contemplative and delicious.
PurchasedFrom:
Edward's Pipe and Tobacco Englewood, CO
Age When Smoked:
5+ years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 01, 2018 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
This blend has a complex flvor, belying it's complex composition of Virginia, Oriental, and just a dash of Latakia. For me, this tends to be much more Virginia forward than many of the other GL Pease blends. I would classify this as an advanced pipe smoker's blend that needs to be slowly smoke to fully appreciate all that it has to offer. I found the tobacco in my tin to be a little moist, but a 5 to 10 minute dry time would easily fix. I would recommend this to anyone that has an experienced Virginia based palate. There is a slight touch of rum that seems to accent a slight nutty flavor.
Pipe Used:
Ashton Windsor
PurchasedFrom:
Indian River Tobacco Grand Rapids MI
Age When Smoked:
3 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 25, 2016 | Medium to Strong | Medium to Strong | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
There are many crown jewels in the G. L. Pease treasury, and this is certainly one of them. I wish it came with a fun story, such as "I was working on a new English blend, and I dropped some rum flavoring on top -- decided to smoke it and it worked". This is, however, likely the output of a very careful design.
The fire-cured Kentucky and the Virginia form a great, strong basis for this blend. I find a playful peppery flavor that stimulates the palate in a delightful way, likely because of the Orientals used. The Latakia is "classic" Pease: strong and forward. And then there's the casing. I don't know where it lodged firmly -- probably the Kentucky -- but that plus the sugary Virginia is quite the treat.
The broken flake presentation is quite convenient. I decided to fold it and pack it in a poker, which turned out to be magical. Copious smoke production, an even burn, and a very fine white ash attest to the quality of this tobacco.
Fans of Black Frigate will find this blend to be stronger flavored than their everyday choice, with perhaps the most noticeable changes coming from the Latakia and the heavier nicotine content.
The fire-cured Kentucky and the Virginia form a great, strong basis for this blend. I find a playful peppery flavor that stimulates the palate in a delightful way, likely because of the Orientals used. The Latakia is "classic" Pease: strong and forward. And then there's the casing. I don't know where it lodged firmly -- probably the Kentucky -- but that plus the sugary Virginia is quite the treat.
The broken flake presentation is quite convenient. I decided to fold it and pack it in a poker, which turned out to be magical. Copious smoke production, an even burn, and a very fine white ash attest to the quality of this tobacco.
Fans of Black Frigate will find this blend to be stronger flavored than their everyday choice, with perhaps the most noticeable changes coming from the Latakia and the heavier nicotine content.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Mark Twain
PurchasedFrom:
Hemingway, Palo Alto, CA
Age When Smoked:
1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 23, 2016 | Medium | Mild | Full | Strong |
I really enjoy this, a fine blend to my taste. Latakia always tells a story, I'd say, be it wispers of autumn campfires or tales of nautic adventure. This is the latter of those two, the rum and latakia combine to set sail for a quiet cove of contemplation and dreams. I would smoke this at sea at any given time, or on the porch at dusk. For those moments, this is spot on.
Taste: The scent of rum is pregnant, the latakia lingering over it with its smokey allure of darkness. Upon lighting the rum recedes, and primarily kentucky and latakia takes the stage. There is a sweetness to the blend, probably in part due to the virginia but also due to the topping; it does not dominate but it is there. Further down the bowl a spicy tingle is added as the kentucky grows more pronounced.
Mechanics: Comes as a broken flake, ready to smoke right out of the tin. No dottle, no bite. Medium nicotine strength.
Taste: The scent of rum is pregnant, the latakia lingering over it with its smokey allure of darkness. Upon lighting the rum recedes, and primarily kentucky and latakia takes the stage. There is a sweetness to the blend, probably in part due to the virginia but also due to the topping; it does not dominate but it is there. Further down the bowl a spicy tingle is added as the kentucky grows more pronounced.
Mechanics: Comes as a broken flake, ready to smoke right out of the tin. No dottle, no bite. Medium nicotine strength.
Pipe Used:
Briars
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