G. L. Pease Navigator

This is a delightful smoke, but rather perdestrian. While enjoyable, it is not really unique. In short, this is a good, but common smoke. I enjoy this blend , but, I will not repurchase.

This blend reminds me of a good medium bodied cigar, the interplay of VA and Kentucky tobaccos give it a spicy/earthy sweetness that pairs perfectly with a bold hint of rum! This is truely a blend for the rusty weathered seafarer!

I don't know. I am a fan of most of the GP blends ... this ain't one of them. If you like a dose of vitamin N you may warm up to it, ( if not for any other reason). I can't seem to find the flavor but the texture of the smoke is like a cigar ( at least to me any way). It may be that I need to age it for a while so I put up 6oz. and will come back to it in a year or so. There is no bite. It will burn better if dried a bit. Other than that there isn't much to say. I have read other reviews talking about how complex this stuff is ... I didn't get that at all. Basically I was looking for something to replace Stonehaven. This isn't it. Don't let me steer you off of it though ... it could just be a body chemistry thing.

Delicious. Mellow, flavorful, no bite. Enjoyable all the way through. Can be as simple or as complex as your current mood; and my mood is in constant flux, sometimes requiring multiple pipes at the ready; I've found one bowl of Nav start to finish satisfies.

2nd edit (Jun 2016)

I opened my 2nd tin. The tobacco was 2 years old, fairly moist, smelling very sour - to the point where I wondered if it wasn't moldy. Over the next 2 weeks I tried it a few times. This tobacco lack balance and harmony. Navigator is a nicotine bomb without finesse that just contributes to almost give me the hiccups. Lady N smothers the components and tastes of nothing but nicotine. Very sad as Sextant is awesome. Navigator is a true disappointment.

Edit (2 Feb 2015)

Now...I definitively like Navigator. Different from Sextant, but still in the same fleet. I can detect the rum better (it's really a tiny top note) and it really brings a nice sweetness that plays well with the DFK. If you like Sextant, you should like Navigator as well. It just needs a little more time to show its true potential. 3 Stars

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(Original review)The DFK is definitively very present in Navigator, but it's not up front like it is in Jacknife's Plug. Putting my nose in the tin, I could tell it was there and, as it's fairly smoky, it sort of hides the VAs typical tin aroma. I can - maybe - identify something Rum like when I inhale very deeply and slowly; but still, the DFK rules. As the tin aroma, DFK is very present, both in its smokiness and boldness. However, it doesn't smother the taste of the VAs like I found it does in JP; they bring some remote sweetness and hayness in the deal. I am not sure I can track down the Rum note and did not want to disturb the pleasure of the smokes in order to identify it. As the tobacco is fairly dry in the tin, I think the flavours are slightly subdued but it's not detrimental. And it still burns kind of slow for its level of dryness. Navigator is not complex, it's good ol' DFK with VAs, so it's mostly kind of smoky with the VAs interlude. I could track down some of the Rum note starting close to the half point. I liked it, I will finish the tin without any hesitation; but I'm not sure yet if I would buy it regularly. Sextant has really conquered my heart as where Navigator has not (yet?). 2,5 stars.

This is my first attempt to take on the custom blends. I have read a number of reviews before buying this blend and was looking forward to my first bowl. I was surprised when I open the tin to find a pressed squares inside. OK, different but, a nice aroma in the tin. I figured out how to rub it out to fill the bowl. Let it dry a bit as it felt very moist while rubbing. The first bowl was a disaster! Hard to light, Tongue BITE big time, after taste too strong. I like a rum coating but cannot detect any in the blend. I met with the local pipe shop owner and asked for his advice. He recommended a different pipe from the one I used and try a smaller bowl to get used to rubbing and filling to keep the bite in check. Don't let it get hot and pause when it went out. At this time I will not recommend this blend. I will let it age and dry some and will accept any suggestions to make a go of it. The room note is pleasant and respectful to those around which I think earns this a third or forth chance later.

Like most C&D Virginia blends, this blend is terrible new because it has no age on it. All the leaf is very green and flat. Greg should stick with English blends.

This is on the one hand a simple blend (Virginias, DFK, and rum), but on the other hand this has complex properties that can be very rewarding if smoked right.

The most important thing I discovered in smoking this is the "burnability" of the tobacco—it's pretty high. This means a fine line between a smoke that's too harsh and an experience that unlocks some wonderful flavors. It will light quite easily and quickly (avoid "overlighting" it), then smoke it super slowly, sipping it, and it will reward you by just staying lit, smooth, and cool.

My first time smoking it, I almost wrote this off as too harsh, with the sweetness of the Virginias buried under a harsh DFK, and the rum bordering on sour. The retrohale was virtually intolerably harsh. BUT THEN... I tried it a few more times—with a bit more patience and nurture, sipping slowly, taking my time, and keeping it cool. And what a huge difference it was...

Smoking it like that surprised me with an entirely different experience! It produced a wonderful taste—the sweetness of the Virginias becomes so much clearer and bolder, as does the rum taste (and some kind of fruitiness—which also leaves a really nice fruity sweet aftertaste as well), and it also keeps the DFK very mellow, relegating it to a much more enjoyable and relatively tame complementary player in the overall blend! Smoking it like that also gives a retrohale that is really wonderful, rich, and fruity!

For someone who wants a stronger DFK taste (without the rum), GLP JackKnife Plug is a great alternative. And for someone who wants the same rum undertone, but with even more complexity, GLP Sextant is a wonderful alternative that adds Latakia and Orientals to the mix.

But for someone who wants just a mellow, simple-yet-complex Virginia-DFK experience, this is definitely one to add to your cellar.

Another great Blend from G. L. Pease. Navigator lights well, smokes cool and dry to the bottom of the bowl. Very enjoyable taste. Smoking in a large bent bent chimney for a long enjoyable smoking experience.