G. L. Pease Navigator

This blend has Pease's signature full body, bold flavor(s), and great clarity. A woody, somewhat nutty Kentucky bounces off a rich and subtly sweet Virginia. I get hints of pepper and spice, as well as a touch of bitters -- all of which create a fairly distinctive blend.

There are probably a couple dozen Va/DFK blends out there, yet Pease manages to create something entirely unique. There is nothing cigar-like about this, but there is something exquisite -- regal, even -- that makes me feel like I'm smoking a fine cigar.

Presentation is what I would describe as barely broken flake, nice and thick. Tin note is light on rum, barely detectable, leaning more towards stovey Virginia hay. While the Virginias are sweet, I'm detecting very little rum and the overall smoke is on the harsh side. I'm generally a fan of Pease blends. This one may need a little age on it to smoothen out. I'm going to jar the remainder and come back to this one in six months or a year.

Edit 01/2014: A man of my word, I have jarred this for one year and just come back for a taste. Wow, what a difference a year has made to this blend. It has smoothened out dramatically. The charring light brings a distinct yet extremely smooth Kentucky tang- the smoothest Kentucky I've ever tasted. As the bowl progresses, the Kentucky is woven seamlessly into some very naturally sweet Virginias. We're not talking sugar here. More like molasses. There's a very bready sweetness to the blend by mid/bowl with a firm, earthy foundation that really puts this blend in the class of Pease's Cumberland, albeit with a more distinct yet subtle sweetness. The rum remains distant, virtually undetectable to my pallet. And that's fine, because the overall blend is superb.

The blend takes a match well and burns cool with no relights. Very easy on the tongue- absolutely zero bite. The performance characteristics clearly benefited from some time in the jar.

I'm raising my initial rating from 2 to 3 stars. I'm very impressed with how this has aged. I was disappointed with the fresh product but, as suspected, a Pease blend of quality tobaccos has aged wonderfully. Now I can't wait to see what a few more years will do. I will be picking up some more to age in jars. Gentlemen: this is definitely one to pick up with the intention of laying it down for a few years. If you didn't like your initial experience, jar it and set it aside. You'll thank me later.

I have been very critical of the rum topping that C&D uses on both its owsn blends and GLP blends because it is horrid tasting to my tastebuds, but it somehow works in this blend. I believe the reasons for this are twofold; 1. I find it to be applied lighter than say, Haddo's Delight, which I find overwhelms the leaf too much, 2. this blend is more about the burley and Kentucky rather than the standard navy blend, which is primarily Virginia leaf. Both forms of Burley in this blend tend to tone down toppings just as they will eliminate a ghost in a pipe; whereas, Virginia leaf tends to amplify toppings making something that tastes bad, taste much worse.

So with that said, I liked this blend. It is a nice Va/Bur, that is a little different than the normal fare which are usually topped with Molasses, anise or licorice. As is the case with C&D produced blends it is the perfect humidity and the flakes fall apart nicely for those who prefer to rub out their flakes. It will perform with no relights if you are into that sort of thing and it will not bite.

This one won't rise to the level of four stars for me as I prefer the aforementioned normal fare of Va/Bur blends, but this was a nice changeup and I have a few more tins aging for future use.

As a aromatic smoker I first tried this blend based on a recommendation to this tobbaco as a bridge to English blends... it was one great tobacco... smells great.. taste is very good and it has a kick to it...I love the smokiness... Definitely recommend to those who want to try something non-aromatic... The Rum is not traceable for me... It smokes perfectly...

Nice blend. Not complex but still holds my interest to the bottom of the bowl. The "drop" of rum is, I think, the point of interest. Very relaxing smoke.

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.

A lot has already been written about this blend. I agree with those who suggest folks who prefer a lighter Virginia go somewhere else. I find this blend a bit too strong for my preferences. However, it is one of the rum blends in which the rum is noticeable but not overwhelming. Those who prefer a stronger smoke will most likely find this enjoyable.

GL Pease Navigator

First third: Sweet and smoked in that order. Virginia’s come out on top, easy and sweet, with the strong and savory dark fired Kentucky adding body and boldness. Only the suggestion of rum, right on the back of the retrohale.

Second third: burning a little hot, but not unpleasantly. Still predominantly Virginia. The dark fired tastes like smoked and peppered meat, and the Virginia is a honey and red wine vinegar marinade. Still not much from the rum.

Final third: quite hot now. Not a ton of flavor detected except some light and airy Virginia notes.

Overall, it was pleasant but not superb. If you’re looking for a full flavor blend that won’t kill you, I would recommend it, but be sure to puff slowly to avoid the issue I had in the final third.

A nice VA Burley blend loaded with flavor. I chose to put these large cut flakes in my blender and break them down to a nice packing ribbon. The tobacco is thick and didn't light easy at first but after changing it's cut... good to go.

This is a serious blend for the veteran smoker (and sailors) and not for the weak. I did grow tired of it's harshness at times and pushed it aside and visited it on days when I wanted that extra umphhh.. The rum adds to the heaviness of the blend.

Not sweet and tasty but warm and hearty and dry. I enjoyed the tin good enough but wouldn't buy it again. Recommended when you want the fullness of tobacco!