G. L. Pease Gaslight

Ah Gaslight...

I like this stuff. We need a new “half star” system, because three stars seems a little like I’m short changing the stuff.

My first experience with Gaslight was in a cob while sitting in a hot tub on a 15 degree Ohio winter night. There was scotch involved, too. I knew then that this was special stuff, a blend that would demand more attention than I could give it at the time. It’s what I like to call a “special time smoke,” something I break out when the smoke is all I want to experience. Not something I smoke while reading or writing or cutting the grass or drunkenly steaming myself like a piece of broccoli in a hot tub.

Any time I get to break out a knife I’m a little excited. I use my girlfriends santoku chef knife when she’s not around as I like the control it offers. I’ve found that Gaslight smokes best when you get as even a cut as possible. I’ve had times where I’ve not cut even and the smoke seems to be a little off balance, or the burn can get funny if you’ve got an enormous chunk of latakia next to some more finely sliced stuff...so it pays to be a little careful when you slice. Rub it out to a nice ribbon, give it fifteen minutes or so and away you go.

Greg Pease advises you to pack a little looser, in a smaller pipe. I’ve always just used my regular loading method (filling the pipe with tobacco, giving it a squash...repeating until I like it) and haven’t had many issues. Gaslight can smoke a little soggy though, so I’m sure there’s something to the looser pack. It’s that sogginess that makes this a little less than a four-star blend for me. Taste wise, this stuff is on the mark.

I don’t get much of a VA presence, it’s there but as a carrier for the dominant Latakia and Oriental show. What a show it is! Big, full, and dark as night flavors from the Latakia—a nice smokiness and a tarry leather—support that curious and hard to pin down herbal oriental character. The orientals, as mentioned before, carry a distinct but not overbearing spice element but also a sweet undercurrent of...something else. I can’t quite figure out what...maybe it IS the dark VA sweetness playing off of the Latakia...maybe not. I will tell you that it’s what keeps me coming back to this blend.

This is one that requires a bit of attention and concentration to really understand, a blend I only choose if I’m prepared to really sit and taste.

Gaslight needs a few relights, a few mops with a cleaner, and some preparation...but on the occasions when I need some serious English to contemplate, it’s the one I reach for. Do yourself a favor and get it while you can.

I've only had one bowl, so this isn't a true review, per se. I just want to say that out of all the blends I've enjoyed Gaslight is the first to truly have that "beef jerky" smell out of the tin. I smoked this out of a cheap Rossi I bought that just wasn't working as a Virginia pipe and was blown away. I haven't smoked much Latakia/Oriental blends lately, but Gaslight has let me remember why I enjoy the diversity of flavors pipe tobacco can offer. Once I go through a couple of tins I'll update. As of now I would recommend this blend.

This is a tobacco that is meant to be savored. Perfect for smoking on a still autumn or winters night. Although very full bodied, it is smooth with layers of flavor, leathery, smokey, salty, malty and nutty. like a fine single malt scotch. A must for Latakia lovers.

Presentation: Label is black and blue portraying a lonely, dark, and possibly rainy street. It looks very mysterious and spooky.

Cut: Comes in a plug, but not a rock hard plug. It is managable, although I despise plugs, so it is still annoying slicing it up... especially when you get to that last bit and there is nothing to hold on to. Moisture is fine.

Tin note: Smells musty, smoky, and barely sweet.

Tasting notes: Smoky and spicy on light up. It might be the coarseness of which I cut the tobacco, but it took a bit of effort to light, which made it a bit harsh on the first few puffs. Puffs consist of a VERY slight bready tangy sweetness which turns smoky, then a little spicy. Woody at times. A sharp breadiness came out for me later into the bowl, mainly on the finishes. Spice diminishes and smokiness increases later into the bowl. At the end of the bowl it gets a bit harsh—I don't mind, I just see it as a flavor change and some of you will enjoy it as it is a stout latakia smokiness.

Mechanics: Very cool smoking. As I said earlier, a but hard to light but that could be user error there on how thick I cut it. A well behaved blend.

Extra Remarks: Gaslight is one of Greg Pease's better known blends. This is a no frills, full flavor English blend. This blend reminds me a bit of Pease's Lagonda, as well as Captain Earle's Ten Russians. If you hate heavy latakia blends, avoid this one, otherwise you will find a pleasant, hardy smoke. It's not very complex, but I don't think that was the goal with this one. 3 stars.

For notes I think JimInks's review nails the general flavor and body of the blend. Complex latakia blend with a slow and dry burn. I'd rank the complexity of the blend in the 80th percentile, something like a decent scotch.

My only comment here is the tin and room note: as pleasant as the blend is to smoke, both the tin and room note gives off the aroma of well-aged gym socks.

I independently recieved this feedback from half a dozen denizes of my local tobacconist at different times, which was enough to make me self-conscious about smoking this stuff in public.

This is a well reviewed, and I agree, excellent tobacco. But I cannot recommend it for everyone, even Latakia lovers. It takes some getting used to, so to help let me add some critical notes. First, the "tin note." My first impression: like the smell of a pet store into a strip mall. Seriously. Now this is not bad, but quite different. It is sign of some kind. The cake must be cut perpendicular to the horizontal layers. If you fail to do this, some horizontal layer, some particular leaf, might dominate, and this can be unpleasant. Watch out for stems. There can be several and they are definitely unpleasant. It must be packed for a long, slow burn, and a bit of drying seems to help. Now if you make it this far, and you still have some patience, you can be richly rewarded. The flavors are indeed dynamic: full, smooth, and variable. For me, "smokey leather" is what I puff for, after dinner, once or twice a week.

Craving a lat-bomb? Tired of Pirate Kake's odd leatheriness? This is a far fresher, and far more flavorful alternative.

I smoke a lot of middle english blends. Ashton Artisan, Stimulus Package, Levant Mixture, Margate, etc. But once in a while, I find myself craving a big latakia hit to end the day. I really don't care for Pirate Kake -- I find it one dimensional and stale tasting. But, I've found that gaslight (along with Ten Russians) can fit the bill happily.

In contrast to Pirate Kake, Gaslight has some fresh flavors that balance against the (strong) latakia. You can find the oriental and virginia peeking through, making themselves known. I find the latakia in Pirate Kake overwhelming to the point of boredom. Gaslight gives nearly the same latakia kick, but a touch more nuance making it enjoyable through the entire bowl.

Ten Russians is another good lat bomb. It's spicier than Gaslight (probably the orientals). Gaslight has just a little more creamy sweetness (but its not sweet, by any means). Both have their place.

I'm giving this 3.5 stars, and I'll round down to three. No real complaints, just not an every day option for me, but among the top of its class in the lat-bomb subcategory.

Gaslight is presented in a dense plug and requires some work prior to smoking, versatile in how you choose to prepare and benefits from drying time, I prefer thiner slices. Latakia is the predominant component and exhibits deep smoky peat and wood. the Orientals add a spicy, fragrant and sour quality, increasing the degree of complexity. Virginias bring a touch of sweetness, hay and some dried fruit, enriching the blend further. Certainly a very rich and complex smoke that at times takes on a maduro cigar like quality with cocoa bitterness. Requires a few relights and leaves a rich and slightly sweet lingering finish and a tolerable room note. Medium to strong nicotine level. Similar to Quiet Nights but with more Orientals and without Perique.

It took me a couple of bowls to appreciate this one. By the fourth I'm loving it. For me the flavors take a few minutes to really start coming together. By mid bowl it becomes a wonderful mix of smokiness, leather, and spices. It really plays all the right tricks on my tongue and stands out among other English blends I have tried. The contents of my tin benefit from drying for 30 minutes or so once cut to the desired texture.