G. L. Pease Gaslight

Presents as a somewhat thick, moderately compressed block of layered leaf. Dominated by black and darker brown, with streaks of eye catching golden brown interspersed throughout the layers. Moisture level is within my ideal range. Tin note is dominated by fig/raisin, with an underlying barnyard like mustiness. Being a plug, one has a multitude of options for preparation. I'm not of the "drop the whole thing in a blender" crowd, therefore I sliced through the layers while providing gentle holding pressure with my off hand. This helps to ensure clean and even slicing, as does using a thin bladed and sharp knife. For the purpose of tobacco prep, I find the Minimalist Bowie by CRKT to be ideal. However, this is a tobacco review, so back to the blend. For a longer and somewhat cooler smoke a thicker cut, rubbed out into a somewhat unrefined coarse ribbon works well. This blend also does well with exceptionally thin slicing; essentially "shaving" the plug. Whereas some might be put off by the extra prep work involved, I think of it as giving one greater control of the smoking experience. Loading the bowl, for me is a straightforward process using the standard 3 step method. The charring light and subsequent maintenance depends strongly on how one has prepared the tobacco, with finer cuts naturally requiring less TLC. Flavor wise, I find this to be a moderately robust, yet refined and balanced English blend. If pushed even slightly, the latakia becomes unquestionably dominant and ruins the balance this blend possesses. When sipped gently, Gaslight is at it's best. Still with a noticabe latakia presence manifested by the smokey notes, the oriental spicy/mineral notes begin to almost playfully dance in and out of the spotlight without ever daring to take center stage. The exceptional Virginias in this blend serve as an important moderator, smoothing out the smoky latakia and lending it a silky texture while keeping the oriental leaf in line. While not providing an overtly sweet/tangy character, the presence of top quality Virginia nonetheless plays a very important role in this blend. Mr. Pease has done a wonderful job in demonstrating the importance of careful selection of leaf as well as balancing the quantity of each variety used with Gaslight. This plug also showcases the importance of finding the ideal smoking cadence. It's taken me nearly a full tin to discover this is a blend full of nuance and character. Like a professional prize fighter, if pushed this one doesn't mind asserting itself and hitting back with purposeful malice. However, when approached with the due respect, one discovers there's more than punches and kicks to it's character. As to the room note, it delivers the somewhat standard English smokey incense tones. Quite classy and comforting to those of us in love with English blends and guaranteeing solitude if those surrounding oneself aren't members of the Brotherhood of Briar. No objections on my part, there's nothing wrong with contemplative solitude when piping and I find it one of the best ways to add enjoyment to the experience. The bowl, requiring relights primarily dictated by the coarseness of the prep work, burns cleanly and yields a slightly coarse mottled gray ash with minimal dottle, leaving behind little to no moisture. For those who like a refined, yet masculine experience out of their tobacco and can listen to what the blend needs to shine it's best, this deserves a solid 3 1/2 star rating. Somewhat robust for an all day blend, I don't hesitate to say the potential for an everyday blend is there. I highly suggest trying in a wide variety of pipes before drawing one's own conclusion, as this blend seems to like some bowls better than others and has plenty of character to be revealed, partly depending on the bowl geometry, partly depending on prep method, and strongly dictated by puffing cadence.

A pleasant, ripe, and slightly yeasty nose with lingering smokey wood upon opening the pop top tin. An almost 2" thick, and flakey, plug of many layers. Mellows out to a balanced smoke with same rich flavours from the tin. Good with a bit of cognac.

Gaslight struck me as a surprisingly complex english mixture. It has a prominent latakia presence, as you no doubt would have guessed if you're at all familiar with GLP blends. But even so, it's far from boring or blunt. Instead, here I find the latakias accompany the VA's and orientals excellently and not drowning anything out. Everything seems to come together nearly perfectly in this mixture, and even with only minutes of drying time after opening a fresh tin and slicing up a few flakes, there's barely any hint of bite, gurgle or anything unpleasant at all actually. Just a very palatable and pleasing mixture, with virginias leading the charge, neck in neck with some seriously delicious orientals.

Not particularly strong as far as nicotine goes, but there's enough flavour to keep things interesting. I have to admit though, it's not very easy to pin point exactly what's going on here a lot of the time - somehow it keeps me on my toes from pipe to pipe, and even from bowl to bowl in the same pipe. Common denominators are however that it always starts out in a mild and lightly sweet fashion, but with a tangible enough mouthfeel that before long gives way for the orientals. For the most part I'm getting the latakia very much in the background until I start approaching the heel.

Surely a 4-star blend for a lot of people, but not quite for me. I'll try and explain. It has hints of... well, I don't know quite what it is, but it goes back to the part of the blend that ties everything together, I think. Whatever it is, that "gasoline or kerosene" (as 'B Short' put it below), it's part of the reason it has taken me nearly 4 months to write this review and actually post something that's not complete gibberish (as opposed to the gobbledygook I usually write).

While it all comes together in a pleasant package in the end, it's that one little thing that somehow disturbs the peace in the "smoking lounge". But all the same, well worth a try for fans of english blends with a touch of something unique. Arguably something that you may or may not like. And there it goes entangling my brain again. I'll just post this now before I have to start over for the umpteenth time with this review.

This blend somewhat puzzled me for a while. Fresh from the tin I found it to be a good, solid smoke, but nothing outstandingly good for my own taste. I did let this sit in the tin for a few weeks and recently came back to it and my second impression is much better!

For a while I was unsure what kind of aroma I'm getting, but I suspected a slight topping in this blend. JImInks hit the nail on the head for me, I tend to agree that the blend does have some kind of chocolate-ish flavoring/topping. Not only the taste hints towards it, but also the rather moist, slightly sticky tobacco itself let's me think so.

The tin note has similarities to my tin of C&D's Evening Rise with 6 years of age to it, so I guess it's either the Latakia or Orientals that gives this somewhat sour, almost vomit-ish scent. Not exactly nasty, and much milder than with my tin of Evening Rise, but exactly the same odd nuance is lingering, guess it has to do with either the Latakia or Oriental varietal used in both blends. But it also has some nice smokiness and spice to it. The tin note is appealing!

The "Krumble Plug"-Cut is intriguing and easy to handle and the very dark coloring of this tobacco (black, dark brown, hints of bright leaf) leads me to believe the Orientals and Virginias were maybe stoved? Looks very yummy!

In the taste it's richly smoky, midly sour and ethereal with very mild, smooth sweetness and a nice creaminess. Peaty, meaty, and spicy. With intense notes of wood and earth as a foundation. In the 2nd half of the bowl the flavors get more defined and I also get hints of nuts, which I really enjoy! The first half isn't that defined, not muddled, but not as clear as the 2nd half is. The chocolate-ish arma from the tin note is also present in the smoke and I like it a lot! Somewhat nutty-ish, chocolate-ish and mildly sweet. It almost reminds of a Burley leaf.

It took me a while and almost half a tin to really appreciate this blend, but now I kinda get what the fuzz is about. Flavored or not, this has a very unique taste to it and I bet this ages wonderfully. 3,5-stars, as it still isn't one of my most favorite blends, but one I like to come back to from time to time.

Latakia with what appears to be cigar leaf.

Gaslight is an interesting one. When I first smoke a blend I tend to really concentrate on the flavours, trying to tease out the different notes as much as I can... before abandoning thought for hedonistic abandon for the rest of the tin.

Here we had the typical latakia smokiness, a little peaty this time, cut with dark fruits, cocoa and a hint of what I can only describe as candied orange. A bit of cinnamon or nutmeg thrown in the mix too. There was a mushroom-earthiness though, that was both atypical to a pipe tobacco blend and familiar at the same time. When I broke a flake apart, I believe discovered this cheeky point of difference; a cigar leaf.

That would probably elucidate the reason behind the preparation instructions, so as to ensure the right amount of cigar leaf per bowlful.

I believe that the addition of cigar leaf explains why this blend can sometimes taste more earthy and harsh than usual, and that very fussiness makes me notch down my overall rating from 4 to 3.5 stars.

this just didn't do it for me. i like latakia in proportion, but this just seemed to heavily bent toward it. i also did not like the cut once rubbed out, it was too chunky for my taste. i went to it with an expectation of something a little bit sweeter than it was, however the virginia did not seem to add in that area. it rates 3 stars for me simply because as i consider it, i must admit that it delivers just as it claims to, it will appeal to many on that bases, i received it as a sample and would never have purchased it based upon it's claims.

Es cremoso, con la humedad justa marida bien con cafe frio o tibio y algo de crema y azúcar. Requiere un par de reencendidos pero depende del corte. El aroma en frio es estimulante !!!