G. L. Pease Cairo

I went on a jag with this stuff a few years ago, and socked away a few tins. I remember being warned at the time by more than one person that it did not age well. I suppose that's the case if you're looking for a Virginia dominant blend, but if taken on it's own terms, this is a very fine blend. Age has pushed the oriental well into the front (I wish I knew the name of this particular tobacco, but if I ever knew, I've forgotten. It's not Drama, but other than that, I dunno.) giving the blend a taste that I would describe as sour, but think of that as "as opposed to sweet" not "gone bad". When combined with a little tongue-pricking from the perique, it reminds me of generic beer in a sense.

Later in the bowl, the virginias start coming through, both with sweetness (making an interesting dance with the oriental) and a lemony hint similar to that of Orlik Golden Flake. Towards the end of the bowl, the virginia pretty much takes over, providing a solid virginia finish.

While it's safe to say that this will never become one of my main blends, it's a fascinating change of pace for the virginia lover.

This is not as bad as some say it is in my opinion. I can see how someone with a less seasoned tongue could interpret the spice as bite.

It is very simillar to montgomery just with a little perique in place of the fired kentucky.

However the nicotine is ultra potent. Cairo will kick you in the back of the knees. Like drinking a whole pot of coffee if you ask me.

I will smoke the tin up but might not order again as I prefer balkans and straight va's. This does not make it bad at all. Jut not what I call my favorite pease blend.

I really don't like perique but it is tollerable in this and present in a minimal quantity, in the smoking- the tin has its putrid odor sadly. I can look past the tin aroma. Perique almost gags me I hate its foul smell. Funny how we are different as I know many love its smell.

This is more of an occasional blend for me. If you like va and a strong oriental presence and don't like latakia at all you will enjoy this. However I find myself saying where's the latakia? So it goes. I reccomend montgomery over this. It is more smokable to me.

A well blended tobacco, just not my thing.

Pease Cairo is another masterful blend in this increasingly astounding line of tobaccos. The tin I'm currently smoking was two years old when opened. The Virginia tobaccos glistened with tiny sugar crystals. This blend has rewarded me handsomely every time I've called on it.

I rated this as an "occassional" smoke not because of quality - which is excellent. I rate it as such because it requires one's full attention to truly enjoy. It demands a moment where one puts down the book, turns off the PC monitor, isn't in the car, isn't doing yard work, where one just sits quietly and smokes. Thus, it is a luxury best sampled infrequently like a vintage champagne.

The tin aroma of this tobacco is unusual, and initially one might think it cased with something. On opening, one becomes aware of an intensely citrusy, fruity, bubble-gummy aroma. Let the tin sit open for a bit, and the aroma becomes more subtle - you discern that it comes not from fruit flavoring but from prime, bright, lemony Virginia tobacco combined with the sweet spiciness of Oriental and Perique.

The tobacco packs well, and on lighting is nothing like bubble-gum. It is bright in flavor, and ever so slightly spicy. Never overwhelming or bite-y, it settles into a flavor profile not unlike a good, buttery, oaky Chardonnay. It's fruity and sweet due to the Virginias, the Perique adds a bit of tingle to the tongue, and the Oriental tobaccos provide a sweet spice flavor and aroma that melds perfectly. It's simultaneously sweet, tart, toasty, and spicy. Room aroma is tolerable to non-smokers.

Cairo is a pleasant change in that it offers the combination of Virigina and Oriental tobaccos without the usual addition of Latakia. I recommend that any pipe smokers should try this blend at least once, giving it the attention it deserves, if only for the experience.

Fragrant and spicy. All the classic oriental flavors ranging from spicy to sour. Can burn hot if you are not careful. My only criticism is I wish it had a touch more sweetness. A pinch more red or dark virginia would make this an easy 5 star for me.

G.L Pease Cairo

The smoke starts very light. Plumb and raisin flavors are initially detectable from the Virginia and perique. There is a clean white pepper sting on the retro-hale. Sweetness from the Virginia’s mixed with a little baking spice from the orientals come through for a very mellow first half of the bowl.

Onto the second half , the flavors become more complex and the strength increases from mild to medium plus. Orientals really start to own the show, turning the smoke into a woody and spicy experience. Now flavors of graham cracker and orange peel come to the forefront.

After this point , the flavor all of a sudden became very ashy. I was worried thinking that Cairo was bottoming out. So I removed the full ash cap and re lit - luckily this completely solved the problem and I continued on with this wonderful smoke.

The finish is reminiscent of Cinnamon Toast Crunch , or if you haven’t had it , cinnamon sugar graham crackers and is definitely the highlight of Cairo! If I could skip the whole process and go right to the finish on this blend , I would every time. A solid 3.5 - I’ll need a couple more bowls to decide if I can bump it up to 4 stars.

- Jan

We always have high hope on everything we try from such a well known blender but I must admit this was a bit of a disappointment for me. It is without question a blend of excellent tobaccos and I can see where it would be a hit for some but for some reason the taste and the effect left me wanting more from the Virginias. The description said it was on the medium side which I agree with but for me it leaned more toward heavy, either the nic hit was heavy or a component gave me a bit of lightheadedness. I did however find that when I paired it with French Vanilla coffee it was a good match. I would call it more of an after dinner blend as opposed to an early morning or all day blend.

Much has been said already about this wonderful VA/OR. The tin aroma is really pleasant, yes, like wine, as some pointed out; with fruits (plum, raisin, fig) and some spices in the background. Smoking reveals exactly that, with the spiceness becoming more present as the smoke progresses and the fruit notes never dissipating. The fruit taste is never sweet and is refreshing; it's like the fruits notes in a dry red wine that are lingering afterward. The nicotine is just right for me, which is medium to strong. It burns even and well, never bites and is never harsh. Really, Cairo is a fantastic discovery for me. Combining VAs and ORs with some unfermented périque makes a great blend for me.

I like Cairo, but I find it so strange... Opening the tin there is a strong smell of red wine (or maybe vinegar), which translates somewhat in the bowl. Maybe this is due to the marriage between Orientals and Perique, the fact is that I can't taste Orientals in the usual way and sometimes the vinegar aroma is just too strong for me. However a fine blend of quality tobaccos.

This blend has come as a pleasant surprise to me. As one who smokes largely English and Balkan blends, Cairo provides an agreeable change of pace. The Virginias predominate over the orientals, which add spice. There is a distinct citrus note which I find very refreshing. The perique is there but faint.

I've not noticed the bite issue raised by reviewers; I smoke it slowly in a small bowl vintage GBD.

I've been smoking from a May 2007 tin. I will lay some away as I would expect it to benefit from a few years in the cellar. Cairo will stay in my rotation as an interesting change for the palate.