G. L. Pease Cairo

This is one of the most unique tobaccos I've ever had the pleasure of coming across. Exotic, tangy, sweet, ephemeral -- the flavor and room note are hard to describe, but singularly intoxicating. It puts me in mind of incense. Really, I can't emphasize enough how very special this mixture is -- one of Pease's most creative moments! Unfortunately, I can't enjoy thanks to some kind of reaction I have to one of the constituents (it pretty much burns holes in my tongue after only a few draws). But don't let that deter you, in all seriousness -- I believe it to be an individual reaction, not an indictment of the tobacco itself. If you'd like to see what an oriental blend sans latakia can be, this is the one to try.

It's interesting to me how differently people can experience a tobacco. Unlike other reviewers, I find this to be quite strong, almost overwhelming. It's a rich, complex, intense smoke quite unlike other Virginias I've tried, far darker, deeper and richer. The Orientals are not consciously detectable to me, though I have no doubt that they account for a good part of the depth of the flavor, which is ultimately indescribable, though words like toasty and peppery come to mind.

Anyway, I find this irresistible, and I'm sure I'll come back to it often. Recommended.

This tobacco has a slightly nutty tin aroma which is similar to Cumberland (but much subdued), and everyone says wonders of it. Well, in spite of this I guess it is my least favorite of all of Greg's offerings so far (I haven't tried Stonehenge, sadly). What's the problem? Nothing really with the tobacco, just a matter of personal taste. The golden colored ribbons are very attractive and natural-looking, and while moisture in the tin seems a bit too high, it only takes a few hours before the humidity level is perfect. Packing is easy and not so critical, and relightings are infrequent. My problem is that I can't seem to get enough taste of it (well, not even SOME taste at times!), a problem I have with many virginia-based blends but especially with this one, which at times seems a cross between a cigarette and the most recent (and rather bland) incarnation of Three Nuns. I find Cairo rather boring: smooth, not unplesant, doesn't bite a bit (but tickles the throat), smokes very dry, it's over before you can realize it. But still, the smoke is too light and delicate (in taste, because strength is actually not weak and can give you some buzz). Ok, as a smoker of stuff like Pirate Kake I may not be entitled to give an opinion on such a different tobacco, but hey, I won't buy this again! As Eulenburg pointed out, the Virginia base is almost completely lacking in sweetness and the orientals complement it nicely: the only time I found some more taste/sweetness was when I smoked it in a Tinsky that I had dedicated to Hal O'The Wynd and Marlin Flake. Yes, Cairo stands in a league of its own, but I don't want to be in that league. Don't take these words as a negative review, anyway: this blend is clearly a quality one for those who like this genre, and you could easily be among them.

UPDATE May 2005: Well, I have opened a tin which was aged for 3 years.. and it's a completely different music! The taste has intensified, the tobacco is a darker orange, and it's much better than my previous experience. A nutty, slightly earthy taste, with a subdued sweetness and a solid sour presence due to the Perique. I don't find it exceedingly strong anymore: no more stomach ache, no more spins. It still tickles the mouth a bit, but overall it's quite pleasant, though still heavier in body than tasty. Not bad at all... I'll keep for the other aged tin I have in my possession for future enjoyment, and I have uprated the blend to two stars. Hey, I might even be tempted to give it three stars, although it's not one of my favorite blends yet. IMHO more enjoyable and balanced than Haddo's Delight, to which these three years of aging made it somewhat comparable in taste (although more delicate).

2023 UPDATE: Tastes change... Sometimes I revisit blends that I hadn't fully appreciated when I was less experienced. This time I decided to upgrade to 3 stars. Why? It still isn't my favourite style (Orientals and no Latakia still is a puzzling combination to me), but this is undeniably well made. Think Presbyterian but with much more subtlety and nuance. Fragrant, suited to leisurely sipping. And there IS Red Virginia sweetness, although in a natural way and without the casing of some other examples. My favourite Va/Oriental/Perique is Ashton/McConnell "Old London" which is definitely more cased and thicker. "Cairo" is elegant and subdued by comparison. Definitely a slow grower.

Tin note of sour, Rasins and spices. Tobacco is a yellowish tan, brown and dark brown very thin ribbon. moisture content is on the dry side, no prep needed. Burns normal with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium and moderately consistent, with notes of wood, dry earthy, raisin, herbal spices, floral, spicy, mild smoky, musty grass, mild sour lemon, a sweet bread background note, and a moderately peppery retro. Oriental/Turkish is leading with Virginias supporting. Perique comes and goes as it wishes. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is good.

Nabbed a 2 oz tin from 2013, and seeing as Pease's blends require advanced aging thought 3 years would be plenty. Problem was that when opened tin had no vacuum, was crinkly-dry, and had a strong alcohol scent, very strong. It took two weeks to rehydrate, going through two sets of disc soaking in a 8 oz jar, periodically exposing to air. Smoked it recently, and... it's good.

Still much alcohol, whiskey -like, good taste from the lemony orange Vas, reduced interaction from orientals, but a decent recovery of a potentially abysmal experience.

Cairo is my choose when arrive home. An straight pipe, little bowl and the talk with the family. Very strong flavor of orientals and perique, but must be smoke in a little bowl, because it decrease the pleasure after the first half. But very few blends can compare the pleasure that Cairo gives you in the first half of the bowl.

Light easy smoke that can tend to get a little hot at times. Easy all day smoke (which i'm doing with the present tin) but not hearty enough for me personally to be bothered buying more. I didnt find this particularly complex either. People who dont like heavy tobac will probably like this. As always, very good quality tobacco is used. Give it a try.

I like this. It's a bit much for an every day type of smoke, but it's nice. In the tin it's very light, bright amber colored. It came a bit dry. The taste is like a light Virginia with very little bite while still retaining the flavor. I had two tins of this but I moved both to ball jars to avoid over drying. one of them went to the cellar and the other went into the long rotation. I can't see myself smoking this too often but at least two or three times a month. I smoke about a bowl and a half a day. Don't judge me; that leftover half bowl can taste pretty great the next morning! Oh, room note: pretty rough. It's close to smell of burning grass. My gf is usually pretty tolerant of my hobby and puts up with Nightcap a few times a week. But this time she asked me to take the dog for a walk. When we got back a few sticks of incense were lit.

The tin that I smoked was from 2004. I have had this in the cellar hidden behind some other Pease tins and had forgotten it was there. That being said, I did buy two tins originally and had the first one 3 years ago. I took some notes on it then and compared them with the more aged tin I smoked this week.

More of a fine ribbon cut than is usual with Pease, and I have to thank him for that. I find that alot of the tobacco blends are in too rough a cut or too thick a ribbon to produce the best burn. I like to smoke slowly, and a finer ribbon seems to give me more flavor and a more even burn. Dunhill seems to get this.

The color of the tobacco had darkened somewhat from the more caramel fresh appearance. It was more of a mahogany. The tin scent was a bit more rich and developed with the perique being a bit more tame in the nose than before. There is very little perique in this one, but a fresh tin will present one with a tad more of it's aggresiveness.

The packing is easy. The char light was a presentation of oriental spice and a hint of the virginia grassiness. After the true light, the blend starts to develope quickly in the bowl. As the orientals start to settle in the virginia and perique components marry. The sturdy background they provide are matched well to the orientals chosen here. The strength is on the light side of medium and the body is a full medium. Flavor is medium to full.

At midbowl, after smoking slowly, you get hints of sweet India spices in caramel, with a yeasty, grassy high note. Very little fruitiness from the perique although dark, low notes are apparent. The strength has not picked up at all...still a light medium.

The blend smoked beautifully from top to bottom. No moisture issues and no bite noted. My only complaint is the strength. It would be a much more relaxing smoke if it had a bit more nicotine. As it is, I will not be adding any for long term storage as it just doesn't satisfy me as much as I would like.

For lighter blend smokers that have a slower cadence, I would recommend this without hesitation. Cheers!