G. L. Pease Sixpence
(3.30)
You enter the dark paneled room, its walls lined with ancient books. An antique table stands beside a leather club chair. Upon it, next to a small silver coin, an open tobacco tin entices you with an aroma deep, rich, authentic. You fill your bowl, strike a match. The first puff stops time as the smoky magic weaves its spell... Sixpence. The mystery continues.
Notes: First batch tinned October 15, 2014 and released November 21, 2014. On that date, Mr. Pease wrote: After a longer than expected wait, I'm happy to announce that Sixpence is now wending its way to tobacconists' shelves. A rich flake comprising a base of beautiful red virginias, a generous portion of perique, and just a bit of dark-fired leaf to add body and dimension. The tobaccos are delicately kissed with a special spirit, then pressed and aged in cakes before being sliced and tinned. The taste and aroma are deep, full and satisfying, reminiscent of traditional tobaccos from long ago. I'm very excited about the release, as I'm sure you can imagine. I've been working on Sixpence for a long time, and am beyond pleased with it. It's one of those rare moments when everything comes together and the final blend actually exceeded the expectations I began the journey with.
It's been a long journey. I had something special in mind when I began this project, something that would hold the smoker's interest throughout the bowl, developing increasing nuances with each puff, while not fatiguing the palate or building too much intensity. The leaf has been carefully selected and composed to perfect harmony from first light to the wonderful crescendo of the last puff. Virginia lovers craving a tobacco that is bold and robust, as well as devotées of latakia mixtures who enjoy virginias as a change of pace will find their reward in every bowl of Sixpence.
Details
| Brand | G. L. Pease |
| Series | Old London Series |
| Blended By | Gregory Pease |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Perique |
| Contents | Kentucky, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Alcohol / Liquor |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | 2 oz Tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.30 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 69 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 2015 | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
The Fine Print
Tin Aroma: Premium Virginia goodness with just a sour hint of Perique and lots of sweet brandy.
Preparation: The flakes come tightly packed in the tin. As these are broken and not whole flakes, I rub them out completely and then fill the pipe with the Frank’s method. You can smoke it folded and stuffed or fully rubbed, the experience will not disappoint in any way.
The Flakes: Very classic presentation, Sixpence comes tightly and neatly packed. Broken almost full flakes delicately packed in thick paper with something that can only be described as a double cover on the tin. The broken flakes are one of the lightest, fluffiest you will ever encounter if you are new to GL Pease blends.
Charlight: First Draw, very creamy, very light, perfect harmony of the leaf, the smoke is rich but never owerpowering, the special spirit used gives a really sweet profile for the first 1-2 minutes initially. The perique is a delight, never assaulting the senses but rather caressing you at all times. Retrohale is quite strong and you can taste the tasty virginia with the hints of perique wonderfully.
The first quarter- Virginia Song: This tobacco is a wonderfully crafted dessert for the VaPer lovers, after the first charlight you barely would need a first light even, smoke it slowly and the wonderful nuances starts to heat up and slowly start coming out. Lots of virginia goodness, farm fresh hay !! a very good concoction indeed. As you progress further the perique starts to show its presence with the kentucky giving it a slightly fuller body. The taste of brandy lingers slightly with lots of virginia hay goodness, the chocolate coming out in the room note with the kentucky. Retrohale at this stage packs a lot of heat in terms of spice like cayenne but not pepper.
10 minutes into the smoke and finally the first true light was needed. Try to delicately light this leaf, as any extra heat will only add to the burnt bitterness in the taste profile. Very smoky, medium spicy, the broken flakes are now working wonders. Perique stays with you throughout; going up and down depending on your smoking rhythm. If you are a retrohale junkie, you will LOVE SixPence. There is strength in the blend but it won’t knock you out senseless. The sweetness rears its head up from time to time as an aftertaste but it gets muted by the Kentucky giving it an overall nutty, woody taste.
The second quarter - Perique awakens: 15-20 minutes into the experience; the Virginia has warmed up and blended well with the sidekick Perique/Kentucky. Expect perfect harmony, “balanced” is the keyword which keeps popping up in my mind. Miss Nicotine starts to show her presence in your blood stream as she tenderly cajoles you towards your daily dose of her in a very manner. She is a refined lover, show her some tender love and care and she will keep on giving you her wonderful attention. A very submissive partner appealing to your inner masculinity. As with all Virginia blends, go slow. You don't want this blend to burn at a higher rate as it naturally burns faster compared to the other Pease blends I have been smoking.
30 minutes into the smoke and I put my pipe down and reach for a chilled bottle of club soda.
Just a friendly reminder, if you haven't smoked a VaPer for some time, I would urge you to keep some cold water/club soda with you as you will certainly feel the nicotine slowly progressing on you.
After a few big swigs of the bubbly water and a little rest time. I light up my pipe again to continue the experience.
Second Half - Kentucky dominance: By the time you reach at the beginning of the second half the aftertaste of virginias has given away the stage to the woody flavor on your palate. The smoke is still rich and creamy without going overboard which is a welcome surprise as VaPer (Vrginia/Perique)blends tend to get more on the bitter side by now. The brandy casing is still detectable if you puff really slow and give sometime between each successive draws. A fantastic experience for smokers who love a healthy dose of nicotine in their blends but don't want to get dominated.
The retrohale has matured into a fuller version of the previous heat with a floral note in between. Never has my nose been treated to this royal treatment with any other blender's creations like it has with Gregory Pease's. At this stage, you would like to get rid of the ash in your pipe as you start the journey towards the last quarter or you might need a few more lights making the tobacco hot in the process.
Climax By this time I had put my pen down and allowed the experience to completely overtake me. Enjoying the perfect retrohale with every puff with my eyes closed; not wanting the bowl to finish but to linger on as long as possible. Bravo! Gregory Pease
Smokeability: Sixpence burns perfect all the way down, leaving no dottle and maintaining a perfect smoke. It stays rich and creamy throughout the smoking experience. The flakes pack perfect; you don’t need to rub them fully or if you want you can go ahead and rub them out. The experience more or less stays the same. The tobacco burns down to almost zero ash and maintains a steady pace. You might feel a tingle on your tongue because of the spice in the blend but this blend will never give a tongue bite or a tongue burn as long as you show proper respect.
Summary: If you are a big fan of Darwin you will love this blend, a lot. The tobacco constantly keeps evolving to a rich full smoking experience and keeps on giving you the subtle variations and complexities it has in store for you. As is common with almost all G L Pease blends;Sixpence would do wonders when aged. I wonder how would it taste like at 5,10,15,20 years. Hard work and lots of endless nights have gone into the alchemy which gave birth of this gem of a blend. A very welcome addition to anyone and everyone’s cellar.
An epic journey from tin to ash. I will give this blend a solid 3.5 out of 4.
Smoking Companions: A chilled bottle of Club Soda.
Will buy again? Hell YES!
Tin Aroma: Premium Virginia goodness with just a sour hint of Perique and lots of sweet brandy.
Preparation: The flakes come tightly packed in the tin. As these are broken and not whole flakes, I rub them out completely and then fill the pipe with the Frank’s method. You can smoke it folded and stuffed or fully rubbed, the experience will not disappoint in any way.
The Flakes: Very classic presentation, Sixpence comes tightly and neatly packed. Broken almost full flakes delicately packed in thick paper with something that can only be described as a double cover on the tin. The broken flakes are one of the lightest, fluffiest you will ever encounter if you are new to GL Pease blends.
Charlight: First Draw, very creamy, very light, perfect harmony of the leaf, the smoke is rich but never owerpowering, the special spirit used gives a really sweet profile for the first 1-2 minutes initially. The perique is a delight, never assaulting the senses but rather caressing you at all times. Retrohale is quite strong and you can taste the tasty virginia with the hints of perique wonderfully.
The first quarter- Virginia Song: This tobacco is a wonderfully crafted dessert for the VaPer lovers, after the first charlight you barely would need a first light even, smoke it slowly and the wonderful nuances starts to heat up and slowly start coming out. Lots of virginia goodness, farm fresh hay !! a very good concoction indeed. As you progress further the perique starts to show its presence with the kentucky giving it a slightly fuller body. The taste of brandy lingers slightly with lots of virginia hay goodness, the chocolate coming out in the room note with the kentucky. Retrohale at this stage packs a lot of heat in terms of spice like cayenne but not pepper.
10 minutes into the smoke and finally the first true light was needed. Try to delicately light this leaf, as any extra heat will only add to the burnt bitterness in the taste profile. Very smoky, medium spicy, the broken flakes are now working wonders. Perique stays with you throughout; going up and down depending on your smoking rhythm. If you are a retrohale junkie, you will LOVE SixPence. There is strength in the blend but it won’t knock you out senseless. The sweetness rears its head up from time to time as an aftertaste but it gets muted by the Kentucky giving it an overall nutty, woody taste.
The second quarter - Perique awakens: 15-20 minutes into the experience; the Virginia has warmed up and blended well with the sidekick Perique/Kentucky. Expect perfect harmony, “balanced” is the keyword which keeps popping up in my mind. Miss Nicotine starts to show her presence in your blood stream as she tenderly cajoles you towards your daily dose of her in a very manner. She is a refined lover, show her some tender love and care and she will keep on giving you her wonderful attention. A very submissive partner appealing to your inner masculinity. As with all Virginia blends, go slow. You don't want this blend to burn at a higher rate as it naturally burns faster compared to the other Pease blends I have been smoking.
30 minutes into the smoke and I put my pipe down and reach for a chilled bottle of club soda.
Just a friendly reminder, if you haven't smoked a VaPer for some time, I would urge you to keep some cold water/club soda with you as you will certainly feel the nicotine slowly progressing on you.
After a few big swigs of the bubbly water and a little rest time. I light up my pipe again to continue the experience.
Second Half - Kentucky dominance: By the time you reach at the beginning of the second half the aftertaste of virginias has given away the stage to the woody flavor on your palate. The smoke is still rich and creamy without going overboard which is a welcome surprise as VaPer (Vrginia/Perique)blends tend to get more on the bitter side by now. The brandy casing is still detectable if you puff really slow and give sometime between each successive draws. A fantastic experience for smokers who love a healthy dose of nicotine in their blends but don't want to get dominated.
The retrohale has matured into a fuller version of the previous heat with a floral note in between. Never has my nose been treated to this royal treatment with any other blender's creations like it has with Gregory Pease's. At this stage, you would like to get rid of the ash in your pipe as you start the journey towards the last quarter or you might need a few more lights making the tobacco hot in the process.
Climax By this time I had put my pen down and allowed the experience to completely overtake me. Enjoying the perfect retrohale with every puff with my eyes closed; not wanting the bowl to finish but to linger on as long as possible. Bravo! Gregory Pease
Smokeability: Sixpence burns perfect all the way down, leaving no dottle and maintaining a perfect smoke. It stays rich and creamy throughout the smoking experience. The flakes pack perfect; you don’t need to rub them fully or if you want you can go ahead and rub them out. The experience more or less stays the same. The tobacco burns down to almost zero ash and maintains a steady pace. You might feel a tingle on your tongue because of the spice in the blend but this blend will never give a tongue bite or a tongue burn as long as you show proper respect.
Summary: If you are a big fan of Darwin you will love this blend, a lot. The tobacco constantly keeps evolving to a rich full smoking experience and keeps on giving you the subtle variations and complexities it has in store for you. As is common with almost all G L Pease blends;Sixpence would do wonders when aged. I wonder how would it taste like at 5,10,15,20 years. Hard work and lots of endless nights have gone into the alchemy which gave birth of this gem of a blend. A very welcome addition to anyone and everyone’s cellar.
An epic journey from tin to ash. I will give this blend a solid 3.5 out of 4.
Smoking Companions: A chilled bottle of Club Soda.
Will buy again? Hell YES!
Pipe Used:
Rick Black Freehand Sitter (Cherrywood)
PurchasedFrom:
http://www.4noggins.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh to 6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2014 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Visually similar to Fillmore. Broken flake. Dark in color. But wheras Fillmore is deep, rich, dark, and spicy on the nose, the tin note here is sweeter, more plummy, with a touch of what seems like sherry or other sweet, fortified wine.
The charring and true lighs reveal a hearty Virginia/Kentucky with a hint of that alcohol sweetness in the background. Perique here is a condiment touch to what is really a spectacular Virginia / Kentucky blend. And, my oh my, are the Virginia's smooth here. There is no heat, no bite, even when puffed. Lots of clean, white smoke. When approached as a Virginia blend, rather than a strict VaPer, this is a masterpiece of blending that will leave even the most sensitive tongue unscathed and satisfy a broad range of pipe smokers. Those looking for Virginia's sweet, citrusy side should be forewarned: there is none of that here.
By mid bowl the spirit component has mellowed to more of a Gewürztraminer flavor, smoothing out the burley. In a cob, the Perique element is extremely mild, detected only through the snork, and even then only barely. I found that in a briar, the Perique was slightly more pronounced, though still a background note and not meant to be the star of the show. There's a piney, slightly earthy flavor here: the sweetness of the virginias muted and melded with the more smokey influence of the Kentucky. The burn is steady and smooth, and the bowl finishes down to a tight , gray ash with no muck or mess. A very dry smoke.
To my palette, this is Fillmore-light, with a touch of strong, northern, white wine - and that's not a criticism. This is a perfectly balanced and harmonious blend in its own right, and even the Fillmore smoker misses nothing here - it stands on its own with a smoothness that betrays the rich tobacco flavors within. Like most Pease broken flakes, this one has "ages well" written all over it. I will be very interested to see what some time does to this blend once it has been jarred and had some time to think about itself.
This is an easy-smoking version of some other Pease blends that could easily be an all-day smoke for lovers of Fillmore and Cumberland, and an excellent, smooth introduction to GLP VaPer & VaBur blends. That said, the flavor is here for a thoroughly satisfying evening smoke.
The charring and true lighs reveal a hearty Virginia/Kentucky with a hint of that alcohol sweetness in the background. Perique here is a condiment touch to what is really a spectacular Virginia / Kentucky blend. And, my oh my, are the Virginia's smooth here. There is no heat, no bite, even when puffed. Lots of clean, white smoke. When approached as a Virginia blend, rather than a strict VaPer, this is a masterpiece of blending that will leave even the most sensitive tongue unscathed and satisfy a broad range of pipe smokers. Those looking for Virginia's sweet, citrusy side should be forewarned: there is none of that here.
By mid bowl the spirit component has mellowed to more of a Gewürztraminer flavor, smoothing out the burley. In a cob, the Perique element is extremely mild, detected only through the snork, and even then only barely. I found that in a briar, the Perique was slightly more pronounced, though still a background note and not meant to be the star of the show. There's a piney, slightly earthy flavor here: the sweetness of the virginias muted and melded with the more smokey influence of the Kentucky. The burn is steady and smooth, and the bowl finishes down to a tight , gray ash with no muck or mess. A very dry smoke.
To my palette, this is Fillmore-light, with a touch of strong, northern, white wine - and that's not a criticism. This is a perfectly balanced and harmonious blend in its own right, and even the Fillmore smoker misses nothing here - it stands on its own with a smoothness that betrays the rich tobacco flavors within. Like most Pease broken flakes, this one has "ages well" written all over it. I will be very interested to see what some time does to this blend once it has been jarred and had some time to think about itself.
This is an easy-smoking version of some other Pease blends that could easily be an all-day smoke for lovers of Fillmore and Cumberland, and an excellent, smooth introduction to GLP VaPer & VaBur blends. That said, the flavor is here for a thoroughly satisfying evening smoke.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 25, 2015 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Unnoticeable |
My tin was purchased in January 2015, and I’ve been sampling it from a mason jar throughout the year. Mottled, medium brown broken flake and the aroma of warm figs with a whisper of orange all hold great promise — promise unfulfilled. The Virginia never yields its sweetness, and Perique remains mute when touched by a match. The Sixpence has been smoked indoors and out, in large and small pipes, but it refuses to sing. This blend burns well and behaves well when puffed for a Virginia blend. But Escudo remains the touchstone for VaPers with Sixpence a distant also-ran. Continued aging remains its only hope.
Pipe Used:
Dunhills, Tonni Nielsen horn, Castellos
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Less than a year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 25, 2019 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
YMMV, of course, but I am perfectly willing to age and/or rest tobaccos, fiddle with prep, and find the “right pipe” in order to get the best from a given blend. I mention this because this review and rating are for young Sixpence that’s been rested in a jar for two months after opening the tin. Personally, if young Sixpence got no better than my first bowlful I would not keep smoking it. Young tin popped, the Sixpence inside was proof-y, stewed dark fruit over wet silage and cereal grains. Broken flakes are medium to dark reddish brown. I usually at least try smoking straight from the tin (or bag), and in this case I was not surprised when the tastes went from warm air to muddled over the course of my first bowl. Given my experience with Sixpence, I now have no doubt that tin ageing would be the way to go. And my young sample continued to improve through the course of two months rest in a jar. Initially, I got a very nice scent from the secret spirit GLP claim was added, something like a light pear brandy. This abated quickly and finally disappeared with rest, while the other scents bloomed sans pear. Lit, the Perique comes up first, initially tasting of warm air, then ramping fairly quickly to sour plums, raisins and bakery spices that are more than condimental, well met with fairly stout, loamy, fairly sweet, semi-piquant, red VAs that I suppose are both air cured and stoved. The KY, on the other hand, is condimental. It is piquant, nutty, and slightly smoky, like barbeque with sweet, savory sauce, but way down there. IMO, the scents from rested Sixpence are best snorked lightly. It starts out mild and almost floral, a little spicy, with wild grasses and wheat, opening up substantially as I puff. There is lots of smoke, and it burns down fine, right to the bottom. Strength is near medium. Tastes are just over medium. Room note is better than tolerable. Aftertaste is a sweet, sour and piquant trailing off of the best of the smoke.
Again, IMO, the best approach with Sixpence would be to let it age in the tin then rest it to taste. Given this consideration, it will be a 4 star blend in terms of quality. However, with some very fine VA/Per/Ky blends currently available as “competition”, I can only give Sixpence 3 stars at this time. Further, I do not recommend a large pipe for Sixpence but prefer a 4 for overall balance and tastes. I will revisit this review over time, if/as warranted.
Again, IMO, the best approach with Sixpence would be to let it age in the tin then rest it to taste. Given this consideration, it will be a 4 star blend in terms of quality. However, with some very fine VA/Per/Ky blends currently available as “competition”, I can only give Sixpence 3 stars at this time. Further, I do not recommend a large pipe for Sixpence but prefer a 4 for overall balance and tastes. I will revisit this review over time, if/as warranted.
Pipe Used:
various briars; #4 preferred
PurchasedFrom:
Cup o' Joe's
Age When Smoked:
young tin aged to 2+ months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 14, 2015 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A very attractive tin that promises a mysterious smoking experience, who would not want to give that a try! So here I go… the tin art is lovely, I’m opening the tin, I stick my nose in and … WTF???
I kid you not, I am taken by surprise by the off-putting smell of smelly socks (yes you read that correct), a wine that has gone past its peak by a few years, vinegar, mold, wet earth and smelly cheese! Dear god, Mr. Pease … really? The casing is all encompassing and washes away any smell of tobacco. I can easily imagine people throwing this in the bin right now. Not wanting to judge a book by its cover, I decided to light up anyways and thank God I did!
The tobacco is a beautifully constructed broken flake, very nicely stacked in the tin, just asking to be fondled. Moisture content is just right but I gave it a 15 min airing just for good form. It rubbed out very nicely and I left it rather coarse with a good mix between chunky and fine bits.
The tobacco takes a first light very easily and to my biggest surprise, the tin note immediately transforms. It does not disappear, it just changes into something different. I know it sounds fairly tale like but I promise, there is no longer that awful smelly socks and vinegar aroma! What’s best is, that from the start, there is flavor in abundance. No need to wait and suffer through one quarter of a bowl so to speak.
The first half of the bowl, I easily recognize hints of sweet and salty caramel, toffee, sizzling bacon, nuts and chocolate. Be careful to not pack too tightly as this baccy expands a fair bit in the pipe. Nearing the end of the first half, thoughts of quality street bonbons enter my mind, those chocolate pralines with a alcohol soaked cherry inside (no this is not a cherry tobacco), bright floral notes weave in and out keeping this a very fresh experience. The retrohale so far is pleasant, very creamy and does in no way represent any other perique blend I have tasted. As a matter of fact, the perique is so subdued at this point I really need to focus on it … raisiny and figgy notes can be discerned.
As I near the 2nd half of the bowl, aromas darken a bit with more nutty and salty caramel tastes coming through. There is definitely some tickling in the nose now. The perique has arrived but in a very civilized way, never harsh. It smokes down all the way to a fine white ash, leaving no dottle. As a previous reviewer pointed out, this tobacco burns a lot quicker than what I’m used to from Mr. Pease.
Nicotine delivery is gradual and picks up a gear near the bottom. Not too overwhelming but if you are sensitive to it, it’s better to have something in your stomach. I had this after a light lunch with a cup of coffee and only vaguely felt its effect as I was puffing the last bits away.
This has imho some very nice ageing potential and I will be stocking some up for years to come. I’m still quite baffled by it all because this must be the first time where I was so thrown off by the tin note, only to be turned around to really enjoy the smoke. In one word … amazing!
A must try!
I kid you not, I am taken by surprise by the off-putting smell of smelly socks (yes you read that correct), a wine that has gone past its peak by a few years, vinegar, mold, wet earth and smelly cheese! Dear god, Mr. Pease … really? The casing is all encompassing and washes away any smell of tobacco. I can easily imagine people throwing this in the bin right now. Not wanting to judge a book by its cover, I decided to light up anyways and thank God I did!
The tobacco is a beautifully constructed broken flake, very nicely stacked in the tin, just asking to be fondled. Moisture content is just right but I gave it a 15 min airing just for good form. It rubbed out very nicely and I left it rather coarse with a good mix between chunky and fine bits.
The tobacco takes a first light very easily and to my biggest surprise, the tin note immediately transforms. It does not disappear, it just changes into something different. I know it sounds fairly tale like but I promise, there is no longer that awful smelly socks and vinegar aroma! What’s best is, that from the start, there is flavor in abundance. No need to wait and suffer through one quarter of a bowl so to speak.
The first half of the bowl, I easily recognize hints of sweet and salty caramel, toffee, sizzling bacon, nuts and chocolate. Be careful to not pack too tightly as this baccy expands a fair bit in the pipe. Nearing the end of the first half, thoughts of quality street bonbons enter my mind, those chocolate pralines with a alcohol soaked cherry inside (no this is not a cherry tobacco), bright floral notes weave in and out keeping this a very fresh experience. The retrohale so far is pleasant, very creamy and does in no way represent any other perique blend I have tasted. As a matter of fact, the perique is so subdued at this point I really need to focus on it … raisiny and figgy notes can be discerned.
As I near the 2nd half of the bowl, aromas darken a bit with more nutty and salty caramel tastes coming through. There is definitely some tickling in the nose now. The perique has arrived but in a very civilized way, never harsh. It smokes down all the way to a fine white ash, leaving no dottle. As a previous reviewer pointed out, this tobacco burns a lot quicker than what I’m used to from Mr. Pease.
Nicotine delivery is gradual and picks up a gear near the bottom. Not too overwhelming but if you are sensitive to it, it’s better to have something in your stomach. I had this after a light lunch with a cup of coffee and only vaguely felt its effect as I was puffing the last bits away.
This has imho some very nice ageing potential and I will be stocking some up for years to come. I’m still quite baffled by it all because this must be the first time where I was so thrown off by the tin note, only to be turned around to really enjoy the smoke. In one word … amazing!
A must try!
Pipe Used:
Stanwell pipe of the year 2006
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 05, 2015 | Strong | Mild | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Leaf: Kentucky, Perique, Virginia. Broken flakes, medium brown/grey with streaks and spots of lighter brown and gold throughout.
Tin Aroma: Strong! The first thing I noticed was a strong alcohol like note, there is surely some sort of flavouring here though I couldn't find out exactly what anywhere on-line. This however quickly subsides as the dark, sour, spicy Perique scent comes through, and an almost chocolatey and smoky liquorice scent from the Kentucky follows, the VA scent seems the weakest, but it is there in the background. The aroma is very flavourful, I found myself time and time again sticking half my face in the jar and inhaling deeply through my nose to get a taste of the taste it delivered.
Taste: Believe it or not, it tastes even better than it smells. At first the VA's seemed to take the lead, the smoke was light, sweet and full, very fresh, with the alcohol topping tagging along but disappearing quickly. As the smoke continued I found it getting deeper, darker, brooding. The Perique made an appearance in a big way about 1/3rd of the way down the bowl. There is an attack of delicious spiciness, it is sour, tangy, full of flavour, it stings on the retro-hale in a beautiful way. The Kentucky then seems to make itself known, there is a beautifully contrasting smoky aniseed flavour to it that intertwines with the sweet VA and the Spicy Perique, made more prominent when the tobacco is gently sipped. Down to the last 1/3rd of the bowl know and the Perique seems to have settled a little but doesn't disappear, the Kentucky also restrains itself slightly, I found the VA's taking the lead for the home stretch, by this stage of the bowl they are burning sweeter and fuller than before, expertly accompanied by what is left of the other components after the mid bowl crescendo of intense flavour, still spicy and dark, but not overpowering the VA's. This stuff is delicious.
Smokeability: The broken flake is easy to fold and stuff, sometimes with a few twisted together, I never rubbed it out. It lit easily even without drying time, it burns slowly and cool, stays lit, and burns down so fine it almost ceases to exist. Never bit or got hot for me.
Summary: Sixpence took me on a journey, the tin description wasn't just fluff after all. I found this to be a delicious, flavour filled, complex smoke. It constantly evolves and packs a huge flavour punch that blew me away, especially considering I normally prefer more lat heavy blends. The nicotine kick can be vicious and took me by surprise the first bowl I smoked, it hit me as hard as 10 Russians did, for those who have smoked it. I believe the Kentucky is to blame, I have smoked very little of it up until this tin. For any Va/VaPer/Kentucky fan this is a must try, it was a very welcome change of pace from my usual English/Balkan comfort zone.
Tin Aroma: Strong! The first thing I noticed was a strong alcohol like note, there is surely some sort of flavouring here though I couldn't find out exactly what anywhere on-line. This however quickly subsides as the dark, sour, spicy Perique scent comes through, and an almost chocolatey and smoky liquorice scent from the Kentucky follows, the VA scent seems the weakest, but it is there in the background. The aroma is very flavourful, I found myself time and time again sticking half my face in the jar and inhaling deeply through my nose to get a taste of the taste it delivered.
Taste: Believe it or not, it tastes even better than it smells. At first the VA's seemed to take the lead, the smoke was light, sweet and full, very fresh, with the alcohol topping tagging along but disappearing quickly. As the smoke continued I found it getting deeper, darker, brooding. The Perique made an appearance in a big way about 1/3rd of the way down the bowl. There is an attack of delicious spiciness, it is sour, tangy, full of flavour, it stings on the retro-hale in a beautiful way. The Kentucky then seems to make itself known, there is a beautifully contrasting smoky aniseed flavour to it that intertwines with the sweet VA and the Spicy Perique, made more prominent when the tobacco is gently sipped. Down to the last 1/3rd of the bowl know and the Perique seems to have settled a little but doesn't disappear, the Kentucky also restrains itself slightly, I found the VA's taking the lead for the home stretch, by this stage of the bowl they are burning sweeter and fuller than before, expertly accompanied by what is left of the other components after the mid bowl crescendo of intense flavour, still spicy and dark, but not overpowering the VA's. This stuff is delicious.
Smokeability: The broken flake is easy to fold and stuff, sometimes with a few twisted together, I never rubbed it out. It lit easily even without drying time, it burns slowly and cool, stays lit, and burns down so fine it almost ceases to exist. Never bit or got hot for me.
Summary: Sixpence took me on a journey, the tin description wasn't just fluff after all. I found this to be a delicious, flavour filled, complex smoke. It constantly evolves and packs a huge flavour punch that blew me away, especially considering I normally prefer more lat heavy blends. The nicotine kick can be vicious and took me by surprise the first bowl I smoked, it hit me as hard as 10 Russians did, for those who have smoked it. I believe the Kentucky is to blame, I have smoked very little of it up until this tin. For any Va/VaPer/Kentucky fan this is a must try, it was a very welcome change of pace from my usual English/Balkan comfort zone.
Pipe Used:
Briar/Meer/Cob
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 23, 2015 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Very Mild | Pleasant |
A briar friend gave me 2/3rd's of tin to try since he did not like it and I would have to concur. This one bites perhaps it's the booze or the pH of the leaves, either way it does not agree with me. I also have to thank him since I did not have to buy a tin and won't bother doing so.
This leans towards the aromatic side, especially in the tin topped with something anise or liquorice, Sambuca comes to mind and bad teenage memories; yuck!
This packs well and burns well but falls down in terms of body and richness, it tries to be 'too nice'. The Virginias are very light, too light for my liking with a few flavour holes or blank spots. The Perique is well done and the blend smells more aromatic than it smokes, thankfully.
Overall, I cannot recommend this one due to the bite, blank spots, too nice aw-shucks taste, and the Sambuca (most likely) does not work for me at all.
This leans towards the aromatic side, especially in the tin topped with something anise or liquorice, Sambuca comes to mind and bad teenage memories; yuck!
This packs well and burns well but falls down in terms of body and richness, it tries to be 'too nice'. The Virginias are very light, too light for my liking with a few flavour holes or blank spots. The Perique is well done and the blend smells more aromatic than it smokes, thankfully.
Overall, I cannot recommend this one due to the bite, blank spots, too nice aw-shucks taste, and the Sambuca (most likely) does not work for me at all.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 14, 2015 | Medium | Mild | Mild | Tolerable |
To me, this tastes like Navigator with perique and less nicotine. It's in the same vein as both Navigator and Sextant, but in my opinion is just not as good. The perique adds more pepper that sweetness. Plus, I like a stronger tobacco.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22, 2021 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
Prep: Moisture perfect. I did rub it out a bit more Review: Pease yet again correlates the description with the taste of the blend. The Virginias are bready with hay notes and a honey sweetness. This is categorized as Va/Per but it appears more as a Va/Ken, as the Kentucky seems more prominent to me. The Kentucky is earthy, nutty, and slightly spicy. The Perique comes more in the forefront mid bowl, with its darker fruit notes. The casing is there but I couldn’t have told you that it was liquor based if I didn’t read the description. Is the mustiness coming from the Virginias or the casing? I am not too sure. But nonetheless, it fits the…vibe of the blend. It does emulate a dark musty room, paired with a glass of bourbon/scotch. Like an old tavern/bar. It can be smoked anytime of day but night time seems like the best fit. Another winner in the Pease lineup. 8.5/10
https://youtu.be/LlN4xJt4mEw
https://youtu.be/LlN4xJt4mEw
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 02, 2016 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Orignal Review 5/2/2016
I just recently finished a tin of this and was not that impressed. Perhaps, this is just a case of the VaBurPer being my goto blend of choice and this falling behind many of my favorites.
I am feeling at odds as I am reviewing two GLP blends today and both are receiving two star reviews although both are about one star apart. While the other was closer to one star, this one is right near three stars, but just doesn't get there to my tastes.
I did have a few good bowls of this though. My biggest complaint on this is there seems to be an odd sourness to this blend that I can't put my finger on. I think it may be coming from the Virginias that are used. It may also be a sort of topping or casing. Other than that there is still a faint nutty sweetness and a pretty good spice hit from the Perique.
I find this to be spot on in the nicotine department at least for me. One bowl will typically satisfy, but a second bowl will certainly not knock you out. So this one resides between two to three stars and drops to 2 for me as I can just list too many other similar blends that I prefer. I have another tin aging and will look forward to trying that at a later date. I will come back to this review at that time.
Update 6/8/2021
As happens so often, the description above changes sometime after I do a review. When I reviewed this the first time, it did not list any flavoring and now it says that it has an alcohol flavoring. To be more specific, it is the rum that C&D uses on the blends they produce. It did not take me long to figure this out. I just needed to try a few blends from C&D and Pease where Rum was the advertised topping. In the process I realized that they were using this in several blends including Union Square.
I really don't like this topping and I wish I knew the exact date that they started using it. For instance I started smoking Union Square in 2012 and it was a natural tasting virginia that was delicious. It seems that the tins dated in the 2014 and 2015 range changed and took on a funky taste that I greatly disliked. It was this same rum topping.
In any case, just because I dislike the topping does not mean you will as is evident by the reviews. I like some rums and dislike some rums (Bacardi White, I'm looking at you), and the same is apparently obvious with rum toppings on tobacco. Most of them I like, just none made by C&D.
I just recently finished a tin of this and was not that impressed. Perhaps, this is just a case of the VaBurPer being my goto blend of choice and this falling behind many of my favorites.
I am feeling at odds as I am reviewing two GLP blends today and both are receiving two star reviews although both are about one star apart. While the other was closer to one star, this one is right near three stars, but just doesn't get there to my tastes.
I did have a few good bowls of this though. My biggest complaint on this is there seems to be an odd sourness to this blend that I can't put my finger on. I think it may be coming from the Virginias that are used. It may also be a sort of topping or casing. Other than that there is still a faint nutty sweetness and a pretty good spice hit from the Perique.
I find this to be spot on in the nicotine department at least for me. One bowl will typically satisfy, but a second bowl will certainly not knock you out. So this one resides between two to three stars and drops to 2 for me as I can just list too many other similar blends that I prefer. I have another tin aging and will look forward to trying that at a later date. I will come back to this review at that time.
Update 6/8/2021
As happens so often, the description above changes sometime after I do a review. When I reviewed this the first time, it did not list any flavoring and now it says that it has an alcohol flavoring. To be more specific, it is the rum that C&D uses on the blends they produce. It did not take me long to figure this out. I just needed to try a few blends from C&D and Pease where Rum was the advertised topping. In the process I realized that they were using this in several blends including Union Square.
I really don't like this topping and I wish I knew the exact date that they started using it. For instance I started smoking Union Square in 2012 and it was a natural tasting virginia that was delicious. It seems that the tins dated in the 2014 and 2015 range changed and took on a funky taste that I greatly disliked. It was this same rum topping.
In any case, just because I dislike the topping does not mean you will as is evident by the reviews. I like some rums and dislike some rums (Bacardi White, I'm looking at you), and the same is apparently obvious with rum toppings on tobacco. Most of them I like, just none made by C&D.
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