G. L. Pease Samugweeg

Good friend Regis McCafferty, one of the co-founds of the North American Society of Pipe Collectors, sent me a complimentary tin of this NASPC Show blend to sample. Typically wonderful medium Latakia compilation from Pease with an added extra that I just could not put my finger on. Almond perhaps? Anyway, it burned cool and sweet and was sure worthy of any pipe I put it in.

Pipestud

Once again, I find myself in agreement with reviewer Pipe Stud. This is an excellent medium English blend from GLP and smokes right to my English smoker's G spot in every pipe I put it in. Yes, it does remind me of Drucquer's Sublime Porte, only stronger. If any of you have ever smoked Esoterica's Pembroke, GW might seem familiar to you in terms of it's overall strength as a medium English; however, the aromatic component is different and I am with Pipe Stud in not knowing exactly what it is. Whatever it is, it sure is fine and I easily give this blend four stars. Just think, there were only 320 tins made (160 with red labels and 160 with taupe labels) but I have seen them from time to time on tables at pipe shows.

I paid an exorbitant amount (at the time) for this to win it on ebay when you could still buy such things on ebay of course. I am happy there were not two as I really didn't care for this. I also am not sure the other two reviewers smoked what I did. I notice the title of this review is Smaugweed, but the picture shown is a tin of Goblin Weed, in the red tin.

The tin I smoked resembled the picture; however, my tin was brown. As I understand this makes no difference as both the red and brown contained the same blend. I am assuming the other reviewers smoked a blend called Smaugweed, because I am sure there is either no latakia in Goblin weed, or it is applied so faintly that I couldn't smell or taste it.

If I had to guess the contents of this blend I would guess that it is a Virginia blend with some oriental(s) added. I am guessing the majority of the oriental mix is Smyrna (Izmir) as this reminds me of several C&D/Pease blends that do incorporate that particular leaf. The virginias form the base on this as it mostly behaves, to my tastes, like a straight va. There is just this sour citrus accompaniment that leads me to believe there is something more. What there isn't, is any kind of campfire or leather notes that I would expect to find in a blend with Latakia.

Overall, it is just "ok". There was nothing that repeatedly drew me to this. I did like that it had some body to it, but the virginia part of this could have delivered more sweetness IMO. Overall, it performed well and wasn't bad by any means. It certainly doesn't command the pricetag I assume it would now carry as there can't be too many left out there. YMMV