Seattle Pipe Club Deception Pass

Small ribbons of dark brown color with a tin note of rich, savory Virginias with a touch of oriental. Packed easily and I rarely had to relight once it took hold. I have to think that each relight reduces a blend's effect, but I really don't have any science to back that up. But no problems here.

That savory, earthy tin scent translated to the taste but was considerably subdued. The Virginias were front and center throughout the bowl and were spiced with a touch of perique and a smidge of oriental. The Virginias were not of the juicy McClelland variety but more of the darker, drier stuff that I recently tasted from a lot of Peretti blends. There was black Cavendish here as well, and it mildly detracted from the experience, leaving a kind of resiny mouthfeel. The overall taste was mild and mellow, and snorking was critical to get the best effect. I also found that this blend smoked much better for me in a briar pipe than a meerschaum, which always makes me suspicious, as if the blend needed to hide behind the flavors imparted by briar. Still, this is good blend, if not the last word in tastiness and oomph, nor living up to its initial hype (which is my typical response to SPC blends). But I enjoyed smoking it when I wanted to tone down my usual big flavor blends. Nice morning smoke, this one, with more going for it than EMP. Coulda used a bit more oriental for my tastes, or perhaps more perique. The Virginias couldn't quite carry the load they were asked to carry. I'd place this one on the low end of 3 stars... good but nowhere near a rotation-maker.

I just finished up the sample of this that I picked up at the 2015 Chicago Show. I should say both samples. I picked up the first on Saturday and smoked it that evening. I was sharing how much I enjoyed it to the guys manning the booth for SPC, that they gave me second sample. I also ordered a couple of tins when I got home.

I think when I first tried this, it was no doubt at the four star range. I think my initial impressions were slightly influenced by how unique the blend is. This was before knowing the ingredients. I had just assumed this to be merely a vaburper. And there is no doubt it still has that feel. Sweet, earthy and spicy. The oriental addition is what gives it that unique edge a little sour twang here and there as you are puffing on it.

After finishing two samples, I will say that this is a good blend, but not mind blowing enough for me, at this point, to give it four stars. With the two tins aging, I will no doubt return to this review later in time with an edit, but for now I will give it three stars and say that for a four star blend with a similar flavor profile, but IMO, a little better, I would recommend HU's Flanagan.

My favorite of joe lankford's Seattle Pipe Club blends. Reading the reviews there is the usual criticism of unsweetned cavendish. I see it when people complain about mcClellands Navy Cavendish, or rattray's Marlin Flake. All of these are favorites of mine. So its subjective i suppose. The Cavendish, or this sort of true unsweetened black cavendish was hugely popular in the late 19th century and early 20th. Many old british blends used it, and often based the blend on it. It seems far less popular today (be interesting to examine the reasons for that, as I have no clue). This is very much a retro sort of blend. Its something one might have purchased at your local tobacconist in Liverpool or London back in the 1920s.

in any event this is medium blend of black virginia (mostly), with a bit of Perique and probably some drama or smyrna....i cant tell which as there isnt that much. The oriental leaf, whichever it is, does provide a kind of haunting aftertaste while one puffs away. But this is a virginia and cavendish blend. Ribbon cut. Id like this more if it were flake I think, and stoved more. Its good....and it reminds me a bit of something Rattray's might come up...in fact its not all that distant from Old Gowrie, or perhaps more correctly, to Dark Fragrant. Its dark fragrant minus the slight casing. Overall its a very very nice blend. Nic hit approaches medium, and this just wont bite regardless of how you smoke it. 3 and a half stars.

A mild yet spicy VaPer. Nice sweet fruit from the Virginias. Plums and figs and a nice amount of spice from the Perique. I'd say that their influence is near equal. The Black Cav smooths the rough edges and provides a little toasty note in the second half. I think it also "waters this down" and makes it a bit milder. The Orientals are nearly invisible. All in all, a very good smoke.

Mild in body. Mild to medium in taste. No added flavoring. Burns very well.

VaPer and English blends with cavendish have typically deterred me from purchasing them, as I'm not a huge fan of cavendish blends. Yet Joe Langford proved me greatly mistaken in this blend. Deception Pass is quite an interesting and intriguing smoke. If you were blindfolded and were told to smell the tin, you would think you were smelling a box of raisins with pepper sprinkled on top.

The dark, fruity, (raisiny?) notes from the Virginias and Perique claim the main flavor of the blend. The citrusy flavor of the bright Virginas come into play, though in more of a back role. The tang and spiciness of the Orientals, though a secondary player, are consistent throughout the blend. Though certainly the Perique provides added raisin notes, the spiciness isnt overbearing and in fact, may not be up to standards for the perique connoisseurs. However, it is perfect for my tastes.

Now the Cavendish. The Cavendish not only mellows the blend (which may be why the perique doesnt come across so heavily, but it also adds a brown sugar note to the blend quite consistently. Its addition is very appreciative. Deception Pass is easily an all day smoke and is quite a dry smoke as well. The moisture level out of the tin was almost perfect, maybe slightly on the wet side but not enough to dry it.

If youre looking for a traditional, heavy Perique blend, this may not be for you. If youre looking for a unique VaPer based blend, you will be quite pleased I believe. A highly recommended smoke and a job well done once again by SPC.

Sweet, smooth, creamy with sweet waves of flavor from the Oriental/Turkish. I keep coming back for this one as has a different profile from other VaPers

Only two bowls in but I like doing early on reviews because first impressions usually determine whether I will stay with a blend or not. I like this. It is a sweet start and mild throughout. The blender makes the ingredients known and as most I would say that it is Va forward but with all of the ingredients working well together to make a mild and flavorful smoke. I did find however that it required a few relights and reuires more than average pipe cleaner passes. I found the burn aroma to be pleasant enough but the lingering note to be typical of Va/Per type blends (somewhat spicy and pungent), I am not a mixed company smoker but I doubt you would get a lot of complaints if you did. The smoke volume is medium. I am not sure yet whether this will make it into my regular rotation or not but in all likelihood it will not be something that is around forever anyway, that being said, if you want to try this excellent blend, you had better not wait too long. As I continue through the tin I will try to remember to come back and update. Hope this helps.

I am down grading my original 4 star to 3 because after several more bowls I feel there is not enough complexity in the blend to warrant 4. This does not mean that it is not a very good blend though, it is! Sweet, consistent, and a good any time of day blend. I hope I am wrong about it not being available for years to come and that if I decide to make it a regular it will be there when I want it.

Very nice tin art. The tobacco is cut in ribbons of light and medium brown and darker hues. It smells vinegary, all natural otherwise, with no other detectable added flavor. It smells nice to me, very much like the McClelland’s signature smell.

Initially I was not very enthusiastic about Deception Pass. It did not taste like a Va/Per nor did I taste much of the Orientals. Actually it seemed like the major flavor component was the unflavored Black Cavendish and moreover I did not seem to get much flavor out of it anyway. On the other hand there was nothing to not like in Deception Pass, pure tobacco of good quality, nothing sharp, no bad taste, just not a traditional Va/Per and not very tasty either. It also burned well, had medium strength, good nicotine content. So I continued smoking and slowly it kind of grew on me.

I came to realize it is a subtle blend, not a flavor bomb, but a very agreeable tobacco with considerable sweetness reminiscent of McClellands 5100 which comes out especially when sipped. Of course it is not as flavorful as 5100 but a similar taste does come out. It is mingled with unflavored black Cavendish and a touch of flowery Orientals. Now Perique could possibly contribute to the taste but I cannot distinguish it from black cavendish.

If you’re looking for yet another Va/Per, Deception Pass is not something I would recommend as it barely qualifies as a Va/Per. Yet I would recommend it if you’re looking for good, subtle tobacco based on red Virginia and unflavored black cavendish with a touch of oriental spice.

Among Seattle pipe club blends, Deception Pass is not as famous as the other two: Mississippi River and Plum pudding; however, the latter are latakia involved, DP is a Vaper with oriental with unsweetened cavendish, which blend in good balance as a result of smooth, sweet and sour flavors. May be the best among the three IMO. I jarred several oz to see how it ages.