GLP

alas, I'm not part of that throng. I've never met a GLP tobacco that I liked. One (Odyssey) was barely ok. I smoked about half of the tin before giving the rest to Ckr. I'm not sure, but I don't think he was taken with it either.

Haddos Delight seems to be GLP's top seller. VA/Per with a strong (read: huge) dose of Perique and some kind of liquor topping (rum?? - its been so long I'm not sure anymore). I have one tin downstairs dated 2006 ... when 2016 comes up I'm selling it on ebay and the proceeds will buy me a new Dunnie. Every time I've smoked it has had the same results: yak. But thats to be expected since I hate perique. But seeing how you seem to like the stuff, you might want to give Haddos a shot. As I said earlier - many LOVE Haddos so clearly I'm missing something.

somewhat limited in GLP blends. They are outstanding tobaccos and expertly assembled but they don't always work for me. I'm not a complex personality and I prefer a similar simplicity in my smoking life as well. My wife, SheWhoSpeaksLoudly, accuses me of having pedestrian sensibilities. Probably true; no, it is true. Of the GLP smokes that I've tried, Robusto and Cumberland are clearly my favorites, for their distinct flavor and aromas. IMO, one really needs to be ready to devote time when smoking GLP blends to appreciate what Greg was trying to achieve.

such flowery descriptions are better suited to the wine list at pretentious restuarants than to backy. I do take great delight in reading the tin labels to my wife though, who kills herself laughing. Notwithstanding that, I'm a big fan of Greg Pease's tobaccos, with few exceptions. The quality of what he produces is consistent & the blending is superb. I rate Fillmore & Laurel Heights as blessings to the sons of mankind, unsubstitutable by anything else. Robusto is superb, but I could always trade it with Billy Budd. Abingdon is great, but there's a crowd that could make a move on it. GLP has a cult following - arguably deservedly so - like certain high grade pipe makers have. Can't put a foot wrong. The fervour with which Maltese Falcon has been greeted (by some of the guys) makes me wonder if this is just a tobacco we're talking about here. I still haven't opened my tin. I almost feel intimidated by it. However, I STILL buy GLP samplers - just because they're all so darned good. If you had to ask me who makes the best tobacco in the world today, I'd probably answer GLP. But it wouldn't be by much. C&D are very, very good indeed.

Descriptions such as those, whether it be tobacco, beer, or whatever, always turn me off. Nothing more than pretentious fluff from someone that has trouble putting their opinions into words.

I have a few GLP blends on my "to buy" list, but I have not gotten around to purchasing any of them yet. The only one that I have smoked to date is Haddo's. Unlike Rick I actually like perique, but still thought that Haddo's was unpleasant. I did not finish the tin.

I have a few tins of GLP blends on hand. My first tin ever was picked up at our local B&M along with some other tins. All the tins were about 4 to 5 years old. The GLP Samarra was excellent. It was dated 2001 and the Latakia (which I believe was Syrian at this time) had aged marvelously. Soooo creamy smooth and velvety. The Penzance and Frog Morton I had picked up were also marvelous smokes.

I have tried his Haddo's Delight a stout blend of several Virginia tobaccos with a generous measure of long-cut perique and found it to be very bland, the perique? huh?! and gave the tin away. Unfortunately Laural Heights flopped with me also and the open tin of Odyssey seems to have been there forever. I had hoped it would be similar to the Samarra but it pales in comparison.

I have some Telegraph Hill which since has been described as a toned down Haddo's. If that is the case then I think I am in for another let down with it.

I also have some Barbary Coast and Montgomery both around 2years +/- a few months and both of the descriptions still agree with my tastes. It would be great if they deliver the same.

So aside from the tin of Samarra I have struck out quite a bit and that is the only reason I do not have more GLP blends. If I hit a winner or two I will be more inclined to stock up and try others.

Greg Pease is one of the finest of individuals that you could meet, and he has a radical knowledge of the spectrum of all things tobacco related. If you have not, or choose to do not try his blends I am inclined to believe that you are missing out on a whole new world. But hey! More for me:)

"a pianissimo of Perique create the variations. Pure, natural tobacco flavors are harmonized by delicate arpeggios and underscored by deep, resonant tones."

This is just way too easy, I won't bother but like Morleysson, my taste run a bit more to the pedestrian side is this guy conducting a symphony or smoking a pipe for crying out loud!

In fairness though, I've not sampled any GLP blends for just this reason, they seemed a bit elitist, and besides, I have my core of simple burlies and being a simple man, that's all it really takes.

as much as some of you dislike it...I have had some aged Haddos Delight...and I thought it was superb...but then again...I like Perique...and I tried some unaged...and it was as rick puts it "Yak."

of the other GLP blends I have tried...they have been over my head...so I just stick to aging Haddos as a change-up from the OJK and such that I usually prefer.

Cheers,

Josh

Besides Latakia blends, which are way too generous in Latakia for my taste, and Haddo's Delight, which has too much alcohol in it, everything else I've tried was at least worth attention.

Laurel Height. Soon I'm going to revisit it popping a bit over one year old tin. My impression after the first tin was undetermined. It's light Virginia promising some fine overtones and, at the same time, a bit of Latakia adds a low voice. There is nothing in between and this confuses.

Telegraph Hill. This one is very rich but maybe too much Perique. I really enjoy it in small bowls but in larger bowls I usually was getting bored by the end due to overshadowing Perique. Will revisit it and most likely will stock up.

Montgomery. Very rich with wonderful entwined note of Kentucky. Somewhat troublesome in smoking, requires full attention but it deserves it.

Fillmore. It's just great. It's reach, full and still has a lot of subtleties. If the percentage of Latakia would be a little bit smaller and instead a dash of Orientals were added this would be the best tobacco ever. One day I will play with it but it's already is so good I just don't have powers to mess with it.

Embarcadero. Kind of a version of Fillmore but with Orientals instead of Latakia. Velvet smooth with Turkish waves. Great tobacco. Want to revisit but somehow every time something else comes to hands.

You might already know this... C&D manufactures the GLP blends for him!

It was the first of the Pease tobaccos I tried and I liked it from the start. It is great with a bit of age on it. Another of his I enjoy is Barbary Coast. The rest of the line are take it or leave it for me.

is a wonderful blend, but try C&D Sunday Picnic. The Red Va's are swopped for golden Va's & Perique is added. As much as I like Embarcadero, Sunday Picnic is, IMHO, every bit as good. With regard to Haddo's Delight, it's my experience that it improves with age & the opening of the tin. Then it really is very good.

Yes, Bob, you're quite correct - perhaps I should have said 'who BLENDS the best tobacco'. It's an interesting relationship & a credit to them both. I just wish they'd put more of the good stuff in bulk containers.

I think that the American blenders are proposing too many insignificant variations in their mixtures. I think there are only commercial reasons, similar as world cigars marketing.
We can find 1000 C&D mixtures, 500 GLP ..., 8000 McClelland ...
Ok, it's all interesting to smoke and aging... boxes are also beautiful but there are really too many little variations.
About GLP I really like all "Fog City" line. I find the Fillmore (2006) a milestone, so unique and exceptional. About e.m. I love "Piccadilly": light, really good in flavour, to be smoked all day although I do not like latakia.

Only my idea: maybe GLP line like more to Europeans, while the C&D to the Americans smokers.

I have recently had the chance to sample a great number of the GLP blends - properly aged too. I had been keen on trying them out, but afterwards I find myself to be less than enthusiastic. Whether it's the blend composition or the C&D leaf, I don't know, but none of the GLP blends I have tried have made me go (oh I'd pay extra for this).

Take into consideration, that there's a difference between an American palate and a European one. GLP just doesn't sit well with this European. Just as well. I have feared the day I fall in love with an American blend and have to go through the hassle of taxes, customs, order pickups and so on.

about the difference between European & American palates & how to account for them. My interest is obviously piqued by the fact that I am of European stock but my taste buds probably lean west of Greenwich. I doubt it can be accounted by genetics. Weather may be a factor. As may diet. Misha (a fellow GLP fan) may also serve as a useful marker here. Let me put forward a hypothesis: the relatively high consumption of red meat in the USA & SA accounts for some of the taste differences. Now let the US vegetarians come forward...

Like I stirred the pot a bit, very interesting.

Reading the answers here, and some at TR, I have gathered so much that I will put a year or two more as a full time smoker before trying these out. Not that I think I would not be able to appriceate them as of now. But rather that I am still in a steep part of a learning curve. Educating my palate and my taste buds.

simply put, if to enjoy a complex tobacco, with alot of different tastes and directions, it might be a good idea to have some references, not really there yet.

Some might argue that "Hey, it is just tobacco, smoke it and shut it!" On the other hand, if I do get some, and don't appriciate it, I might never revisit, missing out on something great in the long run.

PS

I eat ALOT of pork. Salty fatty pork... YUM

This is interesting theory. I'm guilty of eating red meat a lot, in any form and sometimes not cooked. This is important that it accounts for an overall taste difference rather than for particular preferences. I'll ask at the Russian forum, what are their preferences.

I think Abingdon is Greg's best work. A couple of blends that are no longer available were tops as well, but I'll just focus on what I can get.

Otherwise, everything else in my rotation is either from Kendal or Jersey in the Channel Islands.

I thought we lost ya pal. Good to see you back among the living.

but agree that his descriptions are a bit much sometimes. I like Haddo's and really like Maltese Falcon but Barbary Coast for some reason didn't do it for me. I have a tin of Cumberland laid back and that is probably the next one I'll try. Some of his Syrian Latakia blends were very good but unfortunately are no longer available.

Smokey

C&D prefers to sell in bulk. That is my understanding. Craig complains about how much time it takes to do the samples. It seems when they introduce a blend, they start with 2 ounce, then add 8 ounce and then a pound tin so as not to get too far ahead until success is assured. It is my opinion that if you request any of their tobacco's by the pound, you will receive it. Recently I ordered a pound of RG and got two 8 ounce tins but at the pound price. I only order direct from C&D. You could give that a try and get exactly what you want in bulk. Of this I am sure.