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Kevin Godbee - May 9, 2011
- 5 min read
Part of the joy of pipe smoking at times can be the nostalgia it brings as an aged pastime that has spanned hundreds of years. The new G. L. Pease blend, Triple Play, has two nostalgic factors going for it. 1) It is in an old fashioned plug form, and 2) the name Triple Play along with it’s Springtime release connotes the all-American pastime of baseball which is also nostalgic, and brings back childhood, fun, Summertime memories, just like smoking a pipe does. Triple Play is also a double-entendre referring to the trio of tobaccos that work together to create this unique blend. This is a Virginia / Perique with just a touch of Dark Fired Kentucky. Pease tells PipesMagazine.com; "Triple Play has much less dark fired Kentucky than JackKnife Plug. I put just enough to add some dimension."
Upon popping the tin and taking a whiff, I am pleasantly greeted with the aroma of prunes, apricots and raisins. As far as appearance, even though this description has been somewhat overused in my reviews, it’s still the most fitting – it looks like a brownie. With the initial aroma and edible appearance, it is also reminding me a Lärabar energy fruit bar. It’s tempting to take a bite out of it. It smells and looks delicious. Color-wise, the hard chunk of pressed tobacco is mostly quite dark. There are just a few intermittent very light-brown or tan spots, but 99% of the tobaccos range from dark brown to very dark brown. There are some pieces that look nearly black, but on appearance alone, it is hard to find what I think the Perique should look like, since it is black. However, you don’t need a lot of Perique to affect a blend. It is referred to as a condiment tobacco after all.
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The uncut plug feels just a tiny bit moist, which is natural for pressed tobacco. The extreme pressure creates a unique marrying of flavors. It also can release moisture and cause fermentation, which is what creates the special tastes, flavors and aromas of a pressed tobacco blend.
After cutting off a couple of slices you can see the layers of pressed tobaccos and I am once again tempted to take a bite out of it, but know that smoking Triple Play will offer a much better experience than eating it. I cut off two slices and rubbed them out. I only needed one and a half slices to fill my pipe, so I put the rest of the rubbed out tobacco back in the tin.
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The tobacco is slightly moist. I busied myself with some other tasks for about two hours and came back to it. Now it feels just right for smoking. After rubbing out, the tobacco pieces remain a little bit chunky. Also, after the tobacco is sliced, rubbed out and given some drying time, the aroma changes. The Dark Fired Kentucky mostly dominates with a very light smoky aroma, which is completely different than a Latakia smokiness. The aroma also reminds me of being on a farm. I can smell the dirt, the hay in the barn, the horses. I am starting to wonder if this is going to be one of those great "Blends of Summer".
The pre-light draw is similar to the rubbed out aroma. It’s a beautiful Summer day and I am on the farm.
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The initial light once again has the Dark Fired Kentucky greeting you with it’s outdoorsy, woody, smokiness, which is immediately followed by a nice light sweetness. I now have connotations of barbequed pork with a sweet BBQ sauce. I have to admit that I love Va/Per pipe tobacco blends. I don’t think I’ve ever met one I didn’t like. This one is certainly individualistic with the addition of the Dark Fired Kentucky though. There are some wonderful complexities going on in Triple Play. The two hour drying time has it burning perfectly and there are some superb tastes sensations happening here.
Did you ever listen to a great song where you could distinctly hear every instrument’s individual part on one level, and then on another level you could hear the overall song with all the separate pieces combining into one? This is what I am experiencing with Triple Play. I can separately taste the peppery Perique, the sweet Virginia, and the woody, smoky Dark Fired Kentucky in individual puffs like they are all taking turns in the spotlight. Then, when they all combine into a harmonious ensemble the flavor is quite robust.
Smoking in the middle of a beautiful sunny spring day here in Florida, along with the hearty flavors and aromas of Triple Play has transported me to a outdoor barbeque in the countryside with sun, green grass, and blue skies where there is a pig being slow-roasted on a spit. Triple Play once again reminds me of the flavor of a hearty piece of pork roasted over an open fire with just a slight smattering of sweet barbeque sauce. It is quite full-bodied. Many pipe smokers will enjoy this after any meal, but if it’s breakfast or lunch, a fuller meal would go better than a light one. After a hearty dinner Triple Play will be most enjoyable.
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There is a nicotine hit here, but I am smoking very slow. I started to smoke a little bit faster and the nicotine kicked in a little more, so I slowed down again. Isn’t that what pipe smoking is about anyway? To slow down, relax and enjoy the wonderful flavors and aromas?
Ok, forgive me for ending like this, but I can’t resist saying that G. L. Pease hit it out of the park with this one. I highly recommend Triple Play.
Brand: G. L. Pease
Blender: G. L. Pease
Tin Description: Ripe red and bright flue-cured tobacco are joined by piquant Acadian perique and a balanced measure of smoky dark-fired Kentucky. The leaf is pressed and matured in cakes before being cut into 2 oz. bars, resulting in a bold blend for Virginia and perique fans. This all-American plug is a winning play, no matter how you slice it.
Country of Origin: USA
Curing Group: Flue Cured & Fire Cured
Contents: Virginia, Perique, Dark Fired Kentucky
Cut: Plug
Packaging: 2oz tin
Give us your review, or read others reviews – Triple Play Tobacco Reviews
SPONSORED LINK: G. L. Pease Triple Play – Click Here to Order Now!
SPONSORED LINK: G. L. Pease Triple Play – Click Here to Order Now!
Written by Kevin Godbee
16 Responses
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I wish GLP tobaccos were available around here. I might have to run the gauntlet and import some. This one sounds like it might be a bit much for a N lightweight like me, but the flavor sounds amazing!
Thanks for the review, Kevin!
Simon
Thanks for the review this sounds like another must try,i tried JackKnife Plug after reading the reviews and love it.
Thanks again Kevin
Roy
I still need to import some Jack Knife Plug, now I will have to order this as well!
Thanks for the review Kevin. This is a must get for me! I love Jackknife Plug and this sounds even better, if that’s even possible.
That this is a ‘must try’ should go without saying. This new series of Greg’s is getting off to a stellar start what with JackKnife and now another plug (pinch me, I must be dreaming). Oh, that the entire series would be in plug form! Heaven on Earth. JackKnife is a daily event for me now…and this one might become a ‘go-to’ item as well. The use of the Acadian Perique is of special interest. I guess you never know what Perique will do in a blend, often creating something ‘completely different’ than expected…and sometimes St. James will work better and other times the Acadian gets the nod. I’m just very excited that this is a VA/Per, especially with the addition of the Dark Fired K-Leaf and also the classic raisin-esque (prunes, apricots and raisins = treacle?) flavors. As for naming…American classic all the way! Named in the direction of the defensive infielders…1st, 2nd & 3rd. The heart and soul of the game. Sure there’s the 3 tobacco thing that plays into the name as well. Now if this had been the THIRD in the series it would have been a 3X3. Regardless, this one has significant promise, in theory! But given the ingredients, the manufacturers (I assume C&D did this one up as well…very trustworthy) and the blender (Keep ’em coming, Greg!)…I expect the fact to be just as good as the theory.
Ive got my credit card ready. I would assume smokingpipes.com will likely be the first place for this new tobacco to show up, as they are close proximity to the source.
It’s in stock at SmokingPipes.com right now. See link above.
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This was an excellent introduction to the new tobacco. It is one of those reviews that aroused my desire for both tobacco and food. Now if you had worked-in a pipe babe angle, I think you would have covered all the bases (excuse the pun) 🙂
Ordered three tins today based on your excellent review.
Great review, even though I’m not a fan of Va/Per blends…I can’t say I’ve even tried them…Maybe I’ll have to give Triple Play and/or Jacknife a try…
Hopefully In the near future, G.L. Pease will come up with a plug containing Latakia.
Uh, sorry, guys and gals. I just checked SmokingPipes.com Triple Play is already gone. Drat the luck. I’m always late to the good stuff.
Great review as alway’s Kevin. I’ll be sure to check this one out.
Ok man I ordered a couple tins of the Pease Plug anticipating another wonderful smoke. I’m sure it will appeal to lots of fols out there. I, however think it’s too close in production release to JackKnife. After smoking about 6-7 bowls of this I’m convinced that it’s released on the coattails of JackKnife.
Just found this baccy at pipesandcigars.com so go and get it!
This is great stuff! Grand-slam and kick-ass good!