Ask G. L. Pease (Volume 27)
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Kevin Godbee - Jul 2, 2013
- 8 min read
G. L. Pease
I loathe the heat. I returned this week from the delightful Kansas City Pipe Show, where I had a fantastic time despite high temperatures stifling humidity, only to find the weather at home even more unbearable. Today, for instance, the hell-spawned orb of torture delivered blazing heat, along with sweat-dripping humidity, and dead still air. Emphasis on dead. Mostly because of the absence of air-conditioning in my house, days like this are best handled by escape. I go to the bank. I go to the grocery store. I go to IKEA, where I can wander about through its air conditioned amusement park atmosphere to spend a couple hours in relative comfort, and snack on Swedish meatballs. I don’t necessarily have business at these places, but they offer temporary relief, and I’m grateful for their hospitality. I could live year-round in fall, or even winter, which in California is more like a suggestion of the season than the real winter people deal with in places like Montana. Or Greenland. But, when summer is snarling its loudest, I cannot wait for it to pass.
I know it’s cliché to talk about the weather, but we all do it; it’s the universal ice breaker. And, believe it or not, I’m actually doing it for a reason, here. When the mercury bubbles and threatens to burst through the top of the thermometer, as the temperature climbs to and exceeds the century mark, my tastes in smoke change dramatically. The big, rich latakia mixtures that normally find their way to my pipe become more oppressive than pleasant when I’m broiling. I often turn to cigars, but smaller pipes filled with lighter tasting blends can also deliver a wonderful smoke when the seduction of dusky Latakia sirens fails. This is no great revelation; I’ve written about it before.
Relatively recently, though, a new seductress has joined my summer harem. I’ve been puffing a couple of Chris Morgan’s interesting Briar Cigars, and finding them a wonderful foil for the viscous, clinging heat. Filled with Key Largo, one of my go-to summer smokes, they are the perfect company to an evening’s BBQ, especially when joined by a nicely chilled IPA. I’ll be writing more about these things in the future, but for the curious amongst you, I recommend checking them out.
I hope things are less insufferable where you are, but whatever the weather, let’s light up an appropriately enjoyable tobacco, and dive into this month’s Q&A.
John from Spain enquires: I have recently acquired several pipes marked Albertson – Splendid. of different shapes and sizes. Can you provide any information as to where these pipes may have been made? They are new. I found them in a small Tobacconist Shop in Spain. They were displayed on a board marked Medico Pipes. They are certainly are not Medico’s. I can see no flaws or fill ins and they smoke extremely well. They cost twenty euros each.
I am aware that Albertsons were originally made in Belgium and that the business was sold to Grubeells later. I think they may have been connected to The Hillson Brand made in Holland. As the parent company has gone bust I cannot get a reply to my emails. I also think there is a pipe Albertson Capitol. These however are marked "Splendid" for which I can find no reference. I would appreciate any information you can provide.
A: I’m sorry to have nothing to add regarding these pipes, but am publishing your question in the hopes that one of our readers may be able and wiling to shed some light on the mystery.
From Arno, whose questions are always interesting and challenging: I am a home-blender and often hear of terms like stoving, baking, adding aromas etc. In other words, the things you can do to tobacco besides just mixing them together. But how to do such things at home I have no idea of. And experimenting is not really an option. Tobacco is pretty expensive in Europe where I live and it would be a waste to see some good tobacco burned to a crisp in the oven for example.. So what can I further do at home to enhance my home-blends? Can you provide us with us some (rough) guidelines?
A: There’s actually a lot you can do to alter the tobaccos you’re blending with. I understand your trepidation – it’s terrible to find something you’ve been working on suddenly and without warning be reduced to a pile of ash. Unless, of course, the ash is in your pipe. But, the good news is that tobacco is fairly resilient, and can suffer a lot of abuse before going poof.
First, try steaming. You can put some tobacco in well sealed jars with a few drops of extra moisture, and heat the jar in a simmering, not boiling water bath for an hour or a few. The water bath will keep the temperatures from getting too high, and the jars will seal the moisture in. You’ll find that the tobacco, especially virginias, will darken, developing more sweetness, more deep notes. Don’t let the initial smell fool you – it can be pretty foul. But, once it’s had a chance to settle down for a few days, you’ll be in for a nice surprise.
Toasting is another option, though one that requires greater care and tighter monitoring. Spread the tobacco on a baking pan, set the oven for about 100˚C, and let the heat have its way. Watch the tobacco closely, toss it frequently, and check the aroma. (You can also do this in a dry skillet on the stove, but be very careful with the heat.) It’s like toasting spices; you want to enhance what’s there, not burn it. When it comes out of the oven, it’ll be too dry and frangible to handle, so be sure to recondition it. I recommend the damp towel over a bowl approach, as it’s easily controlled. It takes much more time for tobacco to take up moisture than it does to release it, so be patient.
Of course, you can experiment with the addition of different alcohols, like rum, whisky, or whatever tickles your fancy. Add a few drops to a bit of cotton wool, and seal it up in the jar with the leaf for a few days. If you want more effect, do it again. Go slowly, remembering there’s no turning back. Or, how about casing your home blend with a little honey or treacle? Dilute the sweetener 1:1 with water, and mix it well with the tobacco at an application rate of 5ml of your solution to 100g of tobacco to start with. Once well mixed, let the tobacco stand for a day or so to take up the solution, and here, a little heating using the hot-water technique can be beneficial. Just remember to re-dry before long term storage, or mold might sprout.
Have fun, take your time, record your experiments, and please report back!
From Luigi: On some tin labels, I often read about the presence of Bright Carolina leafs or Carolina tobaccos. I quote as example the McClelland Ashton Celebrated Sovereign description: "A classic English mixture made with Syrian Latakia, Turkish Djubec, matured jet-black Cavendish, Bright Carolina and Red Virginia". Is this Carolina a varietal or a synonym for Virginia leaf?
A: Leaf referred to as Carolina is a flue-cured variety, and could rightfully be called a virginia, but, generally, if the Carolina appellation is used, the tobacco is usually something a little special. The best Carolinas are golden, sweet, aromatic, delicate, with good burning characteristics, good natural sugar content, and excellent flavor and aroma. Just remember that tobaccos are like wines, and terroir plays a significant role in the final result. Every region has its own character, and sometimes subtle changes in micro-climate or soil can have a dramatic impact on the leaf.
From Jeb: Greg, with a palate like yours, along with the knowledge in tobacco flavors, I’m hoping you can help me out. I’m a big fan of rye whiskey, and knowing you have a good taste for the spirits as well, I’m looking for advice on what you would pair with both a good Rye (neat of course) and a Manhattan. lately I’ve been drinking Whistle Pig neat and Templeton in my Manhattans. The Whistle pig is pairing nicely with a good dry VaPer but I’m struggling with the sweetness and complexity of the Manhattan. I use angostura bitters, and sometimes a dash of blood orange bitters. Embarcadero does nicely with the blood orange version, but sometimes I feel the subtlety of the Izmir is overpowered by the rye. and of course, YMMV, etc.
A: It’s certainly easier to pair tobaccos with a good rye, as you’ve discovered. The spiciness of the whiskey, along with its bracing, palate cleansing effect is not easily overwhelmed by even very rich, spicy mixtures, and the whiskey’s clean finish is quite accommodating to a variety of tobacco types.
But, the more delicate, creamy sweetness of a well made Manhattan presents more challenge. Instead of going towards the oriental side, and I agree that the Izmir would tend to get lost between sips, I’d think a soft, sweet, well balanced straight virginia would be a good mate. Too much bright in the mix would result in something both too subtle and too edgy, too much red would tend to be too earthy. Union Square, in the right pipe, might be just the ticket. Or, instead of seeking harmony, try something contrasting. The delicate smokiness of a little Kentucky dark fired in a blend with a bit of burley; something like Montgomery would serve as an interesting foil to the drink, and neither would outpace the other. Or, be bolder still, and try it with JackKnife Plug.
My personal choice with a Manhattan, especially with an assertive rye, is Chelsea Morning. That little bit of Latakia, coupled with the nice virginias, orientals and touch of perique presents a nice bittersweet backdrop that both contrasts with and enhances the drink. And, yes, YMMV. Always.
That’s it for this month. As always, I look forward to your comments, and further questions. Keep those cards and letters coming, kids.
-glp
 Since 1999, Gregory L. Pease has been the principal alchemist behind the blends of G.L. Pease Artisanal Tobaccos. He’s been a passionate pipeman since his university days, having cut his pipe teeth at the now extinct Drucquer & Sons Tobacconist in Berkeley, California. Greg is also author of The Briar & Leaf Chronicles, a photographer, recovering computer scientist, sometimes chef, and creator of The Epicure’s Asylum. See our interview with G. L. Pease here. |
Written by Kevin Godbee
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Before we begin, I should tell you: this tobacco review is being written by an A.I. Not the fancy new GPTs or their ilk; no, this is last century’s meat-and-bone, all-organic model. To be fair, a large part of what we call knowledge is merely the accumulated perceptions and impressions gathered from a life wandered through, synthesized into a spongy mass of what-it-is-that-we-think-that-we-know. The algorithm for this prompt is simple enough: pump thousands of bowls of smoldering plant matter into a gaping maw, cross-reference the chemical sensations with all other matter previously ingested or inhaled, sieve it all through the diffuse and fractal twin lens of memory and emotion, and churn out a panoply of adjectives that attempts to convey the sensations to someone who hasn’t experienced it yet. Odds are that a diligently trained monkey could succeed half the time; if this reviewer nears fifty-one percent then that would qualify as an unrivaled success. There must have been some similar musings perambulating through the mind of Per Jensen when he began his mad scientist routine at Sutliff with the Pipe Force project, which brings us to the current mixture under the microscope—Sutliff’s Pipe Force: Episode I. Here again are the unusual ingredients that engendered the series, with the stoved Rustica being the defining voice in this composition. From the tin: The Latakia-forward English mixture offers plenty of smoky flavor from the fire-cured leaf, which is artfully harmonized with floral, earthy Stoved Rustica. A mixture of high-grade Virginias imparts a natural sweetness. Katerini, the sole Oriental component, offers herb and spice notes bringing complexity and nuance to the flavor profile. It’s certainly Latakia-forward, with the stoved Rustica doubling up on the rhythm section like a second bassist. A first whiff from the tin releases the aromas of shoe leather and hide glue in a base of clay soil with a campfire wafted over it like last night’s beach party. Once it’s been accustomed to oxygen again, subtle hints of sweetness poke through from the Virginias: lemon rind, light milk chocolate, the dregs of a peaty Scotch, and muddled cherry. Old regulars like fresh-sawn oak and tilled earth are there, of course, with distinct notes of truffle, creosote, damp peat, and pine bark mulch. As an aside, I’ve been re-potting my camellias and the similarity of aroma to the ericaceous soil mix is notable; the Katerini really brings the unique depth of its vegetal complexion when supported by the Rustica and afforded more voice in the mix. The smoky Cyprian Latakia, in turn, is backed by equal earthiness from the Rustica, which overall exhibits a profile similar to dark-fired Kentucky; it leans more toward the woody and vegetal end of that spectrum, echoing and amplifying those traits of the other constituents. The tobacco is presented pressed and cut into a couple of thick, hearty flakes in the tin, lightly moist and easily crumbled to prepare—I prefer mine with a bit of drying time. The out-of-this-world tin art for this episode in the series is Major O’Meara smoking a cavalier. In the absence of confirmation, I’m going to hazard a guess he’s of the Ithklur species. The first taste from the light is sweet, with hints of that milk chocolate dancing around the edges. The Virginia leads the smoke through the top of the bowl, and orchestrates it well. Thoroughly smoky with lemony, grassy highlights from the Virginia spectrum, it soon segues into the mid-bowl profile: heartier, smokier, with the flavor leaning to the mildly acrid and tangy tinge that is the campfire-esque signature of English blends. Caution advised, it can turn overly bitter if pushed—this is where one’s sipping technique is required to maintain the fullness of flavor through to the heel. I did tend toward a lot of relights, though it may have as much to do with technique as with the blend. Pacing is also important as the nicotine starts to manifest; though the Rustica’s contribution has been tempered well by the stoving, it can certainly upend an empty stomach. At the end of every bowl, the mouthfeel somehow gets better. The balance of sugars in the tobaccos would seem to be spot-on in this regard. I started out my tasting in cobs, then cut short an unpleasant bowl in a meer, and finally landed on my best instrument with the lovely Dunhill 4427 pictured, a quaint group 4 shell briar with a gentle curve and Cumberland stem supporting a perfectly executed acorn bowl. It surprised me here, as I’ve learned through the years that I generally have the best experience with English blends in large, wide bowls. With this blend it seems that to get the best out of the Katerini’s somewhat diaphanous influence the smaller bowl fared much better. Room note is very English, so the company you keep will either love it or hate it, and it doesn’t linger too much. I find it paired best with a strong coffee; Sumatran beans complement the flavors well, as do Ethiopian if a lighter brew is preferred. Overall impressions of the blend are that it’s a curiously interesting take on the English genre, almost a reductive reconstruction of the theme using the unique components. This blend, if nothing else, expanded my vocabulary of sense perceptions with the uniquely treated leaf. While the average human can distinguish approximately one trillion (1,000,000,000,000!) different aromas, multiplied by seven basic tastes, and wholly dependent on variables from body chemistry to atmospheric conditions, our overworked and underpaid simian brains can’t effectively catalog them all. Our pet adding machines are exceedingly good at this, however, and someday soon they’ll be the ultimate and unequivocal authority on what something tastes, smells, looks, or even feels like. Until that time, friends, revel in the moments that can be stolen to savor over a bowl of Pipe Force: Episode I.
Thanks for a very informative and entertaining article. I especially enjoyed the response about the different ways to alter tobacco. The only thing I had ever tried is baking Reiner’s Long Golden Flake in a sealed jar at 180° for 6 hrs. I think Fred Hanna wrote the piece that motivated me to experiment. It wasn’t too bad, but wasn’t all that worthwhile either. When I think about it, it’s a pretty audacious thing to do! Sort of an insult to a master like R.L. Will. How would you feel if I sauteed your Haddo’s? 🙂
Wonderful read, thanks for the tips!
Greg, thanks for the reply. I have a tin of Montgomery I’ve been sitting on for a few months from 2006 that I will crack open next time I make a Manhattan. Once this heat wave is over, though. I thought living in the Bay Area meant not having to deal with this!
thanks!
Jeb
Thanks for the tips on the home-cooking-steaming-baking of tobacco mr. Pease!
Tell me about it, Jeb. Record setting temperatures coupled with the longest days of the year produce a craving for chilled, dry white wines and good beers over Manhattans and Martinis. Maybe a mint julep would serve well, or mojitos. I’ll have to think more about pairings with those.
-glp
I love articles that make me want to drink AND smoke! Very good reading, this is the best Q&A series on the web.