Mélange a Trois
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Kevin Godbee - Nov 15, 2012
- 6 min read
G. L. Pease
I’m a collector. It’s not just pipes that stimulate this peculiar but fortunately not uncommon affliction. There are a lot of things I find difficult to resist. The books are probably the heaviest, overall, or maybe the wine. Wristwatches have always appealed to me, and fountain pens, pocket knives, old coins. The list is long and ever growing. I’d collect cars if I had the money and space, and probably motorbikes, firearms, old radios, classic guitar amplifiers, fishing reels (even though I don’t fish, they’re beautiful things)…
… You get the idea. If one of something is fascinating, two or ten of them simply must be even more so. I have a collection of collections, and am sure many of you could make similar lists. So, it only makes sense, being a pipeman, that I’ve got more than a little tobacco squirreled away.
There are quite a few blends in my catalogue, both current and retired, more than some blending houses, not nearly as many as others. I’ve got tins of almost all of them, usually from multiple vintages. And, having been cellaring tinned tobaccos for longer than I care to think about, I’ve also got quite a bit of older, classic blends. This gives me quite a range from which to choose when it’s time to open something interesting, so you’d think it wouldn’t be too difficult to find something to smoke, and usually, that assumption would be spot on. There are times, though, when nothing quite seems to fit. It’s like shopping for shoes, and finding that none of the styles appeal, and when a pair does catch the eye, it’s only available in black, when what I really want is oxblood.
Sometimes, this can result simply from the boredom of smoking the same thing long enough to just want a change, or from changes in the weather, since my preferences are often subject to the whim of the seasons. Other times, it’s just the contempt bred of familiarity that finds me searching for variety. It’s comforting attending parties with the same group of friends, but occasionally, the lure and the excitement of mingling with strangers overshadows the comfort. I’m fickle that way.
When this ennui overtakes me, when it’s gone midnight and the shops are closed, and the itch for a new smoke is unreachable, and this happens to me with far more frequency than I should admit, lest my sanity be called further into question, what’s a lad to do?
Naturally, I’ve got a full compliment of leaf at hand, in addition to all those tins of different blends, so you might think I’d just throw something together, but starting from scratch is time consuming, and sometimes as daunting as a white canvas in front of a painter with artist’s block. But, a bit of creative mixing, a little blending of blends can be the perfect antidote for my lassitude.
This is where the games begin. Tonight, by way of example, I wanted a break from the taste-testing of my latest prototype. When I’ve got something new in the works, it’s usually the only thing I’ll smoke for a few weeks, exploring its nuances, its subtleties, its relationship to different pipes, how it behaves at various times of the day, how it reacts to or stimulates the mood du jour. Tonight, I craved change, something rich with Latakia, but not heavy or heady. I had a few tins of different things open, but nothing called to me.
I grabbed the open tin of Meridian (there’s always an open tin of Meridian), one of aged Piccadilly, and my prototype. More by feel than by measure, I took pinches out, placing them on a sheet of paper; three of Meridian, two of Piccadilly, one of the prototype. As I mixed them, they began to speak to me. The richness and complexity of Meridian was sweetened a bit by the higher proportions of aged and young virginias, whilst the influence of the perique in the Piccadilly was reduced to a level not far above the threshold of perception, becoming more of a whisper from the audience than a supernumerary role in a full stage production of La Bohéme. When working this way, you can’t really remove something from the result, but can dilute it through the addition of other things.
Once well mixed, I filled a pipe and settled in for what I hoped would be an interesting, if not exciting smoke.
These little excursions don’t always go well; sometimes, they can be an unmitigated disaster. Two delicious things do not always good companions make—ketchup and chocolate biscotti, for instance, or Worcestershire Sauce and Coffee ice cream. A drizzle of an excellent balsamico over French vanilla ice cream, on the other hand, can be wondrous. With the blending of blends, things aren’t so much different. The key to success is in thinking about the overall flavour profiles of the different components, and combining them in a way that’s harmonious rather than discordant. And, of course, this can be a matter of taste. My own loathing antipathy towards the the very notion, let alone the actuality of so-called “Aromatic English mixtures” is well enough known by this point that my cringing reaction to the thought of mixing Lagonda with Captain Black would be unsurprising to even the casual reader, but another might find this combination the perfect prescription for the relief of boredom with the same old smoke.
It’s remarkable how much variety can be created with just a few simple ingredients. Even two blends with the same components, when mixed together in different proportions, can combine to create something dramatically different from either of its progenitors. One blend rich with orientals can amplify the Latakia presence of another blend, giving the impression that there’s more of the smoky stuff in the final mixture than there was in the original. Something with some burley can enhance the spice of the orientals in another blend in unusual ways. A perique heavy flake can tame a hot smoking bright virginia. There’s no end to the possibilities.
Sometimes, in my case, these little mélanges can stimulate a new blend idea, providing the inspiration for more detailed exploration starting from base tobaccos. Usually, though, they’re just a pleasant diversion, a little busman’s holiday that relieves some of that itinerant malaise. Tonight’s experiment happened to be a success, and the blend-o-blends was delicious. It’s not going to evolve into a new catalogue blend, nor one that I necessarily want to toss together again, but it was interesting, and most importantly, fun.
I encourage pipesters to experiment with their tobaccos once in a while, if only just to indulge in a whim. You don’t need to work with precision. A pinch of this. Two of that. Get wild. Let frivolity guide you. Take that wonderful palette of tins you have open, and play in the sandbox. Take notes. You won’t always like what you get, but you might have a great time playing, will probably learn a thing or two in the process, and you just might come up with something you really enjoy.
Your turn.
-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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Great article Greg. I have found that experimenting with several of my “regular” blends leads to something sometimes exciting, and other times just horrible..
I just got a tin of meridian and I love it. As soon as I store up a few more blends I will definitely give blending blends a try!
In a way, it’s the horrible ones that are the most enlightening, the good ones, the most rewarding. It’s all part of the fun.
Sounds as though you’re experiences have been much the same as mine — some are delightful, some are horrific. Over the last couple of decade’s worth of blending experiments, though, I’ve only come up with 3 or 4 that I liked well enough to write down and occasionally re-create and only one that was really, really good (an obscenely complicated Balkan that costs WAY too much money and effort to do regularly, due to its components). I can say, however, that I’ve had a lot more success blending together established blends than I have coming up with decent mixtures using straight “blending” leaf only, where I’ve had zero success. Sure, I can put together a smokeable English or Va/Per, but when it comes to creating the type of magic that guys like Pease manage to do on a regular basis I’m an abject failure. But that’s not a problem to me — I’m quite happy being an accomplished consumer of others’ genius! 🙂
Nonetheless, I do enjoy the process of experimentation and think it’s something all smokers should at least try. It can be a lot of fun, and you learn quite a bit about how different tobaccos work together.
Thanks for the article, Greg!
That is always fun, mixing and matching, although I tend only to do it with leftovers. Splendid article! Thanks!
Lord of Lat, thanx for the article & encouragement to blend the blends. Heres a recent failure. Chocolate aro, combined with a Turkish, laced with molasses, and burned in the oven. Its coming along in the cellar though. It does well when used for adobe brick.
Currently enjoying a 50/50 mix of Eileen’s Dream and 7 Seas Regular. The Eileen’s Dream was a little dry, so the two combined together is working out very nicely. I usually wait until I have near empty tins to try blending, but I think I’ll start experimenting more often. Looks like yet another interesting twist to this wonderful hobby.
Thank goodness it’s not just me that’s an inveterate mixer up when none of the many proper blends appeal at that moment!
My favourite though is just to add Va. to a Latakia mixture to get a cross-over (in the good sense) when it’s “can’t make your mind up time”; works best for me by using the same generic Va. as is in the mixture e.g. SG “Empire” to Squadron Leader, Dark Star to Legends, Va. Woods to Mixture No1 (carefully avoiding any statement about GLP adulteration). The other addition often done is the addition of a sprinkle of Perique to plain Va or some mixtures.
the other reason to mix for me is the enjoyment I get from spun cuts by PS, PH and MacB that I find too bitey unless very relaxed but work excellently mixed with an easier going Va.
Greg, another great read, thanks. The only time I ever mixed anything was when I took left overs of SG Best Brown,FVF and St James flakes and smoked them together. It was actually quite good and I am sure I will do it again.
I’ve mixed CAO Bella Vanilla with Amphora “Full Aroma” (red pouch) and was pleased by the result. They have a similar cut so that may be a factor.
I tend not to mix blends that I really like. What’s the point of that? The odds are very high that you are only going to turn a good thing bad. It’s usually less desirable blends that I will combine. Combine two things you don’t like and see if you get lucky. If you don’t, what the heck you didn’t like them anyway.
Interesting article, thank you Mr. Pease.
My Dad always said: “Anything worth screwing up once, is worth royally screwing up a second time.”
I might just give it a shot again as well.
Great article. I too have long had the collectors bug on tobacco, pipes and wine which lately has worryingly spread to tampers. Strangely, although I mix other blends (Murrays’ Nightcap, Artisan Blend and Peterson’s Irish Flake is a favourite) I have never played with GLP blends. Perhaps it is because it has seemed desecration to fool with something so carefully blended or perhaps because a little voice has never said this would be perfect with just a pinch or two of that. Whatever the reason I think you have just declared open season. As I have about a dozen tins of blends that, although fascinating in what they have told me about tobacco just have not quite clicked as regular smokes, the next few evenings will see some interesting variations. Abingdon, Caravan and Jackknife first spin of the dice perhaps! Still not sure about playing with my great favourite Robusto though – I like it too much and my stock level is not big enough!!
Greg, I think you might suffer from a disorder.
Great article as always Greg! I completely understand the “collectors bug”…I suffer from it as well. I will definitely be trying my hand at blending blends in the near future. I have so many open tins and think it’s time to try to mix things up a bit and see what happens.
I only smoke aromatics and so I’m not really tempted to mix the blends. I understand what you’re saying, it’s just that, even though I’ve tried some VA blends and liked them, natural tobacco blends just aren’t my thing right now.
You just reminded me of a gallon bag of tobacco from every pouch/tin of mixtures I had ever tried. A pinch here a pinch or two there . Never was there ever enough to toss in a pipe to smoke by it’s self. Just hated the idea of (shudder) throwing it away! There were fond memories in those tin/pouches! My lady at the time was on me to reduce the volume of semi empty tobacco tin/pouches. So I tossed it all together in the previously mentioned gallon bag. The first time I tried the mixture from the bag was wonderful!! The next time not so much. But it was fun to guess what might be on the next smoke.
Always enjoy your articles Mr. Pease. Might try some mixing myself tonight. 🙂
Sometimes it’s not the mixing but the ghosting that makes a difference. One of the CAO (Dan Tobacco) Virginias which has a particularly soapy taste leaves just enough “ghost” in the bowl that subsequent smokes of medium Latakia blends are deliciously depraved. Very enchanting. Full creosote, with just a touch of old-lady perfume.
As a newer pipe smoker, I’d have never thought of mixing my tobaccos. It seems like a ‘duh’ moment after reading this article. I’ve been steadily making my way through the back catalogue of this column and it has been a great inspiration. Ihave a tin I’m not crazy about, I might try out a mix to see if I can make it a bit more interesting.