GL Pease VLO Balkan Rankings

[Old_Newby]

I know its the hot summer now (Northern Hemisphere) and I am smoking my Virginias and VA’ and VO’s. However as I perused tobacco articles and reviews I came across some postings about GL Pease and that he adds no additives to his blends which I much appreciate. My favorite english is one of his blends. My palate is not sophisticated enough for those with perique yet so I am keeping this ranking to only VLO blends. I am curious how each of you would rank his VLO blends? I do love sweetness over savory and I have only tried 3 of his VLO’s and like them all.

1. Maltese Falcon
2. Westminster
3. Gaslight

After reading reviews my next 2 are Lagona and Horizons.

Please rank yours and share why? Do you have a savory, smokey, or sweet preference?

 

[ThermionicScott]

This might be pedantic, but I think Lagonda is the only one of those blends Greg would consider a "Balkan."

 

[Old_Newby]

This might be pedantic, but I think Lagonda is the only one of those blends Greg would consider a "Balkan."

Yea since I don't know the % of Orientals in each blend I cannot confirm or deny if balkan blends, which i think is defined as Oriental forward? My main rule is VLO only, no perique. Once perique is added it opens up a different category.

 

[Oddball]

Yeah Lagonda is a great Balkan. I really enjoy it. Def has those sour oriental notes but it's a latakia forward blend.

 

[khiddy]

Other GLP blends in my cellar that meet your expanded criteria for a Balkan (Virginia, Latakia, Oriental):

• Abingdon
• Ashbury
• Meridian
• Odyssey
• Spark Plug

Special mention: Sextant, which has some DFK as well (but no perique).

 

[ThermionicScott]

I haven't tried Horizons yet, but most of the early reviews comment that it's sweet, so that's promising.

I remember a nice sweet undercurrent with my first sample of Gaslight, but the tin I'm working out of now is only occasionally sweet. The Latakia dominates, with the Orientals giving that funky edge to it.

My understanding is that Samarra focuses more on the Virginias than Greg's other Latakia blends, so that may be one to try as well. I have a tin patiently waiting for me to try it. I don't smoke Latakia blends as much these days, but I still like them!

 

[mortonbriar]

Westminster is a favourite for me. I enjoyed maltese falcon, and gaslight was ok...but westminster I really, really like. Odyssey was too much latakia for me.

 

[StrangeVice]

I actually just received my first tin of Horizons today. I also favor some sweetness in my English and Balkan blends. I haven't had gaslight yet but enjoy Maltese Falcon and Westminster in the same order you've listed. I'll have to get around to giving gaslight a try as well.

 

[ofafeather]

Special mention: Sextant, which has some DFK as well (but no perique).

I don’t think this blend gets enough love.

 

[VDL_Piper]

Just to muddy the waters a bit. You might want to check out some of the offerings in the Drucquer & Sons line which are blended by Greg. These include Blairgowrie and Casbah as I think these might fit into your wheelhouse remarkably well.

 

[Oddball]

Just to muddy the waters a bit. You might want to check out some of the offerings in the Drucquer & Sons line which are blended by Greg. These include Blairgowrie and Casbah as I think these might fit into your wheelhouse remarkably well.

Solid Advice. I love Blairgowrie. Levant is a Balkan blend that reminds me of Sam Gawith Skiff.. I need to try my Casbah tin.

 

[Eireprof]

Solid Advice. I love Blairgowrie. Levant is a Balkan blend that reminds me of Sam Gawith Skiff.. I need to try my Casbah tin.

Agreed. +1 to The Drucquer recs. Merry Monk is probably my favorite tobacco at the moment. I know it’s not a VLO, but I’m chiming in to say D&S is quality stuff.

 

[filmguerilla]

Pease is the man! Definitely recommend Abingdon (maybe my favorite Balkan ever) and Gaslight is devine, along with every other blend in the Old London series.

 

[quantumboy]

Pease is the man! Definitely recommend Abingdon (maybe my favorite Balkan ever) and Gaslight is devine, along with every other blend in the Old London series.

I agree that Abingdon is certainly a classic, at least in my book!

 

[quantumboy]

Other GLP blends in my cellar that meet your expanded criteria for a Balkan (Virginia, Latakia, Oriental):

• Abingdon
• Ashbury
• Meridian
• Odyssey
• Spark Plug

Special mention: Sextant, which has some DFK as well (but no perique).

Abdingdon, Ashbury and Odyssey are all favorites. Meridian too now that I think of it. Pease is a blender for the history books in my opinion.