After too long procrastinating, I finally got my hand on some GQ Tobacco blends from Glynn and I thought I would share my thoughts. I am still burning through the samples but have had enough bowl of each to at least weigh in. In general the blends had interesting pouch notes, be a nice shaggish, thin ribbons and burned down to a nice mottled grey/white ash for those that take note of such things.
Classic English: First off, this is not a classic English in my book. Not with the cigar leaf and Kentucky but that isn't holding this one back. Frankly I am a bit surprised that the earth tones and notes come across well with my palate. I'm often turned off by these flavors in a pipe blend but they meld seamlessly here and produce a variance that makes this blend stand out in a crowded genre. I am curious if age will improve this blend for me or make the cigar more prominent.
Classic Balkan: Once more this blend is different than the name implies. I do not feel he was after the straight Balkan Sobranie clone the genre is known for. The Virginias and Izmir take center stage with the Lat and Kentucky present but playing background roles. The result is quite a bit of creamy dancing between the Va's and Orientals to the tune of smokiness. If you like less Latakia in your Balkans, this is a winner.
Breakfast Blend: A serious shake up for my mornings that have been filled with EMP in the previous months. With no Latakia the Kentucky, Va's and Orientals all start out a bit raucous. The true light on the first couple bowls made me question if this blend was for me but afterwards became a welcome start to a good bowl. The Izmir gives the cream and sour notes it seems to bring to blends while the Kentucky and Va's shift your focus back and forth without fighting with one another. Glynn seems to achieve a complex but completely approachable blend that is stellar with coffee. I recommend this both for the function its name implies and for lovers of Orientals.
Askwith Kake: The reason GQ Tobacco came into my sights in the first place, I had high hoped for this blend; it did not disappoint. The Kake is not too dense and crumbles with ease, releasing a bouncy and easy to pack tobacco. The Virginias are not as sweet and hay like as I am used to in Va/Per blends. Don't get me wrong, those notes are all there but this definitely pushes into the earthier side of Virginias. At 20% the Perique never hides itself but sin't as assertive as one might think and never dominating. Like Cool Hand Fluke, Askwith Kake is a spicy Perique powerhouse but makes you scratch your head wondering how it came out so balanced. I got the full range of Perique flavors and quite a wide swath of Va as well but the spiciness would be what stood out the most. Decent nic hit but milder than I expected.
Nottingham Lace Rouge: Red Virginia/Cav topped with alcohol creates an interesting base with some Kentucky and Perique adding in dimension to this odd and intriguing mix. This is not your father's Va/Per by a long shot. I will come right out and say I need to smoke more of this to really get a handle on it and review it properly but I mean that in the best sort of way. This tobacco has me thinking about it throughout the days and nights. I wouldn't class it as an Aro but more of a traditionally topped blend. That said it is far shy of a Lakeland and is an easy smoke. I can't say whether or not you will like this one but I would bet it will get a reaction. Something fresh and interesting in a sea of similar blends.
Nottingham Lace Noir: Much of what I wrote above also applies to the Noir version of Lace but this one is built on an English Black Cav with golden Va's, Izmir and of course Perique. Rich and interesting with a leathery backdrop, another one to test the limits of Va/Per's with additions. From the pouch note to the way the flavors marry, another one that has me wanting more. I will be cellaring both the Lace blends and hope to see more iterations of this experiment. Here is this mornings bowl of it in one of my LB pipes.
Classic English: First off, this is not a classic English in my book. Not with the cigar leaf and Kentucky but that isn't holding this one back. Frankly I am a bit surprised that the earth tones and notes come across well with my palate. I'm often turned off by these flavors in a pipe blend but they meld seamlessly here and produce a variance that makes this blend stand out in a crowded genre. I am curious if age will improve this blend for me or make the cigar more prominent.
Classic Balkan: Once more this blend is different than the name implies. I do not feel he was after the straight Balkan Sobranie clone the genre is known for. The Virginias and Izmir take center stage with the Lat and Kentucky present but playing background roles. The result is quite a bit of creamy dancing between the Va's and Orientals to the tune of smokiness. If you like less Latakia in your Balkans, this is a winner.
Breakfast Blend: A serious shake up for my mornings that have been filled with EMP in the previous months. With no Latakia the Kentucky, Va's and Orientals all start out a bit raucous. The true light on the first couple bowls made me question if this blend was for me but afterwards became a welcome start to a good bowl. The Izmir gives the cream and sour notes it seems to bring to blends while the Kentucky and Va's shift your focus back and forth without fighting with one another. Glynn seems to achieve a complex but completely approachable blend that is stellar with coffee. I recommend this both for the function its name implies and for lovers of Orientals.
Askwith Kake: The reason GQ Tobacco came into my sights in the first place, I had high hoped for this blend; it did not disappoint. The Kake is not too dense and crumbles with ease, releasing a bouncy and easy to pack tobacco. The Virginias are not as sweet and hay like as I am used to in Va/Per blends. Don't get me wrong, those notes are all there but this definitely pushes into the earthier side of Virginias. At 20% the Perique never hides itself but sin't as assertive as one might think and never dominating. Like Cool Hand Fluke, Askwith Kake is a spicy Perique powerhouse but makes you scratch your head wondering how it came out so balanced. I got the full range of Perique flavors and quite a wide swath of Va as well but the spiciness would be what stood out the most. Decent nic hit but milder than I expected.
Nottingham Lace Rouge: Red Virginia/Cav topped with alcohol creates an interesting base with some Kentucky and Perique adding in dimension to this odd and intriguing mix. This is not your father's Va/Per by a long shot. I will come right out and say I need to smoke more of this to really get a handle on it and review it properly but I mean that in the best sort of way. This tobacco has me thinking about it throughout the days and nights. I wouldn't class it as an Aro but more of a traditionally topped blend. That said it is far shy of a Lakeland and is an easy smoke. I can't say whether or not you will like this one but I would bet it will get a reaction. Something fresh and interesting in a sea of similar blends.
Nottingham Lace Noir: Much of what I wrote above also applies to the Noir version of Lace but this one is built on an English Black Cav with golden Va's, Izmir and of course Perique. Rich and interesting with a leathery backdrop, another one to test the limits of Va/Per's with additions. From the pouch note to the way the flavors marry, another one that has me wanting more. I will be cellaring both the Lace blends and hope to see more iterations of this experiment. Here is this mornings bowl of it in one of my LB pipes.