October Tobacco Crawl with Greg L. Pease

[prairiedruid]

Final thoughts on Sixpence after smoking it for 1 week: good solid blend. Smoking as a whole flake or rubbed out brings out the fruit notes but cubed it seems the peppery is more in the forefront. Nice burn characteristics with few relights, no bite. Nice enjoyable smoke that I give 4 out of 5 stars. Not going to be in my daily rotation but will show up occasionally as a change of pace smoke.

 

[jaydublin]

My final thoughts on Sixpence:
Rich and rewarding smoke with just the right amount of perique. Full-bodied and satisfying without being harsh on the tongue or mouth. I'm getting to the point (I'm still a relative newbie, mind you) that latakia-based blends all tire on me and I reach for them less often. Sixpence has a lot of bold flavor without it being too much. Too me it fills the role of a VaPer (becoming my favorite) but with more fullness when I want that. I'll be keeping some of this on hand.
Mr. Pease - thank you so much for your participation in this crawl. Your comments have been a real highlight and have made this special. I grew up in the Washington, DC, area - living at times on both on the Virginia and Maryland sides, and my mother really loved Garfinkel's! So your note on the Sobranie Garfinkel's blend was especially delightful to hear about. It really brought back memories of that grand old place. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the crawl – my chunk of Jack Knife Plug is begging for a light!
Brass - you have my sincerest appreciation for hosting this. What a great way to learn, experience and interact. Many thank you's, sir.

 

[brass]

Friday, October 9

Blend of the Week: G.L. Pease JackKnife Plug (First blend in the New World Series)
Dark-fired Kentucky leaf and ripe red Virginia tobaccos, with their deep, earthy flavors, are layered on a central core of golden flue-cured for a hint of bright sweetness, then pressed and matured in cakes, and finally cut into 2oz blocks. Slice it thick and rub it out for a ribbon cut, thin for a shag, or chop it into cubes. The choice is yours.

From GL Pease: This one has been a long time coming. I’ve had more requests than I can count to make a plug, and to make some stronger blends. There’s something about playing with the tobacco, cutting it, rubbing it out, preparing it for smoking, that connects us more closely with the whole process. A plug like this can be sliced thick or thin, so the smoker gains complete control over the way it will pack and burn. It’s quite rewarding.
My favorite approach with JackKnife has been to slice it very thin, about 1/32″, and rub it completely into a fine shag. Filling the pipe carefully, not packing too tightly, results in a wonderful, cool, effortless smoke, and the fine cut seems to enhance the sweetness of the virginias and bring out the subtle, natural perfume of the dark-fired Kentucky leaf.
Manufactured By Cornell & Diehl

Blend Type Virginia/Burley

Contents Kentucky, Virginia

Flavoring None

Cut Plug

Packaging 2oz Tin

Country US

Production Currently available

Where to Buy 4noggins.com

BnB Tobacco

SmokingPipes.com

PipesAndCigars

 

[disinformatique]

I was lucky enough to smoke SixPence in the past and took around 3 months to understand it a little.
Here's an excerpt from my review on TobaccoReviews and ThePipeMonk website.

If you are a big fan of Darwin you will love this blend, a lot. The tobacco constantly keeps evolving to a rich full smoking experience and keeps on giving you the subtle variations and complexities it has in store for you. As is common with almost all G L Pease blends;Sixpence would do wonders when aged. I wonder how would it taste like at 5,10,15,20 years. Hard work and lots of endless nights have gone into the alchemy which gave birth of this gem of a blend. A very welcome addition to anyone and everyone’s cellar.

Full Transcript
Chris :puffpipe:

 

[hakchuma]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BleFK1Artmg

 

[brass]

I liked 6P so much that I was somewhat reluctant to leave it for this weeks choice, JackKnife Plug. (JKP)
After opening the tin, I was greeted with the rich aromas of Virginias and Kentucky. The cake looks like fig bar or a dessert with layered chocolates. I used a serrated kitchen knife to cut off a thin slice. Without care the layers in this plug will separate, so be sure to hold the cake firmly against your cutting board while using your knife.
After rubbing out the slice into a shag, I packed my pipe loosely with the moderately dry tobacco. My pipe of choice this time was a Neerup #2 Pot:

The blend took a couple of charring lights and burned well and consistently. The Kentucky dominates with thick billows of strong tasting smoke, accentuated and balanced with the sweet Virginias. The mouth feel is silky thick, almost cigar-like. It also coats my mouth like a cigar, so that I taste the tobacco for an hour or so after smoking.
I get a hint of bite but I'm more sensitive to Virginia's than some. I had to relight only a couple of times and it takes only a touch of the flame to get things going again.
This is my third tin of JKP and is one of my favorites that I keep in the pantry. I've tried the JackKnife ready rubbed but it lacked some of the complexity and richness of the plug.
I've smoked a pipe for 40 years and have dabbled with mixing my own blends back in the 80's. However, I didn't even know plugs and flakes existed until I ordered a sampler of GLP blends a couple of years ago. The sampler included a tin of JKP as well as another plug. It was JKP that caught my imagination. Since then, I've become a flake, plug and coin convert. To me, these consistently provides a richer flavor than their ribbon cuts counterparts.
I look forward to your comments about this delicious, manly blend.

 

[atskywalker]

JKP is my #1 tobacco. It has been since I discovered a few months back. To me, it exemplifies complexity and the true power of unadulterated tobacco tastes. I usually smoke it in thick cube cut format which gives an exceptionally long flavourful smoke. Today I woke up to bowl of JKP with black coffee. I decided to follow Greg's suggestion regarding thin slicing and fully rubbing it and to my surprise it tasted deeper and smoked easier - smoking it in thick cube format results in a bit of a struggle to keep it lit but so far it has been worth the effort.
Through out my smoke I find JKP to be consistent from the first match to its final incarnation as fine ash. This consistency is by no means dull as JKP meanders between its complex layers of Floral notes which often gives way to a deep earthy (almost musky) note as if its saying "Now that you have seen the flower and experienced its perfume, come, I'll show you the forest in which it grows!". I often also get notes of cigarette-ish flavours and I recently realized that its a sign of the Virginias given that when I smoke cigarettes I smoke Canadian cigarettes which I found out are almost always 100% Virginia (as opposed to Burly, presumably in the US).
JKP is strong and deserves a lot of respect in that department. Had it not been that strong I would've smoked it all day but unfortunately, when I do that, I end up with constant stomach cramps. It also has a tendency to dry my mouth so keeping things hydrated is essential here.
My last observation is in regards to its moisture level. My own experiments seem to point to it being at its best when very dry which is a far cry from how it usually first appears in the tin (although I've had a few tins that were very dry - which were the reason I got hooked!).
While I find Irish Flake and ODF to be genetically very similar, I think JKP is very uniquely fragrant and tasty. They are all favourites of mine.
Question for Greg: What were you aiming for when you created this heavenly concoction? I understand from the other discussion we had on the forum Triple Play was intended to be a variation with Perique but ended up being its own Saga. What were you hoping to add to a genre that contains a lot of very popular and solid offerings?

 

[misterlowercase]

Off to a superb start here!
Love this quote:

"Now that you have seen the flower and experienced its perfume, come, I'll show you the forest in which it grows!".

::

 

[prairiedruid]

I'm currently smoking my second bowl of Jack Knife Plug.
Tin note is beautiful raisiny goodness. First bowl I cubed cut and had to fight it to keep it lit. The second bowl I broke up and rubbed out a flake I had cut about 1/8 inch wide. This lit much easier and stayed lit with few relights. Good full tobacco flavor; I don't get the floral notes others have but am enjoying the full earthiness of the smoke. Slow smoke with no bite. As I get towards the middle of the bowl getting some raisin note and a bit sweeter smoke but still full of flavor, absolutely delicious. Flavor doesn't fade through the end of the bowl, a very satisfying experience. Wonderful lingering aftertaste after bowl is finished. Definitely recommend rubbing this out as opposed to cube cutting.
Question for Greg: I know that this is a newer blend but what are your thoughts on how this will age? Being a plug won't the outside get aerobic process started while the interior will start aging anaerobically; so a slicing an aged plug will have a some of both processes adding some new dimensions?

 

[glpease]

It's JackKnife Friday already? I'll start with responses the questions that have been put out so far.

Question for Greg: What were you aiming for when you created this heavenly concoction? I understand from the other discussion we had on the forum Triple Play was intended to be a variation with Perique but ended up being its own Saga. What were you hoping to add to a genre that contains a lot of very popular and solid offerings?

Really, I just wanted to make a plug, to explore a style of tobacco that I'd never done, and had always been curious about. I guess it was inspired by a few people asking if I was ever going to do it… And, I wanted to see just how differently plugs would behave over time in contrast to flakes, which are basically just cut plugs. Or plugs are just uncut flakes. I knew that there would be a significant difference on the fermentation and oxidation that takes place because of the lack of air in the core of the plug, but wanted to see how dramatic that difference would be over time. It's pretty amazing, really.
I played around with it a lot during the development. One thing that sets JKP apart is the way the tobaccos are layered. There's a central core of the bright leaf, surrounded by the darker VAs and the dark-fired. This helps to keep the brights more focused in the smoke. When the leaf was just randomly stacked, the brights became more fully integrated into the blend, and lost some of their tangy sweetness. It was a fun one to do, and very educational.

Question for Greg: I know that this is a newer blend but what are your thoughts on how this will age? Being a plug won't the outside get aerobic process started while the interior will start aging anaerobically; so a slicing an aged plug will have a some of both processes adding some new dimensions?

JKP has actually been around since 2010, though it wasn't released until January 2011. So, I've had a chance to watch it over a five year period, and it ages beautifully, but very differently from flakes or ribbons. When I first did it, I sliced half of one plug up and sealed it away in small jars separately from the other half. It didn't take long for the differences to become very apparent. Those differences are readily evidenced with JackKnife ReadyRubbed. When the two blends are first produced, there's no difference between them. A rubbed slice of the plug and the RR form taste identical. But, they diverge very quickly. Within a matter of weeks, they're like two different blends. It's not that one ages faster or slower than the other, but that they go in different directions. I originally thought that the plugs would simply age more slowly, but it's really not that. It's just so different. The plug takes on deeper, richer flavors over a fairly short period of time, and the natural sweetness is enhanced, and that has continued throughout the past five years, though it has certainly slowed down. I'll look forward to see what a ten year old sample tastes like in 2020. And, it'll be interesting to see if the two, the plug and the ribbon, eventually converge towards a common point.
So, I guess, stay tuned.

 

[brass]

The plug takes on deeper, richer flavors over a fairly short period of time, and the natural sweetness is enhanced,

Exactly why, everything else being equal, I prefer plugs, flakes and cakes over ribbon and shag cuts.

 

[dcrguns]

This is my first smoke of JKP. I waited on purpose when I heard of this crawl. I have had my tin for a couple of months. I am glad I waited in order to express my appreciation for this blend here in this crawl. I have to say, it has now become one of my favorite. It has a deep, lovely flavor and smokes great all the way down to the bottom. I did get a truly white ash with no dottle. I cube cut it and then rubbed it out a little to get it more evenly distributed in the bowl. First smoke was in a Cavicchi Canadian. I look forward to the next. I am also enjoying the discussion in the crawl.

 

[atskywalker]

Greg, I think your last post gave me a great insight into why your blends are what they are. I'll summarize it with this quote:

“If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything, it is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few. ”

― Shunryu Suzuki

When I read your posts (and articles) I'm always struck by how "humble" they sound. Your last post re. the process made me realize... Its not just humbleness! You seem to have a beginner's mind when you start your projects! Good on ya...
In general... Pipe smokers are a unique bunch ::

 

[glpease]

Wow. I'm truly touched by that. It's one of the nicest things anyone could say. Thank you. You made an already great day even better.

 

[thedudeabides]

At the risk of piling on, I think your deep thoughtfulness about your blends is truly impressive. Your writing is that of a traveler and a seeker, and you are an inspiration for many of us to try new things and experience them for what they are versus what we might expect them to be. Your writing is eloquent and entertaining and your blends have bought joy to so many people. Thank you for being interesting... what else is there really to say?

 

[dmcmtk]

hakchuma, that was brilliant! :rofl:

 

[jaydublin]

Notes I've taken on Jacknife Plug so far:
First Bowl

In Grabow Savoy Bent Billiard

Folded and stuffed very thin “shavings” off the plug
Initial light/smoke

- very rich tasting

- the richest flavor I’ve experienced yet

- salty in a really good way

- steak saucy

- very dense and substantial smoke

- staying lit really well
Mid-bowl

- becoming more of a standard burly smoke

- nicotine hit becoming apparent
Second Bowl9.16

MM Mark Twain cob after a spicy lunch
- still very meaty tasting

- sense less of the sauciness

- nic hit is still damn strong

- nic comes on strong but feeling is a smooth ramping up (Irish Flake seems to come on with more of a jolt)

- putting me into a nice “fog"

- altogether very satisfying - but I stopped mid-bowl before I went over the edge
3rd Bowl

In a wide and shallow author-shaped briar
- Meaty and full smoke

- Retrohale - slightly sweet - VAs?

- A very light pepperiness - no perique, right?
Mid-bowl and down

- The retrohale is much lighter and more delicate than I’d have anticipated

- 2nd half of bowl is the best. Flavors meld into something really special and different. Very incense-like and almost cinnamon-like. Not the usual ashinesss. Smoked in a wide and shallow briar this is the best end of bowl smoke I’ve experienced.

- Nicotine has completed its slow build and the result is a beautiful and relaxed feeling
4th bowl

In the wide and shallow author-shaped briar

This time I rubbed out a couple thicker-cut flakes and let them dry out for around 90 minutes
- Not enjoying this smoke as much

- The Kentucky seems much more typically burley-esque

- Lacking the depth and richness I’d previously experienced

- Could easily just be the time of day (morning), etc.

- Going to go back to smoking without the drying
For the most part, this is a really deep and rich experience. The most memorable aspect has been the way the flavor changes and melds down through the bowl. Best finish to a smoke of any tobacco I’ve tried. The light and first half smoke are really nice and incredibly rich - but that 2nd-half thing is remarkable.

 

[cobguy]

I've been loving JKP for a while now but had never tried the Ready Rubbed.
So, I figured this would be a fine time to compare the two.
The plug was cube-cut over a year ago and has been stored in a mason jar while the RR was just popped open two weeks ago.
First noticeable difference is the sweetness. The RR version seems like the Golden Va is more out front while the plug was less sweet and slightly more smoky and earthy. Also, the plug offered up a bit more spice than the RR.
I like both and would take either but the plug is what I'll continue to cellar.
Overall impressions of JKP: Sweet, earthy and slightly smoky and spicy ... great with coffee in the morning
Side Note: Anyone that wants to trade JKP for SixPence let me know ... have at least two tins to trade.

 

[swhipple]

I opened my tin of Jack Knife today. It's a mildly cool morning here with a slight breeze tickling the drying leaves in trees. Occasionally, a brown and crispy leaf lets go from its branch to drift down onto my deck.
The plug inside the tin is an intriguing thing. Its almost solid, a single unbreachable mass. The tin note is a mild mixture of aged Virginias and dense smokiness. I first tried cutting it with an old jack knife since that seem appropriate but my slightly dull blade proved ineffective. I eventually had to resort to a box cutter style razor knife to make a dent it this little brick.
I decided to go with a cube cut for my first taste of this. I loaded up my 4 dot Sasenei, gravity feeding the chunks of tobacco into the bowl with very little packing. I used just enough pressure to level out the top and added a few crumbs to the top to aid in lighting.
When the flame kissed the top of the bowl I was rewarded with a dense smoky flavor backed with a hint of sweetness. I sipped slowly because I feel this one may bite if pushed to hard. As I worked my way through the bowl the flavor drifted back and forth between slightly sweet and richly smoky. The flavor reminds me of the inside of meat smoker after the fire is out. Jackknife has a thick, oily charred smokiness that is very different from the campfire smokiness you find in Latakia blends. The Nicotine level in this blend seems quite a bit higher than the Sixpence. It didn't completely turn me green but I could feel it when I was done. For me, this blend would have to be reserved for an after dinner treat.
I will try a smoke a few more bowls of this throughout the week and see how the blends develops for me. On first impression, this is one of those blends I wouldn't mind smoking once in a while but it probably won't rise to the level of a daily smoke. I tend to prefer sweeter Virginia blends and this blends seems to push the sweetness into the background.

 

[glpease]

Why JKP for the crawl, and why did I choose it to be the second blend in the series?
After Sixpence, I wanted to choose something that was very different, but had some similar constituent tobaccos. These two share the virginias and the dark-fired leaf, but approach them from almost opposite directions. Obviously, there's no perique in JKP, and no topping, and those things alone would result in a different experience, but there's more to it. JKP puts more focus on the Kentucky leaf, and is more centered on the earthier, darker, more savory side of things. There's just enough sugar in the brights in the blend to tame the harshness without adding an overlay of sweetness. So, I thought it a nice contrast to Sixpence, and an interesting way to move towards next week's blend.
My preferred way of preparing this one is sliced very thin and fully rubbed into almost a shag, being careful not to overpack the bowl. But, I've also smoked it cube-cut, as coarser ribbons, and every other way I could imagine to try. If you haven't seen it yet, I wrote an article about preparing plugs, JKP in particular, shortly after its release.
I also tend to prefer this one on in smaller pipes. Big bowls and strong tobaccos don't make for a happy combination for me, and JKP is certainly on the strong side. (It's not weapons-grade, like some of the old Irish plugs - anyone remember Taylor's Bendigo? - but it'll make you take notice if you are prone to smoke quickly or carelessly.) I also find the way the flavors develop to be a little more interesting in smaller bowls. But, as they say, YMMV…