This Tobacco is Crap! No it Isn't! New G.L. Pease Article

[admin]

I was nodding in agreement the entire time I was reading G.L. Pease's monthly column for May. I think this should be required reading for anybody that is reviewing tobaccos, or anyone that wants to form an opinion about a particular pipe tobacco.

Bones to Pick
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[gervais]

Man speaks the truth!

 

[timt]

Glad to see an article like this. I may express a critical view of a blend here and there, usually a flavored blend that doesn't suit my taste, but the ever increasing viewpoint that I see lately about so many blends being inferior to what they used to be is kinda tiresome.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I love Greg, and I am usually in full agreeance with him on everything... but, there is way too much tobacco out there to be forcing myself to like what immediately disgusts me. And, who's feelings is it hurting if I dislike a tobacco? I mean, I'm not writing reviews for people to take seriously. But, if I want to have fun talking about how disgusted I am with a particular tobacco, then... is the tobacco going to go home and start listening to My Chemical Romance and cutting itself? No, just harmless backslapping.

I know, I know... we live in a age where people get offended so easily. Hell, even getting an abortion for my 9mm Glock, that now identifies as a step ladder seems to piss someone off. but, when it comes to tobacco, I am absolutely NOT an expert. Nor, have I ever played one on TV. So, when I say that I gagged when I tasted a blueberry flavored aromatic that is so heavily topped that the tobacco is no longer present in the flavor in any way form or fashioned... just know that this is coming from someone who does not identify as a tobacconist expert. I'm just a guy, who likes to taste tobaccos, and has fun with it.

And, maybe when someone sees that a particular "tobacco" is so aromatic that the tobacco flavor no more matters, then maybe they will glean something from it... and for guys who hate the taste of tobacco so much that they are looking for these blends, they too can glean something positive.


This is like saying that I must respect the peanut butter and jelly flavored bourbons as a serious drink. I mean, we don't want the flavored bourbons at get bullied on the playground.

 

[kcghost]

Greg is preaching to the choir, but it is the internet choir, which is faceless and uncaring, IMHO Greg Pease is the finest blender of tobacco who still blends tobaccos today. Those of us not blessed with the exquisite palates of a Greg Pease or a Jiminks struggle to find words describing a tobacco. Therefore, we reach for the expletive that defines a "bad" tobacco. This is "crap". I have learned through hard trial and error to say something like "this tobacco is not for me". I often say I hate burleys because their flavor truly offends my two taste buds. That stuff has a flavor that I can say is positively awful to me. So, about all I can say is if you are going to use a pejorative to describe a tobacco make sure you very properly say "in my opinion".

 

[kola]

I'm with Cosmic on this. And tired of "offending" people just for expressing an opinion. Boo-freakin'-hoo.

I won't finish a bowl of tobacco that tastes like crap...just won't do it. I may try it 2-3 times and not get past a few tokes then jar it away for another day. But to me, it's still garbage. And sometimes (not often) the BAD NASTY tasting blends (to me) later become something I like. But the really bad ones for me (i.e Royal Yacht) always seem to remain garbage. Trash.

I love GLP and his bends but I disagree with him about smoking multiple bowls before calling a blend garbage And I respect his opinion on the topic.

Tis' why I don't post here that often as I have a knack for pissing people off here...for just expressing my opinions.

 

[rick3wood]

If a reviewer smoke a whole tin then said it was garbage I think MrPease would get himself riled up anyway it seems.. reviews on sites are pretty boring anyway, imagine if only positive reviews are used..everything is great

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Even with my limited experience I can think of a couple of blends that hit the bin after one bowl (one less than that, haha). I suppose I could have come back to either, but didn't for some reason. I can think of a few others that my enjoyment or lack of has been traced to what I may have been drinking along with the bowl at the time, or other variables that caused me to make adjustments or just learn something. 99% I'm coming back to something and trying it again, still experimenting, so I mostly get what he is saying and agree. I don't do much "reviewing" and doubt my opinion would mean much to anyone else on tobacco preferences.

The rest is just reality --- easy to take shots at anything, so filter out the noise, try and be above it all or at least ignore it because something out there anyone can read and any Gomer can write is going to piss you off at some point.

Off to my happy space, lol . . . . . .

 

[anotherbob]

He's right I was nodding in agreement. I think I can tell most of the time if I like or don't like a blend. But I still don't think I really know it till I've smoked it a few times. It's like music that way. I usually hear something and can say I enjoyed that or not, but it takes a few listens before I hear all the details all the interplays all the instrumentations used or enough of the lyrics to go oh no why do these jerks have to rock.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

I can usually tell in one bowl or less if I do not like a blend. That doesn't mean the blend is crap, just that I don't like it. If I do like, or think I like, a new tobacco, I don't want to comment on that tobacco publicly until I've smoked at least a whole tin. This gives me a chance to better understand the nuances of the blend.

I do not like when someone smokes half a bowl and then wants to post up some long winded review about the tobacco. Kind of like the guy who's been smoking a pipe for two weeks and then starts posting instructional videos. These guys are everywhere.

 

[kola]

Some blends are crap, and others I just don't like but don't fall into the crap category. Big diff'...

If I were a blender or a pipe-carver I wouldn't read any reviews or belong to a socialmedia place.

I like what Johnny Depp once said (and no I'm not a fan of his) ... he said after the movie is made he never watches them. Nor does he read reviews, etc. At last that's what he said.

 

[JOHN72]

A beautiful narration. I identify with those reflections, or whatever you want to call it. Sometimes, for some reason of stress at work, or some bad encounter with a toxic person, who crossed your path, I usually quit smoking, I do not feel at ease, because the bad feeling exhausts me. Days go by, maybe almost a couple of weeks, and you say, wow, I don't feel like smoking, or I don't miss it, and you start to doubt if it was a good idea to build a tobacco cellar. I could have invested in other things, a room full of sports supplements, clothes, shoes, I don't know what the hell, I would have spent the money. That stress passes, that day of relaxation, tranquility and love arrives. Then you settle into your smoking cave, and start with the liturgy of tobacco and pipe, or cigar. Your favorite glass of scotch, with your favorite whiskey, or distillate, tea, coffee, etc. Then, relaxed on your smoking couch, you start to smell that tobacco aroma, that blessed smoke. Then, you realize how beautiful and satisfying it was to invest in these wonderful things.

 

[hawky454]

Since this is subjective no one should have to say “in my opinion”, it should be implied. That being said, I do feel like I have to say those three words more often than I would like to. I understand where Greg is coming from, as I do agree, most tobaccos do deserve more than a half a bowl to understand the blend better but obviously that is up the individual. But, I didn’t need to try Molte Dolce more than once to know that I’m not going to like it.

… in my opinion…

 

[Doctor Chopper]

I agree with @cosmicfolklore on this one. The mistake that GLP is making is applying professional standards to amateurs. The amateur may be knowledgeable and experienced, but does not have the same standards. If a professional like GLP is reviewing a tobacco for publication, I would expect him to take all the steps to cleanse the palate, smoke a whole tin, etc., and be chosen by the editorial staff for their expertise. If some dude gives an opinion on this forum, I don't expect that level of consideration. Both are still valid and offer some value.

 

[OverMountain]

I was nodding in agreement the entire time I was reading G.L. Pease's monthly column for May. I think this should be required reading for anybody that is reviewing tobaccos, or anyone that wants to form an opinion about a particular pipe tobacco.

Bones to Pick​

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It has never been better than it has today. Those that enjoy, will enjoy. Those that complain are the ones missing the enjoyment. Great article.

 

[vosBghos]

I like what Johnny Depp once said (and no I'm not a fan of his)

Johnny is actually wicked smart though , johhnny dep on working with marlon brando - Google Search - https://www.google.com/search?q=johhnny+dep+on+working+with+marlon+brando&oq=johhnny+dep+on+working+with+marlon+brando&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i299l3j33i22i29i30l6.33791j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:ed25298c,vid:Bq7K_IfCR4o

 

[vosBghos]

All I can say is on this article is stay away from Reddit

 

[PipeIT]

@glpease I recently just made a post very similar to what you said, and I recently called a blend garbage and threw it in the trash.

But I’m certainly no self-styled expert, nor have I ever claimed to be.

So maybe it’s not a recent post of mine you are referring to?

Thanks

P.S. Maybe I’m just being paranoid! LOL

 

[dcicero]

Glad to see an article like this. I may express a critical view of a blend here and there, usually a flavored blend that doesn't suit my taste, but the ever increasing viewpoint that I see lately about so many blends being inferior to what they used to be is kinda tiresome.

I said this to someone just yesterday.

 

[bullet08]

Some do jump to a conclusion way too early, and I have seen this before. Personally, they don't bother me. There are so many different kinds of people, if I bother to ID all the assholes, I won't have time to smoke.