Tobaccos G. L. Pease - Lagonda (Old London Series)

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Beer (345)	2013-02-03		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I am a longtime fan of GLPease tobaccos, especially the Latakia blends. Caravan, Odyssey, Blackpoint, Westminster, Abingdon... all favourites of mine.

I hadn't tried this Lagonda since its first release, and now I have been able to do so. Well, at first I was slightly unimpressed. The cut is different from Greg's traditional mixtures, it's a more of a broken flake than a ribbon, and this is nice since it means that Greg keeps experimenting with new cuts and processing methods (=pressure) that were typical of the old tobacco brands. In spite of the thicker cut, this blend lights easily and stays lit wonderfully, providind a cool, rich and long smoke. Really, this one of the better burning GLPease blends!

What I find it slightly lacking, is in flavour development. It seems very dependent on the pipe I am smoking it, and while it is quite full in body and richness, it lacks the explosive punch of Caravan, Abingdon, or the richly rewarding and continuously growing Westminster.

Yes, I find that Lagonda has some extra spark missing... Maybe some more orientals? Or a smokier Latakia? On the other hand, at times it truly is wonderful.

What is sure is that this is a different Latakia blend... More of a slow grower than one with a big initial impact. Flavourwise it's not the most powerful, nor the most complex (Westminster is), but it surely is the one which will show most secrets with long and patient explorations. I am glad to have other tins away, to see how it evolves.

So, while not my favourite GLPease Latakia blend, it certainly is a very interesting one with many nuances to discover, and I'll gladly smoke it again.

18 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	quantumboy (130)	2012-04-13		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant

I intend to keep this review short and simple.

Delicious!

Now, for those of you who want more detail...

I realize this blend has been out there for a while, but I have finally had the time to have several bowls, and I have throughly enjoyed every puff. Yes, it's a huge blend. Yes, it's full of Latakia. Yes, it's vintage Pease. Yes, it's awesome stuff!

Tin note is what you'd expect, but I get a little fruitiness on the side, reminiscent of cherry, but it's not cased. It must be the fermentation and aging process that kick starts the fruit character. It does not, however, translate into the smoke.

A bit wetter out of the tin than many Pease blends, this one still goes straight into the pipe. I virtually never dry out any tobacco but prefer to simply adjust my packing and smoking techniques accordingly. This can be sipped or throttled, just depends on your mood. Release a little through your nose to get the full effect, and you'll be hooked.

Not as sweet as some, which makes sense, since the Virginia component remains in the background. The Latakia is obviously the star of the show, but it is quite smooth and refined. If it gets too much for you, just slow down and remember why you smoke a pipe. To relaaaaxxxx......

Lagonda will take a place in my rotation with other big Lat blends like Commonwealth and Star of the East Flake. With its earthy, rich, powerful flavor it's one I will most likely save for late evenings. This blend has gained a little bit of criticism as being too similar to Pease's other offerings, but I see it as analogous to finding a favorite winery: similar character among the various products does not detract from an artist's reputation, it defines it. No mistaking a Salvador Dali, right?

Four enthusiastic stars.

15 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2015-02-15		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Very Pleasant

This one caught be by surprise. Upon popping the tin I was hit with the usual strong and smoky Latakia smell that usually tells me the blend with be stout. Well, Lagonda isn't. In fact, it is rather on the mild side in taste although the smoker will certainly know he is smoking Latakia. The Virginia/Oriental leaf was interspersed in a way that truly made this blend a pleasure. I probably smoked it a little fast as I was hoping for more strength, which caused the blend go get harsh toward the bottom of the bowl the first couple of times I tried it. I slowed the cadence and that was the ticket. Now, this blend is a nice change of pace for me.

14 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-11-10		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

A nice broken flake that is much more broken than flake. Heady tin aroma of latakia.

This one appears to be a less complex version of Meridian. Or at least of a different type of complexity. This is no one-trick pony and Meridian was sort of unobtrusively complex, but they strike me as similarly flavored. Less of an overt oriental presence here and more of a latakia presence. Lagonda strikes me as GLP's take on a past blend but I can't think of which one. Perhaps the recipe is more common than he usually uses. Whatever - it's something I can't put my finger on. Good tasting blend, but I place it firmly in the middle of what I've tried of the GLP line... preferable to Westminster, Chelsea Morning and Abingdon and not so good as Meridian, Quiet Nights or Charing Cross (or Odyssey). More dark than light tasting, there is a very slight sweetness in this mix. It's not a creamy blend like Odyssey and falls well short of that one's flavor level. This is more of an all-day type of latakia mix. Interestingly, I also noted that this one tasted best when I aimed the bit at the roof of my mouth rather than my tongue.

I don't fall into the hype of "GLP blends need to age before they can be enjoyed" any more than I join the party line for McClellands tasting of catsup or Mac Baren's being inherently bitey. However, this one does seem to need more age. I think there's a classic blend in here somewhere, but it just can't quite get out due to this tin being only 2 months old. To use an analogy, it's like someone draped pieces of cloth over the PA speakers at an opera. The gist is there but the full effect of the presentation is muted. Lagonda is one that I'm going to stock up on (because there is a classic blend in there!) and see how it performs in a year. Hopefully, it'll move me from Row X to about Row D!

13 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SteelCowboy (685)	2011-08-24		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

As of the time of this writing, I don't hand out many four star reviews to Pease blends but Lagonda is a flavor explosion that can't be denied! Upon opening the tin I was greeted with a beautifully course, colorful tobacco with a deep leather and smoky smell. Considering the large quantity of Latakia Lagonda could have been a Latakia bomb, but it's not. It's just as spicy as it is smokey. Lagonda is complex and masterfully balanced with a ton of flavor. The only thing I didn't like with Lagonda is that it can bite a bit if pushed.(although not enough to take away a star) I think that some age will make this even better and may lessen the small amount of bite. According to Greg Pease's web site, most all of his blends have some type of treatment but I can't put my finger on the cased component in this blend. Having experimented with this blend, I appreciate most when sipped in a large bowl. Highly Recommended.

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3046)	2014-11-13		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The Cyprian Latakia is richly smoky, woodsy, earthy and lightly sweet, and is almost the star ingredient. Playing almost to the same level are the Orientals/Turkish which are also woodsy, earthy, dry and sour, a little floral, and a bit spicy. The red Virginia plays back up with some tangy dark fruit, earth, and wood which helps prevent this blend from being a lat-bomb or a completely dry smoke. Some have remarked that it can bite if pushed too hard, but I did not have that problem. There are no harsh notes. The strength and taste levels are medium. The nic-hit is in the center of mild to medium. Not very complex or creamy, but fairly smooth with a slight roughness, and all the components work well together to create a consistent flavor. It isn't quite an all day smoke, but isn't far from it either. Burns cool, clean and slow with little moisture left in the bowl, and requires a moderate amount of relights. Has a pleasant after taste. Not an all day smoke.

-JimInks

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	zulujerk (146)	2012-03-04		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Of my favorites over the years, I think Quiet Nights has risen to the top above most of the Latakia mixes out there because I love Latakia Flakes in general, but Lagonda is still a four star blend. All Pease Latakia blends are amazing, you really have to try them all, and after all these years, I still haven't achieved that end. I find that when I want to reach out to something new, like Blackpoint, for instance (which I will get to at some point), I find it difficult not to order the blends I'm familiar with. I originally panned this, but I think it's like watching a new movie that you don't understand, you step back and criticize. And when the critics say it's wonderful, you say to yourself, "I saw that the day it came out."

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TallPuffO'Burley (633)	2015-11-23		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I bought this tin a long time ago when I was at a pipe forum get together and the host, who happens to be a fellow reviewer here, was telling about how much he loved this blend. Well, many beers were drunk and many bowls were smoked and I couldn't remember if I smoked a bowl of this or not. I certainly wouldn't have remembered how it was if I did.

So I bought a tin. And opened it pretty quickly. It took me two years to finish the tin if that is any indication of how I felt of this blend. To me, this just has too much latakia. So much so, that the blend just seems out of balance to me. It takes on that burning rubber type taste that I get from Dunhill Durbar.

I know this is quality leaf and it does have great tin art, but neither of these things can really make me recommend this blend. However, in deference of my friend who does like this and the many others that do, I will add a second star.

Similar Blends: Dunhill Durbar.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Wibblefishofdoom (139)	2014-04-18		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Having been lucky enough to have a little spare cash, I decided to plump for this, I fancied a latakia and this one seemed to fit the bill.

The tin note is a strange one, a bizarre mix of hay and silage, both made sweet by something that I couldn't put my finger on I never seem to tire of commenting on the colour of the ribbons of Mr Pease's work, it always seems to strike me more than those of any other tobacco. These are largely a rich dark brown colour flecked with lighter tones. Packing and lighting are easy. The taste of the smoke itself is lovely and sweet, there's hints of something farmyardy -possibly something of the cowshed but yet strangely nice - and some occasional wafts of orange.

On the whole, this is a cracking tobacco. It's not wildly exciting but just has pleasant mix of flavours of sweetness, fruit and of the countryside. Worth buying again.

Pipe Used: Straight Falcon with Algiers Bowl

Age When Smoked: 8 months

Purchased From: Gauntley's of Nottingham

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-09-14		Medium	Medium to Strong	Full	Pleasant

So in early June I found myself in Chicago without any of my pipes or tobaccos. Naturally I sought out Iwan Ries under the El on Wabash Avenue. I bought a nice enough pipe and picked, from the description on the label, a tin of Lagonda.

That was three months ago. I am now finishing that tin. It has aged nicely, qnd the overwhelming aspect mentioned by other reviewers has yielded to a contentment unusual in my experience. Perhaps the onset of fall weather in the western NC mountains where I am finishing a bowl is partly accountable for this, but even the first bowl revealed the quality and expert balance in this blend.

I have smoked at least 20 Latakia blends. Until Lagonda, I was sold on Penzance as the most satisfying since the demise of the original Balkan Sobranie that I remembered from the late 70s. The reason Lagonda has risen to the top is, I believe, the way the "ripe red virginias" meld with the other ingredients. The result is a distinctive and unique spiciness unlike that of any other Latakia blend. Latakia often subjugates its fellow tobaccos into minor roles, the way brass instruments sometimes blare too loudly in an ensemble. In Lagonda the orientals, latakia, and red virginias—with the touch of virginia leaf—create the ultimate complexity one longs for.

It is easy to pack, smokes to the bottom of the bowl, and excites the palate.

Still, the only latakia whose ashes I am inclined to want to eat is Penzance.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Capt (339)	2011-08-24		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Once again, I could not wait a few months for this to settle. I left work early today, I found out my Uncle just passed. I was feeling down, so I poured a glass of Crown Royal, and opened this new tin of Lagonda. I usually smoke at least 2 ounces of a blend before I write, but this is too good not to share my experience. A bit moist, but 10-15 minutes out of the tin dries it perfect. This is like no other English I have ever smoked. It's perfectly balanced, but missing the sweetness in most GLP blends. As the reviewer below, there is some casing in here, but it is impossible to tell exactly what it is. It delivers a smokey, graham cracker like flavor, that leaves the palate feeling clean and refreshed. The perfect nicotine shot is found here, whether it be the first bowl in the morning with coffee, or the last bowl of the night with your nightcap of choice. Greg, you have done it again. I will have to say, this bumps Blackpoint out of my 1st place spot. Stock up, I am sure age can only make it that much better.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kunsan (76)	2015-04-09		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Same series as Chelsea Morning and Meridian, same thick ribbon cut. Lagonda has slightly more Latakia and this becomes evident when smoking as there's more of a campfire smell and taste compared to the other two. Personally I rather like the extra Latakia, although it should be said that it's still only a part component of the mixture and doesn't take center stage. There's also a slightly more spicey note to Lagonda, and the spice has a different character than the other two in the series, suggesting it comes from Orientals rather than Perique.

Chelsea Morning and Meridian are both regular smokes of mine, and at first I was slightly taken aback by the slight extra spiciness of Lagonda. However the more I smoked it the more I began to appreciate its qualities, and it's interesting that Chelsea Morning now seems to be rather tame and uninteresting in comparison. I like the Latakia campfire, and there's a sweet/sour underlying note to the Orientals that becomes more evident with each smoke.

An interesting and complex blend that might be better than the other two in the series depending on your taste preferences.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-08-26		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Holy Grail tobaccos. Do they really exist? I don't know, but, if they do, this one is on my short list. If you are a smoker of Latakia blends, you simply must try Lagonda, it is truly a sublime example of the genre, which exceeds in certain areas where others have only dabbled.

The tin note of Lagonda is at once familiar, and unique. This is what some call a Balkan, what some call an English. If this is to be likened to something, or put into a category, it would be that of BS 759, and it is "like" that blend itself, in some ways, but in others, not. It is perhaps a tad lighter in Latakia "trunk", I of course don't know the proportions, but this is my impression. It also exhibits a more embellished strain in the oriental passages, though, no less of a Virginia "backbone". It smells of the classic genre, but is more complete and rounded than usual. We'll get to that...

The "Old London" presentation here is familiar to those acquainted with Meridian, and Chelsea Morning. For me, this processing is a marvel, and I am wholly impressed and even infatuated with it. It is the difference between home-baked bread, and mass-produced and bagged bread in terms of both aroma and flavor. This form packs and lights well. It also isn't too greedy with the flame-which keeps things on the cool side, and this is also most welcome. Its the best of the flake and the ribbon forms in one.

At the match, Latakia lays the scene and that familiar type of comfortable blend starts to settle on the tongue. And this is one of the high points, because though it is like those blends, there's more "it" to it. Again, the home baked bread advantage comes to mind. Its as though the flavors in other blends of the type, which aren't pressed together in their ingredient forms, never quite bloom, or puff-up to this level, or its simply the recipe. Or both. And, this is where the surprises start...

The flavors are not at all homogenized. They are not equals. They are a trio, none of which are background, or cameos. This clearly is a full Latakia mixture, but not to the point of overshadowing the Virginia, which is often the case. These sweet Reds are quite warm and present. They ascend through the Latakia like a leaping dolphin, and are just as playful. Likewise, the orientals are clearly swirling at all times, but they never tilt the blend to dryness, which could easily happen-either in a way that one enjoys, or the way one likely wouldn't. This blend is neither sweet, nor spicy enough to use either word as a one-word descriptor for it. Neither is it heavy enough to be called a "Lat Bomb".

Now, of course, the common words to use here are "complex" and "balanced", but I want to apply neither in my review, though I would never disagree if someone called Lagonda those things. It is. But I think it goes beyond those terms. I say Lagonda is strikingly Harmonious, in the way that a family of singers is harmonious, not complex and balanced like a large professional choir. Lagonda is rustic and lively. It's delicious, and absolutely bursting with flavor, natural Tobacco Flavor.

Which brings us to the topic of the suggestions of casings or toppings. I don't mean to be contentious, but I say: there's no chance that this blend is cased, or topped. I think that perhaps the characters in the blend that I describe above could lead one to suspect an added flavoring, because like I say-this level of harmony in this type of blend (to my experience) has not been achieved before with only natural tobaccos. Also, on GLPease.com the introduction to the entire Old London Series states clearly that there are no flavorings added to the members of that series. Have a look! http://www.glpease.com/Tobacco/OldLondon/index.html

Cheers all. Clearly, I like this blend. I love it. I've spent time with 759 lately, and blends that are said to be like it. And they're all fine. Comparing aged blends to new blends is unfair, in my opinion, but even still, I can't imagine that I would ever prefer 759 over Lagonda. Its not a clone of it, or a replacement for it, its the evolution of it.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LannarkGent (145)	2018-08-21		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Extra Strong

This is a Balkan blend in my book. The blend contains Virginia tobaccos married with a composite of orientals, probably predominantly Macedonian in this case with a good measure of Latakia The tumbled flake in my tin is well aged. Although the blend seemed to be moist, for us pipe enthusiasts who perfer to smoke slowly, the moisture is perfect. I do a charring light, then the main light. After that, I get roughly an hour of smoking pleasure from one bowl after that. The high quality orientals may prove to be initially too forward for many, but fade into the rest of the band of flavors as the bowl warms up. the tangieness of the mixture soon turns sweeter as the warmth of the bowl frees more of the Virginia flavor. The Latakia presence is robust, and complimentary for a Balkan blend. Those of us that enjoy a good Balkan style blend, that is full flavored will be well served to enjoy a tin of this fine mixture.

Pipe Used: Catuga Billiard

Age When Smoked: 3 months

Purchased From: Indian Rvier Tobacco Traders

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jevverrett (106)	2016-12-24		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Another of the bombing gifts I received from the brothers of briar. I grabbed the tin on a whim a week ago and killed it promptly.

The tin note is rich and smokey sweet and delicious to my nose. The cut is supposed to be ribbon, but I find it closer to a well rubbed flake than a loose ribbon. It has some bits that benefit from a little rubbing out. Mostly dark in color and almost shiny.

It lights, burns and smokes well enough. It's tastes like it smells mostly. Smokey and rich with a surprising sweetness to it that is very nice for me. I'm beginning to appreciate Balkan blends more and more recently bc of these characteristics. Produces a good volume of smoke and burns fairly dry for the first two thirds of the smoke. The bottom can be a bit moist, and letting it sit for a min to cool before a relight is suggested.

All in all this is good stuff. Than again G.L Pease is top of the class for English and Balkan mixtures in my experience. I would recommend this one without hesitation.

Pipe Used: Various briars

Age When Smoked: 1yr aged tin

Purchased From: BoB gift

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2080)	2015-10-03		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Very Pleasant

G. L. Pease-Lagonda. There's many debates over whether this is a broken flake or a ribbon; the blend appears to be a mixture of both thus it wouldn't really qualify as only one of those titles alone. The larger flake like pieces are chunky but not big enough to necessitate rubbing.

When I took an initial sniff of the opened tin I was met by a very leathery smell. I spent a while deliberating what title would suit this smell the best but I couldn't be swayed from 'leather'.

There's a perfect amount of moisture, there's no reason why this shouldn't be enjoyed straight from the tin. Enjoyed being a very suitable word, it's a treat!

The Latakia is without a doubt the forward player. This comes over in a lovely fashion as there's just enough smokiness for it to be easily identified but it's not what I would consider a Lat Bomb. I get a very slight sourness and grassiness from the others but not anywhere near as strong. The final addition to the flavour is a caramel type sweetness, this comes through after about a third of the bowl has been smoked. Sometimes I find a blend headstrong with Latakia can take on an almost fishiness but this is at just the right volume to be savoured without being acrid.

The nicotine is a little above medium for me. Not too strong yet definitely not too weak.

A bowl of Lagonda gives a good burn. It only needs re lighting if it's left to sit too long.

I don't consider myself a lover of Latakia albeit I'm a lover of this!

Highly recommended.

Pipe Used: Mastro Cascia

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Gauntleys

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Fred T (67)	2015-02-07		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

There's a debate about the difference between an English style tobacco and a Balkan. The difference is subtle at best. I like an English. My preferences are for Dunhill 965, Perfection, and Frog Morton Across the Pond. If you examine the tobaccos that make up the mixture, Frog Morton and Lagonda have the same tobacco makeup: Latakia, Orietal, Turkish, and Virginia. I'd like to rate Lagionda at a 3.5 stars, because in my opinion, while it is an excellent tobacco, it is just behind my favorite Engkish style tobaccos, as mentioned above.

Pipe Used: Dunhill Chimney

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Smokingpipes

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Cochon74 (29)	2012-03-28		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I wanted to love this blend. I love latakia and Oriental-rich blends as a rule and am particularly impressed with other Pease Blends such as Abingdon and Charing Cross. I even give props to the curious Haddo's Delight. Pease's latest English offering just fell a little short of greatness.

Out of the tin, the presentation and aroma are wonderful. It loads easily and lights easily.

I'm not totally sure I understand the process, but the flavors in Lagonda are fairly well integrated and while I can taste all the leaves, I find them much more harmonious in this blend. The latakia is firmly there, the Orientals are rich and exotic, and the Virginias definitely sweeten things up a bit. Much more finesse than expected.

However, I found this blend to be more than a little bitey and it definitely smoked a little hot in comparison to previous GLP's I've tried.

I might try it again in the future, but will revisit CC and Abingdon as well as other Pease English/Balkan blends first.

All in all, not a horrible tobacco, but definitely not a Pease classic.

UPDATE 4.11.12 Okay, so I've come to terms with Lagonda. Honestly, it's probably (for me) the most temperamental English blend I've ever smoked... and I only realized this when I reeeeeeaally slowed down and smoked it more like a VA. The bite calmed down and the flavors really started to shine. Along with the rich Latakia background and a generous bouquet of Oriental goodness, I got a rich, almost caramel-ly sweetness which I've never experienced in a tobacco before... especially an English-style blend. I think this blend is probably much more unique than I gave it credit for... and now that I've lived with it for a while, I think I'm starting to get "it". It is a BIG blend with intense flavors, but very well- done if approached with respect and patience. Promoted to 3-stars!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Blue Bayou (60)	2011-10-25		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

It has a "raw", unfinished edge to it, something's missing. I think it should do better after very long aging (years), as I found it a bit harsh and somewhat medicinal tasting. Room note is nothing special.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Voyaging (80)	2021-12-13		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

This review is based on a tine dated 4/21/2021.

The tin note is smokey and incense-like and the orientals are there. With time in a jar, this becomes more barbecue-esque. The cut is beautiful. It's basically a former loosely-pressed flake that was rubbed out, and I enjoy the way it packs and allows for a longer and richer smoke. Slightly moist, but it's good to go right away. Dry to your preference.

This is a Latakia-forward English mixture. Behind the Latakia, is the Turkish, and then Virginia. You'll taste all of the ingredients through most of the bowl. This is a savory, salty, and earthy blend. Loads of leather and smoke, salty smoke, meat, some toasted bread, hints of spices. Lagonda reminds me of Meridian more Latakia driving the experience. At times it reminds me of Gaslight which is apt, because all three blends are siblings in the Old London Series. It's extraordinary with loads of flavor, and I must note that what (to me) makes these blends special is the processing.

This tobacco burns well, no bite to speak of, full of flavor, and taste. The strength is about medium. The nicotine is mostly unnoticeable. The aroma coming off the pipe is the best of any Latakia/English/Balkan mixture I've ever had. It's like a toasty smokey smell.

I think anyone that likes Latakia will like this blend, and English and Balkan blend-lovers will comfortably park here. Highly-recommended.

Age When Smoked: less than one year

Purchased From: 4noggins

Similar Blends: G.L. Pease Meridian.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LiterarySmoker (143)	2021-10-17		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I was just browsing in my local brick and mortar when I noticed a tin of this on the shelf. The first one I picked up had obviously sat there for some time since the lid had yellowed slightly and was starting to warp. So I pulled the tin down and decided to look at the date. 10/14/16. Needless to say I did what any self respecting gentleman would do and decided it should come home with me.

This blend comes in a simple tin with the image of a early automobile on it. Simple but effective especially this is part of the Old London Series, which I probably should do a review of. When I opened my tin I found some tumbled out flakes that are a little irregular. The tobacco is very black. When I stick my nose in the jar I smell rich loamy earth, campfire, a deep sweetness, light hay, and a back note of creosote. Friggin' delightful. It's dry enough to light right out of the tin and that's the way I prefer this one.

When lit this reminds me of Pirate Kake in several ways, and I think it must have a high portion of Latakia. The Latakia is deep, rich, smooth, earthy, smokey, creamy and powerful. It has the same sort of the creaminess and depth that you find in Pirate Kake. The Orientals are a little hidden but they add a sweet, herbal tang, and a soft incense like note that drifts in and out of your smoke. The Virginias are in that background giving body and sweetness. This is a sweet, smooth, and consistent smoke.

The taste is a medium. The flavor sticks around a little, and gives a pleasant aftertaste. The strength is a medium. No bells and whistles from Lady N. The Latakia makes the room note a bit potent, but I love the smell of English blends and I normally get compliments when I smoke them, but your milage may vary. This is an excellent tobacco and one that's easily smoked.

Pipe Used: Peterson Donegal XL90

Age When Smoked: 5 years

Purchased From: B&M

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tschenyinkoh (51)	2018-01-24		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

When smoking this blend, you have to use a very good pace. You will be reward with the old feeling, which shows warm, complex and super balanced emotions.

By the way, if you don't cellar it, as some remarked, it can bite or show a slight roughness.

Enjoy + Require buying + An all-day smoke → Four Stars Rating

Pipe Used: churchwarden

Age When Smoked: six months

Purchased From: 2oz tin from smokingpipes

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrumsAndBeer (217)	2015-01-21		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Of all the bigger GLP latakia mixtures that I have had the pleasure of smoking, Lagonda is probably the smoothest and most even-keeled of the bunch. Lagonda is so smooth and so exceeding mellow, that at times I have found myself mid-smoke wanting something with a bit more pep. This is a flavorful blend with plenty of depth, but the appeal of its flavor is much more about its uncanny delicateness than its blatant power. There's some fine fragrant oriental tobacco at play and deeper draws on the pipe reveal a light appreciable spiciness along with a subtle but delicious sour flavor quality that's reminiscent of the tin note. The latakia is present in every puff but it's perfectly harmonized with the other flavors and never does it become the focus. Referring to the mouthfeel of Lagonda as "creamy" would be an understatement.

There are plenty of big latakia blends on the market, and a portion of them are sooty palate-wreckers, but I find Lagonda to be quite the opposite. It's more of a cool, soft spoken, and soothing smoke. One that gradually reveals its finer nuances to those who spend enough time with it. I am close to finishing a three year old tin, and I still don't feel that I have experienced everything that it has to offer. That said, every pipeful has been just as good or better than the last, and the potential for positive results from further aging seems promising.

Pipe Used: Briar

Age When Smoked: 3 years

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bluesmoke (75)	2014-12-02		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Lagonda came to me perfectly humidified, packed well, lit well, stayed lit and there was a fair amount of smoke. This blend was a good blend, not too rich, not too sweet, not too smoky, not extreme in any way. This could be good or bad depending on your perception. For me, this was great to enjoy while reading and I didn't have to pay much attention and that was just fine by me. My only complaint would be that Lagonda was not as full bodied as I would have liked, but GLP has so many English/Balkans to choose from so if this one isn't right for me, it might be right for you! PTLOGJ

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-12-03		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

This is a very nice LA blend. The LA is smoky, the OR are spicy and the VAs do add a little sweetness to it. The result is a rich and tasty experience and the nicotine input is satisfactory. There was stil a little tongue bite here and there, but with my next tin being opened when it will have 2 years of age, there will be no more tongue bite.

I have had difficulties in the past with Pease's LA blends, but this one is really good.

Pipe Used: Dunhill; Blatter; Meerschaum (no stamp)

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: Gift

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CPT/VSG (72)	2012-07-04		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I'm a fan of the Old London series, in part because I prefer broken flakes to any other presentation of pipe tobacco. Lagonda took a while (2 oz.) to get a handle on and differentiate from the other two. It is, to my taste, a bit more Latakia forward and the Virginias are more muted. With a touch of drying, Lagonda smokes cool and with minimal relights. The room note is typical of an English--those who don't care for Latakia will find the room note less than tolerable. I like the scent, though. Don't get me wrong, though, while I think the Latakia seems more forward in this blend, it is not a Latakia powerhouse. Lagonda is a fine, balanced English for slow, contemplative puffing. Recommended.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-05-07		Medium	Mild	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Tin marked 090711. Taste really opened up after about 8 weeks after starting closed and more than a bit bitey. Ribbon cut was on the fine side for a Greg Pease tobacco but very easy to load and excellent burning characteristics. After about 8 weeks air the taste was incredible - the most vivid I have come across in 35 years of pipe smoking. Impressions invoked were fruit (tangerine and/or some fruit I have never come across) balanced by cedar, leather perhaps pleasant creosote. Slightly winey feel overall but surely this combination requires the now long gone Syrian Latakia? I am afraid my words fail to do the intensity of flavour justice - can I just say that if the late and much lamented Jimi Hendrix had blended a tobacco this would surely be it! The downside is that even after air this is not the easiest of smokes - it remains very slightly bitey for me but this is very likely just my problem with medium strength smokes - a poorly controlled technique even after all these years in other words. Will I order it again? Not perhaps in quantity but I will return to it over time in the hope of finding comfort as well as beauty but certainly finding stimulation when things look a little dull. Overall this is an intriguing mixture that every pipe smoker who values vivid tastes should try at least once.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	King Weed (228)	2019-12-31		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

When I first opened this tin of G.L. Pease Lagonda, I had a flash that I was opening a McClelland blend; same dark color and same kind of pungency. On touching the blend, all of that disappeared; it wasn't damp. The tin aroma was interesting, hard to identify and drew up vague memories of some other blends I have smoked in the past. Smoking the blend was enjoyable in an aromatic English way; which is interesting, in that, there is no claim of any added toppings or flavorings or anything. It has to be that the Latakia and Orientals are driving this naturaly. Yes, the blend was enjoyable to smoke, but, only to a point. Here is where I agree with reviewer Beer 2013-02-03 that there is a falling short on development in the smoke as you go down the bowl and go from pipe to pipe. With every smoke I felt we were going to go somewhere and, likewise, felt we failed to get there. My tin was eight years old on opening and that might have darkened the tobacco some. Still, I felt it lacked what a brighter component might have added and began blending that type of tobacco into it. This was , to my tastes, successful and I recommend this blend to the reader at three stars.

Pipe Used: Ashton Dublin Quaint-NASPC 15th Ann. pipe

Age When Smoked: eight years old

Purchased From: a fellow exhibitor at our 2019 NASPC show

Similar Blends: To me, it seems like Greg was trying to emulate Smokers Haven's Exotique Mixture; same ingredients, same appearance and same aroma..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	p4p4 (59)	2017-11-04		Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

Good quality tobacco, with booooooooooooooooooooooring red virginia in american style. I dont understand why Pease and Mcclelland try to call their inventions like traditional english blens..... This boring poored winey/ketchupy virginia is sometimes good by itself, but in a bland with latakia and orientals it is like to eat pasta with ketchup: its a matter of education, of culture: its unsound !!!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Relapse (18)	2014-11-04		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Somewhat reminiscent of the long gone Sobranie N°759, without the classic brilliance.

I've been a fan of the GLP Latakia "Original Mixtures" blends, finding Charing Cross, Blackpoint and Oddyssey my favorites, but also liking Caravan and —of course– the vanished Bohemian Nights. The Latakia, while there is too subdued, the Orientals opaque and the Virginia base simple and homely. I don't know if this is due to the young age of the tin (only six months) and will probably improve dramatically after the 18 mo. mark, as most of Mr. Pease blends do but only time will tell. For the time being I'm cellaring the rest.

Technically, this is a blend that begs for more sophistication. The cut is all right and a welcome deviation from the usual short ribbon. The tin aroma is rather flat and unpromising but improves after first light. Burns well, fresh and slow. Improves a bit in taste halfway through the bowl but this is brief and disappears on the bottom. Probably one of his poorest creations.

Age When Smoked: 6 months

Purchased From: Cup O Joes

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-05-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I've been anticipating this blend for a long long time. Today I finally had a chance to give it a go. The tin is only 2 months old, so still young.

I have only had 1 smoke of it and will update as time goes by.

First impression, the smell is great. The tobacco is slightly moist, not by much. It did require a few more relights than usual but I can see that wouldn't be an issue in the long run.

First puff, not impressed to say the least. Weak and bland. I was expecting this to be a lat bomb. What i got was something in between Meridian and Chelsea morning.

After a few more puffs, I can taste the flavors melting together and it slowly becomes something much more complex. The strength does slowly but surely grows. Now i think I'm kinda hooked.

In a month or so I'll be sure to know whether this is a keeper or just an affair and I'll report back. 3 out of 4 stars for now.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	derlict311 (71)	2012-06-21		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

This one fits my flavor profile very well. Lots of meandering colors here and ultra smoooooooth. I'll be purchasing several tins next time around and aging them. Anxious to see how they come alive with a few years. He said this one should age well, so....

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Xeneize (275)	2012-04-28		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

You won't be dissapointed by English mixtures created by the great Mr. (it should be Sir by now) Greg Pease. Lagonda not only did follow that rule, but raised the bar one more time. Its perfect balance and top-notch ingredients make this classic English a delightful and soothing experience. I often find GLPease Latakia mixtures too heavy in the legendary leaf. Samarra and Lagonda are among the ones that never overwhelm me. The latter will be my favorite English/Balkan tobacco for some time.

By all means, give it a try.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JohnnyMcPiperson (119)	2012-04-26		Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I really enjoyed this blend, at first I found the latakia a little on the heavy side for my liking, but as I continued to smoke it I started to really enjoy this stuff! This is one of those heavy, leathery latakia smokes, yet it is quite well balanced if you ask me. The preparation techniques they used on this one really meld the flavors together quite well in my opinion. Overall, good smoke, great heavy english!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-04-09		Medium	None Detected	Overwhelming	Pleasant

Lagonda is made of very high quality component tobaccos. The pressing process blends them together very well. The resulting flavor is overwhelming. And that's the problem for me -- the flavor of this tobacco is just too intense. From the orientals to the ripe, sweet Virginias to the copious amount of Latakia, this blend is just over the top.

It sounds crazy to be saying that a blend has too much flavor, but Greg Pease has done it. Here's an analogy if you haven't tried this blend yet: Most of us pipe smokers like rich flavorful foods -- things like BBQ ribs, steak, bacon, cheeses, creamy sauces -- but nobody wants to eat a bacon-wrapped filet mignon with melted blue cheese on top, plus hollandaise, all garnished with a side of BBQ ribs. Well, at least _I_ don't. But that's what Lagonda tastes like to me -- too much of otherwise very good things.

There are much better English/Latakia blends out there than this one, many of them from GL Pease.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Big (321)	2011-11-10		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Revised 9/26/2016- I find GLP blends hard for me to accurately review as he does use many of the same types of Tobaccos but in varying proportions and some with or without perique. Also I do find that aging does change the blend, although some will say it doesn't. My initial review from a new tin was not that enthusiastic , again from a 2 year old tin it hadn't changed much. It was a dry latakie flavor without any sweetness and some harshness. A totally boring smoke and without merit.

Fast forward to this revision from a 5 year old tin and we have a nice smoke. You do need to take this slow and you get an Oriental hit that reminds me of split oak logs, very interesting. Yes, it's still a dry Latakia forward blend , but it now has some interest and is smoother.

Age When Smoked: 2 years/5years

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-10-30		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I just finished my third tin of Lagonda. While it's certainly not a Lat Bomb to my palate, the Latakia takes center stage and refuses to relent, almost drowning out the VA and Orientals. I say almost, because it has its "moments" albeit fleeting ones where the VA and Oriental raise their head and this blend really turns on and sings, then its back to center stage. Experience has taught me that with some GLP blends, time in the cellar to age is simply necessary. Will revisit in a year or so. Recommended if you do not mind the wait for it to age.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Darth Vader (110)	2011-08-12		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

The first thing i taste as soon as it's lit is Latakia. Not rubbery start up Latakia but good smooth Latakia. Next comes the base of orientals and Virginia which are balanced so well that they are as one. It's smokes a little lighter than i expected at first but is not at all weak. The strength increases in a linear fashion along with the oriental/virginia coming to the for over the Latakia as the bowl progresses. Half way down i can taste strong similarities to GLP Caravan (spicy)(i smoke that daily) as no doubt they share some components. I really like GLP products and so far it would seem that this one will fit in nicely with the rest of the stable. I still like greg's jackknife plug the most though.

Smoked in a 1920's Barling's that doesn't lie.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Quiggifur (99)	2023-04-17		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

A very good, though unremarkable, savory Latakia blend. Nicotine isn't noticeable. The cut is pretty thick, I don't love how it packs, but it burns well. It inhabits a particular niche which it may fill as well as a number of other options for me, so it may end up in my regular rotation after all. This is one of those Latakia blends which i struggle to describe, more than the sum of its parts, but the only part i can really identify is Latakia smoke.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JaWiBr (558)	2022-11-21		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Tin note of red wine, smoke, and mild sweet fruit. Tobacco is a "stuck together thick ribbon" and is mostly dark brown with a little black and tan. Some pieces need rubbing out like broken flake. Moisture is good to go. Burns slow with a few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium to full and consistent, with notes of sharp smoky, very woody, very earthy, moderately spicy, musty sour, floral, bready, mildly tart sweet background note, and a moderately peppery retro. Latakia barely beating the Orientals for the lead with Virginia supporting. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is outstanding.

Pipe Used: 1981 Peterson Mark Twain

Age When Smoked: 4 years

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	musicman (131)	2022-09-05		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I mostly smoke Vaper blends, but I really do enjoy enjoy english blends, especially at certain points of the year.

Had one of those early fall like days here. About 55 degrees and a light rain. My body instantly started screaming LATAKIA. This is perfect latakia weather. Reached for some nightcap and it was dried out. Looked through my unopened tins and found a blend I had been meaning to try but hadn't yet. Lagonda.

When I smoke english blends, I really like big in your face latakia blends. Nightcap being an all time favorite. The description of this tobacco makes it out to be a little more big and scary than it really is. Don't get me wrong, this is very lat forward, but don't be scared away by thinking it might be overwhelming. Try it, you may like it.

Opening the tin, about 2 years old, 2020 date it was pretty dry. Like dry enough where I had some powder. I was worried, but it smoked just fine.

Tin note is very lat forward. It has that nice incense like latakia note, almost boozy without any real alcohol. Don't misconstrue those words, there is no topping detected here.

My favorite part of Latakia blends is the initial light. You get that big, rich, incense latakia blast. So good. This blend settles in nicely and is interesting and enjoyable the whole smoke. It does settle a bit, and while latakia is the main driving force here, I would not include this in my list of latakia super-heavyweights.

It was a perfect match for the time and place, and I have enjoyed many bowls since. A great blend, but that being said.....what tin with G.L. Pease written on the front isnt?

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Nuvoleazzurre (36)	2021-10-08		Medium to Strong	Medium	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Un tabacco vecchio stile. Un tabacco fatto si sensazioni e aromi, che pervadono il palato e l'animo.

Il latakia è abbondante, un ottimo Latakia cipriota.

All'olfatto si è pervasi dagli Orientali e dall'affumicato del Latakia. Ricordo che per ottenenere il massimo occorre aprire la latta molto prima di decidere di fumare e di fare ossigenare la carica.

La carica è molto facile, il tabacco è leggermente untuoso e si lascia plasmare bene; così come si fa accendere facilemte,si gonfia e crepita alla fiamma, come se non atendesse altro che accendersi per sprigionare il suo potere. I sentori il Corpo degli Orientali e le note affumicate del Latakia sonosepre presenti e mitigate dal fruttato del Virginia per regarare una fumata sempre equilibrata in qualunqua momento, dall'inizio alla fine. E' una miscela oserei dire superiore, riesce a tollerare anche quel fumatore nervoso che surriscalda la pipa.

La forza è media-medio forte, ma non assolutamente violenta.

Delle miscele EM di casa G. L. Pease è la più equilibrata; il Westminster scivola molto verso il doce fruttato del Virginia, mentra per chi ama la rudezza del Latakia sarà meglio andare sul Matese Falcon.

Ma rimaniamo al Lagonda è un tabacco complesso, non per neofita, appaga e soddisfa, tanto che teminata la fuata non si può non fare a meno di riempire di nuovo il fonello. Insomma un tabacco maschio, da amatore che si fa fumare col massimo del godimento. che nel procedere della fumata integra perfettamente i componenti aumentando il corpo, appagando e soddisfacendo. Ovviamente non è importato in Italia. Ma il viaggio per trovarlo vale tutte le spese o disagi

Voto 5.8/5

Pipe Used: Armellini Savinelli

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrAcula (62)	2021-03-07		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Presentation: Label is light blue with a light green old school Lagonda.

Cut: Comes as a thick ribbon, not quite a coarse cut, a little moist out of the tin but surely smokable.

Tin note: A surprising sweetness with a smokiness in the background.

Tasting notes: Sweet, spicy, and smoky on light up. Same notes persist with bread and leather in the background. Slight tart note on some finishes.

Mechanics: N/A—A well behaved blend. The only thing I will say is pack it lightly.

Extra Remarks: I find English blends to be somewhat of a bore if smoked too often, but Lagonda is interesting enough that I can smoke it anytime and not be bored of it. The amount of sweetness in this English blend is really perfect for me although English purists might think it too much. Lagonda is a notch down from Gaslight in intensity and is more sweet and spicy and less smoky, but they are similar blends. I think everyone should try this blend and can't imagine why someone wouldn't enjoy it. This relatively unknown blend needs more love as it's a great blend. 4 stars.

Pipe Used: IMP Straight Billiard Meer

Age When Smoked: 2 years 3 months

Nobody has rated this review yet.