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

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2015-03-19		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Navigator is a favorite of mine in Pease line-up (loaded with favorites). The Virginia/Burley combination was thrilling, particularly due to the fact that the combination was loaded with body and strength. If you prefer light Virginia flavor you may want to look elsewhere as this one will keel haul you with its strength. I never detected an overall rum flavor, but knew upon first light that there was something extra in this blend that enhanced the presentation in a way that I've not tasted before. Unique, strong, impressive!

Pipestud

44 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2013-03-05		Medium to Strong	Mild	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Surprisingly Navigator has drawn slightly mixed reviews to date. Why surprisingly? Well its both complex enough to engage full attention and well integrated enough to enjoy without attention. It is also very unusual in two ways. Enough to be going on with surely? Whats the essence of Navigator? Deep intense flavour - lovely plummy-raspberry virginia fruit with smoky spicy underpinning (the smoky flavour is slight and wispy and is the culinary smokehouse not the campfire - say a very light smoked London cure smoked salmon). The details - tin aroma is fairly stinky but quite nice, savoury (jugged hair sprang to mind not because its that similar but because its also gamey meat, liquor and fruit, often the unusual juniper of gin fame) with a nice rummy lift. The tobacco is presented in easy to crumble flakes. Lighting is easy as sin and even the charring light is cool (as an old traditional english - in every sense of the phrase - I often find the charring light on virginia blends quit hot), the tobacco burns well all the way. Strength is between Union Square and Jackknife but a click or two closer to the latter. So far so good but now the first unusual (unique?) characteristic. Because I am not over experienced in rum flakes I tried C&D's After Hours as preparation for this review and where Navigator scores is lightness combined with deep intense basically sweet taste. After Hours (a very decent tobacco worth just over3 *) is heavier but also sweet and at times flirts with cloying which Navigator (all light, fruity, spicy, smoky faintly chocolety) never ever does. How does Greg Pease do it - the right ingredients pressed for just the right time I would guess. The other surprise? After the stinky tin note and the deep intense taste the room note is innocuous. Will it be in my rotation? Yes, it will make an interesting change of pace from my beloved Robusto, increasing list of Virginias and the oddball but lovely Sextant. Who should it suit? Every pipe smoker should give it a try because it is unlike anything else and great fun, not to mention jolly interesting. Big, sweet taste and an innocuous room note - whats not to love?

21 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3019)	2014-10-30		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The rum topping is faintly noticeable so it doesn't detract from the other ingredients. The Virginias are fairly earthy, woody with some tart and tangy citrus, bread, sugar and tangy dark fruit red Virginia sweetness; barely any grass notes to speak of. The dark fired Kentucky is a minor player with some earth, a hint of nuts, herbs and dry wood, and virtually no spice, though the flavor is always moderately noticeable. The strength is medium. The nic-hit is in the center of mild to medium. The taste is a step below the strength level. Won't bite or get harsh. Burns clean, cool and slow at a moderate pace with a very consistent and smooth flavor all the way through. Leaves a little moisture in the bowl, but not enough to spoil anything. Requires several relights. Has a pleasant, short lived after taste, and room note. Can be an all day smoke. I rate it at two and a half stars, due primarily to the complexity and overall depth that should be there, but isn't.

-JimInks

16 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stan (178)	2013-01-11		Medium to Strong	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

As someone asked of Sextant -- a little less rum. This is that. My review is based on about a half a tin (an ounce+) in a new Northern Briar and a sample in another older BBB pipe. I'm still puffing.

A nice set of flakes either to break or rub. I rub. Fairly dry at the start. Slight nose of rum in the tin. Slight.

Burns slow, but stays lit. Very cool. No need to leave intact as a complete flake. Not wet or soggy. Quality for sure.

Now the mysterious flavor. The Viginia sweetness does not dominate the blend but is aided by the "drop" or so of rum. So there is a hint of sweetness all the way. The Kentucky dark fired leaf is not evidently a big percentage but its influence on taste is also experienced all along the way with the dash of rum. I feel with a littly more time more of the Virginias will stand out. But it's enjoyable as is.

The comparison with a cigar is true, as the dark fired Kentucky used is heady and also used in cigars (Serad, P&T Mag, Fall 2012). It does not dominate the blend, as it is indeed a blend with three or four ingredients (2 Virginias, Kentucky, and rum). It has sweet and sour or even bitter-sweet counterpoints.

It's a relaxing blend, as I puffed in heavy N.O. Superdome (preparing for the Superbowl) traffic, and don't become angry. Nice element. But no, I personally don't feel it compares highly on the nicotene element with some darker or burley flakes.

It's fuller but very much less sweet than Hyde Park, and deeper and darker but not as bold a flavor as Sextant. It is not bitter like some burley flakes.

This is not a true dark flake but the Kentucky gives it a darker element to it. I wouldn't call it funky if you will, but it is different. Maybe folks who like Royal Yacht or even Nightcap will take to this variation.

I recommend this to folks who like stouter Virginias.

16 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2013-02-20		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Beautiful brownish broken flakes, easily rubbed out and almost as easily folded. Deep, earthy aroma in the tin, with the faintest hair of rum.

This blend reminded me that I was one of the people that wanted less rum in Sextant. So GLP gives it to me and I'm still not satisfied! But the problem with Sextant for me wasn't the amount of rum, it was the clashing of rum with latakia. Since there is no latakia here, I found myself screaming for more rum flavor. This blend is totally taken over with the taste of the Kentucky. The virginias are far from sweet, and kind of musty and dry tasting. I could not make it through the entire tin but I'm saving it to see how this does with some age on it (my tin was less than 2 months old), as the tobacco seems green. I'm the last person to fall into the hype of "GLP blends need to age before they can be enjoyed", but this one is trying hard to push me into that. The VA's need to step up, the kentucky needs to calm down, and the rum needs to have more of a presence. In other words, at this point, this blend fails for me on every level, other than its overall quality (for which I'm really not qualified to judge). Let's see what more percolating time will accomplish. I like the concept of a more "punchy" Exhausted Rooster, but this one punched too cruelly. Then again, I still haven't grasped Cumberland, so it's probably just me. Try it if the idea appeals to you as it does me, but be prepared to age it for a year or so before you enjoy it.

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2075)	2016-06-12		Medium to Strong	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

G. L. Pease - Navigator.

This is another blend I traded with Gentleman Zombie, and again, it's a top quality blend he's sent me. So at the risk of repeating myself, Franck, thanks buddy !

Now, Navigator rocks my world from word go: the only confusion I have is with the cut. Although it says Flake, mine's more like a broken flake: the presentation is similar to their Bayou Morning Flake; I guess that might be from the long journey across the ocean? To be fair, I can't identify any rum from the tin-note; it smells like a natural blend!

Okay, how's the smoke? The second my pipe's ignited, which is easy I might add, the satisfaction sets in. Unlike the tin-note, I can detect an added taste. I find this has most of the attributes that come from a good rum: sweetness, and molasses, but any sharpness gained from the actual alcohol isn't present. It's like rum without the alcohol!

I can't really think of anything interesting to say regarding the flavour of the tobacco's: these give quite a simple Va-Bur/Va-Kent taste!

This gives me a fairly strong hit of nicotine; I wouldn't say it's over the top, but even though the flavour's great, I wouldn't recommend to a nicotine-hater.

The last point to mention is the burn: faultless.

Franck, this is what I call a high quality smoke; four stars!

Highly recommended.

Pipe Used: Chacom Robusto

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Trade with Gentleman Zombie

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	dokuhebi (4)	2013-11-28		Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I picked this blend up along with the Dunhill Royal Yacht, and I've been going back and forth between the two. There are some similarities between the two, but I get less flavor in this blend. There's supposed to be a hint of rum, but I'm not picking up on that hint.

Of course, the flake cut adds a bit of complexity and ritual to the process of lighting up. Rubbing the flake into a process does feel like you're doing more to initiate the smoke, which is soothing in its own right, but once lit up, I found this to be a less fulfilling experience. I'm on my third bowl now, and find my thoughts wandering to other blends and not enjoying what I'm smoking.

I won't be throwing it away, but with it's strength, I'm thinking it might pair well with something sweet.

ROOM NOTE: Wife says it's not unpleasant. Reminds her of a campfire.

Pipe Used: Savinelli Obi-One

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars.com

Similar Blends: Dunhill - Royal Yacht.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cm1648 (106)	2020-10-30		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Prep: moisture was about perfect. It came more as a broken flake, which apparently is the case for most.

The rum addition is most evident in the first quarter of the bowl, but lingers from then on. I would have figured Orientals were in the blend, as it has a spiciness in it that recalls either Oriental or a spiced rum. The Virginias are sweet, citrusy and dark fruit, the Kentucky brings a strength and earthiness, a dry wood as one other reviewer noted. The dry wood, softer rum, and a saltiness definitely recalls a sailors blend. It isn’t over powering in the nic department but that may be due to having a few years of age on it so be aware of that aspect.

Overall, it is a top 5 Pease blend for me and my favorite navy blend I've had. I'll definitely be ordering more for further cellaring. 8.5/10

Age When Smoked: 3 years

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	wdsmith (11)	2013-01-02		Medium	Very Mild	Full	Pleasant

I have been patiently awaiting the arrival of this blend for a week now. I immediately ordered a tin when I received an email from one of the major online retailers, announcing the newest addition to Mr. Pease's Old London Series. I usually do not jump on a new blend so quickly and, the only other blend of late that did get ordered in such a fasion was Mac Baren's HH Old Dark-Fired. I ramble, though. I feel that it can be a great mistake to review a blend after such a short time spent smoking it, and perhaps I am doing a disservice to this one, writing so soon. However, this is a masterful blend from a masterful blender and one simply cannot go astray with anything from Mr. Pease, hence my early review...

Tin: Typical C&D 2 ounce pull-top lid, and I only mention the tin to be thorough, but the artwork is quite nice too; in an understated way.

Aroma: The first release of air from the tin is a wonderful blast of funky. If you enjoy finely aged meats and cheeses, you will understand how this "funky" is a good thing. Very mature Virginia leaf is the leading player. There are hints of the dark-fired leaf and an occasional hint of rum. Mainly, though, the aroma of very nice Va. leaf.

Tobacco: This is a flake and one in the wonderful C&D tradition of loosely pressed, easy to rub up flakes. They are only a couple of inches long, not the massive straps of Sam Gawith and the like. The leaf is mainly a medium brown with flecks of golden leaf speckled with what presumably is the touch of dark-fired leaf. The moisture level is just right straight away. No need to dry and one would do well to keep in mind that C&D typically uses only water to hydrate their tobacco, so, either smoke this one quickly or put it away in a bell jar.

Method and Pipe: I fully rubbed up two flakes, again with little effort, and loaded the leaf into a medium sized Charatan Pot. I don't really follow any one type of packing method and have settled on a vaguely defined method of my own that tends to work well. I imagine that any method would work well with this one. I do utilize the delayed gratification method with Va. blends and flakes.

Charring Light: I use matches as the combution rate seems to be much lower thus producing a more pleasing smoke. The first wave is pure Virginia leaf; second match.. more of the same. After I let it sit for a wee bit, I put another match to it and settled in.

The Smoke: Very nice, this one. Again, as with the tin aroma, well matured Va. is the key player early on but things do progress very nicely soon after you get the pipe to a smolder. You simply must take it slowly with this one; not because of any bite either. If you smoke slowly, you will reward yourself with a very rare treat: A very complex smoke from a very simple recipe. The Va. is both sweet and full on the palate, perhaps it is the rum. Who knows? The dark-fired is there, but not really. Only hints, it seems. As you progress through the middle portion, the strength picks up and, from seemingly out of nowhere, the touch of dark-fired leaf that early on was way in the background, now comes to the front with strong cigar-like undertones. The room note is amazing at this point. It smells as though someone else is in the room enjoying a fine cigar while you puff away on your mature Virgina flake. This interplay continues on through the end of the smoke, too. Wow, what a wonderful blend. Two simple ingredients (well three if you count the rum) but it has the complexity of one of Mr. Pease's famous English mixtures.

Final thoughts...

I did have to use a pipe cleaner once during the smoke but that was probably my fault as I got a bit eager towards the end. The smoke was very cool and flavourful. Nice salt and pepper grey ash at the bottom. I give this one 3.5 stars out of four. The other half star would easily come with age and I can only imagine what a year of two will do to this one. I hope that it is packaged in 8 or 16 ounce tins soon.

Update: The extra half-star was just earned to counteract the nonsense of the second reviewer.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LiterarySmoker (143)	2020-10-16		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild	Tolerable

I love a good Navy Flake, St Bruno was the first one I tried and then quickly after I picked up other lightly rum topped blends like C&D's Blockade Runner, Redburn, and Black Frigate, and PS Luxury Navy Flake to name a few. Seeing this as a sort of Navy offering by GLP was very interesting and so I bought a tin. I love the water and I'd love to think I'm a seaman at heart. If I could do life over I probably should have joined the Navy when I was younger, but those are stories for another day.

When you open the tin of GLP Navigator you find a rather long flake that has started to separate finely packed into the tin. I immediately pulled it out and put it in a jar to let it rest. I tried this when it was new and to be honest, it didn't do much for me. There seemed to be no hint of rum, and the taste of the tobacco was exceedingly light. But I intend to give this a fair shake. Opening the jar now it smells of hay and grass, there is some earthiness from the burley, and I barely detect the sweetness from the rum. This flake packs easily, and it is not hard to get lit. I find that it may need a few more than average relights when lit. The room note for this is probably tolerable, it doesn't smell like cigarette, but it definitely smells like tobacco and for a rum topped blend, the rum doesn't work in your favor

This blend is definitely more burley forward than it smells, I taste earthy nuttiness right away. This does have a grassy character to it from the virginia, but it's a fine interplay between the two. When I puff really slowly I do get some brown sugar notes and I believe that is the rum topping. This blend is very mild, and I would consider it a decent burley blend but it falls short of a Navy blend. The nicotine in this is a medium.

All of this being said, it's an okay blend. I'll have no problem finishing off the tin, but I don't think I'll buy any more anytime soon. I recommend trying it if you like burleys, but not if you have any expectations as I did.

Pipe Used: Kaywoodie Birkshire Large Billiard

Age When Smoked: 6 months

Purchased From: B&M

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	½ bowl (103)	2016-09-30		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Unnoticeable

This blend has Pease's signature full body, bold flavor(s), and great clarity. A woody, somewhat nutty Kentucky bounces off a rich and subtly sweet Virginia. I get hints of pepper and spice, as well as a touch of bitters -- all of which create a fairly distinctive blend.

There are probably a couple dozen Va/DFK blends out there, yet Pease manages to create something entirely unique. There is nothing cigar-like about this, but there is something exquisite -- regal, even -- that makes me feel like I'm smoking a fine cigar.

Pipe Used: Everything from an Ardor to a cob

Age When Smoked: 3+ yrs

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Perique (163)	2013-02-01		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Presentation is what I would describe as barely broken flake, nice and thick. Tin note is light on rum, barely detectable, leaning more towards stovey Virginia hay. While the Virginias are sweet, I'm detecting very little rum and the overall smoke is on the harsh side. I'm generally a fan of Pease blends. This one may need a little age on it to smoothen out. I'm going to jar the remainder and come back to this one in six months or a year.

Edit 01/2014: A man of my word, I have jarred this for one year and just come back for a taste. Wow, what a difference a year has made to this blend. It has smoothened out dramatically. The charring light brings a distinct yet extremely smooth Kentucky tang- the smoothest Kentucky I've ever tasted. As the bowl progresses, the Kentucky is woven seamlessly into some very naturally sweet Virginias. We're not talking sugar here. More like molasses. There's a very bready sweetness to the blend by mid/bowl with a firm, earthy foundation that really puts this blend in the class of Pease's Cumberland, albeit with a more distinct yet subtle sweetness. The rum remains distant, virtually undetectable to my pallet. And that's fine, because the overall blend is superb.

The blend takes a match well and burns cool with no relights. Very easy on the tongue- absolutely zero bite. The performance characteristics clearly benefited from some time in the jar.

I'm raising my initial rating from 2 to 3 stars. I'm very impressed with how this has aged. I was disappointed with the fresh product but, as suspected, a Pease blend of quality tobaccos has aged wonderfully. Now I can't wait to see what a few more years will do. I will be picking up some more to age in jars. Gentlemen: this is definitely one to pick up with the intention of laying it down for a few years. If you didn't like your initial experience, jar it and set it aside. You'll thank me later.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Voyaging (80)	2019-02-10		Medium to Strong	Mild	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

I have smoked multiple tins of this blend. The presentation was standard for G.L. Pease and Cornell and Diehl. The flakes are broken, but they have a lovely rustic look. The blend has nice shades of brown color with flecks of yellow here and there. It gets really dark with even a year and a half of age.

The dark-fired Kentucky makes it a unique blend in the navy blend or navy flake category. It's pretty robust, but if you treat it well, smoke slowly, you will be rewarded. There are some sweet notes, fruit notes--like raisins, tangy spiciness and creamy woodiness, some tangy, woody, barbecue notes. Some strength and nuttiness that develops down the bowl, and the smoke gets more dense. At times it even seemed a little cigar-ish. This is a spicy, tangy, earthy, rich flake that is more savory than it is sweet, but there is some sweetness that keeps it enjoyable.

Nicotine is medium to high. Strength and flavor are medium to full.

I recommend this blend for lovers of stronger flakes, Virginia lovers, and even those who like dark-fired Kentucky blends. Highly recommended for it's uniqueness. It's a constant go-to for me.

Pipe Used: Lovat,canadian,lumberman,billiard,pot,bent brandy

Age When Smoked: fresh from tin, and 11months

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com, 4noggins.com

Similar Blends: G. L. Pease - Sextant (Old London Series).

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TallPuffO'Burley (632)	2018-11-21		Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

I have been very critical of the rum topping that C&D uses on both its owsn blends and GLP blends because it is horrid tasting to my tastebuds, but it somehow works in this blend. I believe the reasons for this are twofold; 1. I find it to be applied lighter than say, Haddo's Delight, which I find overwhelms the leaf too much, 2. this blend is more about the burley and Kentucky rather than the standard navy blend, which is primarily Virginia leaf. Both forms of Burley in this blend tend to tone down toppings just as they will eliminate a ghost in a pipe; whereas, Virginia leaf tends to amplify toppings making something that tastes bad, taste much worse.

So with that said, I liked this blend. It is a nice Va/Bur, that is a little different than the normal fare which are usually topped with Molasses, anise or licorice. As is the case with C&D produced blends it is the perfect humidity and the flakes fall apart nicely for those who prefer to rub out their flakes. It will perform with no relights if you are into that sort of thing and it will not bite.

This one won't rise to the level of four stars for me as I prefer the aforementioned normal fare of Va/Bur blends, but this was a nice changeup and I have a few more tins aging for future use.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Hellouthere (1)	2018-05-19		Strong	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

As a aromatic smoker I first tried this blend based on a recommendation to this tobbaco as a bridge to English blends... it was one great tobacco... smells great.. taste is very good and it has a kick to it...I love the smokiness... Definitely recommend to those who want to try something non-aromatic... The Rum is not traceable for me... It smokes perfectly...

Pipe Used: Dunhil Briar

Age When Smoked: New

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sybariten (61)	2016-08-26		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

Can't detect any rum, rather I taste kentucky and virginia - in that order. Really tasty but a biter if rushed, the name Navigator feels a bit odd as one could hardly smoke this at sea. Or in any enviroment with wind, that will turn it too hot to smoke. But if you take your time it is a rewarding smoke.

Taste: Though aged for a year and a half, this tobacco is sharp. The first notes to hit me are those of wood, black and white pepper and salt, and beneath those there is a slight sweetness that quickly fades. Mid bowl the sweetness grows a bit more pronounced, revealing a faint taste of plum. There are however no traces of the rum topping that I detect. It reminds me of Triple play, yet with a bit more power and not as plain and dull. A really dry smoke it tends to dry out my mouth as well, best served with something drinkable.

Mechanics: Comes as a broken flake, moisture is smokable straight out of the tin. Nicotine is on the high side of medium. Burns clean but careful because it will bite you if pushed too hot.

Pipe Used: Briar, cob and clay

Age When Smoked: A year and a half

Similar Blends: GL Pease Triple play.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2013-10-25		Medium to Strong	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Nice blend. Not complex but still holds my interest to the bottom of the bowl. The "drop" of rum is, I think, the point of interest. Very relaxing smoke.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tabaco (112)	2013-02-15		Mild	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

This one has been passed around the last few meetings of the briarclub.

A "drop" of Rum is right, not noticeable neither on the nose nor palate. It might be there to shore-up the young Virginias.

This stuff needs age for a long time, very green and somewhat harsh. We've combusted the opened tin and the sealed ones can sit for a few years. Currently not recommended, hopefully that'll change in years to come . . . we shall see.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Booknik (3)	2021-11-05		Strong	Medium to Strong	Full	Strong

I remember liking this back in the day. I cracked this tin open and it hasn't been a good experience at all.

Cracking the tin, the tin note is AMAZING. Really strong dark prune note. The flakes are semi broken but beautiful.

The tobacco seems to work best fully rubbed out and in a wide bowl. It will smoke down with minimal relights until the bottom quarter. In a narrower bowl, it will not stay lit whatsoever. The fold and stuff method doesn't work at all.

The smoke itself is very scatter brained. The best smokes have been in the 320. It's ever changing going from mild sweet to over the top black pepper to semi sweet and somewhat dark and bready. Roll the dice and that's the flavor from puff to puff.

In a smaller bowl all I get is crazy black pepper with unsmokeable harshness.

I am really wondering if this particular tin was a dud since i would have never reordered this tobacco if this is how my first tin smoked.

Pipe Used: 320, Rick Black rodesian

Age When Smoked: 6 years

Purchased From: Don't remember

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrAcula (62)	2021-02-02		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Presentation: This label shows shades of calming blues with figures of nautical stars, compasses, and what I believe to be a fleur de lis.

Cut: Comes in a somewhat broken flake. Rubs out easily enough. Moisture is smokeable although I prefer to dry it a bit more.

Tin note: Smells of rich fruity sweet virginias. Maybe slight cocoa.

Tasting notes: At it's most basic level, this blend is a sweet virginia leaf with an earthy, smoky, spicy kentucky leaf. But it's so much more than that. This blend really throws everything at you at once. Things like sweet fruit, mild grassiness, smokiness, leather, earth, spice, slight nuttiness, bread taste on finishes, along with other things I can't describe. Greg Pease is one of the few who consistently does alcohol toppings right. They never bite in Pease blends, and sometimes they add something to the blend while going unnoticed. So if you fear the topping, don't worry.

Mechanics: You are likely to have to run a couple pipe cleaners through the pipe while smoking. The blend's flavor changes depending how you smoke it, I recommend a slower, relaxed cadence.

Extra Remarks: This blend is a delicious, complex, on the strong side, booming with flavor blend. When I first smoked it I quickly tore through the 2oz tin and realized I needed to get an 8oz one on my next purchase. I did that with another favorite of mine, Haddo's Delight, and that's when I knew I really liked this blend. The way the spice plays with the virginia sweetness reminds me of Gawith St. James Flake (another favorite of mine). While they are not even the same kind of blend, one is a Kentucky/Va and one is a Va/Per, I do think there are some similarities. All in all a great blend that I will carry in my stash of tobacco indefinitely. 4 stars, well done Greg.

Pipe Used: IMP Straight Billiard Meer

Age When Smoked: 9 months

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BingCrosby (161)	2020-12-01		Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

A nice sweet smoke with enough strength to get the job done..I find this smoke to be richly textured yet simple and old fashioned at the same time.. and the rum is gorgeous in the fact that it is noticeable yet always supporting the natural tobacco flavor.. the nice Kentucky strength while never dominating certainly makes its presence felt..a lovely evening or night smoke.. one of the best rum flakes on the market and another good Pease blend.. Certainly one you can and should age.. a couple years really does wonders.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LannarkGent (145)	2016-05-16		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild	Tolerable

This is a delightful smoke, but rather perdestrian. While enjoyable, it is not really unique. In short, this is a good, but common smoke. I enjoy this blend , but, I will not repurchase.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JohnnyMcPiperson (119)	2016-04-15		Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Full	Tolerable

This blend reminds me of a good medium bodied cigar, the interplay of VA and Kentucky tobaccos give it a spicy/earthy sweetness that pairs perfectly with a bold hint of rum! This is truely a blend for the rusty weathered seafarer!

Pipe Used: Long Stem Morta Bamboo Pick-Axe

Age When Smoked: 2 years

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Jack Knife Plug, Rum Twist, Bosun Cut Plug.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Henry Mars (21)	2015-05-17		Strong	None Detected	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant to Tolerable

I don't know. I am a fan of most of the GP blends ... this ain't one of them. If you like a dose of vitamin N you may warm up to it, ( if not for any other reason). I can't seem to find the flavor but the texture of the smoke is like a cigar ( at least to me any way). It may be that I need to age it for a while so I put up 6oz. and will come back to it in a year or so. There is no bite. It will burn better if dried a bit. Other than that there isn't much to say. I have read other reviews talking about how complex this stuff is ... I didn't get that at all. Basically I was looking for something to replace Stonehaven. This isn't it. Don't let me steer you off of it though ... it could just be a body chemistry thing.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	VonBruckhousen (1)	2015-02-20		Medium	Mild to Medium	Full	Pleasant

Delicious. Mellow, flavorful, no bite. Enjoyable all the way through. Can be as simple or as complex as your current mood; and my mood is in constant flux, sometimes requiring multiple pipes at the ready; I've found one bowl of Nav start to finish satisfies.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2015-01-28		Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium	Strong

2nd edit (Jun 2016)

I opened my 2nd tin. The tobacco was 2 years old, fairly moist, smelling very sour - to the point where I wondered if it wasn't moldy. Over the next 2 weeks I tried it a few times. This tobacco lack balance and harmony. Navigator is a nicotine bomb without finesse that just contributes to almost give me the hiccups. Lady N smothers the components and tastes of nothing but nicotine. Very sad as Sextant is awesome. Navigator is a true disappointment.

Edit (2 Feb 2015)

Now...I definitively like Navigator. Different from Sextant, but still in the same fleet. I can detect the rum better (it's really a tiny top note) and it really brings a nice sweetness that plays well with the DFK. If you like Sextant, you should like Navigator as well. It just needs a little more time to show its true potential. 3 Stars _________________________________________________________ (Original review)The DFK is definitively very present in Navigator, but it's not up front like it is in Jacknife's Plug. Putting my nose in the tin, I could tell it was there and, as it's fairly smoky, it sort of hides the VAs typical tin aroma. I can - maybe - identify something Rum like when I inhale very deeply and slowly; but still, the DFK rules. As the tin aroma, DFK is very present, both in its smokiness and boldness. However, it doesn't smother the taste of the VAs like I found it does in JP; they bring some remote sweetness and hayness in the deal. I am not sure I can track down the Rum note and did not want to disturb the pleasure of the smokes in order to identify it. As the tobacco is fairly dry in the tin, I think the flavours are slightly subdued but it's not detrimental. And it still burns kind of slow for its level of dryness. Navigator is not complex, it's good ol' DFK with VAs, so it's mostly kind of smoky with the VAs interlude. I could track down some of the Rum note starting close to the half point. I liked it, I will finish the tin without any hesitation; but I'm not sure yet if I would buy it regularly. Sextant has really conquered my heart as where Navigator has not (yet?). 2,5 stars.

Pipe Used: Meerschaum; Stanwell; Luciano; Corn cob

Age When Smoked: 14 months & 2 years

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PyrateMate (6)	2013-05-17		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Pleasant

This is my first attempt to take on the custom blends. I have read a number of reviews before buying this blend and was looking forward to my first bowl. I was surprised when I open the tin to find a pressed squares inside. OK, different but, a nice aroma in the tin. I figured out how to rub it out to fill the bowl. Let it dry a bit as it felt very moist while rubbing. The first bowl was a disaster! Hard to light, Tongue BITE big time, after taste too strong. I like a rum coating but cannot detect any in the blend. I met with the local pipe shop owner and asked for his advice. He recommended a different pipe from the one I used and try a smaller bowl to get used to rubbing and filling to keep the bite in check. Don't let it get hot and pause when it went out. At this time I will not recommend this blend. I will let it age and dry some and will accept any suggestions to make a go of it. The room note is pleasant and respectful to those around which I think earns this a third or forth chance later.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2013-01-09		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant

Like most C&D Virginia blends, this blend is terrible new because it has no age on it. All the leaf is very green and flat. Greg should stick with English blends.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PMA (2)	2021-07-01		Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is on the one hand a simple blend (Virginias, DFK, and rum), but on the other hand this has complex properties that can be very rewarding if smoked right.

The most important thing I discovered in smoking this is the "burnability" of the tobacco—it's pretty high. This means a fine line between a smoke that's too harsh and an experience that unlocks some wonderful flavors. It will light quite easily and quickly (avoid "overlighting" it), then smoke it super slowly, sipping it, and it will reward you by just staying lit, smooth, and cool.

My first time smoking it, I almost wrote this off as too harsh, with the sweetness of the Virginias buried under a harsh DFK, and the rum bordering on sour. The retrohale was virtually intolerably harsh. BUT THEN... I tried it a few more times—with a bit more patience and nurture, sipping slowly, taking my time, and keeping it cool. And what a huge difference it was...

Smoking it like that surprised me with an entirely different experience! It produced a wonderful taste—the sweetness of the Virginias becomes so much clearer and bolder, as does the rum taste (and some kind of fruitiness—which also leaves a really nice fruity sweet aftertaste as well), and it also keeps the DFK very mellow, relegating it to a much more enjoyable and relatively tame complementary player in the overall blend! Smoking it like that also gives a retrohale that is really wonderful, rich, and fruity!

For someone who wants a stronger DFK taste (without the rum), GLP JackKnife Plug is a great alternative. And for someone who wants the same rum undertone, but with even more complexity, GLP Sextant is a wonderful alternative that adds Latakia and Orientals to the mix.

But for someone who wants just a mellow, simple-yet-complex Virginia-DFK experience, this is definitely one to add to your cellar.

Pipe Used: Savinelli Arcobelano 111, Savinelli Venezia 320KS

Age When Smoked: a few months

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: G.L. Pease JackKnife Plug, G.L. Pease Sextant.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	porshcigar (44)	2020-11-28		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Pleasant

Another great Blend from G. L. Pease. Navigator lights well, smokes cool and dry to the bottom of the bowl. Very enjoyable taste. Smoking in a large bent bent chimney for a long enjoyable smoking experience.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Novangelus (8)	2020-07-30		Strong	Medium	Full	Tolerable to Strong

A lot has already been written about this blend. I agree with those who suggest folks who prefer a lighter Virginia go somewhere else. I find this blend a bit too strong for my preferences. However, it is one of the rum blends in which the rum is noticeable but not overwhelming. Those who prefer a stronger smoke will most likely find this enjoyable.

Pipe Used: University Prince

Age When Smoked: 2 years

Purchased From: Smoking Pipes

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DeathMetal.org (231)	2018-10-25		Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable

Summary: a Virginia flake with a richer, broader taste owing to the presence of Dark Fired Burley somewhat muted by a rum topping.

Opening the tin, one smells the salty olive scent that rum forms when interacting with tobacco. "Navigator" comes as a loose flake in the American style and not the boardlike UK flake form. The darker Virginia flavors predominate, with an underlying sweetness from the lighter Virginias, combining with the dark fired Burley to form a molasses or maple syrup type of flavor. The rum seems to take the edge off the dark fired leaf but burns off quickly, and once the blend caramelizes after the first fifth of a bowl, the simple but satisfying flavor of a Virginia-Burley blend comes through. It smokes easily and delivers sweetness without the "breakfast cereal" effect of more ragged Virginia blends, and with moderate nicotine, would make a comfortable all-day smoke.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ericnault (2)	2018-10-23		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

GL Pease Navigator

First third: Sweet and smoked in that order. Virginia’s come out on top, easy and sweet, with the strong and savory dark fired Kentucky adding body and boldness. Only the suggestion of rum, right on the back of the retrohale.

Second third: burning a little hot, but not unpleasantly. Still predominantly Virginia. The dark fired tastes like smoked and peppered meat, and the Virginia is a honey and red wine vinegar marinade. Still not much from the rum.

Final third: quite hot now. Not a ton of flavor detected except some light and airy Virginia notes.

Overall, it was pleasant but not superb. If you’re looking for a full flavor blend that won’t kill you, I would recommend it, but be sure to puff slowly to avoid the issue I had in the final third.

Pipe Used: Rossi Vittoria 8320 Author

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	steppx (186)	2016-10-21		Strong	Medium	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Might be my favorite Pease blend. And I love several of them (Haddo's, Union Square et al). But this one is just exceptional. Now, its basically a strong Virginias with a touch of Kentucky. Added to this is a splash of Rum. It reminds me, philosophically if you like, to some of the Gawith-Hoggarth flakes and cut plugs. it is a strong nicotine blend...same as, say, Bosun Cut Plug but not quite up to Dark Birds Eye or irish flake by peterson. But it IS pretty potent. The flavor is rich and powerful. The rum works in this better than any blend I can think of featuring a rum or brandy addition. Its perfect. I like Blockade Runner by C&D, but this is better (BR has a more noticeable rum taste). No offense to the guys at cornell and diehl (who make this anyway), but Pease really found something with this blend IMHO. Its an old school smoke, not an all day smoke but an every night smoke for sure. I love it. The rum makes one salivate and the spicy fire cured leaf and rich virginias (a lot of red in here Id guess) create a really entrancing smoke. Also one of the coolest smokes you'll find anywhere.

Purchased From: 4noggins

Similar Blends: Cornell and Diehl's Blockade Runner, Peterson's Irish Oak, GH's Cut Bosun Plug and Coniston Cut Plug.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	pinko (52)	2016-09-15		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Navigator: yet another C&D-produced Va/Bur mix with Kentucky and some liquor shoehorned in to try to give it flavor. It's a tastebud assault, but less of a failure than Sixpence. Smoke it as a stout Navy Flake with lots of Kentucky for strength.

The VAs aren't going to contribute much here, other than filler.

Hopefully we're past the worst excesses of Kentucky as a fad leaf, and folks can stop putting it in blends where it doesn't belong.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SmokeDawg (82)	2016-03-07		Medium to Strong	Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A nice VA Burley blend loaded with flavor. I chose to put these large cut flakes in my blender and break them down to a nice packing ribbon. The tobacco is thick and didn't light easy at first but after changing it's cut... good to go.

This is a serious blend for the veteran smoker (and sailors) and not for the weak. I did grow tired of it's harshness at times and pushed it aside and visited it on days when I wanted that extra umphhh.. The rum adds to the heaviness of the blend.

Not sweet and tasty but warm and hearty and dry. I enjoyed the tin good enough but wouldn't buy it again. Recommended when you want the fullness of tobacco!

Pipe Used: Peterson Xl305, Peterson 302

Age When Smoked: 2015

Purchased From: pipes and cigars

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	natibo (169)	2014-07-25		Strong	Medium to Strong	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I like this blend a lot! Flakes do not stay together enough for a fold and stuff method. But, it is nice and strong and I'm a nicotine lover. I like rum, but maybe a different rum would help? I would try aging this.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Simenon (20)	2014-05-27		Strong	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Strong

I had high hopes for this blend, but they were sunk by the twins torpedoes of (1) kentucky burley and (2) hot virginias. Burley, unless used very sparingly, (definitely not the case here) often brings down a blend and gives it a plebeian touch. It is a strong filler, to be sure -- more nicotine and rough smoke than cavendish, but a filler nonetheless. At least that's what it feels like here. Add to that the fact that the virginias burn hot, and there you go: this navigator is going nowhere fast... s.o.s.!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Weisenheimer (19)	2013-03-31		Medium to Strong	Medium	Medium	Tolerable

This is one of Greg's blends which puzzles somehow, at least myself... The tin aroma is that of deep smoked Black Forest ham with rum... nothing wrong with that, wherby the rum dissipates swiftly.

The tobacco taste is overall strong, but "flat", somewhat reminiscent to 'JackKnife', but far off playing in this league. Sweetish, earthy and somewhat "peaty" is the first presentation, but moving in yet unknown direction, overall with quite "premature" taste: strong but blunt at the same time... just "smokily"...

I've bought 2 tins, one for immediate smoke, the other one for the "cellar". 2.5 points for the time being...

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	choker (1)	2013-01-21		Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This smoke was simply a pleasure. I broke and loaded and just sipped. Low maintenance is the best thing. Just the right amount of flavor and strength. My wife and I rode 25 miles in the car - she never said anything!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Novaki (41)	2023-01-04		Medium to Strong	Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

The deeper I go into my pipe smoking journey, the more I’ve come to appreciate dark fired leaf as a condiment and less as main player. My introduction to it was Old Dark Fired, which is a very bold tobacco with a lot of rough edges that has a pretty big nic hit. I don’t necessarily like it by itself because of this, but I’ve found I really enjoy it as an addition to a blend to deepen and enhance flavors.

Navigator is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. You’ve got a deep, rich, bold tobacco but there’s a bit more nuance and fewer rough edges. It’s oily and flavorful and still packs a punch but won’t knock you down the way a straight Dark Fired tobacco might. The rum really helps pull everything together into a cohesive experience while also sublimating things just a tad.

I’ve smoked a lot of rum and navy flakes and it’s a favorite of mine, and this is just another expression of that style. Some are pure Virginia and some have additions like Latakia or perique, so there’s a lot of wiggle room for play and experimentation when it comes to this category. If you’re looking to see what lies on the bolder end of this type of tobacco blend then this is a good one to try. If you’re looking for something more typical I might suggest C&D - Blockade Runner or it’s sister blend that has Latakia, Black Frigate.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JaWiBr (437)	2022-11-23		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Tin note of sour stewed fruit, spices, and mild smoke. Tobacco is red-brown broken flake. Tobacco is mostly dry and rubs out fairly easy. Burns is slow with a few extra relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild to medium. Flavoring is not detected despite description. Taste is medium and inconsistent, with notes of very earthy, very woody, very mild sweet fruit, bread, roasted bitter nuts, dry herbs, lemon grass background note, and a spicy retro. Virginias is leading with Kentucky supporting. Rum is missing in action. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great.

Pipe Used: Wally Frank Limited White Bar Sandblast 128

Age When Smoked: 4 years

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	awt (19)	2020-10-08		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Well, here a great navy flake. Wonderful tin notes, little casting, almost right humidity straight out of the box, easy to rub, easy to burn. Sweet but to the right point, not too complex (which is good) still not boring . An excellent VA with some other tobaccos added for complexity. a good all day smoke, perhaps to be rotated with some other VAs on the lighter side. Perhaps not for the morning coffee but who knows? 3-4 stars for a traditional natural english flake. other Pease I enjoy are Laurel Heights, Cairo, Picadilly, Westminster and the great Maltese. Try it in older small pipes.

Pipe Used: dunhill author 4 tanshell

Age When Smoked: 2019

Purchased From: A very good navy flake

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ray65536 (1)	2020-06-14		Strong	Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Очень интересный табак. Нарезан флейк "соломкой", как спички. Удобно забивать. Курится легко, сгорает полностью.

Вкус.. вкус с нотками очень жёсткого табака, но при этом очень пряный и яркий, сильно пьянит.

Однозначно понравится всем, кто любит крепкий, но вкусный табак.

Pipe Used: ?????

Age When Smoked: ?????

Purchased From: ??????? ??????

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrT999 (317)	2015-01-21		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Very broken flakes, and my tin was on the dry side. The underlying tobaccos seemed like an ok blend, the touch of rum making it a nice smoke. I didn't find that rum to be too much, or even always present; just enough to make it interesting. Since I know there are many tobaccos out there I would rate a 4, the question arises would I rebuy this particular tobacco, assuming my tastes don't change much more. In this case, the answer is probably not.

Pipe Used: various briars and a cob

Age When Smoked: 19 months

Purchased From: 4 Noggins

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Darth Vader (110)	2013-04-22		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Previous poster read my mind. After half a tin the best description i can give is Jack knife plug light. Rum? Barely there. Still i love JKP so this smokes well. A little wetter than usual from the tin.

Nobody has rated this review yet.