In Celebration of Briar - 2011

18th August, 2010

The 2011 Edition of In Celebration of Briar is now available through Lulu Press. Through the end of August, they're offering a 25% discount using coupon code AUGPHOTO, which you enter in the checkout phase of ordering.

This is the fifth year for the calendar. Each year's has been a little different, and this one is no exception. For 2011, I've chosen both colour and B&W photos, and am working with both light and dark backgrounds. It's going to be really striking, and I can't wait to finish it up and see the proofs! As before, it is published by Lulu Press, and printed on demand. The finished calendar is 13.5" wide by 19" high, spiral bound at the top. It's printed on beautiful, heavy, smooth coated cover stock to preserve the rich details. They do a fantastic job on the production, and I'm happy to be working with them again.

See a preview of all the images in this year's edition, as well as those from the last couple of years. Light up a bowl, and enjoy the photos!

Quiet Nights - Now in 8oz Tins

10th August, 2010

For those of you who have been waiting patiently, and perhaps even more so for those who have been nagging me relentlessly, Quiet Nights is now being supplied in 8oz tins. The response to the blend has been wonderful, and I'm really happy to offer it now in the larger size.

There are two new blends in the final stages of development, and I expect to be able to say something more within the next few weeks. One of these will find its way into the Old London Series, and the "Not Contest" that was held for the naming of Quiet Nights was so much fun, I'm going to do it again, but this time, it will be a real contest. I'll be making an official announcment in a couple of days, so dust off your thinking caps, and get ready for it!

And, I'm putting the final touches on the calendar. The proof arrived today, and I've been working on some necessary changes, but it'll be good to go soon. Lulu Press are offering free shipping through the end of August, so I'd love to have it ready this week. Wish me luck!

In the meanwhile, get your orders in to your favourite retailers for some Quiet Nights in the big tins.

Quiet Nights to be Released in Chicago

28th April, 2010

It's coming! Quiet Nights is now in full production, and will be unveiled at the Chicago extraveganza! It joins Chelsea Morning in the Old London Series

If you're going to the show, stop by the Cornell & Diehl booth for a sample and a tin or ten. After the show, shipments will begin to your favorite retailers. Many have placed significant orders, so they should be well stocked starting in early May. I'm very excited about this new one. It's a rich blend of virginias, orientals and Latakia, with a bit of Acadian perique, pressed and held in cakes and sliced. It's wonderfully full flavored, and more Latakia-forward than Chelsea Morning, but not so much so as to be turned into a "Latakia bomb." The tin description says it all.

Quiet Nights - rich, deep, contemplative. Ripe red virginias, fine orientals, smoky Cyprus latakia, and a pinch of Acadian perique are pressed and matured in cakes before being sliced. The sophisticated flavors and exotic aroma provide a wonderful backdrop for quiet moments of reflection, a good book, and if you are so inclined, perhaps a wee dram.

Chelsea Morning Mugs

28th November, 2009

When Maltese Falcon was released, I was given the wild idea to have mugs made, sporting the wonderful artwork from the label, and engaged the fine folks at Café Press to do what they do so well, and produce them on demand. The mugs were beautiful, so when Key Largo was released, more mugs! Now that Chelsea Morning is getting some press, gaining some fans, and I've had a couple of requests for, you guessed it, mugs! Of course, who else but Café Press to produce them, again? I just finished up the artwork for the 8oz tins, so it seemed sensible to make the mug art ready too.

Mine arrived a few days ago, and I think they turned out great. I took a quick photo, shown here, and am now off to have a nice cup of tea. Order one, or a seven day set, and enjoy your morning cup, along with your morning bowl, in Chelsea Morning Style!

Order from Café Press

Woke Up, it was a Chelsea Morning…

21st October, 2009

Chelsea Morning, the first of the new Old London Series, is made from a variety of sweet red and bright virginias, fragrant orientals, a small measure of rich Cyprus Latakia, and a pinch of L.A. Poche’s brilliant Acadian perique. The leaf strips are blended in layers and briefly pressed to integrate the flavours and allow just a bit of fermentation. Then, the blocks are sliced and tumbled into a form that is closer to a ribbon-cut than a broken-flake. The result is an easy to pack tobacco that's easy to smoke, and a great blend with which to start the day with the morning cup. The flavours are lively and engaging, with a subtle fruitiness and gentle smokiness that wakes up the palate. For those expecting a Latakia powerhouse, this ain’t that. The Cyprus leaf provides depth and character; it’s certainly present, but it’s not the dominant voice. In that respect, Chelsea Morning is similar to Piccadilly, the ‘English Breakfast Mixture’ from the Classic Collection. But, it’s also very different; the orientals present here add additional dimensions to the smoke. It really is a delightful blend.

Of course, it would be silly to say that it’s only enjoyable in the mornings, but to my tastes, that’s when it shines its brightest. I’m very excited about this new blend, and the entire series, which I'll be finishing up over the coming months, and releasing as they're ready to go.

And, just because I know someone will ask, no, it is not a ‘clone’ of that other famous tobacco with ‘Morning’ in its name. But, if you liked that one, you should certainly give Chelsea Morning a try. It's already getting some great reviews!

Union Square Unleashed

8th May, 2009

On the News page of 31st March, just a couple weeks ago, I announced that even in my absence, a new blend, Union Square, would likely be unveiled at last weekend's Chicago gala. It was, and quite a few tins found their way into eager hands wanting to give it a try. All that was left was for me to sit back and wait for any early reports, just to see if others think it's as good as I do. Really! I like this one a lot. I smoked up the prototype in record time, and had to wait until early retailer orders were filled before I could replensih my own stocks. (That may come as a surprise those who have been paying attention over the past ten years. Why? Read on…) Anyway, at least a few others are telling me they like it, too; I've received some pretty enthusiastic email already.

This blend is quite different from anything I've developed. For one thing, it's my first 100% straight virgina; no orientals, no Latakia, no perique, no cavendish. (I remember saying I'd probably never do such a thing, that straight virginias were boring. So much for that.) Additionally, unlike a great many, perhaps most modern pressed VAs, this one has no added sugars, sauces, casings, or flavourings of any kind. (I also seem to recall my saying that pretty much all straight tobacco blends need some level of “enhancement” if they're going to taste and smoke their best. So much for that, too.) In Union Square, bright, sweet virginias, are combined with deep, rich reds, pressed into a firm cake for several days, and then sliced and packaged. The result is a blend that is full flavoured, without being overly strong. It delivers layers of pure tobacco character, and burns wonderfully, leaving both pipe and palate clean and virginia fresh.

Union Square is another great summer blend, for sure, but it will also be welcomed in the cooler months by virginia purists, and by those seeking a softer alternative to a steady diet of heavier Latakia mixtures. I expect it to age wonderfully, of course, developing greater complexity and richer mid-tones over the years to come. Smoke it now, and lay several tins down for sampling in five, ten, twenty years. This is one that I fully expect will outlive me, and I plan on a very long life.

You don't take my word for it. Bear Graves had this to say about Union Square

"Celebrate good times, come on!" Only one tobacco blender in the world could get me to quote Kool & the Gang, and Greg Pease is back with a blockbuster new release: Union Square. Greg starts this sure-fire hit by eschewing the added sugars and flavorings that are used in so many virginia flakes on the market today, electing instead to let the sweet bright leaf and mellow, earthy reds to do all of the talking in this delightful sliced cake. I am puffing on a bowl right now and I can testify that this is one extraordinary bowl of tobacco-y goodness. Full on the palate and displaying a fine nuance and layering, this leaf leaves a clean finish as well as a surprisingly pleasant room note in its wake. G.L. Pease's blends have become legend for their ability to age in a manner that might make a Grand Cru Bordeaux blush, and I think it's safe to say that we can add Union Square to that list.