This is a fantastic blend - a standard among the Balkan genre.
I note with satisfaction after reviewing Greg's own comments on this blend that the special sweetness of Abingdon had not escaped me when I did the video review. While maybe the "fullest" in the "Classic Collection," to my taste, Caravan by Greg Pease comes on a bit stronger. Nonetheless, this is a blend I reserve for times I can focus my attention and enjoy it. I find Abingdon abundantly satisfying in every way - especially for the richness of flavor. This is a benchmark Balkan blend. Great pipe tobacco that shouldn't be lost among Greg's more recent achievements.
From Greg Pease's web site:
Abingdon is the fullest Balkan style blend in the collection. It is rich and robust, powerful and forthright, yet still posessing subtlety and finesse. Dark flavours of wood and leather mingle with delicate undercurrents of sweetness, and deep earthy notes, while the oriental tobaccos provide hints of their verdant, sometimes herbaceous character. A big Balkan blend, reminding us once more of what these blends used to be. Because of the high percentge of dark and oriental tobaccos, it's recommended to pack Abingdon a little less firmly than you might a lighter blend.
One Comment
Hey Eric!
Thanks for posting this…I am getting back into Pipe tobaccos after a too-long break, and am trying to find my tatses.
I notice that you say that Caravan comes on stronger than Abingdon. Greg Pease says that Abingdon has the most Latikia, and Caravan has the most Oriental, and it seems that Caravan comes about third to the bottonm in the descending list of Latakia. Do you think that Abingdon is why is is more laid back? Much more latakia is more laid back than Lat + a lot of Oriental? Or is it mainly interplay? Or levels? Or Simply Lat vs Oriental in general?Or….
Thanks again!
Jon