Breakfast Blend

Breakfast Blend is one of the house blends from Nottingham-based English house GQ Tobaccos. Izmir-origin Turkish tobacco forms the backbone; a woody, smoky, sourish tang is the blend's most pronounced line. Alongside it comes nutty, naturally sweet Burley and gold- and mahogany-colored Virginia leaf. The Virginia side carries a bready, lightly herbal, earthy sweetness, topped with a sharpness reminiscent of citrus and vinegar. The maple topping applied over it is subtle — it doesn't mask the leaves' own taste and doesn't leave a pronounced sweet-pancake effect on the palate.

In character, the first third starts out calm, and as the bowl progresses the layers open up and the peppery spice note common in GQ blends comes forward. Suited to those seeking blends with a topping present but not tipping into aromatic territory, where leaf taste dominates; it is not a starting blend for smokers unaccustomed to the sour-smoky side of Oriental tobacco. Since nicotine sits at a moderate level, it's a blend meant more for a particular bowl than for all-day smoking.