Drucquer & Sons was a place where pipe enthusiasts worked or gathered, enthusiasts who loved tobacco, like pipe enthusiasts everywhere. The famous tobacconist shop, however, has taken on a mythology of its own and is spoken of with respect and admiration. And why not? It's natural to look back in time at the seemingly insignificant and retrospectively clothe it in legend, especially when it turns out to be as influential and important as Drucquer & Sons.

We're almost required to think in terms of legend, given how little is known about the company, especially its early history. Founded in 1841 in London by John Drucquer, it evidently did well enough to maintain a good business for generations. A Drucquer catalog from the 1970s mentions that Charles Dickens at least once bought pipes in that London shop.

We can infer that many famous people living in and passing through London must have visited the tobacco shop, but no records have survived. We know only that the company was moved to Berkeley, California, from London, in 1924 by John Drucquer III, whose two sons sold the store to Robert Rex in 1964. Rex had been working at the shop for two years before purchasing it. That's usually about how long it takes for someone to realize they want a long-term relationship with pipe tobacco.

Rex sold the shop in 1982 and became a winemaker, which is more closely related to tobacco blending than most realize. There were a couple of other owners afterward, but the shop diminished and closed around 1990. The era of Robert Rex, however, is most interesting.

At that time, most of the shop's employees were graduate students from Berkeley who were interested in tobacco. We know that because Greg Pease, of G.L. Pease Tobacco, was one of the students working there. "I walked in," says Greg, "and basically never left." He'd been spending so much time in the shop, and had started helping out so much, that Robert Rex finally hired him. That's where Greg Pease first experienced tobacco blending.

It was an intellectually rich environment, and we experienced a profound camaraderie, all of us passionate about what we were doing. - Greg Pease

Robert Rex was ahead of his time, bringing chemistry to tobacco blending and developing techniques for aging tobacco, and his blends were popular all over the world. Greg says he received his pay in pipes, which was his preference. "I was the only student walking around campus smoking Dunhills and Charatans," he says.

The unique atmosphere of the place, says Greg, was what made it such an incredible shop. "It was an intellectually rich environment," he says, "and we experienced a profound camaraderie, all of us passionate about what we were doing."

Drucquer & Sons is where Greg learned to restore pipes, but the tobacco is what enthralled him. It wasn't just tobacco to him; it seemed to take on a texture and redolence of old-world tradition and quality, and its transformation from mere components to a balanced blend transfixed him. That experience was obviously life altering; today he's among the most respected tobacco blenders in the world.

When Greg Pease reconstructed the Drucquer & Sons tobaccos that are made today, he did so from memory. Though it had been decades, he remembered most of the recipes, forgetting and reconstructing some of the details that he needed to figure out again, but achieving remarkable success. "I've had mail from people, for example, saying that the new Inns of Court is exactly like it was. Inns of Court is a special tobacco; it appeals more to me now than it did when I was young, because I'm more aware of nuance."

It was the aroma, though, that perhaps most confirmed he had gotten these tobaccos right. "They triggered memories just like the old days," he says. Like a key fitting a lock, the aromas were so accurate that they transported him to his youth in the bustle of one of the most influential tobacco shops ever to open doors, where he first plunged his hands into pungent tobacco.

...Inns of Court is a special tobacco; it appeals more to me now than it did when I was young, because I'm more aware of nuance. - Greg Pease

Drucquer & Sons made an indelible imprint in the history of pipe tobacco. Unfortunately, it's another historic shop that we can no longer visit in person. But we can still appreciate it in our imaginations as we smoke tobaccos originating in the fabled shop, and we may see ourselves enveloped in lively conversation regarding the aging qualities of different tobaccos, or the proportions necessary for balance, at a time when such conversation was truly pioneering. We may even feel the waves of influence that seeded such tobacco companies as G.L. Pease, and discern the aromas of the old tobaccos wafting through that shop long ago and, thanks to their resurrection, into our own pipes today.

The Original Drucquer & Sons Pipe Tobaccos

Blairgowrie

Created in the classic Scottish blending style and meaning "Plain of Gowrie" in Gaelic — a burgh near Perth, Scotland — Blairgowrie is a robust blend of matured and aged Virginia leaf, fine Orientals, Cypriot Latakia, and Perique. The tobaccos are pressed and aged before being sliced and fully rubbed out for a rich smoking experience. Blairgowrie is rich and full-bodied, providing a balanced English blend that appeals even to those who don't typically prefer mixtures with Latakia.

Mere words don't do this justice. I have searched for many years to find my perfect blend. Well, I believe this is it. Excellent quality leaf and damn near perfect blend. A true tobacco for the man who contemplates the world with a con in the clinch..
- Fat cat daddy, 5-star review at Smokingpipes.com

• Components: Latakia, Orientals, Perique, Virginia
• Cut: Broken Flake
• family: English/Scottish
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

Inns of Court

For many decades, Inns of Court was one of Drucquer's most popular blends, and it was even known to have comforted members of Admiral Richard Byrd's crew during their second Antarctic expedition. This finely balanced mixture of Virginia tobaccos, White and Brown Burleys, and just a bit of Latakia and Perique keeps Inns of Court in high regard among aficionados of English blends, offering a complex, nutty taste and wonderful, nostalgic aroma that is sure to suit many palates.

This is a fantastic blend. It's so light but at the same time extremely complex; you can sit back and close your eyes and just try to pick out all the different flavors that come from this amazing baccy...
- Punkrockpiper, 5-star review at Smokingpipes.com

• Components: Black Cavendish, Burley, Latakia, Perique, Virginia
• Cut: Ribbon
• family: English
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

Levant Mixture

Among the fullest of Drucquer & Sons' pipe tobaccos, Levant Mixture is a rich, luxurious, and aptly named Balkan blend, comprising generous portions of Latakia and Orientals with Red Virginias for a subtle sweetness. It's a blend of eminent distinction.

This stuff is really really exceptional. A powerful blend, very rich to the end. Perfect humidity, very well balanced for all lovers of Latakia ...
- crisalfo, 5-star review at Smokingpipes.com

• Components: Latakia, Orientals, Virginia
• Cut: Ribbon
• family: English/Balkan
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

Prince's Blend

Prince's Blend is a quality pipe tobacco on the subtler side of English mixtures, comprising a generous portion of Red Virginias with high sugar content, a hint of Latakia, a touch of Burley, and finally seasoned with just enough Perique to smooth the smoke and provide an engaging, fruity spice. Prince's Blend has a delicate taste and aroma — perfect as an all-day English blend.

Wonderful blend; tastes a lot like EMP but more intense. It has just the right amount of moisture, and it's ready to smoke right out of the can. Perfect as an all-day mix.
- Tong L., 5-star review at Smokingpipes.com

• Components: Black Cavendish, Burley, Latakia, Perique, Virginia
• Cut: Ribbon
• family: English/Balkan
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

Red Lion

Red Lion is a mild- to medium-bodied blend based around Bright and Red Virginias, Cypriot Latakia, a bit of toasted Black Cavendish, and just a touch of Burley and Perique. It offers an extremely smooth and balanced smoking experience that is soft on the palate, with a natural caramel-like sweetness and a comfortable, smoky complexity that is both familiar and new. A wonderful all-day English blend, this pipe tobacco was named after the lion's head that appeared on the original Drucquer family crest and which now graces Drucquer & Sons' tobacco tins.

I love the fact that Latakia is lightly used, and the taste is very cohesive. The tobaccos used are of excellent quality. This blend is Virginia forward with the Perique in second position. The Black Cavendish is used to smooth out the blend and the Burley is not noticeable ... This is my second favorite of the line, next to Blairgowrie.
Allan S., 5-star review at Smokingpipes.com

• Components: Black Cavendish, Burley, Latakia, Perique, Virginia
• Cut: Ribbon
• family: English
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

The Devil's Own

The Devil's Own is named for one of its most famous devotees: Sir Henry Irving, a revered London stage actor throughout the 1800s who played the devil's representative Mephistopheles in Faust. As a pipe tobacco, The Devil's Own is a wonderfully balanced English blend, somewhat sweeter and fuller than Inns of Court due to a greater proportion of Golden Virginias and Cypriot Latakia. The addition of a little Burley and unsweetened Black Cavendish adds body and richness to the smoke.

This is one of mine and my father's favorites. It has a distinct, strong taste, with a surprisingly sweet tone. I really enjoy it, and we intend to keep it around...
- ChelseaHeller, 5-star review at Smokingpipes.com

• Components: Black Cavendish, Burley, Latakia, Virginia
• Cut: Ribbon
• family: English
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

Trafalgar

A classic English mixture, Trafalgar sets smooth, exotically spicy Turkish tobaccos in perfect balance with a variety of fine Bright and Red Virginias, Perique, and just enough Latakia for subtle smokiness. The result is a rich, elegant pipe tobacco with lots of character and complexity enough to engage smokers throughout the bowl and throughout the day.

Rarely have I come across a blend so good with no age whatsoever. I popped the tin, filled my pipe, and fell in love; no waiting, no wondering if it'd be better in a different pipe, no wishing for something more, just a great smoke. This is English-style pipe tobacco done right.
- Olmstead, 5-star review at Smokingpipes.com

• Components: Latakia, Orientals, Perique, Virginia
• Cut: Ribbon
• family: English
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

Recent Additions to the Drucquer & Sons Catalog

First Amendment

The First Amendment to the Drucquer catalog in 40 years, this blend celebrates the collective right to free expression with an enduring formula of Red and Bright Virginia tobaccos and fine air-cured leaf, seasoned with Cypriot Latakia and Louisiana Perique, then pressed and aged in cakes and sliced. First Amendment is rich and satisfying, with notes of dark chocolate, malty Assam tea, black walnut, hints of a deep, earthy sweetness, and a complexity whose nuances are as endless as those of our time-tested and essential freedoms.

G.L.P. blew this one out of the water. This tobacco is warm and inviting, like a stone hearth around a roaring fireplace. The broken flakes are at perfect moisture, and fill and pack nicely. Dark chocolate and campfire greet your palate. Behaves well down to small dottle. Slow, cool smoke. I feel like I could take on the world, and I just might!
- Michael A., 4.5-star review at Smokingpipes.com

• Components: Black Cavendish, Burley, Latakia, Perique, Virginia
• Cut: Flake
• family: English
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

Loch Ness

The most recent addition to the Drucquer & Sons' portfolio, Loch Ness is a Scottish-style crumble plug mixture comprising ribbons of small-leaf Oriental, smoky Cypriot Latakia, and genuine Louisiana Perique, elevated by Bright Lemon and matured Red Virginia tobaccos. Once blended, the loose mixture is pressed and aged in cakes to meld flavors, then cut into plugs — combining the flavor-enhancing benefits of the pressing process with an easy, straightforward preparation for the pipe.

According to Greg Pease, Loch Ness is blended "in the Scottish tradition with a wee twist." It's primarily a Virginia-forward blend, punctuated by deep and opulent notes of dark stewed fruits, tangy sweetness, and just a hint of smoky zest. Medium in strength with fathoms of body and leagues of complexity, Loch Ness is the perfect all-day smoke for the lover of traditional Scottish and English pipe tobaccos.

• Components: Orientals, Perique, Latakia, Virginia
• Cut: Cake
• family: Scottish/English
• Strength:
• Room Note:
• Taste:

Through these expertly crafted mixtures, we can re-experience the tradition of Drucquer & Sons. We may see ourselves enveloped in lively conversation regarding the aging qualities of different tobaccos, or the proportions necessary for balance, at a time when such conversation was truly pioneering. We may even feel the waves of influence that seeded such tobacco companies as G.L. Pease, and discern the aromas of the old tobaccos wafting through that shop long ago and, thanks to their resurrection, into our own pipes today.