Bayou Morning (bulk)

Sorry mate, I can't help you out on that one. Haven't tried either blend.

Hey, Sparroa.
Alright, I think this is my second post on this board. I read a good bit more than I post, and usually only post when it seems like I might have something somewhat worthwhile to add--which ain't too often!
However, the sorts of tobaccos you're talking about are one area I do really enjoy. With C&D, there's Bayou Morning, which I think is a really nice blend. The flake version of it falls short for me, because the flakes are cut so thickly. But the mixture has a nice complexity to me, with the different Virginias, and the perique lends it a nice backbone.
They've removed it, but a number of years ago C&D listed #967 Exclusive as an Escudo clone. I'm smoking 967 right now, although it's been a long time since I've had any Escudo. My impression is that 967 is a good bit sharper and stronger than Escudo, although I'm not sure whether that is mainly due to (1) Escudo's rolled processing, (2) the greenness of C&D's bulk blends or (3) some difference in the perique. (Actually, let me take (2) back--this that I'm smoking is out of a tin that's six years old, and it is still a good bit more aggressive than Escudo ever thought about being. So it's not (2). For me, the aggressiveness is an improvement, although it might not be for you.)
One issue is the nature of perique itself. I might be wrong, but it seems like there are largely two sorts of tobaccos used for perique--St. James, from the eponymous parish in Louisiana, and Green River Burley, from Kentucky. The former is fairly low in nicotine content, whereas the latter is fairly high. I'm pretty sure that I remember reading that C&D uses Green River perique. In any event, the other tobaccos in 967 ought to make for a pretty mild blend, so the strength must come from the perique. Since Escudo is made with St. James perique, there's going to be a bit of a difference there with the C&D blends.
The other side of things, as far as C&D goes, is probably going to be Three Friars. At one time, this was marketed as a clone of Three Nuns. It has a fairly significant burley component, at least as compared to Bayou Morning and 967. But the perique is definitely there, and you might find that this is also a nice tobacco in the general range of Escudo.
Sorry for the verbosity. Short version: I love Bayou Morning. It has enough body (tars and nicotine) to promote slow smoking, and the perique is applied with some restraint. The Virginia base provides an interesting complexity. 967 goes over the top with the perique, and the base is much less complex--just red Virginias and cavendish. Three Friars has a similar level of perique to Bayou Morning, with some of the Virginia complexity traded out for a bit more burley body.
McClelland tobaccos, by and large, lack the body to be satisfying for me. If you find Bayou Morning too strong, I would probably look to McClelland. 2015 would indeed be the place to look, but the perique there is quite subtle indeed. To my knowledge, C&D are by far the most adventuresome blenders with perique, especially if you include Two Friends Redwood and GLP's Haddo's Delight under that heading. While they're more expensive, these last two would probably be the tobaccos I would identify as being closest to Escudo in refinement, although I still do think that both of them are a notch or so stronger than the esteemed rolls.
I hope the length of this post is justified by its being of some utility.
Best,

.cyb

C&D Bayou Morning is my 'go-to' vaper and my favorite first bowl of the day. Normally I smoke Latakia-containing English blends all day outside of the first smoke but have smoked Bayou Morning as an all day blend on occasion. And I did find it a more than acceptable alternative to Escudo which I also enjoyed except, as you, for its price.

McClelland's Blackeneys Best Arcadian Ribbon is also good for a tinned product but one can't beat the value of the bulk C&D product, IMO.

i've been planning to try bayou morning the next time i buy tobacco. i'm a fan of escudo and i've been finding esoterica dunbar works well for me. very similar but a little less perique i think. i like it much better than the luxury bullseye flake.

I don't know if this is out of your budget ( 60-68 a pound) but Samuel Gawith St James Flake( they claim they only use St James parish perique in it) is a superior Vaper in my opinion. I am a big fan of Escudo and this is right up there with it. Also if you want to treat yourself once in a while, grab a tin of Solani 633, it ain't cheap but it is another great vaper.

Bayou Morning is a very good smoke for the top half of the bowl. The bottom is always a disappointment, to me. So though I like it, I don't smoke it.

I can't speak first hand on Bayou Morning bulk since I've never had it. I have read that it isn't nearly as good as Bayou Morning Flake which I have smoked, and enjoyed very much. If you have been disappointed in BM bulk, try a tin of the flake, if you like it better, it's also available in 8oz tins.

I like the top half of the Bayou Morning bowl. The bottom half sours quickly.

Sparroa! Interesting problem. Perique-forward VaPer, in bulk (inexpensive), and preferably from 4noggins. I got two recommendations:

Prairie Wind would be my 1st choice.

C&D's 837 Or Olam (Wm. Serad's Hebraica Series)
Both are available from 4noggins. Buy a bag of Prairie Wind and ask Rich for a sample of Or Olam.
I guarantee you'll be forever in my debt.

If you want to try another VA/Per, I can highly recommend Dan Tobacco's Limerick. It's available from 4 Noggins as well.
ETA: Sorry, I see they are temporarily out of stock.