No, I'm not new to it and it's not that I ever disliked it or wasn't sure about what it does for a blend but this summer has turned into a summer of discovery for me as it pertains to pipe tobaccos.
Perique is present in some English blends, Nightcap for example and for a pretty long time I smoked primarily Latakia blends, some with Perique, many without and all was right with the world. This forum with its wealth of knowledge and the warm weather of summer influenced me heavily and I've been all over the map smoking straight Golden Virginias, Stoved, flue cured Va's, VaBur blends and of course, VaPer blends along with some Orientals and my regular go to English and Balkan blends.
What struck a cord for me though was as much as I love straight Va's like Dunhill Flake and OGS as well as large amounts of DNF that I've consumed, I found myself yearning for something bolder, more full bodied. Enter the Queen of all condiment tobacco, Perique! Today I burned through a couple small bowls of Dunhill Flake and felt kind of unfulfilled so I went down to my stash and pulled out a jar of PS Luxury Bullseye Flake and loaded up a medium sized bowl. Ding, ding, ding! This is what I'm talking about! The addition of Perique into this spun Va with the cavendish center is just ringing my bell. Aged Haddo's Delight does it for me too and I'm finally starting to appreciate this spicy condiment for what it can do for a blend. It rounds it out, creates boldness, a fuller body and makes for a satisfying smoke without adding any heaviness. I'm not ready to smoke it straight up or anything but I've discovered that I do truly love it as it's added to mixtures by artful blenders who seem to instictually know just how much to toss in there. So now I'd like to hear what some favorite blends you all love that contain some Perique.
Perique is present in some English blends, Nightcap for example and for a pretty long time I smoked primarily Latakia blends, some with Perique, many without and all was right with the world. This forum with its wealth of knowledge and the warm weather of summer influenced me heavily and I've been all over the map smoking straight Golden Virginias, Stoved, flue cured Va's, VaBur blends and of course, VaPer blends along with some Orientals and my regular go to English and Balkan blends.
What struck a cord for me though was as much as I love straight Va's like Dunhill Flake and OGS as well as large amounts of DNF that I've consumed, I found myself yearning for something bolder, more full bodied. Enter the Queen of all condiment tobacco, Perique! Today I burned through a couple small bowls of Dunhill Flake and felt kind of unfulfilled so I went down to my stash and pulled out a jar of PS Luxury Bullseye Flake and loaded up a medium sized bowl. Ding, ding, ding! This is what I'm talking about! The addition of Perique into this spun Va with the cavendish center is just ringing my bell. Aged Haddo's Delight does it for me too and I'm finally starting to appreciate this spicy condiment for what it can do for a blend. It rounds it out, creates boldness, a fuller body and makes for a satisfying smoke without adding any heaviness. I'm not ready to smoke it straight up or anything but I've discovered that I do truly love it as it's added to mixtures by artful blenders who seem to instictually know just how much to toss in there. So now I'd like to hear what some favorite blends you all love that contain some Perique.