A First Va/Per

[escioe]

Another good one IMO for a first is G.L. Pease Stratford.

A nice blend. It's sort of the inverse of Fillmore, with Fillmore being a deep, dark, creamy blend, and Stratford being hay-like, grassy, a light affair. One of my peak experiences with the pipe was 2003 or 2004 Stratford on a really, really hot day in Chicago in 2007. This was back when you could buy 3-4 year old GLP tins on the shelf at Iwan Ries.
Another tangent: the GLP Classic Collection is supposed to be sort of impressionistic sketches of old blends. Abingdon is a take on 759, Charing Cross on BS White, I think, and Kensington perhaps a take on State Express London Mixture. Anyway, I read this one theory that Stratford is a take on Dunhill's Elizabethan Mixture, and that the name leaves a hint: Stratford is where Shakespeare's plays were performed, and Shakespeare wrote in the Elizabethan era. Not sure about the efficacy of this, or the verity, but it seems close to logical. And reading the tasting notes for older Elizabethan, it seems in the same ballpark as Stratford.

 

[robykeys82]

+1 for Bayou Morning!

I'm really enjoying this blend, the Perique is quite recognisable, and overall the smoke is a great one.

 

[cigrmaster]

I always recommend to a new pipe smoker they should go with the mother of all vapers Escudo. Why start with something less than the best. Now of course not everyone feels the same about Escudo. Other vapers I love are the following.
Samuel Gawith St James Flake

Solani 633

Dunhill Deluxe Navy Rolls ( no it is not the same as Escudo)

 

[virginialover]

You're lucky to be able to distinguish between Escudo and DDNR, I can't. In a way it's good as Escudo is cheaper.
Escudo and MCC 2015 are good choices to test the peppery or prune flavor in Perique

 

[sablebrush52]

My favorite Va/Per currently is the RO Perique Series GP-11. The balance between the constituent tobaccos is damned near perfect.

 

[cigrmaster]

virginialover, I find that the Dunhill is sweeter and less peppery than Escudo. They are really very similar and you are right about the price, big difference, to most not worth it. I loaded up on it when they had a huge sale. It brought my price down to about the same as Escudo which is why I cellared it so deep. I think it was one of those by 3 get one free deals that you get once in a while.
jesse, what is the one you are talking about RO series?

 

[perdurabo]

I really need to try that RO perique series Sable. I, like you, love Haddos Delight, so your taste and mine probably are similiar. GP-11 duly noted, sir.

 

[sablebrush52]

jesse, what is the one you are talking about RO series?

Last year, Russ Ouellette introduced a series of special Perique blends that he created with an assist from Mark Ryan. They're marketed under the RO label. Each one is a limited edition featuring a blend created around particularly fine Perique sourced from a specific growing area. There are four of them. All of them are good, but my favorite is GP-11. GP stands for the Grand Point growing region, The other three blends are B-41, featuring a Perique sourced from the Belmont region; P-37, featuring a Perique from the Paulina growing region; and SV-23, featuring a Perique from the South Vacherie growing region.

 

[cigrmaster]

Thanks for the info Jesse. Does the one you like best have any reds in it? I read the description at PC and it sounds very interesting and there is no mention of reds.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yes, Harris, he specifically used all reds, so please do not empty out all of the damned stores. It will burn you like acid. Dry your mouth, and rape you grandparents.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

No one mentioned Rattrays Old Gowrie

 

[sablebrush52]

Thanks for the info Jesse. Does the one you like best have any reds in it? I read the description at PC and it sounds very interesting and there is no mention of reds.

I don't know. You can PM Russ to find out.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Shhhh, don't tell Harris... but Russ said that Mark had used Canadian Golds.

 

[krizzose]

I've recently become a big fan of Hal o' the Wynd. I have a fairly light palate, and this blend really pops for me. The perique in it is always front and center with a great balance between the sweet pluminess and spicy characteristics.

 

[mithrandir]

+1 Peter Stokkebye's Luxury Bullseye Flake

 

[sablebrush52]

Shhhh, don't tell Harris... but Russ said that Mark had used Canadian Golds.

Yep, for the Acadian series. But the Perique series uses a different blend of Virginias for each different Perique.

 

[panamacharlie]

I sort of stumbled onto VaPers by accident. I was looking at pictures of popular tobaccos to but in an order, and was intrigued by the photo of LBF. I ordered a sample, and it was love at first puff. So I tried the LTF and LNF, like them all and they are now my main smokes. An incredible buy in the 24 oz boxes.

 

[cigrmaster]

Not too worry guys these are not flakes so even if I were to buy any, it would only be a few tins.