Agreed though. Good enough for me as far as Hacker goes. At least we know it wasn't the speculated "creative editor" and he meant what was said.
Hacker's Book Fibbed on Perique!
- Thread starter pipesmokingtom
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"I'd still like to hear from anyone with expertise on the subject corroborate this information, as thus far Mr. Hacker is the only one I've ever heard claim it."
I would suggest contacting Mr. Ray Martin whom Mr. Hacker mentioned in his e-mail message, and who is also quoted in this article (Tobacco Lovers Discover Mystique of Perique) which appeared in May 4, 2013 edition of "The New York Times."
I would suggest contacting Mr. Ray Martin whom Mr. Hacker mentioned in his e-mail message, and who is also quoted in this article (Tobacco Lovers Discover Mystique of Perique) which appeared in May 4, 2013 edition of "The New York Times."
Ah, very good followup! Please thank Mr. Hacker and note that many objected to the word "fib" in characterizing any statements by Mr. Hacker.
I'll write my mea culpa to him when I get home. I meant in no way to offend, and the word fib was used in jest, as I hoped and wanted to believe the plum juice situation was untrue, that's all.
Stranger things than plum juice has been and are still added to the revered leaf to entice smokers.
Nice to see Mr Hackers response.
I have smoked thousands of Cuban cigars in my life time, everytime I tasted a cigar that was grown with Cuban seeds outside Cuba, I could tell instantly it was not a Cuban. Take Perique seed and grow it elswere, it will not taste like St James Perique, only reason is because of the soil, that can never be duplicated. Taste a bottle of California sparkling wine, it tastes nothing like French champagne as the soil is totally different. It is all in the soil when it comes to the taste.
Years ago there was a cigar company called Royal Jamacian. They sprayed all of their leaves with a concoction to make their cigars taste good, I couldn't have cared if they sprayed them with cat piss, as long as they tasted so good. Once it was either General or Consolidated who took them over, and they did not have the recipe to spray their leaves, the cigars tasted like cat piss and they eventually went out of business.
If St James perique is treated with prune juice, I will smoke it and enjoy it.
I have smoked thousands of Cuban cigars in my life time, everytime I tasted a cigar that was grown with Cuban seeds outside Cuba, I could tell instantly it was not a Cuban. Take Perique seed and grow it elswere, it will not taste like St James Perique, only reason is because of the soil, that can never be duplicated. Taste a bottle of California sparkling wine, it tastes nothing like French champagne as the soil is totally different. It is all in the soil when it comes to the taste.
Years ago there was a cigar company called Royal Jamacian. They sprayed all of their leaves with a concoction to make their cigars taste good, I couldn't have cared if they sprayed them with cat piss, as long as they tasted so good. Once it was either General or Consolidated who took them over, and they did not have the recipe to spray their leaves, the cigars tasted like cat piss and they eventually went out of business.
If St James perique is treated with prune juice, I will smoke it and enjoy it.
Right - this was an interesting adventure.
I had a very brief conversation with Mark Ryan about this while I was in Vegas. I asked him if he had any knowledge of plum juice being used in the production of Perique.
He said "He's wrong" and walked away with a disgusted look on his face. :rofl:
I had a very brief conversation with Mark Ryan about this while I was in Vegas. I asked him if he had any knowledge of plum juice being used in the production of Perique.
He said "He's wrong" and walked away with a disgusted look on his face. :rofl:
Pre-internet folks have had to deal with some pretty weird myths that grew out of a lack of someone willing to explain. When I first started smoking pipes, a little knife shop/pipe shop close to me, with only six jars of tobacco and an owner as old as dirt, told me that English blends had a tobacco in it called latakia (pronounced totally wrong). And, latakia had a spicy taste because of chemicals that the English added that gave it an almost pre-smoked flavor.
Sometimes some old men just aren't worth the hassle of correcting. It's much more fun to giggle behind their backs with friends.
Sometimes some old men just aren't worth the hassle of correcting. It's much more fun to giggle behind their backs with friends.
Aint that the truth. I used to cringe when one of the guys that worked at my local B&M would start explaining tobacco blends to young guys coming in looking to smoke a pipe. At least 50% of the info was wrong, not to mention telling guys that PG soaked aromatics were the best blends to start out with. Yikes.
Believe nothing ya hear and half of what ya see ! Use ta go to the coffee shop with my dad. I learned that these old experts knew everything but none of their knowledge was use full for anything ! Read what you will, and draw your own conclusions ! That'swhat I do.'
A very interesting read. I spent the whole time wondering what Mark would have to say on the matter. Thanks for finding out pipesmokingtom.
He was brief.
"It can taste plummy in some blends, but it's not soaked in juice. He's wrong. *eye roll*"
"It can taste plummy in some blends, but it's not soaked in juice. He's wrong. *eye roll*"
I wondered the same thing and half tongue-in-cheek suggested the same back when this thread was fresh. It's possible he was told that at the time, whether to be deliberately mislead or for some other reason. Whatever happened, he seems to stand by the statement. We'll never know, but I don't expect he'll recant it at this point.
Yes. Between that mic drop and the "F*** the FDA" sticker on his shirt, I learned first hand that he's a pretty cool customer.
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