Help Me Identify This Tobacco Smell?

[jhclark]

I recently acquired my first tin of Mac Baren mixture (scottish blend) and when I first opened the lid, I had one of those "Oh, my God..." moments. I need to salt/spirit my briar and/or get a new cob before trying it again, but I know I like at least ONE of the 34 tobaccos in this blend...
That's the problem. 34... Maybe at least I can narrow it down to a general leaf type...
To describe it best, I first think of Copenhagen snuff. I'm not a 'dipper' and never was, but have tried (I think...) all forms of tobacco at one time or another, and the only 'dip' I could imagine using (and bought more than once!) was Cope. It's like a can of spicy dirt, and tastes like it smells! (Of course it isn't burned, so there's that...) But if you've never encountered the stuff, it smells like... well, spicy dirt...
So when I removed the black paper from inside the tin, it smelled quite strongly of this familiar flavor from so long ago, but I could never find it in anything else - but in the big blended mess underneath, I don't get that same note (or if I do, it's not in my face, must have been one ribbon stuck on the top of the paper of this 'spice' note leaf.
Does anyone know what I'm talking about? I don't think it's just "latakia" because I would have noticed that at my tobacconist.... I think... and it's not a smokey campfire smell, or very earthy like peat moss, but spicy - like black pepper... maybe a touch of tartness, and an expectation of some salt (though that may be due to my memory of Copenhagen, or it could be association of spicy food with salt? who knows...) It's not a rounded or warm flavor, but quite sharp and pokey, and quite bright.
English seems to be failing me! How is it 2013 and we don't have smell-o-vision online yet?

 

[pstlpkr]

spicy - like black pepper...

Probably Perique.

 

[jhclark]

If this is something I have been having a hard time discovering, is it likely real Perique from St. James Parish? Or is Perique leaf hard to find in general?

 

[hfearly]

Peppery spice, tartness, salt? Sounds a lot like Perique. Also often associated with the dried apricot/ stewed fruit aroma.

 

[jhclark]

That's 2, so I guess I'll try to hunt down someone who carries blending perique to smell it, if not sample it...
I like to go easy on the N so I suppose I'll be hunting for a low-nicotine Perique blend... I don't feel so optimistic suddenly...

 

[matchstickman]

If you find Perique to your liking, MacBarens HH Acadian Perique has a good dose of the stuff and doesnt give me Vitamin N fits. Escudo might also be a good option for you.

 

[andrew]

That's perique indubitably, they sell that are my tobacconest and it's exactly as you've described, it's a condiment blending tobacco not meant to be smoked by itself

 

[cleidophoros]

I don't think Mac Baren Mixture has any perique in it.

 

[judcole]

MacBaren Mixture has no latakia or perique. It's Virginia, Burley, and Cavendish.
That being said, I have no idea what you are smelling that is peppery.

 

[chispa]

Would that be the same dominating tin aroma of Macbaren Navy Flake? The fire cured Kentucky?

 

[cortezattic]

This might help you identify the smell...

 

[pitchfork]

Mike is right. It's the dark fired leaf that gives that Copenhagen smell. It's one of the first things that struck me about Peterson's IRish Flake. I don't know the MacBaren's blend, but if it has dark fired in it, that's the reason for the snuff smell.

 

[judcole]

Maybe Mixture has some. MacBaren doesn't give a lot of specifics on their website.

 

[jhclark]

It does not dominate at all, and that's what's taunting me - it dominated the first opening of the tin, because there must have been a single strand of it on the paper label inside. Once I brushed off what was on the paper back into the tin, the smell in the tin is quite sweet and farm-like (mostly VA blend I'm assuming. I doubt there's much bur and barely any cavendish). The paper still slightly smells of it, though, but I don't think it will still smell like that by the time I can get to a good tobacconist (the one I frequent is not the greatest or most knowledgeable, I don't know where she gets her recipes... I don't think she invented them herself...)
Is there any blend to mention that is strongly of this leaf without having much N? (to be honest, I've been hunting for low N stuff, but it would be worth it even if I need to use a small bowl...)

 

[hfearly]

Mixture is said to have 30 different tobaccos in it ... you sure there is no Perique?

 

[judcole]

Mixture is said to have 30 different tobaccos in it ... you sure there is n Perique?

MacB does not mention it. It has no taste to it that is anything like perique. It is a very mild, honey and toast taste. If it is there, the amount is miniscule. Smoke it yourself and find out.

 

[pstlpkr]

There are a couple of tobacco brands that produce a "blenders" tin of Perique.

Here's one:
Perique
A little dab'll do ya.

I like to put a pinch in a bowl when I'm in the mood.
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