L.J. Peretti VaPer blends

[PiperCalvinist]

I've never ordered tobacco from L.J. Peretti, and figured it's about time I do so. I love VaPer blends, so I was curious what ya'll would recommend I try? I enjoy both the dark fruit and spiciness of Perique, but probably lean more towards the dark fruit end.

 

[sunnysmokes]

London Flakes is exactly what you're describing - was recommended to me when I was in the shop asking for a similar type of blend that you are

 

[PiperCalvinist]

London Flakes is exactly what you're describing - was recommended to me when I was in the shop asking for a similar type of blend that you are

Thank you! I'll order that. What about #8 Slice?

 

[sunnysmokes]

Thank you! I'll order that. What about #8 Slice?

No. 8 is more of a VaBur than a VaPer which is what I'd say is the main difference between the two blends. Both have Perique, but the Burley adds a different layer to No. 8. If you're getting different things to try, definitely worth throwing in the mix; they originally made that blend for Reddit if you didn't know

 

[BingBong]

No. 8 is more of a VaBur than a VaPer which is what I'd say is the main difference between the two blends. Both have Perique, but the Burley adds a different layer to No. 8. If you're getting different things to try, definitely worth throwing in the mix; they originally made that blend for Reddit if you didn't know

For Reddit? Seriously? I would add a healthy dose of Agent Orange for them. Bunch of spooks.

 

[Peter Turbo]

For Reddit? Seriously? I would add a healthy dose of Agent Orange for them. Bunch of spooks.

Facts

 

[SBC]

I'm an enormous Peretti fan; nevertheless, having said that, although I'm first a VA/VaPer smoker and only second a latakia smoker, IMPO Peretti does a better job with their latakia blends than their VA and VaPers.

So far as I'm concerned, Peretti is second only to Germain in latakia blends today. Royal Blend and Omega are masterful in their genre.

But I don't feel that way about Peretti's VAs and VaPers. And I say that as one whose favorite tobaccos on earth are offerings like Salty Dogs, Dark Flake, Best Brown, etc. I love those rich, figgy flavors.
I don't get that from anything at Peretti.
The closest in theory should be London Flake, but frankly I don't get much flavor from it. Every once in a while I go back and try it again, and it just doesn't work for me.

Their greatest VA (which I think does have an arguable smidgen of perique, but only like OGS) is of a very different genre -- Ampersand.
Ampersand is masterful for what it is, but I say that objectively, not as one who personally favors that genre of VA. It tastes of honeyed green silage, and there's nothing else lilke it. It fits a fine spring morning.
But a deep figgy tobacco it is not.

YMMV. I hope that you find what you're looking for!

 

[Auxsender]

I have no idea why anyone would steer you away from #8 Slices because that shit is deeply delicious. It’s tart and fruity but also deep and complex. It’s so good.

150th Anniversary Flake is also outstanding. It’s sweet and Virginia tasting and reminds me of a cross between FVF and Dunhill Dark Flake.
It’s that really stiff, leathery kind of flake that needs some dry time and some patience but it’s well worth it to me.

 

[Auxsender]

No. 8 is more of a VaBur than a VaPer which is what I'd say is the main difference between the two blends. Both have Perique, but the Burley adds a different layer to No. 8. If you're getting different things to try, definitely worth throwing in the mix; they originally made that blend for Reddit if you didn't know

There is a *tiny* amount of Burley in #8 Slices. I would definitely call it a VAPer just like I would call OGS a straight VA even though it has a tiny amount of Perique.

I thought your statement about Reddit was bullshit but to my surprise it is not.
I called LJ Peretti and literally asked them if that was true. Basically, according to the person I spoke to on the phone today, their social media person at the time, about 15 years ago, consulted with the Reddit Pipe Tobacco community about what they’d want in a blend. Peretti took the requests to heart and crafted #8 Slices based on input from Reddit.
Fascinating.

 

[sunnysmokes]

There is a *tiny* amount of Burley in #8 Slices. I would definitely call it a VAPer just like I would call OGS a straight VA even though it has a tiny amount of Perique.

I thought your statement about Reddit was bullshit but to my surprise it is not.
I called LJ Peretti and literally asked them if that was true. Basically, according to the person I spoke to on the phone today, their social media person at the time, about 15 years ago, consulted with the Reddit Pipe Tobacco community about what they’d want in a blend. Peretti took the requests to heart and crafted #8 Slices based on input from Reddit.
Fascinating.

I smoked some No. 8 today based on this, & at least for my taste I get Virginas first, Burleys second, Perique third, which is what leads me to my above statement. We can get into the semantics of it certainly, but it someone was looking for just a VaPer, this wouldn't be the 1st I'd recommend based on that alone. If someone was looking for a more "complex" VaPer, then I'd throw this in the ring.

 

[sunnysmokes]

For all curious, here's one of the original threads on No. 8: https://www.reddit.com/r/PipeTobacco/comments/237ymo

 

[OzPiper]

I'm an enormous Peretti fan; nevertheless, having said that, although I'm first a VA/VaPer smoker and only second a latakia smoker, IMPO Peretti does a better job with their latakia blends than their VA and VaPers.

So far as I'm concerned, Peretti is second only to Germain in latakia blends today. Royal Blend and Omega are masterful in their genre.

But I don't feel that way about Peretti's VAs and VaPers. And I say that as one whose favorite tobaccos on earth are offerings like Salty Dogs, Dark Flake, Best Brown, etc. I love those rich, figgy flavors.
I don't get that from anything at Peretti.
The closest in theory should be London Flake, but frankly I don't get much flavor from it. Every once in a while I go back and try it again, and it just doesn't work for me.

Their greatest VA (which I think does have an arguable smidgen of perique, but only like OGS) is of a very different genre -- Ampersand.
Ampersand is masterful for what it is, but I say that objectively, not as one who personally favors that genre of VA. It tastes of honeyed green silage, and there's nothing else lilke it. It fits a fine spring morning.
But a deep figgy tobacco it is not.

YMMV. I hope that you find what you're looking for!

@SBC
Thank you for your detailed appraisal of the Peretti blends.
I was just about to put in an order for a few Peretti VaPers.
But like you, it‘s the rich figgy flavours I look for, rather than grassy, citrusy flavours.
Thanks for saving me the money.
I already have too many unopened tins in the queue, waiting to be tasted.

 

[PiperCalvinist]

I'm an enormous Peretti fan; nevertheless, having said that, although I'm first a VA/VaPer smoker and only second a latakia smoker, IMPO Peretti does a better job with their latakia blends than their VA and VaPers.

So far as I'm concerned, Peretti is second only to Germain in latakia blends today. Royal Blend and Omega are masterful in their genre.

But I don't feel that way about Peretti's VAs and VaPers. And I say that as one whose favorite tobaccos on earth are offerings like Salty Dogs, Dark Flake, Best Brown, etc. I love those rich, figgy flavors.
I don't get that from anything at Peretti.
The closest in theory should be London Flake, but frankly I don't get much flavor from it. Every once in a while I go back and try it again, and it just doesn't work for me.

Their greatest VA (which I think does have an arguable smidgen of perique, but only like OGS) is of a very different genre -- Ampersand.
Ampersand is masterful for what it is, but I say that objectively, not as one who personally favors that genre of VA. It tastes of honeyed green silage, and there's nothing else lilke it. It fits a fine spring morning.
But a deep figgy tobacco it is not.

YMMV. I hope that you find what you're looking for!

I appreciate the input. Yes, I much prefer the deep dark fruit flavor, and that’s what I’m primarily looking to buy. However, but I do appreciate VaPer variation blends like Haddo’s Delight and Director’s Cut, and a number of VaPerKy blends like Sixpence, Scottish Cake, Hal O’ The Wynd, and Fire Storm.

I love Salty Dogs too! I wish it wasn’t so expensive.

 

[tirefire]

I appreciate the input. Yes, I much prefer the deep dark fruit flavor, and that’s what I’m primarily looking to buy. However, but I do appreciate VaPer variation blends like Haddo’s Delight and Director’s Cut, and a number of VaPerKy blends like Sixpence, Scottish Cake, Hal O’ The Wynd, and Fire Storm.

I love Salty Dogs too! I wish it wasn’t so expensive.

Consider giving Peretti's Park Square a try: red-fruity perique with a balanced peppery zing (at least to this palate). The Virginias smoke smoothly in this blend. As a comparison, I also enjoy Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls. For me, Park Square has more red fruit and pepper than DNR while DNR leads with the complexity of its Virginias.

 

[PiperCalvinist]

Consider giving Peretti's Park Square a try: red-fruity perique with a balanced peppery zing (at least to this palate). The Virginias smoke smoothly in this blend. As a comparison, I also enjoy Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls. For me, Park Square has more red fruit and pepper than DNR while DNR leads with the complexity of its Virginias.

Thank you! Sounds like your palate is similar to mine. I'll give Park Square a try. I enjoy Escudo more than DNR for the reasons you mention. Others may disagree and maybe it simply has to do with the one tin I've smoked of DNR (fairly fresh tin), but I get more dark fruit and pepper from Escudo that DNR. And I'm glad - because it's about $3-4 cheaper per tin! Thanks again!

 

[tirefire]

Thank you! Sounds like your palate is similar to mine. I'll give Park Square a try. I enjoy Escudo more than DNR for the reasons you mention. Others may disagree and maybe it simply has to do with the one tin I've smoked of DNR (fairly fresh tin), but I get more dark fruit and pepper from Escudo that DNR. And I'm glad - because it's about $3-4 cheaper per tin! Thanks again!

Could be . . . While I like a couple of VaPers, my go-to smoke is Old Gowrie (love the DFK in that blend). What is your take on Scottish Cake (I have an unopen tin on-deck)?

 

[PiperCalvinist]

Oh my - I highly recommend Scottish Cake. I've been smoking 99% VaPers and VaPerKys since mid-December. Trying to nail down a Top 5 for each category for the purposes of cellaring. I'm about 3/4 of the way through smoking about 40-45 blends (head-to-head). Scottish Cake is definitely a Top 5 VaPerKy. Also, if you like Old Gowrie (I like that blend too) you should try Hal O' The Wynd, if you haven't.

Let me know what you think of Scottish Cake. I think it's one the best VaPers w/ Kentucky! I have no idea why it does not score higher on Tobacco Reviews??? I have not tried Scottish Flake, but I'm thinking of getting me a tin of that in the near future - simply because the Cake is so good.