LJ Peretti: No. 8 Slices & Cambridge Flake

[Mike N]

The venerable LJ Peretti Co. of Boston is one of the few tobacconists that seems to actually prefer you call to place your order rather than do it online. I got to speak to its pipemaker, Todd Brugman, who was incredibly helpful. I ordered 8 oz. of No. 8 Slices (Perique forward) and 8 oz. of Cambridge Flake (Latakia forward.) Both arrived today in LJP’s iconic yellow paint cans.

Included with my order was a long handwritten note from Todd, encouraging me to reach out to shop owner, Steve Willet, if I wanted a custom blend later. Because LJP was out of a third tobacco I requested, Todd sent me a few ounces of Dundee and Park Square to try as well as two tins of of Fox’s Bankers and Dan Tobacco’s Old Ironsides, gratis. I mean, who does that? But it explains why LJ Peretti has been in business since 1870. If that is what “Boston nice” is all about, I’ll take more of it.

I’m smoking some of the No.8 tonight, and it is rich, spicy and delicious.

 

[Roach1]

That shows that they appreciate their customersand pride theirselves on that. They are really an old school pipe and cigarshop.

 

[kcghost]

It is how they have been so successful as a B&M!!

 

[filmguerilla]

Tashkent and Oriental #40 are two of my all time favorite blends. I think I could get by for my remaining days with just Peretti and Pease blends.

 

[Peter Peachfuzz]

Tashkent and Cuban Mix are my standard order

 

[RL Bucktails]

Love the #8 flake. Is the Latakia very prominent in the Cambridge flake?

 

[Auxsender]

The best.
I hope to visit the shop someday.
That #8 is fantastic as is London Flake and 150th Anniversary.
I regret missing out on their 2/14 blend. Hopefully I’ll get some next year.
Personally, I prefer NOT having the paint cans as it leaves the flakes more intact when they aren’t forced into the can. I specifically ask for my orders sans can.

 

[Mike N]

Love the #8 flake. Is the Latakia very prominent in the Cambridge flake?

I may not be the best judge of this, since I have a high tolerance for Latakia, but I would say it’s just about perfect. Here is the website description for the Cambridge Flake:

 

[Mike N]

The best.
I hope to visit the shop someday.
That #8 is fantastic as is London Flake and 150th Anniversary.
I regret missing out on their 2/14 blend. Hopefully I’ll get some next year.
Personally, I prefer NOT having the paint cans as it leaves the flakes more intact when they aren’t forced into the can. I specifically ask for my orders sans can.

I agree that the first time pulling some of the 8 oz of flakes out of the narrow mouth of the paint can some do break up. I usually jar 2 oz at a time for daily use and that frees up the compaction. But frankly, the yellow paint can is part of the LJP mystique and nothing looks better on the shelf.

 

[SBC]

Cambridge is excellent.
Two other latakia blends of theirs that I love are Omega and Royal.
To me, Cambridge has a bit of a BBQ note, Omega a musty note, and Royal a medicinal note (from the yenidje).
Omega may be my favorite of those three.

Although I love VaPers, I haven't had #8 due to the burley content (I don't like burley).

I was born in thd Boston area but moved away as a baby, and have rarely been back. I did make it back and visit the shop once, though -- what a wonderful institution!

My Peretti bent bulldog is one of my favorite pipes.

 

[Auxsender]

Cambridge is excellent.
Two other latakia blends of theirs that I love are Omega and Royal.
To me, Cambridge has a bit of a BBQ note, Omega a musty note, and Royal a medicinal note (from the yenidje).
Omega may be my favorite of those three.

Although I love VaPers, I haven't had #8 due to the burley content (I don't like burley).

I was born in thd Boston area but moved away as a baby, and have rarely been back. I did make it back and visit the shop once, though -- what a wonderful institution!

My Peretti bent bulldog is one of my favorite pipes.

Don’t be skeered of the Burley in #8.
It’s light and, to me, barely present.
Try 2 ounces. I’ll bet you won’t regret it.

 

[anotherbob]

The venerable LJ Peretti Co. of Boston is one of the few tobacconists that seems to actually prefer you call to place your order rather than do it online. I got to speak to its pipemaker, Todd Brugman, who was incredibly helpful. I ordered 8 oz. of No. 8 Slices (Perique forward) and 8 oz. of Cambridge Flake (Latakia forward.) Both arrived today in LJP’s iconic yellow paint cans.

Included with my order was a long handwritten note from Todd, encouraging me to reach out to shop owner, Steve Willet, if I wanted a custom blend later. Because LJP was out of a third tobacco I requested, Todd sent me a few ounces of Dundee and Park Square to try as well as two tins of of Fox’s Bankers and Dan Tobacco’s Old Ironsides, gratis. I mean, who does that? But it explains why LJ Peretti has been in business since 1870. If that is what “Boston nice” is all about, I’ll take more of it.

I’m smoking some of the No.8 tonight, and it is rich, spicy and delicious.

bankers is my madly underrated blend

 

[Mike N]

bankers is my madly underrated blend

Thx. With all the other goodness that LJP just sent, I’d set that tin aside. But I opened it and it was delicious —like smoking a fine cigar. When I popped the tin, there was a good “psst” so it had some age on it. Sure enough the cigar leaf and Lataki produced a good and mellow morning smoke.

 

[Danimal92sport]

Thanks for the report - sounds like I need to give them a call and try a couple of their blends!

 

[anotherbob]

Thx. With all the other goodness that LJP just sent, I’d set that tin aside. But I opened it and it was delicious —like smoking a fine cigar. When I popped the tin, there was a good “psst” so it had some age on it. Sure enough the cigar leaf and Lataki produced a good and mellow morning smoke.

another surprise I got with it was how many times random people would tell me it smelled great. Often with the note that they didn't know tobacco or cigars could smell so tasty.

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

Perettis is good but sadly my pH didn’t agree with #8 or 150th. I wanted to love the blends but I’d get burnt every time I smoked them :/

 

[Auxsender]

Perettis is good but sadly my pH didn’t agree with #8 or 150th. I wanted to love the blends but I’d get burnt every time I smoked them :/

I’ll put up with a little bullshit for some great flavor. They give me a lil “tingle” on the taster but if I take it slow, it’s worth it to me for those unique and deeply delicious flavors.

 

[KruegerFlap]

Always good to hear about B&M shops that still provide the above and beyond customer care of yesteryear. I guess I will be calling them to place my next order! They make some excellent blends.

 

[larryspencer]

I recently ordered a 8oz.tin of #8 slice as well, will wait a while to open as I have others to finish. Regarding Cambridge flake, well I had some about 6 years ago and it was quite tasty, subsequently I ordered an 8oz.tin of that, which I still have, unopened. They are a top shelf B&M.

 

[Peter Turbo]

Love #8. no one should be put off by it that loves vapers just because it has a bit of burley, it hardly gets in the way.