Looking for a Dime-Size VA/Per Spun-Cut

[rmbittner]

I typically have a very bad physical reaction to the tiniest amount of perique. But I'm trying to see if I can somehow "train" myself away from that. Here's what I'm doing:
I've got a 30-year-old tin of a wonderful but long-discontinued VA/Per from A&C Petersen. It comes in a dime-size spun cut. I'm filling my pipes with either a mild VA or a fairly mild aromatic (like Signature or Nougat), and placing a single VA/Per coin on top. Believe it or not, that one coin is currently just about as much perique as I can currently stand in a smoke.
But my aged VA/Per isn't going to last forever. And if I want to keep experimenting with this, I'm going to need a replacement. I'd love to hear suggestions -- but I'm only looking for dime-size cuts right now.
Are there any? I know Escudo and Dunhill's Rolls are larger. But I'm not sure about Luxury Bullseye Flake. Any suggestions?
Bob

 

[jpberg]

How about Peter Heinrich Special Curly?

 

[eaglerico]

I think Davidoff has a few coin blends. Have you looked at those?

 

[smokeybear]

Mcbaren Roll Cake Very Good Especially Aged.

 

[smokeybear]

Also Three Nuns makes a small Coin but there is no Perique in it, However that may be good for you.
Luxury Bulls eye is great stuff but it is also large cut like escudo.

 

[pitchfork]

Another vote for PH Special Curly. For what it's worth, many smokers wish it had more Perique in it, so it's fairly mild in that regard.

 

[morton]

Wessex Sovereign Curly Cut sounds like what you're looking for. A small dime sized VaPer coin that should work well for what you described. Good luck in your quest for perique desensitization, it took me a long time to be able to handle red Virginias without feeling like I'd burned my mouth on too hot pizza when I was done smoking. Russ's H&H Louisiana Red is now something I can enjoy now and again without regretting it later.

 

[shaintiques]

or you could cut the coin

 

[rmbittner]

shaintiques:
Next you'll be suggesting that people use scissors to cut up their flakes into tiny little squares. . .
Bob

 

[rmbittner]

BTW, Thanks, guys, for some good suggestions! And thanks too for the PMs offering samples! Much, much appreciated!
Bob

 

[peckinpahhombre]

PH Special Curly and Wessex Sovereign Curly Cut are the size you are looking for but I really have trouble detecting perique in those blends. I think you should try Luxury Bullseye Flake, as suggested - it is much the same size as Escudo but, in my view, has a whole lot less perique than escudo. The centre is also cavendish, which gives it a nice sweet taste,

 

[bluesmk]

I'll throw in for Wessex Sovereign Curly Cut!
Dan

Gabrieli Pipes

 

[shaintiques]

I wasn't trying to be a smart ass seriously, sorry for your perique problem, being an Escudo lover I would be heartbroken. Escudo coins are larger than a dime, but you can peal the outer layer out easily the way it is spun to get a dime sized portion and then if you want to send the extra edges to me I'll take them off of your hands.

 

[mrenglish]

Have you thought about picking up some blending perique? McClelland has a nice one as do others. It would give you more control over how much you smoke.

 

[escioe]

I was thinking you could do a similar parfait with some otherwise close blends. I was thinking something like GLP's Montgomery as the base and just a pinch of Telegraph Hill on the top. Might be a nice way to introduce perique in tiny percentages.

 

[Perique]

As suggested above, I would recommend Stokkebye Luxury Bullseye Flake. It's Escudo sized... However, since you're sensitive to Perique, you can cut it down to dime-size, which will emphasize the Cavendish core. May be just what you're looking for. Plus you can collect the cut off bits and send them to me Or, of course, you can jar them to age and save for down the road.

 

[rmbittner]

Thanks for the great suggestions, guys!
Yes, I realize I could approach this experiment in more varied ways. But right now, I'm happy to stick with my "dime of a VA/Per on top of something else" approach. Even this is quite a step up from purposely avoiding anything with the slightest trace of perique in it. . . because I can feel its needles in my mouth. What most of the pipe smoking world perceives as "pepper" and "spice" with perique, I -- for some reason -- perceive as piercing needles. But I also appreciate the plummy richness and depth that a bit of perique can add to a blend. So I'm wanting to at least play with this a bit. For now, caution rules.
It's weird, though. When I started smoking a pipe, I went through I-don't-know-how-many-tins of the original(ish) Three Nuns (the early 1980s variety), Escudo, and other perique-y blends. I know from my notes that I sometimes misattributed my perique reaction to "tongue bite," but I nevertheless kept with them. Then about 8 years ago, I revisited one of those blends and had an immediate -- and strongly negative -- reaction to it. Even if I'd wanted to keep smoking it, I simply wouldn't have been able to without a great deal of oral pain. So there's no guarantee that I can somehow work my way past that. But I'm finally feeling brave enough to try!
Bob

 

[brdavidson]

Bob for the plummy richness you describe, I would try Three Nuns, I get the distinct plum/fig flavouring from that dime sized coin and there is no perique although the dark fired really mimicks the pepper of perique nicely in my not-so-expert opinion. I love Escudo but Three Nuns is a really nice blend in a similar vein.

 

[smokeybear]

Also Might i add I have a similar reaction to perique myself i posted a thread in here first time i smoked a blend with perique i believe it was Anni cake i mentioned how horrible its felt in my mouth a peppery burning sensation. I have not smoked Anni Kake since but have tried Va/per blends and found that aged Perique would lose whatever it was that gave me that feeling and just taste good. So whatever you try and you find you like make sure you buy some to age or possibly toast it in the oven for 6-10 hrs on low heat. It will help with the blend.

 

[rmbittner]

brdavidson:
Oh, I've got Three Nuns on hand. But it's not going to help in my pursuit to build up some perique resistance. I've also got some of McClelland's Royal Cajun on hand, which contains a faux-perique they came up with; I haven't had the nerve to try any of it yet, though.
smokeybear:
I'm currently using VA/Per "dimes" from a tin with more than 30 years of age on it. If anything, the "pepper" has only increased with this particular blend. (I'm amazed that I once used to smoke this all on its own!) What's more: At some point, rust entered the picture and compromised the seal. So the tobacco was bone-dry and in need of rehydration. I've been grabbing dimes from the jar for the six days it's been rejuvenating; if anything, the earlier, drier discs were more "painful" than the more recent ones.
Bob