Virginia /Perique Tobacco » Mac Baren HH Acadian Perique Tobacco Reviews

A Savory Gem

For me - something of a novelty, not in my regular rotation (although I will always keep some in my cellar) - a Savory VaPer! Most Virginia/Perique blends tend toward the sweet end of the Virginia flavor continuum, but this has enough dark-fired leaf in it, along with a full measure of the eponymous weed, that it gets turned into something much more "brut" than a VaPer's usual sec (or demi-sec anyway). The cut is almost a shag-like ribbon that packs well, if a little damp at first, although by the end of the tin it's just about perfect, and burns without a relight to the bottom of the bowl with a nice mottled ash. I am not a huge fan of most MacBaren blends, as I find them invariably too sweet. How ironic then that they produce this, the most savory of VaPers. Best for me packed lightly in a large bowled meer, but, as always, experimentation yields the best results.

Beautiful blend

I first learned of this blend on a different forum and from Mac Baren's own website. I could not quite understand why this, out of four HH blends available at the time, would not be offered in my home country, but there you are. I tried to get a sample wherever I went, and until recently was just plain out of luck.

My trusty local tobacco company actually was among the first to get a few tins when the Acadian finally began to be imported, and I, thankfully, was among the first to get a tin.

So... open tin. My first impression was, "Kentucky!" followed by Perique and Burley. The leaf was a tad more moist than I am used to from Mac Baren, but still good to light up, which I did. The smoke starts out complex, with notes of chocolate and liquorice in taste (Burley and Perique), smokiness and sweetness (KY and VA), and a lot of variety in their relative strengths -- this is a very interesting smoke!

Also, it burns down to only a mottled ash; there is no harshness in there, but a good amount of strength--enough Nic to make this blend put a wide grin on my face while I savour the tastes. The room note, of course, is a matter for debate. I don't think the smoker is going to make too many friends based on it...

Not for the beginner; I think Henrik Halberg has produced his masterpiece with this blend. Enough strength, real, honest tobacco, and the cut works with all pipes I have tried so far... for me, it's hard to improve upon.