pipesandcigars.com Acadian Gold

(3.23)
In October of 2015, while spending a day with Mark Ryan at the L.A. Poche Perique Company in St. James Parish, Louisiana. our own Russ Ouellette asked Mark if he had ever thought of trying to process Virginia in the same method as perique. Mark said that he had thought of it, but was told it wouldn't work. After a bit of conversation, Mark decided to bring down some bright, sweet, yellow, Canadian-grown Virginia to give it a try. The processing time had to be much shorter due to the aggressive fermentation due to the high sugar content, but the result, called Acadian Gold, has more depth than normal Virginia with a malty note unlike anything else. The RO Series Acadian Gold is 100% pure Acadian Gold. Here's your opportunity to try this one-of-a-kind tobacco. Only two barrels were made, so you'll want to get yours soon before it's gone.

Details

Brand pipesandcigars.com
Series RO Series
Blended By Russ Ouellette
Manufactured By  
Blend Type Straight Virginia
Contents Virginia
Flavoring
Cut Ribbon
Packaging 50 grams tin
Country United States
Production No longer in production

Profile

Strength
Mild to Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

3.23 / 4
6

4

3

0

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 13 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 12, 2017 Mild to Medium None Detected Mild to Medium Pleasant
The various Virginias offer a big burst of tangy, fermented citrus with a mild malty tartness, a fair amount of grass and hay, some sugar, a very light dark fruitiness, wood and earth, a slight floral and bare spice note, and a few drops of honey and bread. The strength level is just past the center of mild to medium, while the taste is a step past that mark. The nic-hit is a tad below the strength threshold. No chance of bite or harshness, and has no rough edges. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable pace with a very consistent, deep flavor from start to finish. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a very pleasant, lightly lingering after taste and room note. Can be an all day smoke, or a mixer if you’re so inclined.

-JimInks
16 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 27, 2016 Mild None Detected Mild Pleasant
Thanks to the generosity of a friend with whom I trade tobacco by mail, I was able to try a decent sample of this blend.

The appearance is of a beautiful tan-to-olive ribbons. The draw was quite sweet on the tongue, however this wasn't apparent in the smoke. The sweet maltiness of Virginias were supplanted by a roast-malt aroma. The smoke was tart, tangy. I was reminded instantly of an "Oud Bruin."

This is a unique, tasty smoke and it's a great exploration of a tried-and-tested process on a different type of leaf. If I could buy lots of this to cellar away and age, I certainly would, however the cost of production makes it prohibitive.

I'm convinced this leaf would be a great ingredient for blending. Together with some high-quality Oriental and some Syrian Latakia it would be unbeatable, but diluting it with lower-quality condimental tobacco would certainly be a waste of time, as the qualities that this tobacco has to offer would quickly fade into the background.
Pipe Used: Ben Wade Walnut
PurchasedFrom: traded with a friend
Age When Smoked: new?
10 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 28, 2018 Medium None Detected Medium to Full Pleasant
"OMG, this is good!!", were not the words I expected to hear in my head upon smoking this bowl. But man, oh man, this stuff is good.

I will admit that I was curious about this blend because of its unique processing. Fermenting Virginias in its own juices in the same manner as perique? Sounds interesting. Didn't sound inexpensive, but for giggles and curiosity, I wanted to try it. I bought a few tins, as I always do. One to try, some to cellar in case I really like it. After letting it sit in the cellar for 6 months, I finally decided to crack open a tin and I am so glad I did.

But again, I didn't expect to like it as much as I am. Why? Because when I first cracked it open and took a whiff of the tin aroma, I kid you not it smelled just like a pack of sun dried tomatoes. Anyone who tells you different simply has not had eaten a pouch of sun dried tomatoes like I have and do. They're yummy...but I wouldn't want to smoke one. So holy cow. Did I want to smoke this? What would come of it? ... Magic!

This stuff is phenomenal. There is the tang that has been described. That to me is already a plus and a winner. But what really sets this apart is the pure sweetness of this leaf. I've liked McClelland 5100. I've enjoyed certain iterations of McCranie's Red Flake and found certain years to be oh so sweet. But even the best of both have not compared to the pure sweetness of this one. It's honest and mouthwatering. It's also cool and smooth. I haven't decided if this is an all-day smoke or even an everyday smoke. I think this is one of those blends that you treat yourself to every so often. To do otherwise might just spoil yourself for other Virginias.

The tobacco is presented in a dark, reddish brown ribbon. But when I fluffed it out and put it into a pint jar, you could see large chucks of the leaf still pressed into the mix of ribbons. It takes a light well and puff moderately or sipped like the treat it is, it stays lit with minimal effort and produces a sweet, tantalizing white smoke.

The nicotine hit is nice and right in the middle. I like that in a Virginia.

Now, the price may be off-putting. I get that. It was for me too. I may just wait for it go on sale....which it may not. But if the sale comes up or disposable funds come available at the right time, I am definitely getting more of this to cellar and enjoy over the years to come.
Pipe Used: Cob to draw out even more sweetness.
PurchasedFrom: Pipesandcigars.com
Age When Smoked: 6 months when opened by me.
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 04, 2016 Medium to Strong Extremely Mild Medium to Full Pleasant
Pure long shag or string cut Virginia on steroids.

Burns nice. Tastes extra tangy. Citrusy to the top. Maybe even robust for a straight Virginia, with nothing added except the special pressing process.

You must adore straight, bright Virginias to love this one. Very inventive.

Careful puffing keeps it from burning hot. Mind you it is still tangy. No bite with care.

I'm nearing the end of my tin. I also tried samples of both the Acadian VAPER (this gold plus I guess 20% perique) and Acadian English (this gold plus some Latakia). This one is as I say is a straight, stronger, orange Virginia. The VAPER I found too strong to my tastes and peppery. Others liked it more. The English was a happy medium, toned down by the Latakia but not too much.

Worth a tin even at the extra price. Pick one to your liking. When they are gone, they're gone.
Pipe Used: paul perri
PurchasedFrom: pipesandcigars
Age When Smoked: new tin
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 22, 2018 Mild to Medium None Detected Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
Pipesandcigars.com - Acadian Gol (RO Series).

Wow.

You like a Perique laden bend? Step right up!

The ribbon mix includes a few coarser pieces, is all an unfluctuating colour (tan-brown), and has exemplary moisture.

Once lit this is what I refer to as smoking PERFECTION. Sweet Virginias and a WALLOP of fruity, sour, Perique, what's not to love? It tastes great, with the Perique dark fruit overtaking the Perique sour-note as it burns. Being fair, a bowl can go a bit quickly, but when it tastes this good I won't moan! It burns at mid-temperature giving no bite.

Arcadian Gold? First puff said four stars and the feeling hasn't changed. Highly recommended:

Four stars
Pipe Used: Cob
PurchasedFrom: eBay: 757habano
Age When Smoked: 6 weeks
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 27, 2016 Medium None Detected Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
I'm trying hard to like this blend (because I like and admire Russ), but the best I can do is not dislike it. I tried a bowlful given me by a friend and thought it was interesting, so I bought two tins from SP.com. I've smoked it at home, in the car, and outside and found it to taste differently in each setting, the best being at home with pipe-smoking friends (but this speaks more to psychology than to the tobacco itself). At best, I found Acadian Gold to have a pleasant sourness, like a good balsamic vinegar, and a nice grassiness; at worst, it tasted flat and a little musty. I'll finish off the two tins I have but probably won't buy more.
Pipe Used: Oom Pauls
PurchasedFrom: smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked: fresh out of the tin
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 17, 2020 Mild to Medium None Detected Mild to Medium Very Pleasant
“It’s gold Jerry, it’s gold!”

The tobacco in the tin smells to me like a jar of green olives. Now I love green olives but it’s slightly off putting to smell it in a tin of tobacco. The look and the feel of the tobacco makes up for that aspect. This tin has a couple of years on it so the tobacco is frosted with plume and looks quite delicious.

I put off trying this for 4 years but in the recent clearance sale I decided to buy several more tins, I’m glad that I did.

At first I didn’t know whether I liked this or not but that malty flavor (best descriptor so I’m going with it) just really grows on you. It’s not really sweet, more on the savory side of the things. I dry mine almost to a crisp and get the most flavor out of it that way. I’m pretty surprised this didn’t gain much traction when it was first released, I thought it would be sold out in hours, I didn’t ever dream that 4 years later we would be seeing it go on a clearance sale. Anyway, that’s what prompted me to finally open and smoke this tin. This is a true milestone in blending and I wish it was something that could continue on but we all know why it can’t and this isn’t the place for that discussion. The nicotine is mild and while the flavor is savory I find the room note to be wonderfully sweet. This is one I’m going to have enjoy straight and I can see having a lot of fun blending with it as well

As unique as this blend is I’m going to put this on the essential list.

Edit* The more I smoke this and the longer the tin is opened I find that this gets sweeter and sweeter everyday. This stuff is divine! One of the most unique straight Virginia blends I’ve ever tried. I wish that more could be done with this type of processed VA, I’m sure blenders could find a lot of great things to do with it. I will certainly cherish the remaining tins in my cellar.
Age When Smoked: 2 years old
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 18, 2019 Mild to Medium None Detected Full Pleasant to Tolerable
Acadian Gold... I would describe this tobacco as a bright Perique. It has a kind of lemony-spicy flavor. Initially the flavor was intriguing, but half way through it became boring, monotonous and a bit overwhelming.

I mixed one ounce Burley with a quarter ounce Acadian Gold, kind of an inverted VaPer lol. Anyway, my mix turns out to have more body and is much heartier than a VaPer. Interesting enough, it had some lightly reminiscent VaPer notes mingling with the nutty Burley flavor. All in all it turned out to be a rather pleasurable smoke. I call my new mix Burcadian Gold, or maybe Burka Gold for short.

For me Acadian Gold is a condiment tobacco and could make for some interesting blends. Maybe mixing a little with some Red Virginia, or maybe using it instead of Perique in some of the Balkan blends. I’m hoping that some day the Poche Perique Company will produce it in bulk so it’ll be available for the Master Blenders to work their magic with. But in the mean time I guess it’ll just be a high price low volume discussion tobacco .

I’m giving a four star review for the potential it has as a condiment tobacco. For me the price, availability, and monotonous flavor will prohibit Acadian Gold from being a daily smoke. For the reader, buy it to try it with maybe a little self-blending in mind.

Pipe Used: Briar
PurchasedFrom: Pipes and Cigars online
Age When Smoked: New
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 20, 2018 Medium Extremely Mild Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
Reading the back story to this tobacco piqued my curiosity something fierce. There's even a video on P&C's site, check it out.

Anyway, it's a limited supply run so the price is high. $20 A tin but I think it's worth it to try it if you are a Virginia and Vaper lover.

Upon opening the tin you get an almost violent burst of perique aroma. I'm talking bold, fermented, funky sweet, tart, juicy, wine-like. It was so strong I almost wretched, but quickly dug in with my fingers. I've never seen another ribbon like this. The color is frosty gold. It's a wonderful mix of tangled ribbon and some larger roughly chopped chunks, and it's all slathered in sweet sugary frostedness. Almost has a trichome appearance.

It's fairly moist so I let it air out a bit before drying. I let a bowls worth dry out significantly before smoking it. I was practically reluctant upon lighting because of the aroma but much to my delight the flavor is not as strong. All of the aforementioned adjectives applied to the taste but in more nuanced ways. It's a milder smoke than the tin aroma let on.

Overall it's such a unique tobacco I have to recommend it. I'm curious what a few years of age will do to it. Good job Russ and Mark!
Pipe Used: Various small briars
PurchasedFrom: P&C
Age When Smoked: ~1 Year
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 18, 2022 Mild to Medium None Detected Mild Tolerable
This was an enjoyable Virginia for the time that I spent with it. It is sweet and deep; and pretty much all the things the description says it is. It is also pretty monotonous and can get boring. I never smoked this in a large bowl as it just did not do enough to hold my attention that long.

I ended up using this as a blender for the most part after I decided I needed something more to fill the Straight Va gap in my rotation. It worked splendidly as a blender. I feel this is a better condiment than it is a straight Va; however, it is smokable as the latter.

It does perform well needing few relights and burning at a decent pace, and I find this one lingering between the 2 and three star range, but will up it to 3 as it is unique enough that it may be worth the effort if you can find some.
PurchasedFrom: P & C
Age When Smoked: 4 years 11 months
1 person found this review helpful.
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