Btw, the Altaldis Match is kind of close, except I thought it had a little more perique than the original. I know it's a close match because it not only tasted much like I remembered, but the second my wife smelled it, she complained it was strong. "Didn't you used to smoke something stinky like that?" Memories...

I would call this a very good to excellent middle of the road but perfectly balanced VaPer. Others have more interesting Va's or Perique, but few have such a good balance between the two. As much as I like it, I'm glad I don't find it fantastic -- I'd hate to have to search this out for more, but I am sorry it's no longer in production. VaPer fans should try to sample this.

Again, I did not try the new Orlik - now Scandinavian Tobacco Group owned- version.

My wife has told me it smells rather pungent, but not overly offensive.

It packs and burns fine, leaving a clean white ash. You get sorry when you finish each bowl, so smoke it as slow as possible.

Elizabethan is a blend that is well balanced... mild but very flavorful, not overdone on perique but enough there to notice, sweet but not cloying. This is one of what I call "genius blends". It's not my favorite because of its subdued and balanced nature - it doesn't scream "excitement". But its one of those blends I find myself going back to time after time when the hype of this or that new blend is overwhelming. Light and dark virginias play off one another with a whisper of perique in the background of the taste buds that becomes a wonderful room filling aroma of quality leaf. Balance is what this one is all about, and the balance smacks of absolute genius.

If you can find some, buy it. Hopefully some U.S distributor will pick this up soon!

This is from a tin of Orlik production.

This is an interesting mix of very light tan ribbons down to black. There is a hint of perique spiciness in the tin aroma. Mild, delicate, and well-behaved at the match, one can detect the perique in the room note. At mid-bowl, the perique seems dominant, but only because the virginias are lackluster. A rather thin and plain smoke, though not unpleasant, there is little to make me want more. I need heartier fare.

Compares poorly to McClelland's 2015 and even more poorly to Reiner's spectacular Long Golden Flake.

I won't be keeping this one on hand, even if I could find some.

Rated only 3 out of 9 leaves.

At first match, the VA is all I taste, mild and pleasant and builds slowly in strength as the bowl progresses. About mid-bowl the perique starts to sound in and quickly lends a warm, peppery balance to the mix. This stuff works well for me since none of the players try to hog the scene.

However, there is definitely some bitterness toward the end, which doesn't bother me (I like it better than cloying sweetness) but if that is an experience that ruins a smoke for you, you may want to pass on this one.

Try it if you can find it.

**Update**

As I've smoked this through more pipes (and found one to give it sanctuary) I've become very fond of this tobacco. Enough to upgrade it to 3 1/2 stars... which is probably about as far as I'll go.

To note: This was a Murrays tin, so it had a few years on it before I popped it. Subsequently I've grabbed a few more tins, but they are different... for those that follow the Dunhill saga, my new (and cellared) tins still say "UK" but are in the EU style tins, so who knows. Seriously, if you can find a Murrays tin (it won't have a paper sticker on the bottom) it will definitely be worth the roll.