Initial note is cavendish forward on the charring light - not in an aromatic way, but rather natural cavendish, anaIgous to Luxury Bullseye Flake if you dropped a rubbed-out cavendish core right on top of the bowl. I detect no Perique until about half way through the bowl when I can sense the spice in my sinus cavities. But perique content is light. Virginias assert in final half of the bowl and, in the final third it all comes together marvelously. I like blends like this that change flavors as the bowl progresses. I found, in the final quarter of the bowl, that the cavendish reasserts as pleasantly sweet.

The tin describes this blend as Virginia, Cavendish and Perique. But the description in the box at top also state's burley as an ingredient. If there is burley present, it's blended harmoniously as I don't pick it up as a dominant or distinct flavor.

While not generally a fan of Peterson blends (University Flake excepted), I really enjoy this one. An excellent VaPer hybrid for those who prefer very light Perique. A nice change of pace for smokers of PS Luxury Bullseye Flake. May not satisfy the hard core VaPer smoker but I find it a nice diversion from the main rotation. Very pleasant smoke.

As a side note, I'm surprised many found this blend medium-to-full in strength and taste. Despite the strong name, "Irish Oak", I found it very light as compared to a traditional VaPer and would highly recommend it to those just newly experimenting with this type of blend, or those who prefer a lighter blend.

This is a reliable tobacco. Straightforward and mild, it reminds me of vanilla ice cream in that it is mild, comforting but a bit boring smoke, although i would understand if some people call it elegant.

It is mostly ribbon cut with strands of varying length and thickness. There are equal quantities of darker to lighter leaf – darker oily maroon strands (Cavendish?) are mixed with golden orange to rusty-brown strands with occasional small cuts of dark- brown broken flake (Perique?). I estimate the Perique content is 3–5%.

The smoke starts off like a lighter Va-Per and is quite sweet, often with a floral fragrance, but soon develops a more robust and peppery taste. The flavour builds down the bowl, and mid-bowl the smoke transforms into more nutty and wood-like flavours. Overall the flavour is dominated by Virignia and Burley, but it is very much a unique blend (and I wouldn’t say this is a classic Va-Per). The perique is detectable and adds spice but the taste overall is dry-nuttier (from the Burley) and woody with a subtle fragrant sweetness that alternates between floral notes and earl grey tea. It has a decent nicotine content that can be quite strong at times.

When opening the tin, there is a special bouquet of fruity and smoky perfumes.

On a Meerschaum, the taste is stronger and straighter. On a Briar pipe, the taste is much mellower and nicer, I think because it gives it a sweeter taste.

Slight liqueur taste, the Perique and the Virginia are there, the Burley and Cavendish break that strength. I tasted some smoky flavours which are very special for such a blend of various tobacco. The N hit is definitely there.

Very highly recommended.

Not for beginners.

Upon opening the tin, I was slapped in the face with bright, fresh and sweet tobacco aromas.

It's a difficult packer, being that there are several different cuts here, so tread carefully?

This is a very new experience for me. This blend offers a light of very thin flavors, not that they are lesser, but the golden/orange VA's are really giving this blend a light, almost airy flavor. The other components come out to play, but in a way I've never smoked before.

The cav lends its sweetness, mellowness and depth while the Perique helps give Irish Oak its name. As the bowls gets about halfway, the flavor and aroma are very close to charring wood. Different. Pleasant, but different. You can definitely get the oaken sherry barrels essence here.

One thing this blend brought to my attention, I clearly have the wrong smoking schedule. This tobacco is very much a sit down, relax, have a cup 'o tea and take a break from life. Whereas my other tobaccos scream "WAKE UP! WE'RE READY FOR THIS!"

Peterson is also new to me, so this too was purchased (like 221b Black Shag) partially due to the negative remarks on tobaccoreviews. I had to try it for myself.

Am I satisfied? OOOH YEEES.

Not something I am going to smoke every day, it's a good change of pace blend, so it will sit contently waiting.

Smoking it gave me spicy feel in my mouth, like eating pepper food. It also gave me a mild short lasting buzz.

I think I'm going to prefer the sweeter aromatics over this blend. I wouldn't recommend this to new pipe smokers. Maybe cig smokers might like it.

I'll probably finish the tin but only because it cost me 50 bucks.

The blend in the tin smells like sour fruits, not in an aromatic candy sort of way, but like real natural fruits.

honestly, the blend taste like vaper if you add the taste of the way a walk through damp, spring time woods smells. odd description, but great blend

Opening the tin you can smell very weak aroma, mainly hay and dry grass, in background some sweet note of honey. You don’t need to dry it out, coming out of the tin is ready to smoke.

It burns very easily, a bit too quickly in my opinion. The first puffs are almost without any taste; going through the bowl you can taste sweet VA and cavendish (both not so sweet in this case), peppery PE, wood and hay notes, with a good load of vitamin N.

Despite the number of tobaccos used in this blend it's a quite flat smoke, from the beginning to the end of the bowl, no surprise.

This is a very simple and sincere blend, not for the ones who love complex and round taste: no frills, only pure and monochromatic tobacco taste.

Irish Oak does burn nicely without gurgle, when smoked correctly. The room note left behind is light and not unpleasant (sorry...I don't have the instruments to properly conduct a "wife test"). It is of light to medium flavor...leaning towards sun dried lawn clippings rather than forest floor. The perique is apparent, although not overpowering. If you have swore off perique because you jumped into too strong a tobacco as a kid (my first experience with perique was smoking it straight in college one evening...I earned a healthy respect for it that night!) but you've always wondered what the mystique about it is, this might be your tobacco. Irish Oak does pack some nicatine though. My first few bowls caused raucous hiccups.

In conclusion, nice tobacco. It will not be a daily smoker, but it is nice to have a tin laying around to switch things up here and there.

Tin moisture upon opening was actually perfect. Absolutely NO bite and no gurgling. I loved the taste. I loved the vitamin N. I will definitely keep this in stock.