FSB is not as strong as rated. I hesitated between "mild to medium" and "medium" for a while before deciding on "medium."

When I opened the tin I was welcomed by a nice tin aroma of Bourbon which was very pleasant and not intrusive. When I saw the tobacco was very dry and it is mostly Golden VA with medium brown BU but not a lot of PER I knew this forecasted tongue bite.

Add that, the cut being very broad, I had to puff extra harder to get the tobacco going and keep it lit and that is definitively tongue bite.

The result? My tongue is currently destroyed. Raw and painful.

Might be a very good quality leaf but my God, it does not taste much and does my tongue ever hurt right now.

The flavor is briny with a touch of sweetness. What there was of the bourbon flavoring burns off quickly but it remains ever so slightly in the room bouquet. Some notes of cigarette but not to the point of being dull. I'm not sure if the mild sweetness is a result of the virginia or the topping but it doesn't taste of bourbon to me - more of a wisp of vanilla, but that's not quite right, either. It works, however, and keeps this blend from becoming all brine and pepper. Not as rich or flavorful as Haddo's Delight from GLP, my reference for booze-flavored VaPers. This would probably make a better early morning version but since I don't get to smoke much early in the day, I'll stick with Haddo's. Even so, this one is well worth a try and recommended for those who enjoy perique that is very noticeable but not too heavy on the palate.

The bourbon adds a super pouch aroma, but upon lighting, the perique fig smell dominates. As for taste, the Virginias dominate the light, but the perique flavor and aroma dominate after the first third of the bowl. It burns extremely well with little or no dottle.

Burley bites me big time, but I got no bite from this. Fair warning, though - it can get hot.

I am a big fan of Russ' Sweet and Savory, and although it looks similar, I don't taste the comparison. I prefer Sweet and Savory. For VA/PER lovers, I think this ranks right up there with Greg Pease's Haddo's Delight, but Haddo's is richer and heavier.

One thing to add - those in the know can immediately spot a Russ Ouellette blend. For the uninitiated, Frenchy's Sunza Bitches is the best example I've seen. No other blender uses this cut or delivers tobacco with this immediately-smokable humidity. Too bad we can't add photos. Tons of Russ' blends are cellaring worldwide because this guy is a master.

Update 1/24/12 - This has been cellared for almost a year and it reminds me very much of P&C's Marguee Series Sweet & Savory. SB is stronger and not as smooth, has a ton of spice. Neither of those blends have the Burley or Kentucky out front. A touch too spicey for me.

I had a brief but heated fling with this stuff awhile back. At one point I was convinced this was "the one" for me.

But then I started hanging out with the Latakia crowd and trying out some other VaPers and we just sorta drifted apart. Eventually I quit calling altogether.

But today I happened on a a half a jar of it and broke it out on a whim.

Damn.

I remember now why I was so In love at one time.

Really a very nice VaBurPer

I believe this incorporates mostly C&D blending components and will not be anything ground breaking for those familiar with the likes of OJK, Haunted Bookshop, Night Train et al.

But it is very nicely done. Tastes like a sweet bright VaPer but the burley rounds it out with substance. Sort of like if you rubbed out some Escudo and threw in some Prince Albert.

Anyway, a very nicely done blend I would recommend to anyone who is at all a fan of the genre.

There's nothing overpowering here but a great smoke in a large bowl, two in a row if you have time. I'm rating it at FOUR stars but you have to like perique to appreciate it.

The cut is very coarse, looking almost like the broken up flakes in the bottom of a box of Wheaties. I wasn't sure how this would pack and light,, but it really didn't give me any trouble. It lit quickly, and stayed lit with no problem. The initial burn did bite my nostrils pretty good, but once it got going it settled down. It burned clean down to the bottom of the bowl. The flavor was nowhere near as "in your face" as I've seen others describe. It was far less spicy than I had expected, and the fruitiness of the perique was pretty subdued.

This is a tobacco that may appeal to those wanting something with more flavor than the standard OTC burley blends, but don't want to have too much of an adventure. The nicotine level was pretty good, but nothing to ring my bell. And the flavor, while nowhere near blowing my socks off, was good; nothing off about it. However, I'm just not sure I would buy it again given the price. Yes, I understand that this is hand blended. But, I can easily name four or five va/per blends that would blow my socks off that cost less.

** Threw the rest out in the garbage today. Whatever small enjoyment there might have been in this, it has gone. My initial impression was that the flavor was decent, but the more I smoked this, it just got bland and boring.

This blend is a rough cut of light, medium and dark brown flakes, and has a fig sweet aroma that is mouth watering. It is somewhat dry but perfect for my tastes and it packed easily into my pipe bowl and lit up quite easily. But look out, a burst of flavor! Spicy, somewhat sweet, and oh so good. I smoked it hard as I really enjoyed it and could not get enough of it, yet no bite, yes the tongue numbing taste and strength of the Cajun tobacco but no bite at all. It smoked smoked clean and dry all the way down to the bottom of my bowl with no moisture or dottle at all. It kept it's flavor to the last puff and remained creamy and smooth to the end. I have never had a blend like this before, so in your face good to smoke. I will be ordering this one in bulk and large quantities. Can you tell I highly recommend it?

(Original review: 6-15-08): This is an in-your-face blend that reaches to the back of your throat and kicks hard. This is perhaps the loudest mixture I've ever tried, a riot of sweet-and-sour flavors that can overwhelm your tastebuds if not careful. This blend is all about the perique, with just enough sweet Virginia to make it palatable. The topping is definitely noticeable throughout the bowl but serves to enhance the natural tobacco flavors rather than obscure them. It reminds me somewhat of Redwood and has a comparable nicotine hit. I'm a perique junkie, but this stuff makes even Old Joe Krantz seem like a model of subtlety and complexity. This isn't a bad thing, mind you -- I've greatly enjoyed my sample and have laid down a half-pound or so to see how it ages. But not everyone will be able to appreciate or even tolerate this, I think. I'm rating this on a split scale: If you don't like perique, this is a 1. If (like me) you enjoy heavy amounts of perique, it's a 3. If it ages well, it may become a 4.

This review is based on untinned bulk, although it is also available in tins if desired.

The tobacco is entirely brown & tan with a very faint perique aroma in the pouch. But at the match, it shouts, "Perique Is Here!" By mid-bowl, I'm having trouble tasting anything other than peppery Perique. I had a pepper stake like this once where I couldn't taste the meat! Finishes in the same manner.

VaPer lovers take note: This may be nirvana for you, but it's way too spicy for me. Believe the description!

Compares to: What?? This is the strongest perique blend I've ever tried. I prefer Renier's Long Golden Flake.

I will not be keeping this on hand, but I'm glad I tried it.

For me it rates only 3 out of 9 leaves.

UPDATED

Don't let the perique scare you away THis is really a rich good broad leaf Virginia blend. This blend is already pretty dry when you get it. But let it sit open for a few days. Then you can definelty taste the Burbon or Jack Daniels. This blend will not gunk up your pipe at all. Leaves a neat dry ash that taps out. The Jack & the Perique mix well and would be good with a tall glass of Jack. Like Jack Daniels not for the faint at heart a real mans blend. Once Again Good Stuff will add this to my rotation of blends. But probally more regularly. Russ maybe renaming this to Biker Delight, Open Road OR Harley's Smoke. Definetly a tough guys smoke. In the words of Sonny Corleone "Son of a Bitch!" What a smoke!!!! This is for a Virgina lover as well as the Perique Lover. Both leaves marry well in this mixture. The full ribbon cut sweet Virgina is at the top of this blend the Perique is there right behind it. The burley helps them both Virgina & Perique get along well in this marriage. There is a slight fig and black pepper flavor from the perique which comes through now and then. Keeping it interesting. The flavor dose not go flat throughout the bowl.As far a as the Jack Daniels it is there but if you take a clump and let it sit a day the Jack flavor will be more apparent but not over powering. The blend is on the dry side and a little hard to keep lit as mentoined let it dry a bit. Best to really pack the bowl tight. Nicotine level high but very very good. The JACK DANIELS helps keeps the room note less offenssive. This is the first blend that I have tried from Pipes and cigar. Very impressed with the service A++++++. I like this blend if for anything a change a pace from my everyday smoke. Tip Puff slow very slow to get the full flavor. This could be my everyday smoke but that would ruin the special treat of this blend being so unique. A must try my hat's off to Russ "Good old American ingenuity" This is a true American New classic. Only made in America.

Images evoked include a plate from a Chinese buffet overcoated with sweet and sour sauce and a dash of tobasco.

I did not find the perique to be overpowering just a good counterpoint to the virginia. Nicotine is moderate; I found it very tolerable I immediately ordered more of this tobacco and plan to keep it on hand

Meer lined cob, 2oz. sample