So I did, and got the sort of tin that normally contains highly-compressed flakes. This one contained a highly-compressed lump of plug in an additional plastic wrapper.

Right on opening, there is not much of a tin note. After having kept the block of pressed leaf in a mason jar for a week, there is a fruity note to this blend that I cannot properly define, but to me it smells like a very gently applied sauce of cherry and blackberry, just barely making it over the toasted Burley.

I use a dedicated, razor-sharp kitchen knife to cut all my plugs and ropes; with a plug, I cut down slices, which I then cut into cubes. With this blend, those light well and keep slowly glowing forever... I use my smallest bowls. Beautiful, toasty-sweet taste, some fruit in there, the room note isn't bad at all, and PPP will burn cool even in a storm.

I wish there were more punch in there, though. In the overall smoking experience, this blend is not too different from, say, Irish Flake, and that is a fold-and-twist preparation that maybe does not have the Zen qualities of cutting it up yourself, but is more practical on a bowl-to-bowl basis. Hence, great blend, yes, but I can't give the full four here.

I suggest accompanying PPP with a Highland Single Malt, or a very good Irish.

I let it dry a little waiting it to get better, but even dried it burned my tongue, and although i could taste the nuts (and it could be so good) it was too empty a smoke.

Maybe i will try it again later, and maybe then it will taste well, but for now, it's just rubbish.

Although this is nice tasting, smooth/creamy/ slightly spicy /pleasingly frutiy without an overpowering topping (like some of the lakeland plugs), there's not enough going on to really light my pipe.

A Plug tobacco ought to have more character than this. Too toned down. There are more interesting Peterson tobaks, such as Irish Oak, University Flake, and Irish Flake, all of which have more to offer, without the pain of having to cut rub and dry.

Whether its because I'm not used to plugs maybe incorrectly preparing them or whatever. (I cubed, I flaked, I rubbed out)

But I never took to this. I found it bitey, difficult and stubborn. But that again may have just been the inexperience with plugs. Comes in a very hard little block similar in appearance to tightly compacted jerk beef.

It comes in a cellophane wrapper inside the tin, and I must say looks just like a block of the old 'wink wink, nudge nudge'

Shame it doesn't smoke as well.....

2 stars, as a bit of age (3-5 years) and an improved plug technique by yours truly may see the grading improve.

Plug is an interesting format. Take a sharp pocket knife and carve strips from the edge. Rub or chop the strips. (Must admit this part got old pretty fast, need a sharp antique plug cutter.) I had a little trouble with initial lighting, but once it got going it needed very few relights.

I taste the sweet, cured grain of the Virginia. Dried fruit taste at first, fades into the rich tobaccos. Floral, slightly soapy, flavors reappear throughout the bowl, but so subtle, so subdued - I find it fascinating, and quite satisfying. The Nicotine level is pretty high so be careful. A bit stronger than I usually choose, still I can’t help but love this stuff.

Anyway 3P's;a very dense plug and moist to the touch(more damp).

First pipe;i tore off a layer or so and shredded in a bud grinder. My first impressions after getting it going was;very steamy and citrusy like pure lemon juice vapour - ;got up my nose like a fizzy drink and stung my eyes..

Tasted like lemon sherbert or bitter lemonade,,sometimes a hint of licorice,i would class it an aromatic at this point.

The baccy beneath the aromatic surface tasted between "university flake" and "dunhill light flake".

Hard work to slice,even with a stanley knife it was like cutting hide.

Room note was like lemon juiced pancake(atleast in my smoking vicinity)

I found this a chore to smoke and also difficult - it didn't want to burn and it faught me all the way down..(also on lighting it expands like popcorn and needs a good tamping)

I found it slightly spikey like it was wanting to bite,but not enough to stop me persevering.

Tried it sliced and in cube form to taste the properties of shape and the combination of the leaves together,,i have also stripped layers to see how that works;it makes no difference to taste because its mainly lemony,and the leaves are so mutually infused with eachother..

Leaving the plug out for half a day produced no improvement,,i like best;baccy that i can just open and smoke even if a bit moist,,and this was nothing special enough to justify fuffing about with(i had just been spoiled by my first plug of "kendall dark xx" which tasted like pure beef,,and i had also on getting bored of "3P's" some "revor plug")

I left "3P's" to dry out some more,,,;top of the bowl was prickly but gets smoother,but its just a "so what" experience..For a lighter smoke i would go for "erinmore flake" or "mixture" before this because i can get a reasonable smoke strait out of the tin.

Thinking that i wouldn't buy this again because it reminded me of "amberleaf" rollup,,;in a moments boredom i tore the whole block up into @ 1.5mm layers and cut them with scissors into 1/4" x 1.5" inch strips and left it open in the tin for 24 hours..

WHAT A TRANFORMATION!

The citrus vapour factor has left the building,,,;and what remained was a mellow,slightly fruit fragrenced,mild and smooth smoke like a lighter bodied "university flake" or a fruitier version of "dunhill light flake"

I could now taste the baccy for what it was and compare its overal flavour to semolina or tapioca pudding..(quality at last,,;to be honest all peterson aromatics have required a full day of opening before smoke to get the best out of them)

So easy on the tongue now that i forgot i was smoking it almost,,,;my problem was in trying to preserve it in its plug form out of novelty factor instead of dealing with it.

I am also impressed with what the "scissor cut" did to the packing and smokability of this,,;its virtues were liberated.

Burns to a grey ash with a few semi-burnt coals at the bottom of the bowl(i saved these for putting on top of the next bowl because they made good lighting material).

Would i buy this again though?,,;that would depend entirely on what else was available on the shelf next to it or whether i was ordering on line,,,also whether i wanted to smoke it there and then. I would grab university flake over this anytime if on the same shelf,,;i wouldn't actively order this on line again though,i prefer university flake's fuller body and its ready for smoking out the tin. I would buy this over your average OTC brands and save it for later and smoke rollup in the meantime..

Last note:-This actually smoked its best when completely dried out,i had to be careful on packing to make sure i didn't turn it to dust,,,;but its ironic that its best smoking potential was when its form was at the complely opposite end of the spectrum, compared to how it was first originally sold...(Destroy to enjoy)

Different methods of preparation tended to yield a similar flavor, no surprise here as logic would dictate. From rubbing out flakes to slicing off and cubing, the duration of each session varied according to net amount tobacco in the bowl.  I very much enjoyed shaving off strips as well as rubbing out flakes; however, the one and only time I tried cube cuts I nearly smoked myself into nauseous oblivion.  Needless to say this tobacco borders on being strong in the nicotine department and cube cuts can really pack a huge amount of tobacco into a bowl.

I think to actually make flavor comparisons would do this blend an injustice as it is not noticeably topped or altered in any way (despite the stated "berry"). The only true taste that comes through is that of a smooth but very rich burley – not quite bitter but definitely not sweet. 

I recommend this blend to anyone who is looking for the following smoking characteristics: medium to strong nicotine, variety of preparation methods (i.e. not readily smokeable unless you prepare in advance), rich flavor but not sweet and finally a crowd neutral room note (3P definitely won’t have people coming up to you or running away from you).  

However, does 3P deliver? Yes, it does. It provides a cool and rich smoke if you don't puff away at it too hard, but even if you do, it's forgiving. The tin odour is sweet and fruity and it is echoed in the actual smoking of this fine tobacco. I really like the gentle sweetness during the smoke However, for best results let it dry for at least 15 minutes for the plug is dense and a little moist. All in all, a very desirable tobacco.

Harsh? Ya, it is, but it's honest. I am glad I tried this before I bought it.

~Old Toby

Slightly fruity, good full strength baccy, good quality leafs, but surpassed on all fronts by it's flanking flakes, I shall be sticking to IR and UF and buy some McQuaid's Plug when I'm back in Dublin.