J. F. Germain & Son Royal Jersey Perique Mixture

I like Perique, but not a ton of it, so I was a little apprehensive about this blend. Well….there’s Perique in the name, but it isn’t a Perique powerhouse by any stretch. As others have mentioned, the tin scent of this blend is really enticing, but it just serves to raise expectations that simply weren’t met, at least by me. I like the very thin cut, although I’m not sure I’d call it a shag. It’s easy to pack and burns really nicely. There is a subtle sweetness and a little fruity, but like I have experienced with other Germain blends sold under the company name, I am left wanting. There isn’t much in the way of complexity, which for me doesn’t determine the overall quality of a blend, but when it’s lacking, the straightforward flavor needs to be spot on. Perique blend, is a decent tobacco, but for me, not worth the hunt for an available tin. I continue to find the Germain blends that I have tried, with the exception of Eighteen Twenty, not reaching the bar that the company sets for their Esoterica line or Smoker’s Haven line of tobacco. Taste is a very subjective thing, but for me two stars seems about right.

Had this jarred for a little over a year and just recently got to it. When I opened the lid a strong wine-like smell hit me and I started licking my chops. Had to wait a bit though as it needed some drying time. Finally got a bowl stuffed and fired it up and immediately started wondering where the flavor disappeared to. The little flavor I got was very nice but very muted. It's the flavor of a fine mulled wine but so mild as to be not to my liking. Tried in numerous pipes and various moisture levels with the same result each time. If you're into mild flavors this would be a great choice for you. Sadly, it's not for me.

Body is mild to medium. Flavor is mild. Burns very well.

I don't know if I had a bad batch, but I was seriously underwhelmed by this blend.

The sight of the dried out broken bits with more than a fair share of stem twigs was somewhat unprepossessing and the pack aroma was very faint. It packed, lit and burned well enough, but I found the taste rather dull and one-dimensional, I was hoping for spicy fruit, but all I got was a rather dry and dusky smoke.

As I said, I am not convinced that my sample was in the best condition so in fairness I am awarding it an extra star. But I am not sure I can bring myself to risk another go. Disappointing.

This is another OK blend from Germain and, like Royal Jersey Latakia, I'm just not overly excited by it. However, I found myself liking this a bit more than RJL. This blend's cut follows suit with RJL and Smokers' Haven OBB and EM (blended by Germain), meaning long, fine cut strings of tobacco in varying dark shades.

From the tin, it has a heavier aroma but also has a "fruitiness" to it. This fruit component is one aspect that initially turned me off but is lost once lit in the bowl. As it aged, it lost most of the fruity aroma and picked up the "tea" aroma I've noticed in other blends.

I found this to be a fairly robust blend in the pipe and appears to be fairly bland. I didn't find much else coming through other than just a heavy, peppery smoke. I would also say it's not an all day blend. For me, it left me a bit light-headed due to the nicotine content.

This, like Roayl Jersey Latakia, is borderline two or three rating but gains a two because I just can't really find anything that intrigues me or would cause me to purchase it again. Like RJL, I feel this is a good quality tobacco, as I believe all of the Germain offerings are, but it's just not for me.

This is an exquisite, well made blend very aristrocratic and well bred. This is like having a conversation with a delightful and intelligent person you come away feeling enlightened. Can you tell I liked this. In the tin you smell the virginia like a finely aged wine. The perique is very ghostly laid in with restraint. This burns so cool I used it to break in a new pipe! The tobacco burns really dry with no dottle and no need for pipe cleaners. I like to exhale this through my nose the flavor is delicious. An excellant all day blend does not induce fatigue or boredom. I will be purchasing more of this. I do recommend this to anybody who likes pure tobacco taste.

This is a just fine blend by Germain. It has a better flavor yet is much milder than Dunhill's Elizabethan in my opinion.

A light virginia with a slightly scented cavendish and some perique are in the blend. I see a lot of guessing on the flavor, and lightly wine-like is mine, but it does not smoke like an American or Danish aromatic at all (or "soapy"). Which means it is fairly dry and cool.

It comes in a "block" in the tin (similar to Gold Block), but it is not too tightly pressed so it is easy to pull apart enough strands for a bowl at a time. It is not a flake. I suppose if you will take more than three weeks to smoke a tin you better protect it from drying out too much, but I am just finishing my tin at the three week mark and it still seems fine to me.

The perique is there all right but is not sharpe and does not really assert itself in the flavor much unless you smoke it fast (or maybe outside in a slight breeze or if left too dry). It is definitely in the room aroma. A hint of spice would be a fair statement in a quality cavendish type blend.

It is a cool, all day smoke with a very interesting favor. The perique probably ups the blend from the light category to a light-medium or medium. Very nice; a virtual delicacy of flavor and spice.

Very typical Germain taste. It is sweetened with some sort of liqueur probably and it tastes like a very mildly topped Danish blend – dried fruit, liqueur. Maybe there is some spicyness and dried fruit, but it’s not at all similar to your typical Va/Per (Escudo, Royal Flake). It has the unique Germain taste and it’s similar to Plum Cake.

Has medium strength with a decent nicotine content. At times it can get too sweet. I am glad I tasted it but I don’t think I would buy again. Recommended to those who like the style, if you’re looking for another Va/Per you might be disappointed.

As said here before, I would not call this a traditional Vaper. I've never had a tobacco quite like this. Very moist and dries slow. I like my baccy on the dry side, but not dried out. I set this out for a hour. When somebody says a tobacco is smooth, now I know exactly what it means. The Virginia's are on the light side, and normally to me that means I won't be satisfied but this Virginia has depth. The sweetness is what stands out. A touch of perique complements the top notch Virginia. There is a topping or maybe flavored cavendish. I hesitate to call it a florial essence, but almost. More like a very mild fruit, blended with notes of the seaside. Notes of salt, seaweed and fish oil really make this interesting. Just not my style.

A pleasant 'Hay' note greets you when you open the tin of the wonderful air cured bright virginia the moisture straight out of the tin was just about perfect and the ribbon cut packed and smoked perfectly, quality ingredients all round. Flavour for me was again bang on the money with not an overwhelming amount of Perique but enough to give that peppery tingle on the tounge. Room note is again hay like in quality bought about by the Virginia so nothing to complain about there either. Good stuff, but to be honest I still prefer the likes of Mcbarren Rollcake for a VaPer

Left for a couple of months and revisited...and has improved greatly, my advice is let it breathe you will be rewarded