Hearth & Home Louisiana Red

Well, much like Hearth and Home Virginia Spice. This one starts of decent but flattened out pretty quick. Not a bad blend but it could use alot of help in the Virginia department and I dont think Perique is the answer.

Jimink's review of H&H Louisiana Red is spot on.

As delivered, the tobacco is a bit on the moist side but nevertheless is easy to light and burns evenly, requiring few relights. The aroma of the unburnt tobacco is mildly sweet.

Taste-wise, the red Virginias predominate but the Perique is quite noticeable throughout the smoke, being about mid-way between spicy and fruity. The flavor starts out sweet, fruity and spicy and becomes milder, darker and richer towards the end. H&H LR burns to a dark grey ash, leaving no moisture in the bowl. There is no bite or tongue burn, no matter how fast you smoke it. The after-taste is very pleasant. I rate the tobacco's strength as medium, but I only smoke on occasion and so may be more susceptible to nicotine than the average pipe smoke.

I've been looking for a replacement for McClelland No. 5100 Red Cake and, while H&H LR is not as flavorful as the McClelland red Virginia blend, it's a pretty good substitute. At less than $50 a pound, it's quite a bargain IMO.

If you like VaPers that are sweet and not too spicy, I strongly recommend you try it.

I got a sample of this in a box pass that took place in the smoking tent at the 2018 Chicago Show. I lit it up as we sat there and I was quickly sold on the blend. My preferences generally run towards sweeter uncased or very lightly cased blends like Esoterica Brighton and Pembroke and Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake. This review is based on the fresh one pound factory-sealed bag from Sutliff I ordered immediately after sampling it. I think it will improve with some aging, since my sample was slightly better than the batch I’m smoking now.

Louisiana Red is slightly sweet, with the figgy Perique providing just enough flavor to add interest and tame the bite of the Red Virginias. The Perique isn’t peppery, just flavorful. The side stream is delightful and adds to my enjoyment of this blend. Without drying, a light pack using the Frank method (I use a smaller packet than most, BTW), burns easily with gentle puffs, providing plenty of creamy, cool, smoke. For me, it’s an excellent anytime, all day blend. Does not bite.

Others have compared this to AJ’s, which I haven’t tried yet, but I much prefer this over Anniversary Kake, which I find lacks the modest sweetness I enjoy.

Acquired an ounce of this from my local tobacco shop. Tin/pouch note for this blend is different than any blend I've smoked, but it is wonderful. I smell a bready/yeasty smell, with a touch of vinegar. A little hay smell as well. Packs well, stays lit well: it's a good cut. I enjoy the room note, my wife says it's "not too bad". So sounds to me it is pleasant/tolerable. Smokes fairly cool. I don't taste much pepper from the perique, but I feel it on the tongue. Pleasant sweetness, almost like sweet Hawaiian bread. I'm thinking there is some topping that perhaps is honey. After the sweetness, there is a bit of mustiness on the finish. Overall, it's a sweet, tasty blend that packs and Smokes great. I recommend.

A straight forward smoke that upon first look is nothing exceptional. You can't see the perique. It appears to be a straight red virginia but when you put fire to it you will then know it is indeed a VaPer. It is mild, lightly sweet but not boring. A solid reliable tobacco that does not surprise but always delivers a good smoke.

As a regular VaPer smoker I'm unsure where it will fit in my future but if you are new to VaPers or looking for your first try this would be a good place to begin.

Like the others VaPer Blend, 1st i open the can i can smell a good plum and raisin flavor. Is very good to smell it in a distance but little bit sharp if you smell it in near. In ribbon cut, is easy to pack and with a delighful sight to see this brown cut tobacco. At 1st light, the smoke is quite great, sweet and pleasant with a scent of plum or raisin. I draw it slowly and the taste is getting better, ascending from a mild and smooth taste to almost medium to strong taste with enough peppery and spiciness. Since i love the VaPer blends, i quite enjoy the strength, the strength is between Dunhill Elizabethan Mixtures to GL Pease Telegraph Hill, not to strong but also not to mild, just in medium strength. I smoke it using my briar full bent shape and my local tamarind woodheart pipe, and the moisture is good, not much gurgling even i draw it a little bit fast and hard, but if i draw it a little bit more faster or harder, i'm sure the heat and the moisture will be not good. This is must enjoy it with slowly. I really enjoying my smoking time with this blend from the beginning i open the can until the finish, so perhaps i will buy some more to keep it for aging. Aging VaPer blend usually great to smoke.

If you like mild, sweetish Red Virginias as the dominant part of a mild VaPer, this should appeal. This isn't a 'wow' blend, but it is a very pleasant, comfortable blend; a 'porch sitter', just sit back and enjoy. Since I know there are many tobaccos out there I would rate a 4, the question arises would I rebuy this particular tobacco, assuming my tastes don't change much more. In this case, the answer is maybe some day.

This is an OK VaPer, spicy and flavorful . Reminds me of a step up from Anniversary Kake, not as bitey . I have too many other Vapers I like better, this one and AK bring too much heat.

I think any fan of Va/Pers needs to try some of this. It's very satisfying, relaxing, doesn't bite, and unlike some of these types of blends out there, has a substantial amount of flavor with refinement. It doesn't knock your socks off with anything unique, but for me, always leaves you wanting more when your bowl is finished! Think Astleys no.2 with a bit more depth and smoothness.