Hearth & Home Louisiana Red

The H&H Red Virginia blends are absolutely fantastic. I've had several of them and it does feel like they have their own unique characteristic of a very sweet wine-like aroma. Specifically, and this is highlighted in this blend, it reminds me of one of those Chocolate wine/liquor candies that come in these fancy boxes.

The smoke itself carries some of that aroma and flavor with it. It's amazing how these Red Virginias and the way they're processed can produce such a great flavor. It tastes aged, fermented fruit, wine, a bit of chocolate. And all of it purely natural! This reminds me very much of some Sutliff Red Virginia blends as well, which makes sense since these are produced by Sutliff.

The Perique is very much in the background and helps with a bit of spice. But the Red Virginias are the star of this and other H&H blends.

Similarly to Anniversary Kake, this one too comes in a bit moist and needs some drying time. I don't remember right now how long I dried it for, but it might've been overnight. I made sure that the leaves didn't stick to each other and then I knew it's ready.

Once they're dried enough, the packing and smoking is fairly smooth, although it does require a few relights. The flavor carries throughout the smoke and that tasty Red Virginia sweetness stays with me well after I finished the smoke. It doesn't really bite, but it feels very close to bite. However, I smoked this blend all day for several days and haven't had one of these awful bites, so I think that it's pretty safe.

Body is medium, strength is mild. Not one-dimensional. There's a great play between the sweetness, sourness, and spiciness which are enjoyed even more on the retrohale. Can be an all-day smoke.

I don't usually get the room note but the other day I got to smoke with the door close and then come back into the room. It doesn't smell very good, but nothing awful either. Just a little stuffy.

For me, this smoked the best in a medium-size Billiard or Canadian shapes. Other shapes weren't great either mechanically or in terms of capturing the taste.

Aside from the almost-bite, this is an absolutely fantastic blend.

Hearth & Home, Louisiana Red: A Simple Red Virginia with Perique

This is a straightforward blend. The red Virginia is quite earthy with a little tanginess and a tad bit of sweetness. However, it lacks any bright or grassy note. The perique is noticeable with a slight spiciness, but is not over the top.

Overall, Louisiana Red is pleasant but a bit mundane—lacking the complexity to keep me interested bowl after bowl.

Just sweet red virginia and very little perique. Taste better with aging my batch is about 2 years old, it really brings out the sweetness of the virginias. Highly recommended if you are a virginia devotee, or as a introduction to the genre.

This is a very nice and approuchable Va/Per blend. Packs well and burns well right down to a nice dry white ash. Not your typical Va/Per blend. If you enjoy the sweeter side(and I do)then this blend is a definate must try. It probably will not change your world, but it is a little different. Its not Escudo but it is good ! A little age on it helps and dry is good but not crunchy.

Confessing I'm fond of perique leaves, the perique in this blend is not necessarily satisfactory to me due to the lack of spiciness. In addition, this blend tastes much sweeter than other Va/P blend does and than I am comfortable with. Maybe time would compensate as some other reeviewer commented. I consumed 2oz. of this and put another 2oz. into my cellar. 2 star rating out of 4.

08-22-2006

Shortly after my last comments (below), I set Red aside and it has aged for the past 8 months. Tonight I rubbed out the tobacco, handful by handful, as finely as possible. I also spread it out to dry in a thin layer as I did so.

I tried my first pipe after supper. The aging, rubbing out and airing all worked to improve the tobacco in my opinion. Most importantly, it will stay lit through a bowl. The summer cooled my ardor for the pipe and this was my first smoke in weeks. Nevertheless, I have no tongue burn, though my soft palate did become a little hot while smoking.

The jury is still out on the taste. It reminds me in some ways of MC 5100, which I enjoy from time to time. Now that its burn qualities have improved, I can see where it would make a nice all day smoke. It would still be nice to have a little more of a nicotine punch, I speak as a former Marlboro smoker.

The recommendation is raised from somewhat recommended to recommended. At this point, I am still less than pleased with the taste and after taste.

12-21-2005 My fondness for LA Red is waning. This is not a wet tobacco, but I am having a devil of a time keeping it lit and burning well. Three and four relights have been necessary. And I retract the comment below regarding the desire for greater Perique. Originally, I must have been so overwhelmed by the Perique component, that is present in force, that it did not register. The work required is not worth the return in taste. I am downgrading to "somewhat recommended." Marble Kake, also from Pipes and Cigars is a much more enjoyable smoke all the way around.

I am still getting to know LA Red. My first introduction was a pleasant experience. All of my previous VA/Per tobaccos have been flakes or broken flakes. So the cut of Red was a new experience. Packing and lighting were not problematic. It is a very smooth and good tasting smoke. The high quality of the tobaccos is evident. Whether I buy again is still up in the air. On first impressions, I liked Marble Kake most of the two.



Advent is almost over. Christmas is almost here. A merry and blessed Christmas to all of you.

Prison Chaplain

This is one of the sweeter VA/Perique blends I've tasted.

The ribbon-cut does need to be torn up a bit to make the burn satisfactory.

The flavor - wow! A tangy, sweet spiciness remniscent of tiny cranberries and tiny Chamorroh chiles. Not a bit of sourness.

This is an extremely flavorful, high-quality blend that has earned a place in my travelling dark carnival of tobacco pleasures.

I am reminded of watching an infernal circus of malformed misanthropes performing for my utmost pleasure while I, in an inebriated state, smile with self-satisfaction.

Man am I glad I bought this . When I opened a pouch I got a whiff of raisins and a weak ketchup aroma. my sample came dry so for me it lit well the perque cleared some sinus and was quite peppery and the virgina was giving great smoke down to a nice ash . The smoke was awsome and my wife test is sure to pass on this blend.

Now this is one great VA/per! Ultra-premium leaf is obviously used in this blend. If you love the natural soft sweetness of Red Virginia and if you love good real Perique then this is your blend! The Perique spice and Red Virginia sweetness share the front of the stage like a blues jam duet by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. Only in Heaven could you experience that...but Russ Ouellette is the angelic blender that has brought a piece of that here to us. This is one to stock-and-store!