4noggins Prairie Wind

Funny how the taste of certain tobaccos can call up memories.

Have just finished the second (or is it the third pipe) of Prarie Wind from 4 Noggins. Very reminiscent of a tobacco that no longer exists. About 1974 or 75 I had the pleasure of smoking a can or three of "Mullingars Knockbrack". Then,of course, it disappeared becoming unavailable to nothing more than memory. Quite a shame too since it was a really nice tobacco.

Had forgotten about it until I smelled the aroma of Richard Gottlieb's "Prarie Wind". The first stirring of an old memory tape started playing.The first part plainly said "Knockbrack" and the Internet supplied the company name "Mullingar". A sort of a deja vue taste experience followed on lighting up for the first time.

I don't know what the tobacco consitiuents were at the time that Richard used or if there is any casing or whatever but this was as close as could be imagined to that lost blend though.

Richard's headnotes say that it is a Virginia-Perique misxture. I'm sure that's true from the taste and burn qualities. It doesn't say anything about casing but there surely must be some since this blend smokes unlike anything I have tried in that particular blend genre since the now-ecesed "Knockbrack".Exactly like it in fact.

Sum it up here:

Great taste, easy filling,easy lighting.non-goopish and cool burning (after a little drying out, that is)and a wonderful aroma or so my wife says. Sweet, yes but not overly sweet, to my taste and a really nice nostalgic change of pace. No discernable bite or nastiness of aftertaste and a fair price. For those "Knockbrack" smokers around in 1995 or 96 you might want to give this one a contemplative try as it does bring back memories of a long-extinct very pleasant blend. For those not around then you may want to try it for the new memories it is capable of generating.

A small word of warning to those expecting a traditional unflavored Virginia Perique mixture. This is not like the more conservative British or even American blends and tends a little more towards the Danish versions of that type of blend. This in my opinion is very nice for a change of pace and a "little something different without being too outre. This is a very well done mixture that I'm sure it will improve even more with a little age and patience on the part of the smokers.

As Bob hope used to say "Thanks for the memories" Richard. Appreciate the skill of blending and the professional attitide of your establishment.

----The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

At first I though is was just ok, but now a year later I really like it. I don’t know if it’s the time in the jar, or my palate or technique has improved. It has an almost malty vanilla undertone but it’s definitely in the background. No harsh edges although I do smoke this with a charcoal filtered pipe. Not complex although it does evolve the a bit throughout the bowl, with the topping gaining strength mid-bowl, and then fading to a more straight Virginia flavor near the end, before it gets slightly ashy at the last bit of dottle. Sounds like it’s supposed to have a good amount of perique, but I found it to be very mild and it was much more of a light spice than a peppery flavor. The room note is tolerable to mildly pleasant. I found it needs several relights although I could definitely give it some drying time and that would probably improve. Puffed at a moderately quick pace, I experienced no bite, although filterless I’d choose a slower pace. Definitely repeatable throughout the day. Somehow I accidentally ordered a pound when I only meant to get 4 ounces, I’m glad I made that mistake. 3+

This weekend at the cottage was windy and I had a chance to feel mysel like a tired cowboy for an hour. For the first touch the tobacco feels like too moistured, but in fact it proved to be in excellent humidity. Maybe the wind of the prairie that flew into my pipe dries it, maybe the ember in the bowl was small, but maybe the humidity is just optimal. The smoke was cool, now it is very important for me. The tongue was not bite not a bit. The scent is smokee, but not too much. You can feel light sweetness if you will release the smoke to freedom in small portions through your nose. The smell is very pleasant with spicy notes. It seems familiar, but I do not remember the name. Cooled down and lighted again the pipe was not bitter or hot, but you should better avoid it. The sauce was not found by me. It smokes in a simple, easy, cool, long, fragrant and very nice way.

Prairie Wind. I recommend it.

This has a medium sweet red-Va currant or dark raisin taste with the merest hint of something like unsweetened black chocolate. The Perique is fruity, and more spice-like than peppery. McClelland describes their blending Perique as tasting somewhere between musty mushrooms and stewed fruit. The Perique in this blend is the closest to that description of any I've ever tasted.

Excellent balance between body, strength, and flavor. This is a cool, slow burning, satisfying smoke, so don't overload your palate with too large a serving. No goop, no gurgle, no dottle, no bite; medium vitamin N.

I was sent a sample of this with my recent purchase from 4noggins. I assume it was because I ordered a lot of McClelland 5100. Smokers of 5100 will probably like this. It is simple, easy burning, and without a hint of bite. It says it contains perique, but I smoke a lot of Va/Pers and the perique is basically undetectable to my tastes. There is a hint of a topping that I don't love but don't mind.

Good solid tobacco. I will happily smoke the rest of the sample, but find it not enough more interesting than 5100 to make a change. Nonetheless 4 stars.

This is my first venture into a Va/Pr blend. For me this tobacco is lightly sweet with a spicy top note that is very pleasing to my taste buds. It packs well, smokes to a fine ash, and leaves a great taste in your mouth when you are done. The pipe really takes off for me about mid pipe. I puff pretty hard instead of taking sips, and this tobacco never bit and tasted good the whole time. My wife actually said that it smells good too, so that is a plus. I also really like the customer service that comes from 4noggins.

Overall highly recommended, and some that I will be keeping in my cellar.

I like to smoke VA/PERS, adding vinegar is a very clever operation, alkaline problems are reduced, lighting is easy, the room doesn't smell very good, this should be a mixture with added yogurt.

When I opened the bag, I smelled a pair of stinky socks that could stand up.I had to do it outside in the open

I got a sample from a friend and wasn't  impressed with the first bowl. This is my second bowl after a few months...

Typical Va tin aroma mixed with hints of vanilla/caramel.

Needs some drying time.

This blend has the fruity tangy sugary notes complemented with earthy woody notes. I found perique to be mild with very little peperriness or sweetness.

Slight PG along with taste of cardboard and soap can be felt on the palate as an after-taste.

I found it to be poor concoction of Virginias and Perique which was bland and boring.

If this was meant to be a VaPer... in my opinion, it has failed to be one.

If it was meant to be an aromatic... again it has failed.

Overall score ..no more than 1.5

Burns cool and leaves little to no moisture and require few relights.

With so many other bulk blends which are actually good VaPers I wouldn't waste my money on this blend.

Taste mild Strength medium

As usually, you have to dry it before smoking or it will be overwhelming (my pouch was too wet, maybe just mine). When it's not too wet, the taste is good (if you like perique, of course). The room note ? Strong as every perique. You like it or not, it's a personnal opinion. It's rather strong. My dedicaded pipe has a small bowl and it's good enough. I can't imagine finish a "normal" bowl. It has to be said that I'm not a heavy smoker, maybe it's for that reason. Anyway, I highly recommend this tobacco for whom who like perique. If it's not the case, pass your way...