Mac Baren HH Acadian Perique

A great everyday smoke. The perique is very up front, possibly amplified by the inclusion of dark kentucky. I do not detect the orientals. Has a bit of a cigarretish taste, but nothing to get worked up about. Nothing too original, just a solid blend to keep on hand.

This is my third foray into the HH series; I finally realize that the blend name is meant to showcase a particular tobacco, using other varieties to augment & complement. The other two that I've had the privilege of enjoying - ODF Flake and Vintage Syrian - should've informed me as to the intent of the blender, as both are masterful, but Acadian Perique is the acme of the trio. First off, this mixture has a wallop with no equal. I enjoy GH twists immensely and my "night-night" blend (nightcap being taken, o'course) is at least 40% straight perique, but I've taken to smoking Acadian Perique in a Grabow Lark, one of my smallest pipes. I would not - could not, not in good conscience - recommend this mixture to a novice. I've gotten into the habit of smoking this blend just before dinner, and more than once I've had to set it aside to finish after I had some food in my belly. Second, this is the most singularly flavourful tobacco I've ever tasted. And simultaneously, it is the most UN-flavoured. There is no topping that I can detect & I tend to believe the claim that only enough casing is used to get it through processing at the proper moisture. This is tobacco, and pure tobacco flavour is a magnificent statement in and of itself. Its difference from the multitude of more-heavily cased VaPers and VaBurPers is obvious from charring light to tapout. The perique is - as the name suggests - the focus of the blend. The virginias, dark-fired, amd the rest are present not to water the perique down, but to enhance facets of the perique's nature. There is, therefore, an immediate sense of unusually high perique content, but I think that is one of the masterful results of the blending. Each component amplifies the perique. There is a sweet plummy/raisiny/dark fruit from the perique and virginia that has undercurrents of nuttiness and even a little cigar note. This mixture hits a wide swath of the palate with simple tobaccos, blended in the most wonderful way. Three stars, only because its strength makes it a not-for-noobs blend.

This all natural (afaik) kitchen-sink blend has a lot of different tobaccos in it, basicallt all of them except latakia. Due to it's inherent complexity the first experience was a bit hard to pin down, making it taste a bit muddy. As one progresses through the tin the flavours start to appear more clearly and around the sweet spot everything comes together quite nicely. Light on perique based on the name and from what I expected, Kentucky is apparent to some extent and Orientals together with the sweetness of cavendish seem to be what smooths it out. MacBaren did a good job with this one.

Recommended!

I bought this at my local cigar and pipe store in bulk. Must have been unusually dry as they threw in one of those humi-packs in the bag. This smells really sweet in the bag. I have smoked this on and off for the past several weeks and can definitely detect the perique as it slightly scratches the back of my throat but not enough to matter. It says it is a little over 5% perique. A good smoke but a little monochromic with a consistant taste till the end of the bowl. Fairly strong tasting as well, not sure about the nicotine content as I do not smoke pipe tobacco for the nicotine but I guess has a little kick to it. Does burn fairly quickly I noticed.

Another blend that has taken me awhile to review. I have enjoyed it from the first bowl but this is a tough one to categorize and as many have stated in other reviews the name is very misleading. When Perique is the marquee name on the tin one expects, well a lot of Perique and as my mind works it hints of VAPer. This is neither, but it is very, very good. The tin note is mostly Perique, sweet figgy and a hing of cocoa. The tobacco is dark brown and black and packs easily. The smoke is fairly consistent from top to bottom and I wouldn't call it overly complex, barely complex at all although there are some nuances you can pick up on here and there. The Virginia's are grassy with a hint of some citrus and the smokey DFK his ever present but in the background (very well done), the woody and slightly buttery Oriental's seem to be what balances the Perique in this blend, I get some of the peppery notes and a strong tingle on the retrohale but I don't get as much of the plum and raisin flavors I usually attribute to Perique blends (especially ones the have Perique in the name). I get a chocolatey after taste that is quite pleasant and I assume that is from the Burley. The flavor is pretty consistent from beginning to end with no issues with burn or tendency to get harsh (something I do find with most DFK and Burley blends but that may just be my smoking cadence). A very nice smoke but my main, and only issue is I am never sure when I am in the mood for this one. I usually reach for it in spurts when I see it in my tobacco locker and realize I haven't smoked it in awhile. Seems to go really well with black coffee.

Fast smoking at low temperature and smooth as glass. Straightforward, a little spicy, but overall impressed me as a quick smoke that won't turn your pipe into a too hot to handle proposition. Smooth and smooth again, mild and fast. Perique Dan's l'autoroute au Vitesse. Great for a fast mild smoke.

The HH-Line of Mac Baren stand for quality and natural tobaccos to me! All the blends from Mac Barens HH (Henrik Halberg) line are mostly natural, and only neccesary additions are used to blend the tobaccos - great!

**When opening the tin**, which has a beautiful and traditional design, you get greeted by a variety of scents. Slightly sweetish, sour, spicy- and woodsy-tones dominate the smell. Theres a whiff of what's reminding me of ketchup a bit (quite similar to MBs Three Nuns tin smell tin note), but it isn't unpleasant at all. A tad of plum and raisin notes are also to be found. Very intriguing tin smell with many layers of scents to explore. Comes in **perfect condition** is rather on the dry side.

**I wouldn't call this a "Va/Per"**, the Perique is rather mild and the taste dominated by the Orientals and Kentucky! If you're awaiting a sweet, fruity and peppery-spicy Va/Per you're in the wrong alley, Acadian Perique is much more!

This is supposed to be all natural tobacco, Cavendish flavoured with honey to keep the tobacco from getting too dry is the only additive, as Mac Baren says - and I tend to belive them! This is one of the most natural tobacco (taste-wise) I know of. Due to it's low moisture level it's easy to light and keep lit. 1 match is enough. Packing and handling is just as easy.

Now here comes the magic: **Acadian Perique´s taste** is outstandingly good. Complex, flavorful and most natural tobacco is what's awaiting you. The dominating notes of this tobacco are sour-dry, very woodsy and decently earthy, which must come from the interplay of the dark fired Kentuckys and the Orientals used I suppose. The Orientals also have a mild ethereal feeling to them. A good share of spice to be noticed in this multi-facettet melange. The rather subtle, lurking in the back notes of raisins and figs are contributed by the Perique I'd think, as well as a moderately spicy peppery note that are enriching the flavour-profile at it's best. Hints of nutty-notes are also (barely) detecable from the Burley. The "original Cavendish", which I'm quite sure is cavendish that's been treated with real honey or maple (in this case honey) adds a little honey-ish sweetness, to keep the balance between spicy, almost herbal and fruity-sweet tones. Yet the smoky, earthy and dry-woodsy notes prevail, so this is a rather hearthy blend with a creamy textured smoke.

**Full of flavours to detect, multi-layered tobacco goodness of (most) natural taste**. But never overwhelming! Everything is in balance and well rounded. Benefits of wide bowls and conscious smoking.

Mac Baren´s Acadian Perique, is another excellent blend from the HH line that's true to the natural taste of tobacco and seducing you with refined, rich smoke... great!

There is a lot of debate about what constitutes a Va/per. Is it still a Vaper if it has burley or cavendish, or pronounced casings? Well, the point is that there are a lot of great Va/Pers out there. Gawith's St James flake and Reiners Long Golden Flake and Rattray's Old Gowrie, Marlin Flake and Hal o the Wynd are perhaps the bench marks. But Dunill's Elizabethan is another and one that perhaps bears the most resemblance to HH Acadian Perique. Maybe because both are ribbon cut. But also because I think they strive for a certain complexity. I happen to love Long Golden Flake and St james flake. And Hal O the Wynd is close behind. And then we have Pease's Haddo;s Delight...which is more a neo Vaper. Or semi Vaper. Now, Acadian Perique is a solid very good blend. Macbaren is always of excellent quality and this is no exception. But Ive smoked this now, two tins worth, and I just feel as if its not quite up to the others Ive listed. Its subjective I know. Dunhill's Elizabethan reminds of this quite a bit but I like the Dunhill better (or the old Murray version anyway). Its somehow deeper and more soothing. This is a tad boring for me by the end of the bowl. I like flakes better anyway, or broken flake, like the Rattrays. With Hal o the Wynd I get such an explosion of bright virginia taste mixed with that tangy perique secondary taste. With St James Flake I get a richer darker and more earthy flavor. The nic content of this is similar to the rattray's, maybe a bit more, but not quite as strong as the Gawith. It is stronger than the dunhill however. The burley background provides the strength here. Its a fine blend, and in a pinch I will get it again. No problem, i enjoyed it. But if given the choice id take any of the others Ive listed. Another fine Vaper is Solani's 633 flake. But like the Reiner, its less complex but more flavorful to my mind. Brighter and generates that explosion of taste I crave in this genre of tobacco blend. So i give it 2 stars, but it should be at least two and half if not three. Its just my subjective feeling on this.

Addendum: I had to up my rating on this blend. I ve grown to like it a bit more than I suggested. Partly its the fact that the nic hit is pretty well into the strong end of medium. Its maybe not my favorite but that added Turkish leaf (and there isnt that much) really gives it a nice flavor toward the end of the bowl.

A tasteful and a quite strong mixture for a Mac Baren. If you are looking for a deep blend with very complex tastes, there it is. It is not an easy mixture. The balanced mix of all added tobaccos causes a different experience in each draught. Each type of tobacco shows up and faints away every once in a while, making it a really interesting smoke throughout the bowl. And each bowl is somehow a new adventure. It is all about natural tobacco aromas. There is no detectable sweetness in this blend, neither from Virginia and Burley, nor from Cavendish or Perique. And I am glad there is no artificial sweetening and flavouring. All these points make this blend unique and therefore highly recommendable to explore. Give it a try. I am glad I did, although it has not become a favourite of mine.

I dare to say that in my taste and opinion the Perique in this mixture is not original St-James-Parish/Louisiana Perique. I think it is a GENERIC Perique. Unfortunately it is a taboo, but everybody knows, that more Perique is used in the tobacco industry than produced in St-James-Parish. Furthermore, Mac Baren carefully mentions nowhere, that there is genuine Louisiana Perique in this mixture. If there was, they would most certainly mention it explicitly. As long as I am not misled, I don’t mind. Personally I am not fond of the combination of Perique with Kentucky and Orientals. I prefer Perique in combination with Virginia exclusively.