Tobaccos D & R Tobacco - Picayune "The Pride of New Orleans"

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	oldcodger (74)	2016-08-27		Extremely Strong	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Pleasant

D&R Tobacco Picayune pipe tobacco presumably recreates a regional brand of cigarette (also named Picayune) which faded away sometime in the 1960's. When I started college more than a half century ago I also started smoking. Initially I smoked both pipe and cigarettes, but eventually went over to the pipe exclusively. In the mid 60's I happened to be living in a town in West Tennessee which had a store that sold Picayune cigarettes. Although by that time I seldom smoked cigarettes, I bought a pack out of curiosity. The pack proclaimed both "Extra Mild" and "Pride of New Orleans." Extra mild? The Pride of New Orleans was by far the strongest thing that I had ever smoked! I'm not sure where it was produced. This regional brand was manufactored in its final years by Liggett and Myers.

Does this D&R product recreate the now long defunct cigarette? I'm not sure. They both are strong and have a distinct perique wallop. The D&R recipe of burley, oriental, perique and Virginia may or may not be the same. But the D&R offering certainly offers a unique pipe smoking experience.

Open the tin (or bag, I tried the tin) and the tobacco does not have a very distinct aroma, partly because it is unusually dry. It is a shag cut, ribbons of orange and brown with a few dark strands. A blend so dry lights easily. It also burns way too fast, so it demands a very subtle puffing regimen to prevent uncomfortable hotness. The room note presents no problem. It is very much akin to that of the pleasant smell of an unfiltered cigarette (as opposed to the obnoxious bitterness of filter cigarettes).

The taste is full, and the perique is obviously there. Pay attention to your smoking and you can also detect the burly, oriental, and Virginia. It is a full taste albeit not one of outstanding nature. What you note most is the nicotine. The Vitamin N blast of this mixture is awesome! (The only other smoke I have encountered that can match the strength of the nicotine is the French Gauloises cigarette, which I tried several years later out of curiosity.) I am not sensitive to nicotine, but I do not think I could possibly handle back to back bowls of Picayune.

Can I recommend Picayune to other pipe smokers? Yes, but only to that segment that enjoys perique. Those who do not care for the Louisiana weed will find Picayune an abomination.

But what about the potent nicotine wallop? Picayune is not a smoke intended for regular use. It is a change of pace. For those who are sensitive to nicotine, try mixing it with Prince Albert in a 50-50 basis. The taste remains remarkably the same, but the heart palpitation diminishes greatly. Or you could use a Virginia such as McClelland 5100. This provides a reasonably toned down blend, but the Virginia changes the taste somewhat, although not in a bad way.

I have smoked this both in my pipes dedicated to burley and those dedicated to Virginias without ghosting problems.

27 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3022)	2016-12-05		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

The flue cured gold leaf offers some citrus and grass/hay as the base of the blend, though it’s sublimated by the other tobaccos. The dry, woody, smoky, nutty, earthy, lightly peppery dark fired burley melds with the spicy, raisiny and figgy perique, and the floral, dry, woody, earthy, herbal, mildly sour, vegetative cigar-like Samsun to create a full bodied, well blended product that can be smoked straight by experienced smokers as well as being used as a mixer. The nic-hit is just past the center of medium to full. The strength and taste are very full. Won’t bite, but may get a little harsh and cigarette-like if puffed fast. It’s dry and benefits from a little hydration. Being a virtual shag cut, it burns quickly with a very clean, consistent, mildly sweet and very savory flavor. Virtually leaves no moisture in the bowl, and hardly needs a relight. The strong after taste and room notes will linger. Not an all day smoke, and not for the novice. I suggest a small bowl if you smoke it straight. Also makes a good mixer to perk up bland blends.

-JimInks

23 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2015-03-07		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I absolutely loved Picayune and burned up the tin quickly. I need to get more. The heady strength, high flavor and nostril tickling sensations will peak the senses. Yes, I know some people consider this to be a gold star roll your own and perhaps it is, I just know it to be a gold star performer in my small bowled pipes. For that time when a quick smoke is necessary to stifle the cravings when your wife drags you off to a wedding.

Pipestud

20 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-03-25		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Very Strong

Im going to estimate that for 99 out of 100 pipe smokers out there, this is the strongest tobacco you can stuff into your pipe and smoke. I have never had such a strong pipe tobacco in my life. This is the strongest of the strong, the fullest of the full. A Nicotine "hit" to say the least, more like a rapid injection of vitamin N from an epi-pen. This blend disappeared in the 1960's and originally came in the form of cigarettes. D & R brought it back in the form of pipe tobacco, though I imagaine you can still "roll your own" with this stuff. Except for some obscure foreign tobacco out there that few have heard of and even less have tried, this stuff will probably flatten a good 90-95% of pipe smokers. The only reason I didn't rate it as "overwhelming" is because, for me, its not. I actually enjoy the stuff, maybe because I'm a former cigarette smoker, or a current cigar smoker. I've always enjoyed full strength blends, and this is it. I bought it in a 50g can, the baccy is brown/orange in color and with thin long strands. It looks like a birds nest in a can and its very dry. It's so dry, the "false" light is the only light I use in an entire bowl if I don't neglect it. The taste? As you can imagine, a strong tobacco taste with some acidic dark dark expresso. It's really too strong to detect much else - perhaps some aging will tone it down and bring out some other flavors (if there is anything to bring out). I recommended it because it's a powerhouse blend that one can actually finish (at least I do). The blend is something every full strength loving experienced pipe smoker should try, even if its just one time. If you enjoy only aromatics or light/medium blends, I wouldn't jump into to this as your first "full" strength tabak. If you are looking for an "ultimate" strong strength and flavor blend, this is a great place to start. This tobacco may even be a nice segue from cigarette smoking or full strength cigar fans. Eat a full meal, put an empty bucket next to you, and proceed with caution. You've been warned.

16 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Yellowfan (6)	2014-09-15		Very Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Strong

I was talking with Mark Ryan about this blend in which he relayed a story to me about a gentlemen who actually passed out smoking this blend. Whether it was the speed at which he smoked it or the device in which he smoked it in, the story does carry with it a certain amount of warning and truth. Truth be told, this blend is spectacular both in it's strength and complexity.

I first smoked this stuff in a car on my way to work one morning and I was salivating at the mouth 10 minutes into it. I typically smoke strong English and VaPer blends. The overt Samsun orientals notes combined with the strong Perique combined so well I was enthralled at the flavors despite the strength. The "room note" is much more milder due to the air and flue cured Gold Leaf tobaccos, providing a smell akin to a smokey/spicy cigarette.

The second time I smoked Picayune was in the evening after the sun went down. I had some espresso roasted coffee and a good book. The slight movement in the air provided a much more rewarding experience since the nicotine content did not hit me as hard. With these conditions, the Oriental and Perique tobaccos really showcased the exceptional quality of this blend.

Overall Impressions - make sure you have some air flow and a nice beverage to counter the strong nicotine content. If you can get past or through the strength you will encounter a most enjoyable and unique pipe tobacco.

Edit: Now that the blend is discontinued, let me share the recipe:

Bright Virginia - 12.5% Samsun Oriental - 12.5% Perique - 20% Dark Air-Cured Burley - 55%

Pipe Used: Ben Wade Freehand

Age When Smoked: 32

Purchased From: In bulk, at Indian River Tobacco Traders in Grand Rapids MI

14 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cobacco (52)	2014-08-02		Very Strong	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I was expecting strong, but what impressed me is flavor! I bought 4oz bulk from Pipes and Cigars and it's the biggest 4oz I've ever seen; perhaps due to the low moisture level. Bag note and flavor remind me of Cornell & Diehl Bayou Night, but this stuff kicks butt! Picayune has an initial flavor of cigarette, but the perique kicks in after a few draws. There's also a very tasty sweet aftertaste which I really enjoy. The shag cut is deceiving when packing the bowl, so go easy and check your draw as you go. Lights easily and behaves very well in the pipe, but it does smoke fast. Flavor is sweet and peppery; good to the bottom of the bowl. Relight is tasty, so if you do get overwhelmed you can set it down and come back later. Strength is Strong+ and I need to take it easy after a third of a medium bowl, but I can enjoy the whole pipe if I pace myself. Great with pale beer or cold water. Nice with coffee, but treat this stuff with respect in the morning! Leaves the pipe clean and dry.

Pipe Used: MM DIPLOMAT COB

Age When Smoked: fresh bulk

Purchased From: pipesandcigars

14 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	fr_tom (393)	2017-04-06		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a very fine narrow long ribbon. The pouch note is all barn with some hay and silage. Mine came dry and I have been packing and blowing though the bowl to give it a little moisture before lighting.

There is a very nice combination of flavors here. There is some sweet and hay from the Virginia. The burley provides an earthy mellow quality to the smoke, and the perique presents as spicy with pepper on the snork. I can't seem to provoke any plum, no matter how much I sip. There is some sour which may be the perique or the the Orientals. The combination is pleasant and has some depth and complexity. It is close to being "full" in flavor. It had a slightly sour aftertaste.

This might be a little stronger than OJK but not much. I suspect it would be overwhelming for a new pipe smoker, but I found it tasty and easy to manage. This might be a good candidate for someone turning to the pipe to get off cigarettes. It is an easy smoke and not quirky.

Edit: I have been smoking 3 or 4 bowls a day of this for the last week, and I have figured out the best technique. For me it is best to load it and smoke it dry - as delivered. I pack it pretty firmly. It burns well and has a great flavor this way.

This is a solid 3.

Edit 6/27/17: This is really a 3.5 in my estimation. I bought a pound of this, and I am almost done with it.

Edit 12/8/17: I bumped the room note from "tolerable" to "pleasant to tolerable." I took my wife a cup of coffee while smoking this, and she said, "Whatever that is you are smoking really smells great." I can believe this response would not be universal.

13 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2016-01-29		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Strong?... extremely. After a few puffs, I finally found my way to the lounger without aid from anyone... did it by myself. Wow, this is the strongest blend I've ever stoked into a pipe bowl. Has a slight cigar aroma to it & is shag cut. It has a good flavor for such a strong blend. I'll keep a tin of this on hand at all times.

This blend is good to smoke by itself, if you dare, or can be used to add extra strength to wimpy or aromatic blends without changing their flavor all that much. The moisture content is just right for smoking right out of the tin. If you like extremely strong blends & think you're tough, give Picayune a try.

If you roll your own, one king sized cigarette might last you all day long... it's that strong. Was that poetic? You'll only be able to inhale a very small sip, either rolled or stoked & this is undoubtedly one of the strongest blends on Planet Earth. OK... this one merits four stars for flavor and strength.

Pipe Used: Dr. Grabow Size Two

Age When Smoked: Fresh Tin

Purchased From: Pipes & Cigars

Similar Blends: Nothing to compare..

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PeterD (91)	2012-10-17		Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

...Wow! this is a fine ribbon cut tobacco that is robust and definitely full-bodied...Since I enjoy strong Plug/Flake tobaccos, it does not come close to overwhelming me at all...However, I can see that many smokers would find Picayune too far over the top as a regular smoke.

It can burn hot and quick...therefore, I use moisture to control both those aspects...as I do with most Plug/Flake tobaccos. Rather dry in the 14 oz. bag, a few quick sprays was all it required to provide the moisture needed.

To be sure, sipping this mixture is recommended, and bowl size doesn't really make a difference to me...I usually smoke this in a group 4 to 5 size bowl with no issue. It does carry a high nicotine content and I can see where this may be a bit "heady", with the perique.

I give this 4 stars because it is an exceptional mixture, quality tobaccos, and presents itself well. Mark Ryan has done a fine job with this re-creation of the original Picayune tobacco and it will stay in my rotation on a regular basis.

Very much worth a try for those who can appreciate a strong smoke!

...a pipe is to be savored...

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	GabrielCRT (115)	2016-09-26		Overwhelming	None Detected	Overwhelming	Tolerable to Strong

I bought a two ounce sample of this one and I'm sure it'll last me a very long time. I enjoy it, but man does it punch me in the face. It's like a Mike Tyson knockout in strength and taste. The Perique is VERY spicy and VERY peppery. This makes it rather harsh but it's manageable. If you can taste anything past that initial assault there is a vague sweetness from the Virginia in the background and some woody spice from the orientals. The retrohale is pretty painful. Make sure to have your tamper ready because this one burns very fast. Personally, I like this blend but it's not easy to recommend. If you're looking for a quick smoke at the end of the day that will really give you an overdose of nicotine, give Picayune a try.

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2017-07-31		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Overwhelming	Overwhelming

Light to dark thin ribbons very close to shag with a deep tobacco scent reminding me of some of the more cigar-ish G&H blends, an earthy, musty scent. Loaded easily and I reserved this for smaller bowls.

I understand that this is a supposed recreation of an old cigarette blend, but I can't comment on whether it succeeds in that realm. As a standalone pipe tobacco, it fails miserably. Dark fired combined with a huge measure of perique and that most cigar-like of orientals, Samsun, this seems like strength and nicotine for the pure sake of strength and nicotine. The flavor lay dormant underneath all this potency. I could just make out the oriental as a kind of tartness beneath the dark fired and perique but this is about as refined as a hammer blow. Hard to believe anyone inhaled this, particularly as a cigarette, the use of which most often comes from multiple sticks per day. Those folks are hardier than I. As a straight smoke, this was most unrewarding, so I tried it as a blender. Not much success there, either. But as a purely harsh flavored nicotine delivery system, this excels, as there is plenty in one bowl to satisfy at least 42 Marlboro Men for a month. If you enjoy a harsh, acrid smoke that will effectively remove all the saliva from your mouth, add at least one star to my rating. If you're a nicotine junkie, add another. And if you're aware that this is a deadringer for the original, add another and you'll see that literally any tobacco can claim a 4 star rating... any at all. For my tastes, one star is a gift for this one. There has been some buzzing around the internet that D&R tobaccos are not fit for the pipe. This one lends some credence to that.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Blackhorse (96)	2017-04-22		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Others have commented from a more familiar perspective than I can. I'd suggest checking out JimInks...my go to reviewer. I just thought the whole history here was very interesting. And I wanted to comment that this blend is available as a machine rolled 70mm x 22mm filtered "small cigar" in various cigar shops. Hmmm. A small cigar the size of a camel short. How festive. Stuff is generally considered to be "kick ass" re Vit. N. (YMMV) PS: I don't inhale these.

Review of factory rolled "small cigar": I ordered a carton of the "small cigars" and could not be more pleased. Size is that of a king size filter cigarette. An ideal item for breaks or dog walking, etc. They are slim-ish and a medium brown color...so they look like a custom cigarette. The flavor is excellent. It is a melange that tastes like VA/Burley/Turkish/Perique (gee!...what a surprise). Lighter than the deep flavor in a bowl, but very pleasant. And without inhaling there is a nice little N afterglow. No complaints here. Totally satisfied.

Pipe Used: MM small cob, RYO & MYO

Age When Smoked: New tin & fresh factory rolled

Purchased From: Several vendors

Similar Blends: Pretty singular in my experience...maybe Ramback on steroids..

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-11-04		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

UPDATE: I have to say, as I've been smoking through my tin of this, I am starting to like it better. I'm getting used to the harshness; and it's kind of fun picking the other characterisitics out between bouts of harshness. I'm getting to where I kind of look forward to smoking this- may have to up it to 3 stars soon.

Now here's my original review:

I've been trying all the "strong" tobaccos. In my opinion, this one is not the strongest- but it does possess some harshness; and the shag cut, with it's hot, fast burn tends to accentuate that aspect of it- which, I believe fools a lot of people into thinking that this is stronger than it actually is.

It's not a bad smoke- it's rather hard to classify- as sometimes the harshness is obvious...then you take another puff, and it seems more "English". There's a lot going on in this tobacco....but that harshness manifests itself a little too often and sort of ruins it.

You have to pack this one tight to have any chance of keeping it under control (and tamp it frequently and deeply). There are things I like about it...and things I don't- seems to vary with every puff or two- but overall, I'd say that a rather raw burley seems to pervade.

Would seem more like a cheap old strong drug-store tobacco, were it not for the intermittent kaleidoscope of more refined flavors that alternate through it.

Definitely interesting- I'll smoke my tin, but won't be buying it again. I can get more strength and a much more consistent quality flavor without the harshness from my GH&C ropes or from Irish Flake- but it was interesting to try.

I remember as a teenager I had tried piping- and I had some cheap strong shag tobacco in a can which was harsh and tasted like raw crumbled-up burley leaves...this reminds me of that...only with an overlay of some nicer traits. Too rough around the edges for me.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	gladi8tor96 (143)	2016-02-24		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Mild	Tolerable

A good friend of mine gifted this to me and asked me to try this tobacco to see what I thought. Based upon that premise, I really wanted to like this tobacco...

The tin was brimming to the top with a nice shag/ribbon cut of dark black, medium brown, and light brown tobaccos. The moisture level was fairly low, but seemed perfect for packing and lighting. The tin note is slightly sweet, very earthy, with hints of leather and hay. Packs and lights extremely well.

The flavor is almost absent and the only flavor that exists just tastes like smoke. Reminds me of cigarette smoke, but even lighter than that. There definitely was a nose and throat tickle which became more and more pronounced through the bowl. This is very strong tobacco and gave me an almost instant head rush.

The tobacco is of fine quality, but it just didn't suit my tastes or preferences. If you like strong tobacco that will remind you of cigarettes, this may be the one for you. Either that, or perhaps my tastes are just completely off, which I'm not opposed to either.

I have mixed this tobacco with a few other blends that need a bigger kick and are too sweet. It seems to work well to mellow very sweet blends and give them a boost.

Pipe Used: Cob, Billard

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Gifted

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2015-03-25		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Evidently, judging from other reviews, this used to taste pretty good. What I was sent taste like burning paper with a Perique-like flavor. Dry, hot, harsh. Thankfully, I'm now through with these D&R bulk "blends". Never again.

Pipe Used: MM Mark Twain

Age When Smoked: fresh??? bulk

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	zulujerk (146)	2011-06-25		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Strong

You want to smoke a cigarette with this stuff? By all means! Picayune comes in a fine shag and little moisture in the tin, perfect for rolling papers. It is composed of dark reds, with errant strands of the Perique's blackened leaf hidden deep within the darkened range of colors. The tin note reveals a robust, earthy scent, somewhat tangy, and smokey, similar to a pouch of Levi Garrett or any other variety of chewing tobacco. Perique and Samsun? Sounds like an interesting combination, which was my primary motive in picking this one out, that and the purported strength of the blend, which some have described as intolerable.

This is, by far, the most cigar tasting pipe tobacco blend I have smoked--the flavor is almost identical to that of a strong maduro. I say that having smoked a few bundles of Consuegras from JRs (don't judge me), which is a bit strange, as the blend does not purport to have any cigar leaf, nor even account for that sort of flavor profile. It's an odd smoke when I consider that the few cigar blends I have tried do possess actual cigar leaf, and yet haven't gone any further insomuch as a suggestion of a cigar. Perhaps the inclusion of Latakia in such blends has muddled the character, I can only suppose. Even stranger, the Oriental leaf comes through, to add even more complexity and spice.

The strength is certainly strong, in my opinion, nothing far over the top, if compared to some of the ropes out there, but the blend is so rich in flavor that it would be best smoked by most people in a smaller bowl, and one in which you'd rather isolate what ghost this will obviously impart.

I have never tasted a pipe tobacco like this, and the novelty is full of charm, though likely an occasional smoke, given the described properties. I cannot imagine anyone with the fortitude to make Picayune a regular cigarette--for what purpose does this blend exist other than to test our resolve? Be warned, the strength builds, to the point that I am now wishing for one of those ropes...to put me out of my misery. I'm sorry, I had to put the pipe down. I need a drink.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	moniker (217)	2020-08-10		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable

It seems those who smoked Picayune cigarettes back in The Day remember the experience! This is certainly the case for me, brought freshly back to mind, 54 years after a college tryst, by this D&R match blend for the pipe. According to my own experience and recollection, D&R Picayune retains both the good and the “bad” of the original tobacco blend, the good being the delightfully fragrant, woody, meadow grassy, earthy, herby, spicy, resinous, floral aromas and tastes, sweet, sour and bitter, and the “bad” being an instant and overwhelmingly hot and dusty dry spice blast to the soft palette at the light, hardly the foot one wants to get off on! I still remember that the friend from whom I bummed my first Picayune cigarette watched me closely as I lit up and took my first drag, and she burst into laughter when I began coughing and retching! Worse than her Gauloises, and much stronger than my usual Camels! I went on to buy a couple of packs I never figured out. So, given all this misery, why have I given D&R Picayune 4 stars? Le voila:

My sample of D&R Picayune is from bulk. I will get some tins soon. In the bag are dry, short, narrow ribbons, pretty much a shag, and some small chunks, with colors ranging from tan to reddish brown, to dark brown and smelling almost cigar-ish, with plenty of dry, peppery spice and zesty, earthy herbs well over meadow grass and yeasty wheat bread, along with faintly smoky, extra spicy dry salami. The tobacco handles, loads, lights and smokes down without a hitch, unless you think a fast burn rate is a hitch. Of course, one can always tamp the tobacco harder to slow the burn, but that causes other problems, IMO, and it obfuscates the best of the blend, as well. For me, the “secret” to getting the most from Picayune is to keep the temperature down, beginning with due care at the light. In any case, this is for me a make-or-break point, because if the first blast at the light is too much it’s not likely one will recover from it to enjoy the rest of the smoke. Care taken at the light, and following that with very light snorks, Picayune unfolds like a meadow flower, with the delicious, classic, sour, rank, woody and floral Turkish Samsun wafting through the sweet base of flue and air cured VAs along with the nutty, buttery, earthy, tannic, bitter and slightly smoky Burleys, which seem to include some DFK, with a substantial helping of dry Perique conjuring spicy white raisins and white pepper. Spices, spices, spices aplenty, including exotic roasting, baking, and dessert types, with resin-y incense. It’s both complex and well melded, which only adds to its charm for me. While the scope of the experience is consistent top to bottom, once it opens up and gets going, the scope is wide enough that it’s never boring. Strength is very strong, with the nicotine trailing at just over strong. Tastes are full to very full. Room note is actually not bad, considering all the Turkish and Perique! Aftertaste is a lengthy trailing off of the best of the smoke, only sweeter.

D&R Picayune is an original blend best suited to experienced Perique and Samsun lovers. Only patient, adventurous newbies need apply. C&D’s Dreams of Kadath was my first thought for comparison. Though the two are not really alike in terms of strength, they are “similarly singular”. Picayune is likely to age and/or rest well if stored properly.

Pipe Used: small VA/Per pots preferred

Age When Smoked: straight from undated bag

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	HabaneroHardy (395)	2019-08-14		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Unnoticeable

I bought 5 tins of this around the first of July out of curiosity. When I was a kid in the deep south there was a non-filtered cigarette in a white pack called Picayune from New Orleans. A kid I knew that smoked these said they would kick your butt. I was more into Day’s Work, Red Man at the time. A lot of people in the south chewed tobacco for some reason. A little nostalgia I suppose in ordering this one. Upon opening the tin, I was greeted with a nice worm dirt smell. This blend is composed of a medium reddish brown and some dark ribbon cut tobacco. The description on the site says course cut but to me this is more like a shag. I fired it up and was greeted with a strong cigarish taste and actually got a little light headed so I definitely knew there was Perique in this baby. I am not trying on purpose but it does seem to smoke a little fast, probably due to the cut and does give me slight indigestion at times. Probably not the best idea to drink coffee with this one either. This is a real power house and a few reviewers have said this is cigarette tobacco for the pipe. I do find it interesting that on the tin it says “This product is intended exclusively for use as pipe tobacco.” Well, tell that to the reviewers who rolled their own and smoked it. Ha! I couldn’t do it; I would probably have a heart attack. In closing this is a smooth smoking powerhouse blend that should be used in moderation. I had three bowls this evening and that was one bowl too many. Glad I bought it.

Pipe Used: Altinay Meerschaum Poker

Age When Smoked: New

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2076)	2017-09-02		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Strong

D &| R Tobacco - Picayune "The Pride of New Orleans".

I'm not sure as to whether or not the cut varies from tin to tin, because although I expected the coarse cut mixture as described in the description, I was met by a blend that was clearly a shag cut.

The smoke: As the moisture was impeccable from the fresh tin getting the burn going was a simple task. There's lots of flavour to be had from Picayune, but I find it way too much! The Perique gives a taste that doesn't require an expert to identify: like rich dark fruit. The Samson has a fragrant taste to it, being a bit floral. I don't like the character from the flue cured leaf, it makes it taste messy, and harsh. A feature that really writes this off is the speed it burns at: like lightening. On the plus side it doesn't bite.

Nicotine strength: ridiculous. Room-note: not good.

So, Picayune? Made me feel sick, and nearly put me off my pipe! Not recommended:

One star.

Pipe Used: Porsche P'3613

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Paddy (127)	2016-04-02		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable

This is wonderful stuff. I buy it by the pound, and it has taken over my pipe smoking from 5 p.m. to dinner time. When the sun gets low, and it's time for an adult beverage, this is the tobacco that stands up to a wee dram and sings. Smooth flavorful tobacco taste in the mouth with just a hint of perique and oriental spice, plus a long, zingy finish in the nose. This tobacco does work best for me with something to cleanse the palate after almost each puff. I find this tobacco very similar to Cockstrong, but a bit more robust with the added zip of perique. In the bag it does have the aroma of some type of essence added, but no flavoring comes through in the smoke. It is a flavorful tobacco with power.

Pipe Used: Deep Bowled Bents

Age When Smoked: Fresh or Aged

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

Similar Blends: Cockstrong.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	OsborneCox (4)	2016-03-01		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable

I sure do love me some Picayune. You'd never know that from seeing how much of it I go through - two 3.5oz tubs have lasted me over a year. Yet I smoke it nearly every day. I'm the kind of guy who likes to splash habanero hot sauce all over various foodstuffs, and Picayune has come to serve the same purpose in my tobacco rotation. It's a perfect little shot of hot sauce that goes with anything, in a pipe or a tube.

On its own, Picayune is a beast. The day the first tub arrived I tried it solo in a paper tube. I got about 1/3rd way into it and had to set it down. I felt like I had just had 3 or 4 whole tubes of something else in just a couple of drags, nicotine-wise. (Now, the only time I ever stuff straight Picayune in a tube is when I'm going out someplace where I expect a lot of bumming. I make 4 or 5 Picayunes and when hit up I say "here, if you can finish this you can have another one". A second one has never been requested.) Every once in a while I'll load up one of my small cobs with straight Picayune when I'm in the mood to get shot with the flavor cannon. If one can handle the onslaught, there are a lot of wonderful flavors lurking in there. But I mainly use it to add spice to other blends. Just a tiny little half pinch goes a long way. It goes especially well with Bob's Chocolate Flake.

In a tube I blend it with D&R Three Sails at anywhere from 10-50% of the blend, depending on how much strength I want.

I just purchased my first 1lb bag and plan to age it in Mason jars. I'm very interested to see what a few years does to this stuff.

Pipe Used: Cobs, briars, tubes

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-10-27		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable

Holy cow! This stuff will curl your toes on first puffs. Peppery?heck yes tickled my nose just like black pepper. Not sure where the oriental was as mentioned I let it go out at half a bowl. This blend is not for the faint of heart or weak palettes. I will have to give it several more trys before it gets 4 stars. Who on earth would roll this up for a stick of pure power? Complex flavors and a sense of quality tobacco make this worth exploring more, along with a strong cup of coffee.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pappy1975 (13)	2019-10-09		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant

Ok, first of all, don't ignore all the warnings about the whopping punch of vitamin N in this fine blend. I have a pretty high threshold, and this stuff can still get me if I puff too much or too aggressively. That's not a negative in my opinion, but it may be for some.

I taste a little nutty, earthy burley, the slight sweetness from the VA (which dominates the room note very pleasantly), the orientals add some herbal qualities, and the musty peppery perique is dominant in both taste and in the overwhelmingly strong retrohale. Sometimes the blend gives me a distinct cigar-like taste and experience.

I like my tobacco a little on the dry side, so I don't normally hydrate D&R tobaccos. This one's an exception. It smoked a little too fast tending toward too harsh right out of the tin. I hydrated it just a little and it made all the difference in the world.

This one won't be in my regular rotation, but I will recommend it to all non-aro-lovers who like to keep something with a real kick around for those occasions that warrant it.

Update: Revisiting this, I’m noticing a creaminess that must have developed during the aging process. Very pleasant. 3.5 stars.

Pipe Used: Briar, Cob, Clay

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

Similar Blends: Really in a class all its own. Maybe think of Five Brothers plus Windsail plus a pinch of oriental plus two heaping handfulls of perique. Whatever that is is what this is similar to..

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Amberbeth84 (2)	2020-09-15		Very Strong	Medium	Medium to Full	Unnoticeable

I love this tobacco as smoke for when I need to wind down. The flavors of the tobaccos used demand you pay attention to them. The strength demands you focus on your rhythm, as trying to mindlessly puff this blend will end poorly. And finally, the potency of the nicotine rewards you with a full body unwind. For me, this is my "meditation smoke" when the day has been a bit too much.

Pipe Used: MM Mark Twain; estate lattice meerschaum

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Pipesandcigars.com

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2019-04-19		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Strong?... extremely! Could this contain the pure St. James Parish, Louisiana Perique? Possibly. Most of what is used today in our pipe tobacco blends is Acadian Perique which is basically the same thing... just comes from different regions to supplement the meager St. James supply but the fermentation process is the same. After a few puffs, I finally found the way to my lounge chair without aid from anyone. Wow! this is the strongest blend I've ever stoked into a pipe bowl. Has a slight cigar aroma to it & is shag cut... somewhat on the dry side and could be used to RYO. It has a good flavor for such a strong blend. I'll keep a tin of this on hand at all times to top off any wimpy blends should the need arise.

However, this blend is good to smoke by itself, if you dare, or can be used to add extra strength to a wimpy or a PG aromatic blend you've been wanting to finish off without changing their flavor all that much. The moisture content is just right for smoking right out of the tin or to RYO. If you like extremely strong blends & think you're tough, give Picayune a try. If you roll your own, you might want to sample some on a full stomach. A couple of king sized RYO cigarettes might last you all day long... it's that strong & I wouldn't try to inhale this stuff... there's no need to.

If you do choose to inhale, you'll only be able to do a very small toke. Either rolled or stoked in a bowl, this is undoubtedly one of the strongest blends on Planet Earth... if that's where it came from. I'd advise a smaller bowl. OK... this one merits four stars for flavor and strength. I simply loved this blend and keep it on hand at all times because a little goes a long way & will quickly accommodate your craving in short order. A word of advice to the wise... It would be a good idea to rest your pipe before you think you've had enough... it'll sneak up on you if you're not careful.

Pipe Used: Small MM Cob

Age When Smoked: Fresh Tin

Purchased From: Smoking Pipes

Similar Blends: In a class of its own...

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	papapauly (24)	2016-12-15		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Very Strong

This is serious perique, not for the faint of heart or uninitiated! I decided to load up a Washington cob on a frigid new England winter day and give it a shot, let's just say the tobacco won that fight. This was way too spicy by itself for my taste, but I still found it interesting and wanted to figure out how to utilize it, sort of like finding a use for habanero or ghost chili's. I discovered Adding a bit of picayune to aromatic blends works ok I have quite a bit of "Cavendish in the woods" blend by Russ's blends and blending about 30% picayune to it makes for a sweet, smokey vanilla treat. That being said I would not order this again, simply too spicy for my taste.

Pipe Used: Missouri meerschaum washington, various briar

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: pipes and cigars

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-12-05		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Very Strong

OK. This stuff has its place, but it isn't straight into the bowl of a pipe. I tried it the first night it arrived in a cob and managed to make it through a quarter bowl before having to go lie down. It tastes fine, burns well, and generally behaves itself, but the nicotine is overwhelming.

I have since been using this to add to some of my milder burley blends (Uhle's #300, Uhle's #00, H&H's Classic Burley Kake) to give them some strength. This only requires a half pinch, but does require some significant preparation as Picayune arrives in a shag cut and is difficult to break up.

Bottom line is that this is a fine blend but its nicotine content demand it be either smoked sparingly on a full stomach or blended in minute quantities into other blends.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jorge Soler (202)	2020-10-26		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

OK, do not ask me how to pronounce it, but this tobacco seems to be quite good. I am testing now as many DR samples as I can get my hands on, and this particular one seems rather complex and quite full-bodied. As you open the bag the tin note is nothing out of the ordinary, that is, it smells like tobacco, but it is quite dark and the cut is probably the coarser I have tried from DR so far, which is something that I appreciate as it burns slow and cool. If you are used to this tobacco company, you will probably recognize the virginia they use, which is high grade, citrusy, and sweet. I think they use the same grade in their whole range but in different ratios. I cannot detect any red virginia though. The spiciness is not quite apparent as you light up and start smoking, but it evolves deeper and deeper the more you progress with your smoke. This tobacco has a very distinct caramelized note to it similar to Christmas pudding. I would recommend this tobacco to all of you who do enjoy burley blends, which seems to be the primary component. I detect a spiciness similar to cumin, but I am not sure if it comes from the perique or the oriental leaf. The amount of burley leaf it contains means it is quite forgiving and easy to approach, but it has many layers of enjoyment and, in its simplicity, I am finding it quite complex. Because of the fact this tobacco is not an aromatic blend, the room-note can be a little bit overpowering to those who do not smoke, so be advised. And one more thing, beware of the nicotine kick, it is going to knock your socks off. I am chuffed to bits by this DR presentation, so 4 stars this time.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MRBROWNNOSE (18)	2020-07-13		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

D&R Picayune is a unique tobacco and a blend i knew i had to cellar after smoking 1 bowl from a OZ sample and ended up ordering a LB about a week later. First off this is a shag cut tobacco that could be compaired to 5 Brothers, both are fairly strong but not going to knock your socks off as some reviewers claim. My first experience with D&R was 2 Timer and was a bit put off at first by the dryness and RYO references that perhaps swayed my opinion a bit but am SOOO happy i did not give up on this brand as they have a lot to offer. One of the best prices for a quality pipe tobacco not cased in PG and can be found for $20/LB or $25 if you want it in a mylar bag. The tobacco does come on the dry side so you do get a good volume but it does burn a bit faster as a result. The flavor is sort of strong and plenty going on for the discerning palette. As with most pipe tobaccos a 1OZ sample would be the way to go to see if it is something you may like, really wish ALL pipe tobaccos were available in bulk since most of us transfer it into Mason Jars anyways although the Tins do add a bit of Nostalgia plus some cool tin art to go with the blend. Just remember sometimes it is good to give a tobacco/blender a fair shot before making any concrete conclusions as we can all have a "off" day due to variables in diet or whatnot. Cant stand it when i see reviews that carry on how horrible a blend it after a few puffs whithout really knowing what that tobacco is really about. SOrry for the rant, just had to put that out there as some of these TR reviews can get a bit out of hand (Mixture 79 perfect example lol). If you like Picayune you may want to check out: 5 Brothers, D&R 3 Sails, KBV Live Wire.

Pipe Used: Unknown Estate Pipe

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: P*C

Similar Blends: 5 Bros, Ken Byron Ventures Live Wire, 3 Sails..

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Danno (106)	2020-01-27		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

I should add at least one review for 2020, and this might as well be it!

Cruising through the entries for Daughters and Ryan Tobacco, and for Picayune, you get the sense that both are polarizing. This is my first experience with either.

I was recently gifted two goodly samples of Picayune, with the one being fresh, and the other having reposed for about 14 months. I haven’t detected much difference in smell or taste between them, and have been consuming both over the past week or so.

Other reviewers have noted that Picayune hasn’t much of a nose, and they are largely right: a bit of sour mixed with something like potting soil. Probably not gonna peg the olfactory senses meter for many, but if you are familiar with fuller tobaccos, this shows its promise. The cut is long, stringy ribbons, very thin. Not really a shag cut, a la my favoured G&H blends, but close. It’s on the dry side, but with some sponginess. Tobacco is brown and blonde in colour.

Picayune favours a tight pack, and lights well. Initial tastes are ‘earthy’, and the Perique makes itself known straight off. There are a good deal of cigar-like notes, and I expect this is due to the Samsun leaf. The overall flavour is a bit thin, but full, if that makes sense. Lots of nicotine, but not unreasonable. I find Picayune works best smoked at a crawl, gently sipped, which negates the tendency to turn acrid. The flavours spread out with slow consumption, and while not delicate or complex, are savoury and rich.

This blend seems a bit misunderstood. Or it may be that people are looking for things that simply aren’t there. Yes, it is strong, but in no wise overwhelming, if smoked reasonably. It does burn a bit quick, but the smoker can exert a measure of control there, too. It puts me in mind of a higher quality riff on the C&D standards, such as Bayou Morning. I’m pleased with it, and will seek out more.

Recommended for those who like full, natural tasting tobaccos, and those with a bit of restraint.

Age When Smoked: New, and aged 14 months.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	canvas (337)	2019-03-15		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

I was curious to try a samling from the company, as well as attempt a "cigarette" tobacco in my pipe. I must admit the contents smelled good. The burley gave off a golden no nonsense aroma with a mild bloody meat tone and a faint sprinkle of spice. It's listed as coarse cut, which makes no sense to me. If this is considered coarse, then I need to reexamine my notion of shag, which I felt it was closer to. Like other shag cuts I've tried, this was pretty dry, and rightly so if you intend to roll a grit with it.

Ignition was immediate, and the strength caught me off guard (likely due to an old desire to inhale); I actually let out a cough on the first puff. I soon came back to my senses and cautiously sipped this nicotine beast. For once I was not in a hurry to puff quickly. I tasted a lot of ash, perhaps due to the bowl needing to be relit several times and the untamped contents produced a fine black ash. There was nothing tasty about this for me (I recorded a very strong taste only to reflect it's acrid nature).

Those walking in the room will be surprised to find a pipe being smoked rather than a cigar, so most folks won't be a fan. If I knew ahead of time this emulated a cigar more than a nostalgic cigarette (I quit them years ago), I never would of bought it. This made unfiltered Lucky Strikes look like kids candy.

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lower Alabama Piper (15)	2018-10-28		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

This is a very strong tobacco not for the beginner. I smoked the cigarette version of this and this definitely does not have the same aroma or taste of the cigarette version. The last time I smoked a cigarette version was a 1988 until I could not find it anymore. The cigarette version was non filter upon opening the pack it had the smell of my favorite plug tobacco which was bloodhound chewing tobacco. The cigarette version was very strong even though it said extra mild, ha what a joke. It would choke a mule it was that strong.it was the only cigarette in my opinion that actually had a smell and a full taste to it. The cigarette version did not have the same exhale through the nose that the pipe version has. The pipe tobacco version definitely has the perique retro Hale a very strong pepper. Upon opening my 8 oz bag of the pipe version the only smell that I get is straight unadulterated pipe tobacco with no topping at all. I get the same results that almost everybody that I've read about in these reviews get ,it's very dry. It burns fast. It burns all the way to the bottom with a clean white ash with no moisture at all for me. I smoke this with a cup of black coffee and the Burley nuttiness really shines also if you're a perique fan you will definitely get that flavor there's no way around that.I'm not really tasting any of the other tobacco that's mixed in with this as the other reviewers get maybe it's just my palate being different. The exhale through the nose is oh my goodness nothing but pepper pepper pepper. I like this tobacco it has a great flavor to me and there's no doubt that the tobacco used in this blend is top quality unadulterated with no hint at all of a top note, just pure tobacco flavor.the only other tobacco that I find similar to this is five brothers.this daughters and Ryan's Picayune to me has a better flavor profile than five brothers. I do not recommend this for a beginning pipe smoker it will be harsh. If you're looking for a full-flavored nicotine hitting pure tobacco flavor this is going to be right up your alley.I'm ordered two or three bags in bulk of this and every time it comes dry with about 16% moisture according to Mark Ryan. Mark Ryan videos makes it clear this brand does not have antimicrobial additives at all, anyone who wanted to add water to this blend should do so in very small batches as there is absolutely no additives to prevent mold or any microbes. This is a straight tobacco blend with no additives of any kind,thus the reason for having 16% moisture level. This tobacco does blend well with other tobacco's for someone who wants to add it as a flavoring agent. as far as the difference between the cigarettes and the pipe tobacco this pipe tobacco is good and has great flavor with a cup of black coffee. but it's definitely not the same profile or flavor as the original cigarettes which in my opinion had a lot more flavor.those that did smoke the cigarette version and the pipe version can testify to this, both versions kick like a mule if smoked fast.

Pipe Used: Country Gentleman

Age When Smoked: Oct 2018

Purchased From: Pipes and cigars

Similar Blends: Five brothers.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Amsteracqua (24)	2018-08-13		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

I bought two tins in last Chicagoland Pipe Show and a I met personally the D&R owners. Back to Brazil I smoked this excellent tobacco and for me the great cost-benefit, because was a cheap tobacco (usually 8 bucks) and a round and strong taste. Totaly recommended.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DeathMetal.org (231)	2015-11-26		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

Summary: the cross between peppery Perique, dark-fired and Orientals provides a cigar-like flavor to this rich Burley-Virginia mix.

To my taste buds, this blend has a cigar-like taste from the burnt dark-fired colliding with peppery Perique and warm Orientals, but the dominant flavor is Perique. The Burley is thrust into a supporting role, but even the Virginia is dwarfed by the condimental flavors, resulting not in a smooth blend but a rich flavor with undertones clashing at random. Balance will not be found here, and in fact, the unstable flavor profile creates a rancid taste and aftertaste.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Knightsmoker (216)	2015-07-09		Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

This is a good blend overall, if you are looking for St. Nic. It comes close to the nic in G&H and SG blends of ropes and plugs but not quite as strong. It also lacks some of their complexity. I do think it has been topped with licorice root but it is a very light topping that does not interfere with the tobaccos. Yet, it is a good quick smoke that satisfies the cravings. Room not is a little strong so if you are going to be around others that object to smoke a quick shower would be in order before company arrives. I really cannot see this as replacing the stronger blends I have in my rotations but it is a good quick smoke and if money were tight I would pick it up again as it is about 1/2 the price of G&H, SG blends. Still, when I need a quicker smoke I find myself reaching for G&H Dark Bird's Eye over this but that is just my preference. If you like good strong tobacco this is worth adding to an order to try for yourself.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	pipesINpairs (19)	2021-07-07		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant

Daughters and Ryan gets a bad rap. I don't know why. That's a lie, I do know why: their tobacco looks cheap. It is cheaper than its competitors, but it also looks "cheap." I don't think it's cheap, but I'm happy it is cheap.

Picayune is excellent. Bold. Bold strength, bold flavor. It reminds me of semois in its strength and sharpness, but there is sweetness and less of a cigar-like quality. There's also a mild mustiness that I attribute to the Orientals - this is only after smoking it for a long time, I wouldn't have picked this out immediately.

While great on its own, its also great added to other blends. I keep a "spice jar" of it on hand so I can add it to a mediocre blend. Has the same effect as salt on meat or bland chicken, just brings everything to life.

Definitely an excellent cheap tobacco that's not cheap at all.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BrokenRecord (124)	2021-05-28		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

I wish I would have stocked up on this blend. Picayune is strong, rich, earthy, complex, and everything I like out of a tobacco. I really appreciate the nuttiness and fermented depth of the flavor profile.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	sprangalang (7)	2020-10-05		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I think this is a desert island blend for me. I bought a pound, based on reviews here, very glad I did. This blend has several things going for it, at least for my tastes. No additives, burns perfectly down to a dry ash. Almost no need to clean the pipe afterwards. Strength. I find it to be the most satisfying smoke, not just from the nicotine, the flavors are so rich and satisfying as well. I keep going back to it. If you puff too fast, it will get the best of you. And the flavors will be off. As other reviewers have mentioned, a low and slow burn is best for bringing out the flavors. Don't do a full bowl char or light, as that takes it into pepper pot territory, with head spins and seared sinuses. It takes me 5 or 6 gentle lights to get it going, then it is smooth and tasty. All the varietals can be tasted throughout the smoke. I smoke it slow, so relights are needed, just the barest touch of the flame does the trick. Highly recommended!

Edit: Another loss for the pipe community. Just when I was ready for a refill. As a substitute, I like C&D Exclusive with a dash of Izmir and a dash of Five Bros.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RonR (85)	2020-07-15		Very Mild	None Detected	Very Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

3rdguy

Finally finished a full tin of this. Comes dry so you are hot paying for moisture but considering the offset that it is a 40 gram tin makes it a wash.

I could not get into this blend. Cigarette in open form is the Genesis of this and if that is your thing then you will love this blend. Not my cup of tea and ended up using it as a blending agent to finish the tin. Did not seem strong to me in nicotine, or flavor. It was not a bad smoke by any means just offered nothing interesting to make me want to reach for it.

Pipe Used: Cobs

Age When Smoked: 4/15/2020 tin date

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	A. Dyer (18)	2020-01-05		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Powerful and bold. This is a tobacco for seasoned lovers of strong, spicy and high nicotine blends. The finer cut on this allows you to pack it more firmly and also blend it with more subtley with other thicker cut tobaccos. I only use this for blending. I also had a go at putting this in a tube (with filter) but jeez, it is NOT meant for that. It rips your throat to shreds and will likely make you gag, however seasoned you are. I found that for MYO it can only work as a blend component of 30-40% MAX. Maybe there are some lunatics out there who tube this stuff, but I do not recommend it for that, and I while I do recommend trying it straight in a pipe, at least for the experience, I still would only use a small amount in blending to give that spice and BBQ smokiness.

Pipe Used: Peterson Ashford

Purchased From: Daughters & Ryan

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Effluvinator (60)	2019-11-08		Extremely Strong	Mild	Full	Very Strong

Wow! This is potent. I first loaded my Kaywoodie 61, a small oval pipe sometimes referred to as a "skater" with this and got a 15-20 minute smoke.

I judge this as significantly more nicotine-heavy than brown rope or any of the Kendal shags which I regularly smoke. Within a few minutes I could feel my heart rate increase and it stayed that way for a long time after I was finished. My sinuses were opened up from the perique and I felt energized, like I could dead lift 600# and wrestle a bear. It reminded me of a 50 to 60 mg dose of Prednisone. If this doesn't wake you up nothing will. Subsequent smokes were not as dramatic but certainly did perk me up.

Additionally, it tastes great! I don't find it to be any more full in taste than the UK ropes or shags. The perique is spicy but not over-the-top peppery to my tastes. It has a subtle cigar-like quality. Not an all day smoke for me, but once per day would be reasonable.

Pipe Used: Kaywoodie "skaters."

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Pipesandcigars

Similar Blends: Nothing I've ever encountered..

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2019-02-27		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Strong? Extremely. Could this contain the pure St. James Parish, Louisiana Perique? Possibly. Most of what is used today in our pipe tobacco blends is Acadian Perique which is basically the same thing... just comes from different regions to supplement the meager St. James supply but the fermentation process is the same. After a few puffs, I finally found my way back to the lounge chair without aid from anyone.

Wow! this is the strongest blend I've ever stoked into a pipe bowl. The strongest blend I've ever smoked for that matter. It has a slight cigar aroma to it which is barely noticeable & is a shag cut blend... somewhat on the dry side and could be used to RYO. It has a good flavor for such a strong blend. I'll keep a tin of this on hand at all times to smoke alone or top off any wimpy blends should the need arise.

Pipe Used: Peterson Deluxe 9S & 11S

Age When Smoked: Fresh Tin

Purchased From: Pipes & Cigars

Similar Blends: A Unique Blend.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Cat Jockey (21)	2018-11-10		Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

I'm new to D & R tobacco, but became an instant fan. And I am thoroughly intrigued by Picayune.

I recently invested in 2 oz each of the three Ramback blends. And a couple oz of Picayune, too. All four of the blends need the same preface: This is a Pipe Smoker's cigarette tobacco. A cigarette tobacco worthy of the sophisticated, nuanced, and demanding palate of a Pipe Smoker. I used to smoke Camel straights, then switched to a pipe. After sampling all four blends in a pipe, I followed my curiosity and picked up some papers. Wow. They really came alive for me. These tobaccos almost need two reviews, as the difference in experience between pipe and rolled can be that significant.

This is a well crafted, well balanced blend with a fair amount of complexity, depth, and intensity of flavor. The Burley brings with it a toasted nuttiness and a hint of chocolate, the Perique resides in the peppery dark fruit/plum range and is a large component of the flavor profile, the Samsun brings with it a strong floral and perfumey (but not chemically or unnatural) component rounded out with a touch of sour, and the Virginia lingers in the background, adding sweetness to the bottom end of the flavor profile and pulling it all together. As far as the nicotine, yea, it packs a pretty good punch. But it isn't at rope tobacco nicotine level, though.

This tobacco is all about the Samsun and the Perique, and their interplay as the main body of the flavor profile. The Burley comes next, supporting those two with its toasted nuttiness and wisp of chocolate, and the Virginia offers a bit of sweetness, occasional tang and bread, and stays in the background.

I'll admit that in the pipe, I was having problems understanding the blend and what Mr. Ryan was trying to achieve. It was a bit harsh and the Perique was over dominant in the fermented gym socks sort of way. I couldn't quite get it to come together for me. Rolled, however, it all instantly pulled together for me and presented itself in its full glory as the Samsun really began to sing.

I cannot emphasize enough that this (and the other three D & R tobaccos I have smoked) is a Pipe Smoker's cigarette tobacco. Plenty of people enjoy it in a pipe, but this tobacco really pulls together when rolled. And it is a very pipe like experience when rolled, not a cigarette like one, so don't be scared, it won't make you a dirty cigarette smoker and there is no need to inhale, lol. It is still a very sophisticated and contemplative experience when enjoyed rolled, and some of the flavors really intensify and come together in a paper pipe.

What an awesome and unique blend. Well done, Daughters and Ryan ...

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Vaperluvr60 (4)	2016-11-28		Extremely Strong	Very Strong	Very Full	Tolerable

I would like to say I enjoyed this stuff...I really would...but I just can't. I enjoy cigars..Nicaraguan nic bomb cigars...Diesel...Man O War...Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 & Dark Corojo...Gran Habano #5 Corojo...do you smell what I'm stepping in here? Love these damn things...but, they don't fit into my life. They cost too much (ask my wife) and I don't have the time to invest in them to smoke them like they deserve to be smoked...savored. I've been an off & and on piper for 40 + years and for me...now..a pipe fits perfectly. I can pack it, light it, puff it, set it down...walk away..come back in 15 minutes or more and its as good if not better than when I set it down...not so with a cigar. You see...flavor matters to me...if I'm going to smoke it, it's going to taste good to me or it's done. So we come all the way back around to Picayune...I suspect it's the cut more so than the leaf...cigarette tobacco is cut one way...pipe tobacco, another. Don't cut pipe tobacco like cigarette tobacco! The stuff is crazy fine & crazy dry..I bought a 1 lb bag just sure this stuff was going to hit me right where I live...nope. I have used it to try and add some power to tamer blends and just screwed up the flavor of both. I have sprayed it with water, Jack Daniels, Kraken rum...anything to slow this flamethrower down...nope. Gotta pass...sorry Mark Ryan...I have lots of respect for you...Ryback...Rimboche A.B. ...love them. But Picayune is outta bounds for me. And I gave it 3 stars because I know how much passion went into making this blend and so many DO enjoy it..in a sort of sick, sado masochistic sort of way (humor) I'm just not one of them....

Pipe Used: MM Country Gentleman & Carey Magic Inch

Age When Smoked: fresh of the truck

Purchased From: P & C

Similar Blends: El Rico Habano comes close...nothing in the pipe tobacco world.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	AcworthAl (38)	2016-08-11		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Unnoticeable

Received a pound of this yesterday from Pipes and Cigars. Love Perique and the price was right. I am not a smoker who can differentiate subtle tastes, e.g. it has a faint taste of Makers Mark with a hint of Dove chocolate. Picayune Pride of New Orleans taste like a burley with Perique. I did not find it overwhelming strong, like Peterson’s Irish Flake. Overall this is a very decent pipe tobacco. Smoke it slow it can bite.

10-17-16 Still strong and still great in a CC

Update you must try this in a corn Cobb!!

Pipe Used: MM Freehand

Age When Smoked: New out of tin

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tmick990 (5)	2021-08-19		Very Strong	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Tolerable

Even though its no longer in production, this blend deserves a review. I was unsure of this blend at first because of the RYO appearance of the companies name, logo and of course the plastic bag that it comes in. But as usual, appearances can be deceiving. This is a strong tobacco that is not for someone without an nicotine appreciation, we shall say. First puff i took about blew my face off. Its unlike any other tobacco that i've had in my pipe enjoying career. The perique in this blend is on the spicy side, not the fruity side. it burns so nice, even and with no moisture because there is no moisture to begin with. Unlike Sam Gawith, which half of what you are paying for is PG or some sort of humectant, the D&R blends that i have tried are all and only tobacco. Whatever their weights say is actual tobacco amount, which i very much appreciate. So overall a great tobacco, gets the wheels turning any time i smoke it. Highly recommended. The strength gets more manageable as you continue to smoke it, starts off overwhelming but gets better as time goes on.

Pipe Used: Mostly Cobs

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: SP

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	O. D. Jones (25)	2021-06-03		Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

Kind of late to the party here as apparently this has been discontinued. I feel bad that I didn't stick a couple cans away, or plastic yogurt containers, or whatever you want to use to describe the packaging of Daughters and Ryan tobacco.

Years ago, Picayune was a brand of cigarettes, like Lucky Strikes or Camels, a stubby little non filter beast of a smoke. The closer to New Orleans you were, the more likely you were able to pick up a pack or a carton (which kind of reminds me of Sazerac Rye nowadays, a classic inexpensive rye whiskey that apparently isn't distributed very far from Louisiana). Picayune's were about a strong cigarette as you could buy, maybe just under a French "brun" like Gauloises or those little flat packs of Player's Navy Cut. Certainly a potent cigarette, but a very good cigarette, the Pride of New Orleans!

When I first saw a tub of the Daughters and Ryan Picayune, it was a must buy for nostalgia's sake. A shag cut, just as likely to be useful for a hand roll as for stuffing in a pipe, it certainly resembled the old Picayune cigarettes... and it bore the same resemblance to the old cigarette brand as the current Lucky Strike cigarette does to the old American Tobacco Company version... "sorta kinda" in other words. A solid wallop of Vitamin N, and like most of the Daughter and Ryan line, spicy and piquant. No way for it to bite, but it may be a little harsh for a lot of people.

I suppose it doesn't really matter anymore, as it's another tobacco that's faded into the mists of time... I do keep a couple of their Rimbochè tobaccos around, as they very much improve with age. And for those of you so inclined, the Rimbochè varieties make a pretty good hand roll, despite what it says on the package about being "exclusively for pipes"😜.

Pipe Used: yes

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: pipes and cigars

Similar Blends: the other Daughters and Ryan tobaccos. they certainly seem to have a house style..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2018-12-20		Extremely Strong	Medium to Strong	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Strong?... extremely! Could this contain the pure St. James Parish, Louisiana Perique? Possibly. Most of what is used today in our pipe tobacco blends is Acadian Perique which is basically the same thing... just comes from different regions to supplement the meager St. James supply but the fermentation process is the same. After a few puffs, I finally found the way to my lounge chair without aid from anyone. Wow! this is the strongest blend I've ever stoked into a pipe bowl. Has a slight cigar aroma to it & is shag cut... somewhat on the dry side and could be used to RYO. It has a good flavor for such a strong blend. I'll keep a tin of this on hand at all times to top off any wimpy blends should the need arise.

However, this blend is good to smoke by itself, if you dare, or can be used to add extra strength to a wimpy or a PG aromatic blend you've been wanting to finish off without changing their flavor all that much. The moisture content is just right for smoking right out of the tin or to RYO. If you like extremely strong blends & think you're tough, give Picayune a try. If you roll your own, you might want to sample some on a full stomach. A couple of king sized RYO cigarettes might last you all day long... it's that strong & I wouldn't try to inhale this stuff... there's no need to.

If you do choose to inhale, you'll only be able to do a very small toke. Either rolled or stoked in a bowl, this is undoubtedly one of the strongest blends on Planet Earth... if that's where it came from. I'd advise a smaller bowl. OK... this one merits four stars for flavor and strength. I simply loved this blend and keep it on hand at all times because a little goes a long way & will quickly accommodate your craving in short order. A word of advice to the wise... It would be a good idea to rest your pipe before you think you've had enough... it'll sneak up on you if you're not careful.

Pipe Used: Small MM Cob

Age When Smoked: Fresh Tin

Purchased From: Smoking Pipes

Similar Blends: In a class of its own... nothing else like it on the third rock..

1 person found this review helpful.