Peterson Irish Cask

I don't know if it's an old tin or a new tin... but mine states- 'a blend of Virginia leaves from Malawi and Brazil is mixed with brown Cavendish tobacco '... no mention of perique. . My perspective - this is an odd but pleasant smoke... it starts like a va/per... Lovely sweet sour fermented thing... but... unlike anything I've ever smoked, about a third of the way in... things change... suddenly it's 'oak' driven... less Virginia... burly takes over... it's still sweet but woody... it's already tasting like the bottom of the bowl and I'm about half way through... and that's how it continues... it's lovely... but how do i review it... what is it? It's certainly not a va/per when all said and done.. it's not a burley... not a Virginia... not an English... it's a mixture... and it's a good one... but it's a specific thing.. I kinda like it.. u may not.. certainly interesting

Upon lighting, I sense dull oak, plum, and a pleasant citrusy sweetness. There’s also a dry sweetness that’s reminiscent of Dry Sack. This must be the sherry topping.

The smoke is sweet and flavorful until the halfway point, when the spicy perique takes the lead. The sweetness remains, lurking in the background.

It’s just shy of a medium body blend. I didn’t notice the nicotine until after the halfway mark. It’s strongest near the bottom, but not overwhelming.

The bowl can get warm with fast puffing, but the taste is never harsh. It burns at a moderate pace.

Irish Oak is a nice change of pace for VaPer fans. For those interested in trying a VaPer, this is a good blend to start with.

I personally really enjoy the blend. I usually smoke a lot of stronger flakes and latakia-heavy English blends. Irish Oak is a great alternative. The Virginias and Cavendish are prominent up front, but the Perique sneaks its way through as the bowl progresses. The first few bowls were not quite as good as they were after I let it sit for a few weeks after opening the first tin. Now, I recommend letting it sit for 4-6 weeks depending on your available humidity.

This blend is great smoked by itself in a bowl dedicated to tobaccos with a similar profile. However, I must say that it gets really interesting when blended with a little latakia. I used some McClelland latakia (tastes same as stuff in Frog Morton) to make some blends. I personally like it with 2/3 Irish Oak and 1/3 latakia, but I sometimes take it 3/4 Irish Oak and 1/4 Latakia. If you blend it and leave it in a jar for a few weeks before smoking, I would recommend only the 1/4 latakia blend. My overall rating, room note, strength and flavor ratings are just for the blend by itself. I would give it 3.5 stars if that was an option.

IRISH OAK (a.k.a. Irish Cask due to the new EU laws) is an extraordinary blend. Who would have thought that Peterson made a perfect Virginia/Perique blend? It is the triumph of Perique and it is the perfect marriage between the sweet Virginia and the peppery Perique. I agree with Pipestud review: in this mixture there is a great amount of Perique but unlike him I taste it from the beginning to the end of the bowl. Mouth, tongue, nose, Perique is always there. Peppery and spicy Perique, not fruity. Virginia is of an excellent quality. Cavendish (fortunately not Black Cavendish but brown Cavendish) and sherry flavoring (matured in oak sherry barrels) are minor components, almost irrelevant (IMHO of course). I do not detect Citronella. Strength is perfect: from medium to strong. If you are looking for an old-style blend where Perique is leading here it is, without any doubt. So, in conclusion, not a flavored blend, but one of the best Va/Per you can find in the market. A natural aromatic. Don’t you have a clear taste perception of Perique? Try this one and you will realize! My compliments to the blenders and to Scandinavian Tobacco Group. In my personal rating system (from 1 to 10) my score is 9 and three and a half stars.

**Opening the tin I'm teased by** a fine ribbon cut of colors varying from golden-bright to red-brown and black-ish. Appetizing! So is **the tin note**, with its citrusy, slightly alcohol-ish scent. You can easily make out the Va/Per part in the mix, as its fermented fruit, pepper and honey notes linger in the tin note. Its scent reminds me quite a bit of Rattray's Old Gowrie or Mc Connells Scottish Cake!

**The only additive** is a mild flavoring! 24mg of flavoring are in 1000mg of tobacco according to the additive list: ** https://service.bmel.de/tabakerzeugnisse/index2.php?detail_id=104602&site_key=153&stichw_suche=irish&zeilenzahl_zaehler=7 ** That's it, no sugar, no PG or anything else added - great!

**In the tin** Irish Oak makes you think it's a slightly topped Va/Per, **but in the pipe** there's much more. From the first puff on there's a mild fruit and citrus aroma present. Quickly the tobacco takes over the lead over the mild topping. It's a Va/Per blend with a robust body and, toasty qualities and the very tasty, unobtrusive and light handedly added flavoring of Sherry and Citrus/Lemongrass. It has pleasant grassy and hay-ish qualitites, as well as a decent, nose-tickling, peppery spiciness and fermented fruits. The Va/Per component is excellent! Underneath a rich earthiness and smooth notes of nuts linger and give the Irish Oak its pleasant body. The Burley is easily noticeable after the first few puffs and to me it is a very imporatant part of this blend. The Cavendish gives some smooth, toasty and honey-ish sweetness, without making the blend too sweet. This is rather a spicy blend, but with these fruity, sherry-ish and honey-ish peaks to round it off and make it interesting.

A very delicious Va/Bur/per-PLUS**. With "Plus" I mean the mild, yet very well blended flavoring that's not chemical, nor artificially or overly alcohol-ish. As well as the smooth Cavendish added, that makes for a pleasant toasty quality and mild drops of honeydew.

I tried a tin of this a while back but for some reason never got round to reviewing it on here. Having picked up a tin on my last visit to my local b&m, that is an error I can now correct.

The tin note is a very mild one, perhaps one of fruit, grapes maybe, or of some kind of delicate red wine or sherry. The tobacco itself is a finely cut ribbon with a mixture of medium brown and gold colours. It packs and lights very easily. My first few smokes in a briar were unimpressive, it was quite rough and had a tendency to bite, even when I took it slowly. For some reason that remains shrouded in a haze of pipe smoke, I began smoking it in a cob about a third of the way into the tin and it began to pick it up. A light aromatic flavour came through, fruity or sherry-like much like the tin aroma with little hints of hay and something earthy. The tonguebite didn't disappear but it did drop off significantly, becoming something more like nibble than bite. As the smoke progresses, it does seem to give a hint of alcohol on the tongue, almost as if I had been sipping a glass of the good stuff. The only other real issue I had with it is that it does tend to smoke rather quickly but, if taken easy, doesn't burn that hot. I would also note that the perique doesn't seem to rear it's pretty head at any time, a slight disappointment.

On the whole, this is rather a good tobacco. It has enough variety of interesting if mild flavours to satisfy and burns cool enough to make the bowl a good hand warmer in these winter months without scalding the skin. The tonguebite, the quick smoke and the failure of the perique to turn up to the party does rather sully an otherwise good smoke. One thing for certain is that this is an aromatic rather than a VaP, so if you fancy a dose of the latter, I would advise you to look elsewhere. Nonetheless, this is a decent tobacco that nicely earns three stars. Definitely worth getting another tin.

Relax. I am on my second tin of this, thanks to Tim of paylesspipes, in N.O., La. I smoke it in a Peterson St. Patrick's Day pipe (medium bulldog). It took my mind off the pending storm (Hurrican Lilly, Oct. 2002), and between it and God, my sanity and life were spared.

This is a natural, string cut blend, consisting mainly of some virginias and a little burley, with a touch of perique. It smokes quite cool and steady. Not wet or hot at all. Packs easy.

Due to the lengthy aging in barrels, the tobacco flavors have married fully, with only a background note of the perique to give it some added body. I don't think the perique, in this case, makes it strong. I still call it a medium.

Although matured in sherry barrels, I detected no spirit essence in the taste. But it was on the mellow side, nonetheless. (Its stronger cousin, Irish Whiskey, has a bit more of a spirit essence and body to it, if you like that combo.)

I cannot compare Irish Oak's flavor exactly to any other tobacco I have tried. (The added burley/cavendish and aging method make it different or brighter tasting than, say, CAO's Midnight Ride.) It is natural, straight, not weak or full, yet unique and tasty. Sort of old fashioned even, but with class.

In the tin is smells rich & nutty like virginia and turkish, but there are no orientals in it. Its burning aroma is immediately noticable and distinctive I am told.

I am sure a burley man or straight virginia smoker will be pleased by this. I have been. Good for a nice walk with your dog.

Tin note is quite sweet, grass, a bit peppery. fine ribbon cut. When I first tried this it was too moist even after letting it sit out for an hour it was quite unpleasant too much steam. I let it sit on the shelf for a few months in a jar to stabilize out. My second attempt was much better after letting it dry out. Defiantly has some sweetness and the topping is there but not overly so the sherry notes are nice no chemical taste. The perique is right up front peppery and strong. I would recommend having a beverage of your choice. Some light citrus notes. If you like perique this is a good strong blend. The nic hit is past the medium mark and close to strong. Have a full meal first. Once its been dried it burns relatively quick and quite even. Honestly I had given up on this after the original go but I am glad I tried it again after letting it dry out . The liner in the tin was quite moist when I first opened it and it was glued to the bottom of the tin from all the moisture. Not an all day smoke for me, but quite nice for an occasional smoke. lots of flavor. Will purchase again

This is a strong blend with a good amount of earthy, woody flavor. Half way through the bowl the sweetness starts to come out, and there is a floral nutty flavor that hits pretty hard. I am not sure I liked it at first, but it started to grow on me after my 3rd or 4th try. This has a warm and creamy flavor that reminds me of an oak fire in winter time.

The nicotine content is pretty high. I would recommend that if you are a new piper or don’t smoke much, that you stay seated and have some water handy.

Great smoke, Peterson has done a great job with this blend. Now that I am used to it, I like it a great deal. Cheers!