Peterson Irish Whiskey

Thanks to the "great new world" it's not called "Irish Whiskey" anymore, no it's "Irish Mixture" now.....insanity at it's best!

Anyways Peterson Irish WHISKEY: Virginias, Burleys, dark fired Kentuckys - does it remind you of another Peterson blend? Yes, Irish Flake has exactly the same ingridients and I have to say, both share quite a few similarities regarding the taste of the Burleys and Kentuckys.

Tin note is delightful, even tho dominated by the flavoring The flavoring is hard to describe, yet I'd say it has slight (fermented) fruit notes, malt, and lots of a honey-sweet/sugary note to it. The malt-note is what I guess supposed to come from the "Whiskey flavouring", which doesn't smell, nor taste like Whiskey, nor alcohol at all! It just slightly resembles the scent of a Bourbon (that's a good thing to me, as I don't like alcohol for it's effects, but like the smell and taste of a fine Whisk(e)y). EDIT: After storing the tobacco for ~2 months in its tin, the flavoring diminished quite a bit and the tobacco steps forward a tad.

Appetizing appereance. Fine ribbons of medium- to (very) dark-brown leafs are pressed very densly into the tin. Comes in perfect smoking condition right out of the tin and is rather on the dry side for a tobacco with a flavoring. Easy to pack, easy to light and keep lit.

Irish Whiskey´s most noticeable tobaccos (which are competing with the flavouring) are Burley and dark fired Kentucky. The added Virginia rounds the edges and supports the flavoring very well with it's natural sweetness, as well as earthy and citrusy-fresh tones by times. Burley and dark fired Kentucky melt into a delicious melange that offers rich and intense notes of slightly smoky wood, bursting nutty flavours and pleasing tanginess & spice. Hints of cigar now and then. The tobacco components remind me a bit of Irish Flake.

The flavouring is rather strong, but in a unobtrusive way, and I'd consider this an "semi-aromatic", as the flavouring isn't as strong as in the tin smell and leaves plenty of room of the tobacco to shine. I'd describe it as 50% tobacco / 50% flavouring in the taste. The flavouring itself offers (fermented) fruits, which remind me of tangerines and raisins, as well as a decent share of malty notes and a tad of honeyish sweetness maybe. No Whiskey, not even really reminiscent of Whiskey to be honest - BUT it's a very tasty and very refined flavouring that's never obtrusive, nor artificial in any way. I only bought this, because reviews stated it wouldn't taste like Whiskey or alcohol - and it really doesn't. It has plenty of malt-notes, enough tobacco taste that is in balance with the added flavours, and enough "punch" to keep me interested and satisfied.

This blend has a VERY creamy smoke, really, especially on the first quarter of the bowl, I get the feeling of real milk-cream, which I find very, very pleasant. I describe a lot of other blends as "creamy", but this blend is LITTERLAY creamy.

Even tho this is a rather strong smoke, it's well suitable for any time of the day imo, as it offers enough sweet, malty and slightly fruity flavours, to not be overwhelming for a smoker that's used to some Vitamin-N.

Room note as stated by my girl is just like the tin note - very pleasing! So this seems like an alternative for people whom like Kentucky-forward blends, but have to take care of his surroundings (which I luckily don't have to, but still this is an issue for a lot of pipers)

3 stars, as it doesnt quite hold up to it's name (no Whiskey), and isn't the most sophisticated blend I got to smoke. Yet it is one of the better blends out there, especially compared to other blends with "Whiskey" flavouring (f.e. Borkum Riff....). Not a blend I always keep a tin at hand, but I surely will grab a tin again by times.

Update: As I've grown to have smoked more Whiskey flavored blends I'll have to say: This is only 2,5 stars for me here! Solid? YES! But nothing fancy! 😉 Might strike a chord for you though!