Robert McConnell Pure Perique

I cannot recommend this as it's description says Perique. It is by all means a good processed green river Burley, but Perique it most certainly is not.

Blends well with golden VA's though, but then I'd really go for some pure Burley instead.

How do they get away with this stuff?

From my research, this is NOT the real stuff from St. James Parish but is a knockoff. I'm checking on this now to confirm it.

I don't remember the original tin note to be especially offensive, but that was in comparison to C&D granulated perique, which was absolutely vile. After a while in a jar, both still smell vaguely like feet to me, not in a pleasant way, but also not especially offensive. I finally got around to smoking a pinch of this in a tiny clay, and honestly I'm not getting a ton of flavor. This may have a lot to do with the size of sip necessitated by the power/harshness of the tobacco. I get a sharp burn if I attempt to retrohale any quantity of smoke, and I find myself coughing quite a bit if and when a bit of the smoke makes its way to the back of my throat. There is sort of an earthy taste to the smoke itself, but little of the fruit or spice I so often see attributed to perique. If I dig very deep, maybe I could mention stewed fruit. I can't see using this in any capacity, neither smoked straight (I understand it isn't meant to be), nor as a valuable part of any conceivable blend. I can't imagine what it might add to the equation; maybe dirt plus honey equals pumpkin pie * 2, but it's beyond my comprehension. Absolutely not a fan.

As a fake perique this gets one star and I can't recommend it. As a strong tobacco to blend with lesser blends (lesser in strength), this works well...so three stars for that. But again, This is not perique and I'm upset that I didn't follow my gut and get McClelland perique.

This is indeed fake perique and does not produce the same effect as the real stuff. McClellend's perique is supposedly the real stuff that they have had in stock for some time now. This shares some characteristics of perique, but its not to my liking and it is not nearly as full flavored or as aromatic. Nicotine content is less as well.