9 Highest Rated Virginia/Perique Pipe Tobaccos
The Virginia/Perique genre—or, VaPer, as it's often called—refers to those blends that see the dynamic Virginia leaf spiced up with Louisiana Perique. Like any of the blend families by which we categorize pipe tobaccos, there's a lot of diversity under the umbrella. The following list will explore that diversity with the highest rated Virginia/Perique blends currently.
Note: It wouldn't make much sense to have feature a blend with a perfect rating from only two reviews here, so this list is created by filtering for blends with 50 or more reviews, are currently in production, and choosing the 9 highest rated among the results. The rankings, review counts, and ratings are accurate to June 3, 2024 and will be updated periodically.
1. Reiner - Blend 71: Long Golden Virginia Flake
Reviews: 152 | Avg. Rating: 3.61
A very special blend of golden Virginias, a little "white" burley, and a touch of perique to make things interesting. Pressed into long flakes, sliced, then rolled in the tin in long strips.
Crafted by the renowned blender R. L. Will and currently manufactured by Kohlhase & Kopp in Germany, Reiner-Blend 71: Long Golden Virginia is a distinguished pipe blend and one of the most highly regarded VaPers you’ll find. Though, finding it may take some patience, as restocks don’t tend to last long.
Reiner’s Blend 71 offers fine Virginia leaf as a bright, golden base that is mellow yet flavorful in its natural sweetness. The distinctive potency of Perique balances with piquant spice. It also brings body to the mixture along with a subtle addition of Burley, rounding out the blend with a bit more weight and nutty, woody undertones.
2. Peterson - De Luxe Navy Rolls
Reviews: 211 | Avg. Rating: 3.56
De Luxe Navy Rolls are made in Denmark using hand-stripped Virginia tobaccos from Brazil and Africa, married with perique from Louisiana. This recipe produces an aromatic smoke with natural tobacco flavors and lovely sweet notes.
Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls keeps company with the other lineup of saved-Dunhill recipes now under the Peterson trademark. Most of these mixtures are classics from the early-mid 20th century. Though Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls didn’t make the scene until the 90s, its quick embrace as a top VaPer blend has carried it since.
Baked bread and grassy notes provide a vivid Virginia foundation, delivering a smooth and creamy smoke. Perique elevates the blend with figgy dark fruit and a boldness that wonderfully brings balance and nuance to the overall profile. The coin cut delivers a consistent, easy burn that really lends to the richness of the smoking experience.
3. Samuel Gawith - Cabbie's Mixture
Reviews: 93 | Avg. Rating: 3.49
A Virginia and perique twist hand rolled, then hand sliced. A sweet natural Virginia taste takes centre stage when lit with the perique, giving a spicy undertone to the flavour.
Samuel Gawith Cabbie's Mixture is a highly coveted, curly cut VaPer that strikes the perfect balance between fullness and a smooth, approachable smoke. It will often draw comparison to older iterations of the infamous Bell’s Three Nuns.
The Virginias in Cabbie's Mixture offer a delightful tartness and deep, dark fruit notes, providing a robust and tangy foundation. These flavors are perfectly complemented by the Perique, which introduces a peppery spiciness that enhances the overall complexity of the blend. The interaction between the tart Virginias and the peppery Perique results in a balanced and harmonious flavor profile that is rich yet not overpowering.
4. STG - Escudo Navy De Luxe
Reviews: 451 | Avg. Rating: 3.48
A combination of full bodied Virginia from North Carolina and Virginia blended with Perique from Louisiana are the cornerstones in Escudo. The blend is pressed and matured before it is spun and cut into coins. This process ensures the unique character of Escudo.
Next we have Escudo, widely revered as the pinnacle of VaPer blends. The iconic mixture has been delivering a sophisticated and satisfying smoking experience cherished by pipe smokers for generations.
Plummy sweetness and depth are the backbone of the profile, imparted from the high quality Virginia leaf. The rich, layered profile is brought out in the seamless melding between the dark fruit of the Virginias and figgy, spicy character of the Perique, delivering a harmony that makes case for its noble place as the quintessential VaPer.
5. Samuel Gawith - St. James Flake
Reviews: 204 | Avg. Rating: 3.45
Genuine perique is added to an already delicious and flavoursome blend of fine bright Virginias to give St. James the light peppery characteristic enjoyed by so many pipe smokers. Medium strength.
Samuel Gawith St James Flake offers a full-flavor VaPer experience, with a good deal of strength to back it up.
The Virginias are to the dark and earthy side, with woody and fermented depth. The profile is made richer still in the genuine Perique’s bold, peppery presence as the forward player in the mixture. Though on the bold side, the Virginias aren’t without their complexities, offering a dynamic blend that journeys through the smoke with bright nuances of citrus as other accents show through.
6. G. L. Pease - Triple Play
Reviews: 77 | Avg. Rating: 3.42
Ripe red and bright flue cured tobaccos are joined by piquant Acadian perique and a balanced measure of smoky dark fired Kentucky. The leaf is pressed and matured in cakes before being cut into 2oz bars, resulting in a bold blend for Virginia and perique fans.
The second mixture from Pease’s acclaimed New World series, Triple Play is a masterful blend that builds upon the success of its widely popular Virginia/Kentucky predecessor, JackKnife Plug. This full-bodied plug tobacco reimagines the original Virginia/Kentucky mixture by incorporating Perique, creating a robust VaPer blend that maintains the harmony and balance of its components.
Introducing Perique to Jackknife was a meticulous process, as the harmony between the bold condiments needed to be achieved, while not overpowering the Virginia foundation and the subtleties it brings. The natural sweetness from the Virginias is boldly balanced with earthy and floral Kentucky, adding depth and a light smokiness. Perique then brings an additional layer of complexity, offering spice and a meatiness that greatly complements the Kentucky.
7. Esoterica Tobacciana - Dunbar
Reviews: 105 | Avg. Rating: 3.41
A mature recipe of seven types of Virginia tobaccos blended with Louisiana perique, lightly pressed for several days to mellow the mixture, then cut into flakes and rubbed up. A high quality blend with a savory taste and a fine bouquet. An outstanding tobacco with a rich depth of flavor.
Esoterica Dunbar is a highly sought after VaPer from the highly esteemed J. F. Germain & Son blending house. Dunbar offers a remarkable smoking experience that highlights the bright excellence of quality Virginias in the context of a VaPer blend.
The Virginias in Dunbar are notable for their tangy and citrusy characteristics, bringing a lively zest to the blend. These tangy notes are balanced with a natural sweetness, creating a multifaceted flavor that is both refreshing and rich. Adding depth to the blend is the Perique, enhancing the tangy and sweet Virginias with its own complexity, adding hints of dark fruit and peppery spice.
8. Solani - 633: Virginia Flake with Perique
Reviews: 165 | Avg. Rating: 3.40
Specially selected red Virginias from the Old belt and ripe, bright Virginias, sweetened with Louisiana perique build up this masterpiece of tobacco blending. Flake slices.
An intricately blended VaPer from the renowned blender R. L. Will, Solani 633: Virginia Flake with Perique is an exemplary pipe blend that brings together a spectrum of flue-cured excellence with the spice of Perique.
The Bright Virginias in 633 offer a floral, grassy foundation that is quite mellow. Darker Virginias are deep with a woodiness that gracefully bridges the mellow characters to the bolder Perique attributes. Adding texture and nuance to the profile, there are some fruity and rum notes likely from a mild top flavoring.
9. G. L. Pease Telegraph Hill
Reviews: 103 | Avg. Rating: 3.40
A sturdy foundation of Virginia tobaccos, each chosen for its particular character, is enhanced with fine flakes of perique for a refined smoking experience. Telegraph Hill is rich and flavorful, with a satisfying, lingering finish. Each sip builds upon the last, creating a marvelous edifice of taste and aroma. You won't worry about earthquakes if your pipe is filled with this wonderful blend.
G. L. Pease Telegraph Hill is a remarkable VaPer from the Fog City Selection.
The Perique in Telegraph Hill is prominent, contributing a distinctive umami character that adds depth and fullness to both the body and flavor of the blend. This assertive presence of Perique brings a savory richness, enhancing the overall smoking experience without overwhelming the palate. Complementing the Perique are the carefully selected Virginias. They provide bright citrus notes that add a refreshing zest, as well as woody undertones that lend a bold, earthy dimension to the blend. The interplay between the citrusy brightness and woody boldness of the Virginias creates a layered and intricate taste profile that is engaging and satisfying.