Anyone add additional leaf like Perique to a blend?

[Brewdude]

Been reading about those who add additional single varietal leaf like Perique to a blend to kick it up a notch. As it turns out I like Perique, and got in some of McClellands blending Perique a while back. Haven't yet used it though.

How do you recommend using this? I don't have digital gram scale, so I would be experimenting by the pipe load.

Sprinkling a little on the top is a given. But it seems imprecise at best.

Ideas?

TIA


Cheers,

RR

 

[scottbtdmb]

Been reading about those who add additional single varietal leaf like Perique to a blend to kick it up a notch. As it turns out I like Perique, and got in some of McClellands blending Perique a while back. Haven't yet used it though.

How do you recommend using this? I don't have digital gram scale, so I would be experimenting by the pipe load.

Sprinkling a little on the top is a given. But it seems imprecise at best.

Ideas?

TIA


Cheers,

RR

Yes, I have done this several times, with great results. Awhile back when I was unable to get St James Flake, I added some Perique to a tin of FVF and the results wound up being so good, I liked my mixture better than SJF when I was able to get it again. Another good one is Squadron Leader with a little Perique! As far as how to blend with Perique without a digital scale, it is going to be somewhat imprecise so just know going in that it will take a few bowls before you get it right. Do you have any B&M's nearby? I am sure they would be glad to blend it up for you and if so, I would recommend between 5-10% Perique depending on your preference. Hope this helps a little bit.

-Scott

 

[monbla256]

Been reading about those who add additional single varietal leaf like Perique to a blend to kick it up a notch. As it turns out I like Perique, and got in some of McClellands blending Perique a while back. Haven't yet used it though.

How do you recommend using this? I don't have digital gram scale, so I would be experimenting by the pipe load.

Sprinkling a little on the top is a given. But it seems imprecise at best.

Ideas?

TIA


Cheers,

RR

Your of an age that did things pre-digital so this should be easy Get a GOOD analog kitchen scale that will wiegh up to a pound in ozs, do your % math and start blending ! Hell, they used to use beam scales and loose weights to do this "back in the day" . Go for it

 

[Hunter5117]

Yes, I have used McC's perique to spice up bulk #5100/5105 blends. It is good stuff.

 

[pipemaker]

There are very few blends that a small amount (5%) of Perique will not improve, especially if aged for a while. Even a year will make a noticeable difference.

The intention is not to add the Perique for it's characteristic flavor or aroma, but to use it's unique ability to act as a catalyst, to bring out, define and refine the component tobaccos of the blend.

The result is a richer more flavorful blend that requires little effort and time.

Mike B.

 

[Natch]

Mike makes a good cautionary point, that even perique "heavy" blends are only a few % perique. Didn't our resident Dark Lord post an article on % of perique in some blends a while back? That might give some good starting points.

Natch

 

[Rusty]

Been reading about those who add additional single varietal leaf like Perique to a blend to kick it up a notch. As it turns out I like Perique, and got in some of McClellands blending Perique a while back. Haven't yet used it though.

How do you recommend using this? I don't have digital gram scale, so I would be experimenting by the pipe load.

Sprinkling a little on the top is a given. But it seems imprecise at best.

Ideas?

TIA


Cheers,

RR

Your of an age that did things pre-digital so this should be easy Get a GOOD analog kitchen scale that will wiegh up to a pound in ozs, do your % math and start blending ! Hell, they used to use beam scales and loose weights to do this "back in the day" . Go for it

What do you mean by "back in the day"? :suspect: I'm still in the day.

Shades of High School! I have a Ohaus dial-o-gram triple beam scale that I use for weighing all sorts of things. I can't remember when I didn't have it. It's lovely to use because I can pre-set the weights and then just add tobacco until the beam balances.

One can always just dribble Perique over a blend but you might get a bit of shock and it's not repeatable. Best to get a scale. If you're devising a blend then one tends to try a lot of half bowl samples and a half bowl is roughly 2 grams. Try adding 5% Perique to that without a scale! That case pretty much establishes the precision required of a scale for DIY tobacco blending ~ 0.1 grams.

I'll play with almost any blend and hybrids, parfaits, etc are the rule of the day. Perique is a nice addition that does no harm to any blend AFAIK. Just about any Virginia is more interesting with more Perique (R, be careful, they're getting the impression you put it on corn flakes!). As an example, I think McCl Dom. Glory Maduro is a blend that really becomes quite good with Perique added. It will take quite a bit too. But that's not the only one.

If you're in the habit of combining blends then adding a little Latakia, a little Perique, or a little stoved Virginia is really just the beginning....

 

[Brewdude]

Thanks for the info all.

I suspected that to have any success at this I'd be looking at an accurate scale of some sort. Doing the parfait thing may be good for a lark, but I can see that a pinch too much one way or another of the blending tobac can be OTT or not on the radar so to speak. And once one hits the right amount it's not likely to be reproduced.

I'm not really looking to get into full scale custom blending at this time. Just thought that a little more Perique might be a good thing since I'm primarily a Va/VaPer kinda guy. And there's a few blends that I've had the feeling that a bit more Perique might be what's called for. Hence the acquisition of the blending Perique.

I'll scout around on craigslist to see if I can score an inexpensive digital scale. There again, we have one at the brewery that I can probably use while not on the clock. Hmmmm....



Cheers,

RR

 

[pipemaker]

RR
Careful not to mix the hops with the pipe tobacco.

I tried it once... bad, really bad.

Mike B.

 

[Brewdude]

RR
Careful not to mix the hops with the pipe tobacco.

I tried it once... bad, really bad.

Mike B.

pipemaker

While hops and cannabis are in the same genetic pool, I've never smoked hops and never will. I prefer them in my beer.....

In fact I'm currently enjoying one of my own Snoqualmie Falls Wildcat IPA, which is 100% Columbus at an IBU of ~75, O.G. 1.062 (15.5 Plato). Splendid and grapefruity!

And I hasten to add, West Allis is near and dear to my heart. I grew up in the Brookfield 'burbs in the '60s but had plenty of interaction with West Allis Music as a budding guitarist. That was the number 1 place to buy gear back in the day.

Also have old friends in West Allis to this day. Almost bought a house there in the 80's.


Cheers,

RR