The first flavor that rises off the burning mulch of Irish Oak is a vinegar taste merged with the sense of fresh-cut vegetation, but that rapidly gives way to a deeper almost chocolate taste of strong tobacco. Like a good English blend, the flavors in this mixture support each other without overdominating, and while they separate over time unlike some of the more refined English conglomerations, they work together to form a gestalt which brings out inner conflict as a type of balance. This blend from Peterson will not be an immediate favorite, but can win over a smoker over time as its strengths become apparent.
The official description reads, “A rich blend of Brazilian and African Virginia leaf with Cavendish and rare Louisian Perique,” but the end flavor is more like a rich Cavendish with hints of Perique and the Virginia having picked up a more vegetative flavor, perhaps from the sherry barrels in which this blend is supposedly matured. While this tin is generally classified as a “luxury” tobacco, in our broken times “luxury” means merely not botched. It is not a flatterer or fancy hugbox to avoid confronting tobacco in its feral state. Irish Oak balances its elements while keeping them wild, and offers a challenging palette of flavors for the experienced smoker. In a market flooded with various English and English-inspired tobaccos, this offering from Peterson of Dublin keeps its head up and stays idiosyncratic, delivering a complex smoke as a result.
Tags: cavendish, irish oak, perique, peterson, peterson of dublin, pipe tobacco, tobacco, virginia
My preferred method of smoking tobacco is to unroll a Swisher Sweet, pack it into the rectum of a young black stud and then proceed to take large draws from his dong, no homo. The rich fecal flavor really fills out the flavor of the smoke.
Always heard mixed things about Irish Oak, anything perique seems to draw out strong reactions, but Peterson has rarely disappointed me so I’ll have to give this one a go.
Yes, I will give this a try. But … what about some specific metal to go with this Irish Oak? Or do your recommend the same metal as in your expository piece on the different tobaccos? BS, don’t let your fans down :)
Burzum or Atheist, I think.
Case closed, Irish does in fact contain African.
I’m still hoping someone will unleash an African rustica tobacco. Would go well with Deicide, Massacra and Suffocation.
Just bought a tin earlier today on your recommendation. I went in for University Flake and Old Dublin, but I saw this and figured I’d give it a go. Just finished my first bowl…only let it dry for about 45 minutes. Love that mulchy, grassy tea leaf, bergamot tinged smell on opening the tin…most Peterson’s have some earl gray flavor lurking around it seems. I didn’t get the vinegar taste you mentioned upon lighting, but a nice grassy, airy couple off puffs. It really takes off middle bowl for sure. A real deep sweetness behind the wiley mix of pepper and fresh sawdust up front. The real oak and charred wood flavors hit at the bottom, leaving a nice, strong aftertaste.
I’ll keep going on it see what else pops up. It is intriguing because despite all its flavor progression through the bowl, it really is a pleasant and relaxing blend…great for sitting down with tea. Soundtrack to this bowl is Varathron – Crowsreign.
It won’t ever replace 1792 or Irish Flake while drinking scotch and jamming to Morpheus Descends…but it is a great change up.
Interesting and accurate. Might require very formal metal like Burzum to appreciate.
cmon brett review some cigarettes. Tell me camels are dreck or whatever. Inhale bitch :~p
Pipe and cigar smoking kind of ruins the cigarette for the smoker. Cigs burn hotter and so are harder to taste; the tobaccos used are generally less flavorful and a bit overprocessed. With pipes and cigars, the smoker experiences prolonged exposure to flavor and even texture of smoke (this does not apply to aromatics, which are lawn clippings covered in soda syrup). Also mainstream American cigarettes are all vomit. The difference between, say, a Doral and a ‘bro or Camel has been highly overstated, especially by the giggin’ hipsters who are currently adoring the Newport (which they perceive to be an ironic appropriation of African-American culture).
It is funny though, whenever I have been overseas (England, France, Italy) and brought a carton of Marlboro Reds they were always a huge hit with the folks over there. Must have either been the novelty/rarity of it or some sort of McDonald’s effect.
I have observed the same thing. There is nothing more painful than watching an Englishman pass up a packet of Dunhills to smoke some ‘bros.
Any plans to do some snus/dip reviews?