[Slow Triathlete]

“Mamma Mia, that’s a spicy meatball!!”

Does everyone remember that alka seltzer commercial? Or am I really dating myself here? Well, nonetheless, that is what was going through my mind halfway through a bowl of Cool Hand Fluke. There is a ton of Perique in there and it is definitely tasty. I read online that there is around 40% Perique in this blend. That’s quite stout considering that most VaPer blends have anywhere from 5-15%. To release a blend that is this muscular is very daring and also considering that it came from John Patton, who is a Burley freak, it is all the more surprising.

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical when I first read about this blend. But after seeing a few reviews from guys that I really respect and believe that we have the same tastes in tobacco I started to change my mind. John was kind enough to send me a sample of this (along with most of the other blends that he makes) for me to include in this showdown. Thanks again John you’re a stand up guy.

Ok, off to the review.

If you ever have problems smelling Perique in a blend then take a whiff of this one. The spicy pepperyness (yes, I just made that word up) definitely is prominent when you first get a whiff of this blend. I was in heaven. The sweetness of the Virginias is definitely there but for once they are way in the background.

The blend was dry when it got to me but in a good way. All I had to do was to let it sit out for 15 minutes but this was more out of habit than necessity. I have smoked this blend in many shapes and sizes but I found that it tastes best to me in a straight billiard. This blend packs great and the course cut basically falls into the bowl and lighting was especially easy.

The first third of the bowl was a bit mixed up. It was like a symphony warming up and there wasn’t a clear theme as of yet. The Virginias were all there and were great but the true star was the perique and its greatness was about to shine through.

The middle to the end of the bowl was when everything started happening. The perique lined up front and center and was always there in the forefront. What was interesting to me was what was going on in the background. Usually with VaPer blends the perique is constantly in the background kind of like an old friend while the Virginias or Virginia/burley do their thing up front. This was an interesting turn of the roles where the Virginias were shining through and mingling in the background. It was very, very interesting. It tasted great also!

Will you like this blend? Yes, no, probably, maybe would all be good answers to that question. I will say that this blend it really different from most of the other VaPer blends out there and for that reason alone it would pique my interest. With that said, everyone has their own tastes. Heck a buddy of mine works at a cigar store and one of his regular customers gets a pound of Latakia mixed with a pound of Perique and that is his everyday smoke. I have often wondered what that blend smells like but I digress. What I’m trying to say is that everyone is different and some people will like this blend and some won’t. Just like any other blend. Please don’t let the amount of Perique that is in this blend scare you off. It really is a blend that everyone should try.

1)McConnell Scottish Cake
2)Samuel Gawith’s St. James Flake
3)Escudo
4)GL Pease Filmore
5)H & H AJ’s VaPer
6)Low Country’s Waccamaw
7)Peretti’s Park Square
8)John Patton’s Cool Hand Fluke
9)H & H Rolando’s Own
10)H & H Anniversary Kake
11)G & H Louisiana Flake
12)Dunhill Elizabethan Mixture
13)C & D Night Train
14)H & H Louisiana Red
15)Reiner’s Long Golden Flake
16)Treasures of Ireland - Limerick
17)Dorchester
18)Solani #633
19)Luxury Bullseye Flake
20)McClelland Bulk 2015
21)GL Pease Telegraph Hill
22)Kajun Kake
23)Luxury Navy Flake