1881 Perique – Unique from Tabacalera Incorporada

Tabacalera has one of the oldest, if not the oldest, tobacco operation dating back to 1881. Tabacalera is based in Makati City in the Philippines. In 2014 Tabacalera introduced its 1881 Perique cigar. Perique is better known to pipe smokers as it is sometimes blended into pipe tobaccos for its strong aroma and flavor. True Perique is produced only in St. James Parish, Louisiana where the tobacco is grown, aged and then processed anaerobically and under pressure in hickory whiskey barrels. Tabacalera matched the finished Perique with 15 year tobaccos from the Philippines and Brazil for their new 1881 Perique. Daughters and Ryan Inc., from North Carolina, own the Perique operation and handle the US distribution. The 1881 has an Indonesian wrapper around binder and fillers from Brazil and the Philippines.

At the 2014 IPCPR, Daughters & Ryan and Tabacalera gave me an 1881 Perique torpedo (5 X 52) to review. The torpedo was firm and definitely had an unusual aroma that is hard to describe. The draw was average and the smoke volume was good. However the flavor was quite sweet, more than a maduro would provide, and was matched by pepper and spice. The ash was excellently formed and a uniform silver/grey. The Perique was between medium and full bodied and took an hour and fifteen minutes to smoke. The Perique can be found on line for a little over $7 in volume and represents an interesting value at this price. The construction is above average, the flavor is strong and the aroma is unusual. I rate the 1881 Perique a 4 out of 5.