Gauntleys – Bayou Blend

As many of you know, im a lover of Perique. I don’t just enjoy it in my pipe, I stick it in my rollies too. The pungent, fusty aroma puts many off raw, but blended oh god its heaven. I have noticed only a few that use Perique for a powerhouse Ashtons – Artisan Blend to name one. I can see why many make there blends lighter, Perique can sneak up and hit ya. Many of the lighter blends come in flake or disc form, the ones that are in mixtures tend to be hot and (to be honest) poor mixtures. So when I decided to make a Perique blend to go with the shops house blends, I wanted something strong and ready rubbed.

My first incarnation was ok, a little to much Perique and Kentucky. The second was bang on perfect, just a shame I cant find the recipe card for it. So this morning I had to start again. Based on memory, eye and nose I started blending again. So far I have not retasted the blend, im alone in the shop.

The base is made up from Kentucky Shag and a dark Virginia & Kentucky flake, a good helping of Perique (16%) and a little Turkish to keep it burning well. The aroma is spectacular, dark fire cured leafs mixed with pungent Perique. The flake has been left part broken, part intact.

To be released at the April Nottingham Pipe Club

I have preloaded my pipe, the fill seemed easy even with the long bits of flake. I am hoping the large quantities of dark flake, stay lit, after all that’s what the Turkish is for!

Small tasting notes to follow after the break!

Time – 05:33