Jade Perique Tobacco Review – Liqueur de Tabac

Perique Tobacco Liqueur’s Robe

• Hue: Golden brown
• Clarity: Slightly hazy
• Viscosity: Oily

The visual appearance offers a lovely golden brown with an ever-so-slight haziness that is immediately detectable. However, on the back label, the manufacturers state that the product is being presented in its most natural state and that cloudiness could appear.

I would assume Combier does not chill filter the product before bottling, which might lead to this visual question mark. The viscosity, on the other hand, is medium-plus and quite oily.

Perique Tobacco Liqueur’s Nose

• Notes: Leather, sweet raisins, dark wood
• Nosefeel: Warming

Right from the beginning, there’s an interesting sweet raisin, bitter orange marmalade, and leather aroma, reminding me of Christmas pudding and Chesterfield armchairs.

A woody melange of toasted oak staves, freshly cut branches, and sweet tree bark makes my mind go on an aromatic treasure hunt. Immediately, fermenting bales of tobacco come to mind, like being on a tour to one of the cigar factory’s galera floors.

There is bitter teabag, a combination of black tea and oolong,  maybe even hints of milky oolong as well. Overall, however, the woodiness, in form of a slightly charred characteristic intermingled with some of the green freshness, is the underlying theme of this liqueur, further elevated every now and then by an array of bitter fruits and sweet pipe tobacco.

Perique Tobacco Liqueur’s Palate & Mouthfeel

• Primary Taste: Sweet, Warming
• Mouthfeel: Oily, rich
• Opening:  Black tea, fermenting tobacco leaves, bitter orange marmalade
• Heart: Whisky barrel, aromatic bitter, ripe fig
• Finish: Long [leather, tea, tobacco]

At 31% alcohol by volume, the warming sensation and the mellowness are certainly detectable all over the palate, but very nicely interwoven with all the other flavor sensations. The sweetness is charmingly integrated as well, so the liqueur never evokes a cloyingly sweet or sticky sensation in the mouth whatsoever.

The palate has just the slightest hint of sweetness up front, which perfectly underlines the liqueur’s overall profile, which also gives bartenders enough room to play with. It graciously combines all the different flavor sensations you’d be looking for: sweet, bitter, sour, a slight minerality as well, and that touch of umami, reminding me of soy sauce, leather, and a tart woodiness.

Overall, the Perique liqueur offers a great balance. The length is also quite spectacular, culminating in a complex flavor mix that makes you come back for another sip over and over again. The best way for me to describe it is probably a combination of a bit of Cognac, Armagnac, Scotch whiskey and a touch of bitterness, all perfectly intertwined.

How To Drink Perique Tobacco Liqueur

This is a most versatile liqueur, offering plenty of options to savor. Personally, I love to sip it neat, poured over a large block of ice. Perique Tobacco Liqueur also makes for a delicious, refreshing, but at the same time complex longdrink or elegant highball.

Furthermore, this most definitely is an inspired tool for mixologists to play around with.

Perique Tobacco Liqueur Cocktail Suggestions

As mentioned above, Perique Tobacco Liqueur is a great way for bartenders to bring a distinct tobacco note into their cocktail creations, in a very safe, controlled and consistent manner.

1. Perique & Ginger Ale
2. Harvard Cocktail
3. Old Fashioned

Whether you mix up a refreshing fizz with ginger ale or stir down a dark, intricate Old Fashioned-styled cocktail, Perique is a true flavor bomb to spice things up.

Best Pairings With Perique Tobacco Liqueur

I tried the Perique liqueur together with a 1926 Padron cigar. The combination proved to be a fantastic and almost overwhelming experience because the cigar is so intense, rich, full-bodied and complex, whilst the spirit also brings an eclectic profile to the table.

To tame things down just a little bit, I nibbled on a chunky loaf of walnut bread on the side. I would recommend a homemade sourdough bread, no butter, nothing else, just a plain, simple piece of bread, offering some bitter-sweet qualities from the nuts, as well as some sourness from the sourdough starter.

I would definitely suggest you try this with your tiramisu or other creamy desserts, just as I could very well imagine drizzling the liqueur over a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.

For a more savory or umami option, deglaze your pan after firing up a dry-aged steak or your selection of seafood, resulting in a delicious sauce. This also makes for a thematic fit, since seafood is super popular in Louisiana and in the Mississippi River Valley.

Overall Experience & Value For Money

The Perique Tobacco liqueur comes in a bottle of 500 millilitres. The tall, slender bottle is sealed with a wax-dip cap on top, adding a bit of flair, craftsmanship, and style to the overall presentation.

Other than that, the presentation offers some references to its Louisiana origin, proudly featuring the fleur-de-lys as well as some information about the Perique tobacco and its unique character.

A bottle of Perique Tobacco Liqueur will roughly set you back 35 US-Dollars, which puts it into a more premium category of liqueurs overall. Nevertheless, given the great complexity and overall quality of the product, the value you get for the money is definitely very good.

Closing Thoughts

While it’s not something that you’ll probably reach for on a daily basis, Perique Tobacco liqueur is an exceptional addition to your liquor cabinet.