Jade Perique Liqueur de Tabac – 50cl

Jade Perique Liqueur de Tabac- 50cl / 31% – A tobacco liqueur from Jade, made in very limited qualities due to their use of very rare Louisiana Perique tobacco. Made to have none of the toxic risks of home-made tobacco infusions and great as a smoky addition to cocktails.

Many bar tenders love to infuse libations with the odd cigar, what they don’t realise is just how toxic and poisonous this practise is. Perique Tobacco Liqueur offers not only a safe alternative but it is also aimed at keeping alive an ancient tradition dating back to the Native North Americans. Louisiana Perique is the rarest and more precious tobacco in the entire world. Early French settlers learned the secrets of Perique cultivation from the native people, and while their descendants have continued the tradition for centuries, very little Perique exists today. The unique terroir of the Mississippi River gives Perique the intense spices and aromas that contribute to the delicate balance of this fine liqueur. In an effort to bring attention to this endangered tradition, Jade Liqueurs developed Perique liqueur to captivate one’s senses with the wonderful aroma of this native tobacco, but in a form that greatly diminishes the health concerns associated with tobacco use. Perique is entirely best enjoyed in the same manner as one would a fine liqueur or brandy. Due to the difficulty in procuring this rare tobacco, Perique liqueur is available only in limited quantities. The aroma is unique, but with touches of cognac, woody tones, Perique tobacco, spices, and briny sea air. In addition I was surprised and intrigued by a complex base of fermented notes in the aroma which bring to mind just a touch of belacan or bagoong alamang suspended pleasantly within. Some could think this a negative aroma, but as in the iodine brine of a good seaside single malt Scotch, it adds a unique touch that brings the other components together. The taste is sharp, but smooth, with a mild sweetness that balances the fire in the liqueur. The tangy fermented Perique tobacco comes through more so than in the aroma, as do the hints of spices. Then it has a woody finish combined with fine leather, as if you were sitting in an old leather armchair, in a cosy library where your favourite grandfather had smoked his pipe a few hours before.