Bosporus Strait Plug - Va/Per/Or

Thought I would try something new and experimental with whole leaf Virginia, Oriental and Perique tobacco plug. Pressing a 200g block consisting of:

• 30g Izmir
• 60g Perique
• 110g Bright Virginia

The Virginia is cased with sugar water with a 1 to 1 weight of water to sugar to make 200g of basically simple syrup with a cap full of white vinegar and spoonful of Brewer’s Best Plum Extract. The mixture is brought to a boil to invert the sugars (thanks to the vinegar) and let cooled down. I use 2oz of the mix to case 1 lb of Virginia. The Perique and Izmir do not need to be cased.

All the components are mixed in a bowl. I tried to unravel the perique from the dense clumps. Had shred by grabbing two fists full and ripping with a twisting motion. Then toss the tobacco salad and load into my steel press.

I press the mixture down using an frame press ($169ish at Harbor Freight or Northern Tools) and the remove the form and clamp it down with a C-Clamp. I will periodically tighten for a week but probably won’t need much after using the frame press.

Next I throw the whole form, clamp and all in the oven for 4 hours at 200F.

This was a really enjoyable blend. No harshness. The Virginia and Perique are at the forefront but Izmir comes through as well adding complexity.