Peter Heinrichs Crue Pierre Henri No. 2

Crue Pierre Henri No. 2 is a blend in the Peter Heinrichs house's Crue Pierre Henri series, based on a composition of Virginia, Oriental, and Louisiana Perique. Per the maker's account, the blend uses oil- and aroma-rich, red-spotted Virginia leaves, small-leaved Macedonian-origin Orientals, and light-colored, broad-leaved Virginias with a nutty bouquet. The leaves are pressed sailor-style into a cake, then cut and roasted; this process gives the blend its characteristic taste and intense aroma. Virginia's sweetness and Perique's plum and spice note are balanced by the Oriental's dry tartness. Nicotine sits in the medium band, while flavor intensity is high due to the pressing and roasting.