Welcome to another episode of Tasting Notes. I'm really thrilled to be here today to talk about the latest core-line addition to the exclusive line of tobaccos made by Jeremy Reeves and Cornell & Diehl for our shop here in South Carolina at Low Country Pipe and Cigar and available at Smokingpipes. Today, we are talking about Low Country Pee Dee.

Pee Dee: Low Country's Latest

Like all of the Low Country blends, this one is named after a waterway. In this case, it's named after the Pee Dee River, which is arguably the most significant waterway in the Carolinas. This blend is another all-natural Virginia-based blend with a little bit of a twist.

Looking at the makeup of Pee Dee on paper, I was like, okay, here's another one that I'm really gonna enjoy. I would like to say that that is true, I do enjoy it. However, it definitely is not what I expected. It's more than the sum of its parts. It's one of those weird crossover kind of tobaccos, in my opinion. And by that, specifically, I'm referring to the interplay between the Virginias and the Burleys.

Balanced Dance of Components

Low Country's newest blend, Pee Dee, is comprised of Red and Bright Virginia grades, heirloom Dark and White Burley grades, and a little bit of genuine St. James Parish Perique. For me, the Perique is really interesting because it does add a little bit of complexity and nuance. However, both in the tin note and initially in the smoke, what I'm really noticing is the interplay between the White and Dark Burleys and the Bright and Red Virginias. That's really interesting because typically, Burley plays a little bit of a supporting role in Virginia blends when it is present. Either that or we think of Burley blends as being really Burley forward.

The Pee Dee blend is a really balanced dance between these two families of base tobaccos and what different grades of them do to the body, flavor, and the platform with which this Perique can accentuate on top.

Complex Tin Note

I was shocked when I first opened this because the first thing that I got was such a pronounced chocolatey note that it is maybe the most noticeable chocolate note that's possible on a natural tobacco blend. It's more of a darker cocoa, baker's chocolate. This isn't super sweet.

There's a creamy aspect in the body, and you do get the perception that it's a little bit more of a creamier, milk chocolate kind of a sensation. I do get a little bit of a chocolate-covered cherry kind of a vibe. There's a fruitiness in here, probably from the St. James Perique, that gives me that chocolate-covered cherry thing. It also reminds me of Christmas a little bit, being a kid and stealing those little bottles made of chocolate that have Grand Marnier and Cointreau in them. I thought they were amazing with the combination of chocolate, liqueur, and citrusy notes. That's what this reminds me of a lot.

There's a little bit of a boozy quality that I'm struggling to put my finger on, but it just ties all of these flavors together. It's really rich. Then you have a lot of these earthy, regular tobacco notes. There's a hint of a malty character. Maybe a little molasses and earthiness from the Burleys, for sure. It's really complex and rich. I wish I could get a candle or some cologne of the tin note itself because it smells incredible. Very natural.

A Very Rich Experience

Perfect moisture content right out of the tin. I definitely don't suggest any drying time. I would say this is a little on the drier side for a Cornell & Diehl-made ready-rubbed tobacco. The cut is a little between a wild cut and a ready-rubbed for me. You have some loose-leaf pieces and some pieces that are still compressed.

In a Group Three or above chamber, I tend not to rub it out too much. A little bit, for sure, as more of an aeration thing, which is pretty typical for me with C&D-made flakes or ready rubs but I went straight from the tin moisture content into the bowl. Depending on the size pipe you're smoking, whether you're smoking indoors or outdoors, you can leave this pretty rough in the cut straight out of the tin, or you can break it up a little more if that's your preference.

Once I got Pee Dee going, the rustic and earthy Burley-influenced flavors are what I'm noticing immediately. That really dry finish and the chocolatey, creamy, and earthy flavors, and a little bit of spice, is where it starts. It's a big, rich burst of flavor right from the first light. There's a lot of texture and volume to the smoke.

As the bowl progresses, I do start to notice the Virginia components a little bit more. I get a little bit of maltiness, a baked bread quality, and a zesty, fruity Perique spice through the nose on the retrohale. You have the dark fruit flavor, especially in conjunction with those Burley grades. It's a very rich experience that intensifies throughout the bowl.

As you get further down, you start to feel the Perique a little bit more. Basically, you have these sweeter, maltier, baked good kind of flavors and the spicier, darker, richer, molasses, chocolate, and earthy kind of flavors. Both ends of those spectrums are amplified by the Perique in the middle there. It makes for not just a rich experience but a really dynamic one as well.

Flavor-wise, I would say Pee Dee is on the medium-plus side. Strength-wise, I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one. I think it's a little bit of a sneaky one. I would say firmly in the medium range for strength, maybe a hair past that, depending on the time of day that you're smoking or what your normal preferences and tolerances are.

Rustic Blend with Contrasting Flavors

It is definitely fitting for the rest of the Low Country line. What I like most about a lot of these blends is that they're very rich. They're a little more on the rustic side, and I think that's more true of Pee Dee than it is on the last couple that I can remember talking about. I think Edisto and Atalaya are a little bit more refined in my mind, and Pee Dee here is back to the roots of Cornell & Diehl and also the Low Country series in general, which is a little more rustic, beefy, and rich.

I chose an IMP Nosewarmer Meerschaum to smoke Pee Dee because, like I said, I really wanted to appreciate the contrasting flavor profiles of these grades of Burleys and Virginias. I'm glad I did that because I feel like I got a really pure insight and experience into what Pee Dee is as a blend.

This is one that's gonna be really dynamic and complex in a lot of different chambers and materials. Honestly, I would smoke this in a cob, too, and I bet it's fantastic, especially if you're out on the river or doing your thing outdoors. This is a blend that I think would absolutely love to be smoked in a cob.

Great Potential For Long-Term Aging

I think this is a blend that is really immediately enjoyable, particularly for fans of Burley blends, Virginia/Burleys, and those who prefer more stout tobaccos in general. If you like rich, rustic, and darker base-note blends, this is right up your alley.

In terms of aging potential, I am gonna keep an eye on this one because typically the myth is that Burleys don't age, and I don't think that's true at all. What I think is true about Burleys is that they age much more in the long term. The arc is a lot longer and a lot more gentle, whereas in the first couple of years for a Virginia, you can notice a big difference.

Due to the balance between the heirloom White and Dark Burleys and the Bright and Red Virginia grades, with the help of a little bit of St. James Perique, I think that this one will have long legs. I don't think you'll notice crazy changes in the short term, but I think in the long term, you will be rewarded with even more of that chocolate character, more umami and earthy notes, and probably a good bit more sweetness, even though this is not overtly sweet to begin with.

I'm really pleased with the results here. Thanks to Jeremy and his team, and if you're a fan of any of the other Low Country blends, Cornell & Diehl, or Burleys in general, make sure you give Low Country Pee Dee a spin.