Oak Alley

Oak Alley is a pressed mixture named after the historic Oak Alley Plantation in Louisiana. Per Cornell & Diehl's description, sweet red Virginias along with white and brown burleys form the body, topped with a measured amount of perique and Katerini Oriental leaf. Because it is pressed into a cake, Virginia's sugars concentrate, while burley cools the smoke and adds a nutty depth.

As perique and Katerini are used in small proportions, they stand as a complementary layer of spice and herbal tang rather than a dominant note. The maker positions the blend as well suited to cellar aging. It suits smokers accustomed to tobaccos with above-medium nicotine who want a Latakia-free blend with more layering than a straight Virginia.