Heather Braes

Heather Braes is an unflavored mixture weighted toward Izmir Oriental leaf, rounded out with red Virginia, white Burley, and Louisiana Perique. The Oriental leaf sits at the center of the blend, building a dry, floral-spicy frame; Virginia adds sweetness, Burley body, and Perique a twist of pepper and dried fruit.

With no Latakia present, the result is a spicy rather than smoky profile. It appeals to fans of Oriental-forward blends who want something more complex than a straight Virginia without Latakia. Reiver Pipes & Tobacco is a small-scale blending operation; its mixtures are prepared by Dan Armstrong and carry names referencing the border reiver tradition.