Galloping Gertie

Galloping Gertie is an unflavored blend in which red and stoved dark Virginia leaves are combined with St. James perique, unsweetened black cavendish, and Turkish-Oriental tobaccos and pressed into a crumble cake. The name comes from the nickname attached to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington State, which famously swayed in the wind and collapsed in 1940.

The perique adds a plum-like sweetness and a peppery sharpness to the blend, while the Oriental leaves add a sour-spicy edge; the black cavendish provides richness and roundness rather than sugar. The result is a blend aimed at smokers seeking a layered flavor without added flavoring, who want to try the Virginia-perique family alongside Oriental leaf.