Irish Oak

Irish Oak is the Irish-style blend offered by Wellauer, the Swiss tobacconist founded in St. Gallen in 1898 by Gottlieb Wellauer. The brand is Swiss in origin; its tin series is today prepared by manufacturers in Germany. According to retailer records, the blend's backbone consists of dark, heavy cavendish, joined by orange-toned Virginia from Zimbabwe, flavored Thai Burley, and Louisiana Perique. The leaves are aged for a long time in sherry-cask oak, giving the blend the oak note it's named for.

In the smoke, Virginia carries its natural sugar and a light toasted-bread taste, cavendish provides softness and body, while Perique brings a plummy spice. The oak addition sits in a cask-and-wood direction rather than a candy-like one, so even though the blend counts as aromatic, the tobacco taste stays in front. Since the cut is a loose mixture, it's easy to pack and light. It's a middle option for smokers who avoid heavy aromatics but aren't looking for a fully unflavored English mixture either.