Warped Kings Stride Pipe Tobacco

Warped Kings Stride Pipe Tobacco

Experience the regal sophistication of Warped Kings Stride, an extraordinary crumble cake that showcases the commanding presence of Louisiana Perique alongside five-year aged Burley and an exquisite cigar leaf Cavendish. Created through the collaboration of Kyle Gellis and Cornell & Diehl’s master blender Jeremy Reeves, this rich blend takes its name and logo from one of Gellis’s high-end Cabernet Sauvignon wines, embodying the same principles of refinement, balance, and complexity that define both exceptional wine and superior tobacco.

• Features regal Louisiana Perique delivering deep notes of dark fruit and chocolate
• Five-year aged Burley provides nutty sweetness and exceptional smoothness
• Unique cigar leaf Cavendish created through pressing and steaming for delicate mystique
• Fine Virginia leaf adds natural sweetness and balance to the robust blend
• Crumble cake format ensures optimal aging potential and easy preparation
• Natural profile free of artificial flavoring showcases pure tobacco excellence

Kings Stride represents the pinnacle of Kyle Gellis’s vision for pipe tobacco, where each component plays a specific role in creating a harmonious whole. The Louisiana Perique, cultivated in St. James Parish using traditional pressure-fermentation techniques dating back to 1824, provides the blend’s commanding presence with its characteristic fruity intensity and spiced complexity. This rare tobacco, representing less than 0.005% of world production, undergoes months of anaerobic fermentation in oak whiskey barrels, developing its signature dark fruit and chocolate notes.

The five-year aged Burley brings remarkable depth to the blend, having transformed through patient cellaring from a simple nutty tobacco into something far more complex. Extended aging allows Burley to develop cocoa undertones, subtle molasses sweetness, and a creamy smoothness that perfectly complements the Perique’s intensity. This aged component acts as a bridge between the various tobaccos, providing body without overwhelming the palate.

Perhaps the most innovative element is the cigar leaf Cavendish, created through a specialized process where select cigar tobaccos undergo pressing and steaming. This technique, masterfully executed by Jeremy Reeves, transforms the cigar leaf into an exceptionally smooth, dark Cavendish that spreads the Perique’s flavors throughout the blend while adding its own subtle earthiness and natural sweetness. The steaming process caramelizes the tobacco’s natural sugars while the pressing ensures perfect integration with the other components.

The Virginia tobaccos, both red and bright varieties, provide essential balance with their natural sweetness and citrus brightness. These tobaccos act as the blend’s foundation, offering structure while allowing the more assertive Perique and aged Burley to shine. The result is a crumble cake that breaks apart easily in the fingers, releasing complex aromas of dark fruit, chocolate, nuts, and subtle spice.

When lit, Kings Stride delivers immediate richness with the Perique’s dark fruit and peppery spice balanced by the aged Burley’s cocoa notes. The cigar leaf Cavendish provides a velvety mouthfeel while contributing subtle leather and earth undertones. As the bowl progresses, the Virginia sweetness emerges more prominently, creating a perfect counterpoint to the Perique’s intensity. The finish offers lingering notes of dark chocolate, plum, and toasted nuts with a gentle rum-like sweetness from the Cavendish processing.

Technical Specifications

Summary

• Box Count:
• Region: Multi-Regional (USA Louisiana, Various)
• Strength: Medium-Full
• Binder:
• Wrapper:
• Filler:

What makes the Louisiana Perique in Kings Stride special?

Louisiana Perique undergoes unique pressure-fermentation in oak whiskey barrels for months, developing intense dark fruit, chocolate, and spicy notes. This rare tobacco from St. James Parish provides the blend’s commanding presence and distinctive fruity complexity.

How does the five-year aging affect the Burley component?

Five years of aging transforms Burley from simple nuttiness into complex cocoa, molasses sweetness, and exceptional smoothness. This extended cellaring creates depth that bridges the gap between the assertive Perique and sweet Virginias.

What is cigar leaf Cavendish and how is it made?

Cigar leaf Cavendish involves pressing and steaming select cigar tobaccos to create an exceptionally smooth, dark component. This process caramelizes natural sugars while the pressure ensures perfect integration, adding earthy sweetness and spreading Perique flavors throughout.

How should I prepare the crumble cake for smoking?

The crumble cake easily breaks apart with gentle finger pressure. Most smokers prefer partially rubbing out the cake while leaving some chunks for optimal burn characteristics. The format requires no knife and maintains perfect moisture straight from the tin.

What inspired the Kings Stride name and blend concept?

Kyle Gellis named Kings Stride after one of his high-end Cabernet Sauvignon wines, with matching logo. Like the wine, the tobacco embodies richness, poise, and elegance, reflecting Gellis’s pursuit of luxury and refinement in all his ventures.

How does Kings Stride compare to other Perique blends?

Kings Stride uses cigar leaf Cavendish to spread Perique flavor without overwhelming intensity, making it more approachable than straight Perique blends while maintaining full flavor. The aged Burley and Virginia balance create exceptional harmony.

What beverages pair best with Kings Stride?

The dark fruit and chocolate notes pair excellently with Cabernet Sauvignon (appropriately), aged rum, or bourbon. The blend’s richness also complements espresso, port wine, or imperial stouts during evening smoking sessions.

Is Kings Stride suitable for Perique newcomers?

While featuring prominent Perique, the cigar leaf Cavendish mellows its intensity while preserving flavor, making Kings Stride more accessible than many Perique-forward blends. The aged Burley and Virginia balance help create an approachable yet complex experience.