Perique Liqueur

[istanbulin]

I came accros this when searching another stuff, "Perique Liqueur de Tabac".

I'm pretty sure they're not making this liquor like fruit liquors. They're most probably distilling Perique with alcohol to get rid of nicotine which is highly toxic when ingested.

Nicotine's boiling point is 247 °C (477 °F) alcohol's (ethyl) is 78.37 °C (173.07 °F) so it may be seperated by distillation. Actually there may be some other awful tasted stuff even after distillation. I guess, there may be some further treatments.

Not a good task for a home distiller (already illegal), not recommended to try at home.

May be they're using just a artificial aroma instead of real tobacco but the distiller says that they're using real Perique.

http://www.vintageabsinthe.com/perique.htm

Here's a review of the liquor from http://www.liquorsnob.com/archives/2007/03/perique_liqueur_de_tabac_tastiing.php

The color is a very light amber/gold, strikingly similar to an old cognac. The aroma is unique, but with touches of cognac, woody tones, Perique tobacco, spices, and briny sea air. In addition I was surprised and intrigued by a complex base of fermented notes in the aroma which bring to mind just a touch of belacan or bagoong alamang suspended pleasantly within. Some could think this a negative aroma, but as in the iodine brine of a good seaside single malt Scotch, it adds a unique touch that brings the other components together.

The taste is sharp, but smooth, with a mild sweetness that balances the fire in the liqueur. The tangy fermented Perique tobacco comes through more so than in the aroma, as do the hints of spices. Then it has a woody finish combined with fine leather, as if you were sitting in an old leather armchair, in a cozy library where your favorite grandfather had smoked his pipe a few hours before.

Sounds interesting.

 

[deluxestogie]

I've noticed a distinct similarity in aroma between my Perique and the rich wine made with botrytis-affected grapes. It's a deep prune-like fruitiness.

Bob

 

[crow]

I understood that folks made this by placing leaves in a botanicals basket or carterhead receptical in the still in the same way gin is often infused. This way vapour passes through the botanicals (in this case tobacco), any oils ect should not carry over the lynne arm with the esters and ethanol and nicotine given its high boiling point should also not be able to distil off

 

[POGreen]

I got my bottle from Germany by some absinthe site a year or so ago.
Like that liquor a great deal.