The origins of 1881 Perique are rooted in Tabacalera Incorporada, a cornerstone of the Philippine tobacco industry. The number 1881 commemorates the company’s founding year and serves as the name of its long-standing cigar brand. The original 1881 line is recognized as a balanced, medium-bodied cigar that relies heavily on aged Philippine tobacco, supplemented by Brazilian leaf for added richness.

In 2014, Tabacalera introduced 1881 Perique as an experimental interpretation of this legacy. Rather than producing another conventional blend, the manufacturer incorporated genuine Perique tobacco from St. James Parish, Louisiana. Contemporary accounts of the launch positioned the cigar as an innovative attempt to adapt this unusual tobacco—historically difficult to utilize in premium cigar blending—into a new format.2 The objective was to merge the aged tobaccos typical of the 1881 lineage with the highly distinctive profile of Perique.

Perique is among the world’s most unique tobacco types, cultivated exclusively in St. James Parish, Louisiana. It is renowned for its potent aroma, peppery spice, fruity notes, and specialized fermentation method.1

Unlike standard curing processes, Perique undergoes pressure fermentation. Historically, the tobacco is packed into barrels and fermented under immense pressure, resulting in its signature dark color and intense aromatic qualities. This characteristic makes Perique rare in the cigar industry; it is predominantly used as a condiment tobacco in pipe blends, where small quantities significantly alter the flavor profile.1 The significance of 1881 Perique lies in Tabacalera’s effort to integrate this assertive tobacco into a premium cigar blend.

The core concept of 1881 Perique is the combination of aged Philippine and Brazilian tobaccos with Louisiana Perique. Tabacalera emphasizes the use of 15-year-old vintage filler tobacco, while the Perique component is sourced from St. James Parish and fermented in oak whiskey casks.

Construction details vary by vitola and release. The original 1881 Perique has been described as featuring an Indonesian wrapper, a Philippine binder, and a filler blend of Brazilian and Philippine tobaccos.2 Current listings for the standard Robusto similarly identify an Indonesian wrapper, Philippine binder, and Philippine/Brazilian filler.2 This results in a notably international composition:

• Louisiana: Perique
• Philippines: Binder/filler and manufacturing heritage
• Brazil: Filler
• Indonesia: Original wrapper

The defining characteristic of 1881 Perique is its interplay of spice and sweetness. Common tasting notes include:

• Black pepper
• Baking spice
• Earth
• Sweetness
• Fruity notes
• Oak
• Nuttiness
• A persistent spicy finish

Tabacalera describes the profile as having strong peppery notes, subtle sweetness, and a lingering spice. Independent reviews have corroborated this, highlighting a balance of sweetness against pepper and spice.2 The inclusion of Perique does not merely increase strength; it imparts a distinct aromatic and spicy personality that differentiates the line from more traditional Philippine premium cigars.

Throughout its history, the 1881 Perique family has been available in various formats, including:

• Corona
• Robusto
• Toro
• Torpedo
• Torpedito
• Short Robusto (market dependent)

The Corona vitola, for example, is listed at approximately 140 mm × 44 ring gauge (5.51 × 44).3 Availability varies by market and production period, so the current lineup may differ across regions.

1881 Perique Maduro

Tabacalera expanded the line with 1881 Perique Maduro, which retains the signature Perique blend but features a darker, richer wrapper. Promotional materials describe it as the celebrated 1881 Perique blend finished with a spicy Maduro wrapper. This treatment shifts the profile toward a deeper, richer presentation while maintaining the characteristic Perique spice. The 1881 Perique Torpedito Maduro, for instance, is listed as a medium-full bodied cigar with a Dominican wrapper, Philippine binder, and Brazilian/Philippine filler.3

1881 Perique Bold

The 1881 Perique Bold expression was developed to emphasize intensity. Descriptions note aromas and flavors of oak, fruit, licorice, coffee, cocoa, and nuttiness, alongside the hallmark peppery element. Modern listings classify vitolas such as the Robusto as full-bodied, featuring a Dominican wrapper and Philippine/Brazilian tobacco components.3 Collectively, these variations represent a progression from the original concept toward darker and more forceful interpretations.

It is necessary to distinguish 1881 Perique from the standard 1881 line. The original 1881 is an established Tabacalera brand defined by a balanced, medium-bodied profile centered on aged Philippine tobacco. In contrast, 1881 Perique is an experimental premium extension defined by Louisiana Perique.

1881 = The traditional Tabacalera expression
1881 Perique = The adventurous Perique-driven expression

While the “1881” name signifies Tabacalera’s heritage, “Perique” identifies the specialized tobacco concept unique to this line.

1881 Perique occupies a notable position in the local industry because Perique is not a conventional premium cigar tobacco. Known for its powerful, fruity, and spicy character, it is typically reserved for pipe tobacco.1 By incorporating a product traditionally associated with a different category, Tabacalera bridged two distinct tobacco traditions.

The company has claimed to be the only manufacturer to successfully incorporate Louisiana Perique into a cigar, though this remains a manufacturer claim rather than an independently verified industry fact. Nevertheless, the line represents a modern evolution of Philippine cigar heritage. By combining Philippine manufacturing tradition, Brazilian tobacco, Indonesian or Dominican wrappers, and Louisiana Perique, the brand creates a product distinct from those relying solely on domestic leaf.

Reviewers generally regard 1881 Perique as an interesting departure from mainstream blends. Detailed reviews of the Torpedo vitola have noted an unusual aroma, good smoke production, and a medium-to-full body where sweetness balances pepper and spice. Construction and flavor complexity have received specific praise.2

Within the Philippines, the cigar has appeared in lifestyle publications and pairing discussions, where its robust, spicy profile is often matched with heavily flavored spirits.

The importance of 1881 Perique lies in its technical and stylistic experimentation. It established a niche by centering a premium cigar concept around Louisiana Perique, a relatively obscure tobacco in this context. The subsequent development of Maduro and Bold variations indicates that Tabacalera views the Perique concept as an expandable product family rather than a singular experiment. Today, 1881 Perique stands as one of Tabacalera’s most distinctive offerings and a unique example of Philippine cigar-making integrating specialized American tobacco traditions.

1. Perique
2. 1881 Perique – Unique from Tabacalera Incorporada | Cigar Mayven – | Cigar Mayven
3. 1881 PERIQUE CORONAS – Cigars.PH