A Query for Experienced Esotericans

[Terry Lennox]

Smoke them now as others have said. The Pembroke is essentially Margate with a Cognac topping. Quite a strong funky flavor if you ask me. One good reason to open the tins and smoke them (jarring whatever you don't get through) is that you need to gain the knowledge of trying these blends. This way you can add the experience to your sense of what you like and dislike. It's a journey and cellaring blends you've never tried does not move you along that journey. For me, a lover of Balkans, trying Pembroke actually allowed me to cross it off the list of blends I'm chasing.

 

[quietlife]

I'd say most of the blends are really mild and really nice. dry and cool smokes. Feel like I could smoke most in the middle of a warm day. Stonehaven and Germain's RDF are really worth aging.
I have some 2012 and 2020 Stonehaven and by far the better one is 2012. Rich and beautiful!

 

[renfield]

I’ve preferred the Esoterica blends fresh.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I have some 2012 and 2020 Stonehaven and by far the better one is 2012.

Possibly the newer one suffers from their blends being reformulated a couple of years ago. @sablebrush52 has commented on Dunbar being a bit off.

 

[filmguerilla]

I agree with the sentiment of opening and smoking them. If they are a bit too harsh/rich for you, THEN jar and store them for a while. I, personally, like latakia rich mixtures and do not purposefully cellar such tobaccos. Esoterica's Virginia blends, however, merit a year or two (Tilbury, Cardiff, Brighton, Scarborough, etc.). And So To Bed is a delicious Balkan right out of the tin--smoke and enjoy!

 

[jbfrady]

It's a journey and cellaring blends you've never tried does not move you along that journey. For me, a lover of Balkans, trying Pembroke actually allowed me to cross it off the list of blends I'm chasing.

I 100% get where you're coming from, but I have this nasty habit of late where I accumulate tins much more rapidly than I consume them.

 

[Chasing Embers]

And So To Bed is a delicious Balkan

I think this is the first thread that I've heard that one called a Balkan.

 

[quietlife]

Possibly the newer one suffers from their blends being reformulated a couple of years ago. @sablebrush52 has commented on Dunbar being a bit off.

that could totally be true too! good point...didn't realize there have been changes with em!
thanks for the info

 

[Chasing Embers]

that could totally be true too! good point...didn't realize there have been changes with em!
thanks for the info

Seems a trend with a few houses over the past little bit.

 

[quietlife]

Seems a trend with a few houses over the past little bit.

yeah, its true. definitely tasted those changes with solani. and especially some red va's out there

 

[filmguerilla]

I think this is the first thread that I've heard that one called a Balkan.

It's got that flavor. Very incense like. Reminds me of McC Balkan Blue and GLP Abingdon.

 

[quietlife]

It's got that flavor. Very incense like. Reminds me of McC Balkan Blue and GLP Abingdon.

i agree with this

 

[woodsroad]

Jar them now. Fill the empty tins with something that’s common, cheap and plentiful. Pop ‘em in the oven for a couple of minutes and screw the lids down while hot. They’ll vacuum seal. Sell ‘em to the Chinese. I mean, hell, they’ve been pawning off adulterated crap on us for years. At least this won’t kill anyone. They likely will never even realize what happened.

 

[Chasing Embers]

It's got that flavor. Very incense like. Reminds me of McC Balkan Blue and GLP Abingdon.

i agree with this

The inclusion of a heavy topping though I would imagine it being disqualified from the classification. A bit more like an English aromatic.

 

[sablebrush52]

I 100% get where you're coming from, but I have this nasty habit of late where I accumulate tins much more rapidly than I consume them.

It’s not an entirely nasty habit. Blends have a way of disappearing or being altered with replacement components. So if you find a blend that you like, it’s prudent to stock some for future use. Just don’t go nuts like I’ve done.

 

[jbfrady]

It’s not an entirely nasty habit. Blends have a way of disappearing or being altered with replacement components. So if you find a blend that you like, it’s prudent to stock some for future use. Just don’t go nuts like I’ve done.

Yeah, but I need to slow down the frequency... I'm probably nabbing 8-10 for every 1 opened. I've yet to open two of the same tin this year. Still, given all the feedback I've gotten here I'll be trying And So To Bed before the year's out.