Escudo: Not What You Once Were

[anotherbob]

And I don't care, because I think you're great. The old smokers say it's not what it was before S.G. and I say it's not even what it was the last time I ordered a tin.
For one thing it tastes much closer to the profile of Davidoff Flake Medallion then my first tin. Also the first one had coin sized coins like pizza pepperoni sized, this tin has big huge sandwich pepperoni sized rolls. But the thing is it's not even like it used to be last year and I still think it's a nearly perfect tobacco. It seems to really hit the spot with both tins I've had. But anyone else notices these changes.

 

[sablebrush52]

I liked Davidoff Flake Medallions as I like the topping used on it.

I'm not sure I would like pepperoni flavored tobacco.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

I liked Davidoff Flake Medallions as I like the topping used on it.

I'm not sure I would like pepperoni flavored tobacco.

Mmmmm. pepperoni....
I might like that. Kind of like a Dark Fired thing

 

[bullet08]

All my coins in tins are in for a deep sleep. I won't open them for at least 3 more years. Wasn't impressed with Escudo from 3 years ago. DNR was the only blend that really shined. Davidoff was a bit strong on perique, but I tolerate perique much better now.

 

[spicy_boiii]

I happen to like the new escudo, though it was aging in a mason jar in the trunk of a hot car for a couple years. When it was fresh, I definitely was not a fan - the taste of the VA's was robust but hollow at the same time.

Compared to an older tin, the newer stuff has more of a casing/topping, but it definitely dissipates and ages-away fairly quickly. The older stuff has more of a dark Virginia flavor and more of a perique earthiness. I can taste the STG in the newer stuff if that makes any sense at all lol.

Although it is not my favorite Va/Per, I'm sure it will continue to age well, and I will very much enjoy it when I smoke it. I won't be stocking up on it, however.

Different strokes and all that....

 

[3rdguy]

I happen to like the new escudo, though it was aging in a mason jar in the trunk of a hot car for a couple years. When it was fresh, I definitely was not a fan - the taste of the VA's was robust but hollow at the same time.

Compared to an older tin, the newer stuff has more of a casing/topping, but it definitely dissipates and ages-away fairly quickly. The older stuff has more of a dark Virginia flavor and more of a perique earthiness. I can taste the STG in the newer stuff if that makes any sense at all lol.

Although it is not my favorite Va/Per, I'm sure it will continue to age well, and I will very much enjoy it when I smoke it. I won't be stocking up on it, however.

Different strokes and all that....

Same thing here. Did not wow me in the least fresh. Let it sit in a jar for 4 years and I really enjoyed it. I picked up 56 tins 3 years ago when you could stack coupons at P&C. Glad I did.

 

[anotherbob]

I liked Davidoff Flake Medallions as I like the topping used on it.

I'm not sure I would like pepperoni flavored tobacco.

oh no that would be horrid. Thankfully I was using that only as a size reference.

 

[anotherbob]

Same thing here. Did not wow me in the least fresh. Let it sit in a jar for 4 years and I really enjoyed it. I picked up 56 tins 3 years ago when you could stack coupons at P&C. Glad I did.

and people keep saying it doesn't age well. Guess you really can't hire an accountant for tastes.

 

[pantsBoots]

I like it, but I'm only a year in, so what the hell do I know about pipe tobacco? Someone passed me some with a couple years on it - the flakes were noticeably darker, but it was a much better experience. I do understand the comment above about the "hollow" taste from the virginias. If the 5 tins I'm sitting on age to become like the darker coins I enjoyed, I could see buying a few stacks of tins

 

[Servant King]

I liked Davidoff Flake Medallions as I like the topping used on it.

I'm not sure I would like pepperoni flavored tobacco.

As well you shouldn't, bubelah...it's treif! ?

 

[kg.legat0]

I see this sentiment fairly often around these parts. I have smoked a fair amount of VaPers over the past few years but only tried Escudo this year. At first, I was completely underwhelmed with the blend ...however, I have found the blend really opened up finally a couple months after opening the tin and has ended up being a nice smoke.

I would happily buy Escudo again if I was at a shop with a limited selection/in need of a good smoke ...really tho, I reach for PSLNF or PSLBF much more often when scratching this particular itch.

 

[Jacob74]

I see this sentiment fairly often around these parts. I have smoked a fair amount of VaPers over the past few years but only tried Escudo this year. At first, I was completely underwhelmed with the blend ...however, I have found the blend really opened up finally a couple months after opening the tin and has ended up being a nice smoke.

I would happily buy Escudo again if I was at a shop with a limited selection/in need of a good smoke ...really tho, I reach for PSLNF or PSLBF much more often when scratching this particular itch.

Same here, I find LBF and LNF to be just as good as or better than the Escudo I had a year ago, and I like the price point far better.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Just a thought that amuses me, at least: 5-6 years ago you couldn't read a thread without someone gushing over the big E.....

 

[Worknman]

I see a common thing in this thread that seems to happen fairly often. That is, someone isn't very impressed with whatever blend, but after sitting in a jar for X amount of time it becomes something quite enjoyable.

I've noticed this myself with quite a few blends. I've often wondered whether its because the tobacco really did improve with a little oxygen and some aging, or whether my technique has gotten better since the last time I smoked that blend. I imagine the latter is true quite often, especially because I often can go several months to a year before I come back around to re-visiting a blend I wasn't too impressed with initially.

 

[tobefrank]

I also wonder if it has something to do with the change in thinking around tobacco drying levels. When I first started smoking the warnings were that overdrying tobacco would result in loss of flavour. I have observed a change in thinking around this in that these days the advice is that you can almost not dry your tobacco enough.

 

[Rockyrepose]

Profit and trying to constantly source are players but when you think about things such as wine, it's amazing there is constancy over time at all. Things change and a lot of guys will never get that old blend, they just get all the new ones.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

The tobacco crop is going to vary year to year. Maybe all tobacco doesn't improve with age and even that is subjective. I can't think of any blend I've smoked that hasn't improved with age. I find perique blends really improve as the pepper taste evolves into spicy sweet fruit flavors. If someone prefers a more in your face peppery profile, they'd probably prefer fresh.

 

[anotherbob]

Just a thought that amuses me, at least: 5-6 years ago you couldn't read a thread without someone gushing over the big E.....

I still am. It hits the spot and smokes so agreeably for me.

 

[anotherbob]

The tobacco crop is going to vary year to year. Maybe all tobacco doesn't improve with age and even that is subjective. I can't think of any blend I've smoked that hasn't improved with age. I find perique blends really improve as the pepper taste evolves into spicy sweet fruit flavors. If someone prefers a more in your face peppery profile, they'd probably prefer fresh.

I get a really stewed fruit taste in escudo and then the daughter and ryan blends I have smoked that people say are fruity perique taste like someone dumped a hell of a lot of pepper in them. Just something funny I've noticed.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Just a thought that amuses me, at least: 5-6 years ago you couldn't read a thread without someone gushing over the big E.....

Elizabethan Match? ?