Esoterica Blends

[sablebrush52]

I am bored at work , I should call 100-200 places and ask them to buy Penzance, Stonehaven, or Peacehaven for $45 a bag ….lots of laughs will ensue …. I will most likely get zero. That is the type of research I do for work. I could do it , but I know the best use of my time .

I’ve bought 99% of my tobacco from online retailers , I don’t have a single Connection in the b&m space . For the vast majority who don’t have long term relationships no one will get what you got. I question even if you could repeat it . I doubt it

If this is an example of the skill you bring to financial analysis lord help the people who get it.

On line stores are a tiny percentage of the drop, and a waste of time. Although, Iwan Ries sure came through, because they actually hold your order for three days, rather than send you a meaningless alert that's too late and effectively means zero, and is a bull shit practice. Moreover, when I signed to claim my pre-order, the portal gave me access to to other Esoterica that was in stock and I added a couple of bags of Stonehaven and Dunbar to my original order.

There are a few rules to working with B&M's who have the lion's share of any drop.

1. Don't act like a dick.
2. Don't cherry pick.
3. Establish a regular customer relationship, buy tobaccos you like that are not unicorns, pipe cleaners, whatever, even when you're not on the hunt. That pays off when the drops occur.
4. Don't share their names, because they DO NOT want to be inundated with crazies. I was told that a few times. They take care of their customers, not dive bombers. And what doesn't sell in a month, they send to Chinese agents and make a huge mark up on remaining stock, because the stuff never sells out.

That's it.

As for repeating it? I've been repeating it for 9 years. Your doubts and questions? Your doubts and questions are more an expression of your frustration than anything reality based.

 

[Chasing Embers]

the stuff never sells out.

The last bag of Dunbar I bought had been sitting on the shelf for a year.

 

[crashthegrey]

McClelland overrated? I don't need that type of negativity in my life. The author of each such comment has been blocked.

 

[grimpuffer]

McClelland overrated? I don't need that type of negativity in my life. The author of each such comment has been blocked.

Ill say this, and I do not mean this as slander at all, but I would take McClellands entire catalogue over what C&D offers today.

Again, I don’t mean that as harsh as it sounds, but my entire rotation between 2010 to when they closed, was 90% McClelland and 10% “others”.

Give my all the Frogs, St James flake, Blackwood Flake, Samovar, 3 Oaks, and Beacon back and I could just have those for the rest of my pipe smoking career.

McC and GLP were my go-to for all things pipe tobacco. (yes I know GLP works closely with C&D which is why I said it wasn’t a knock on them at all - just my opinion on the blending of the two)

 

[Chasing Embers]

Ill say this, and I do not mean this as slander at all, but I would take McClellands entire catalogue over what C&D offers today.

Again, I don’t mean that as harsh as it sounds, but my entire rotation between 2010 to when they closed, was 90% McClelland and 10% “others”.

Give my all the Frogs, St James flake, Blackwood Flake, Samovar, 3 Oaks, and Beacon back and I could just have those for the rest of my pipe smoking career.

McC and GLP were my go-to for all things pipe tobacco. (yes I know GLP works closely with C&D which is why I said it wasn’t a knock on them at all - just my opinion on the blending of the two)

If I had nothing but a lifetime supply of Yenidje Highlander, I'd be quite the happy smoker.

 

[damacene]

Ill say this, and I do not mean this as slander at all, but I would take McClellands entire catalogue over what C&D offers today.

Again, I don’t mean that as harsh as it sounds, but my entire rotation between 2010 to when they closed, was 90% McClelland and 10% “others”.

Give my all the Frogs, St James flake, Blackwood Flake, Samovar, 3 Oaks, and Beacon back and I could just have those for the rest of my pipe smoking career.

McC and GLP were my go-to for all things pipe tobacco. (yes I know GLP works closely with C&D which is why I said it wasn’t a knock on them at all - just my opinion on the blending of the two)

This might be heresy to many but if I could have Dunhill Durbar and Aperitif back I'd be content for the rest of my days...why those didn't survive I'm still baffled.

 

[grimpuffer]

If I had nothing but a lifetime supply of Yenidje Highlander, I'd be quite the happy smoker.

View attachment 165142

I still have several of those but my biggest hoard of their Oriental series is Classic Samsun.

Its like my grandmothers spice cabinet in a bowl. So good.

 

[sablebrush52]

If I had nothing but a lifetime supply of Yenidje Highlander, I'd be quite the happy smoker.

View attachment 165142

That was a good one. Excellent on its own, and really good when mixed with HH Vintage Syrian.

 

[grimpuffer]

This might be heresy to many but if I could have Dunhill Durbar and Aperitif back I'd be content for the rest of my days...why those didn't survive I'm still baffled.

I still have a few of those left and cannot bring myself to open them for that reason.

 

[Chasing Embers]

This might be heresy to many but if I could have Dunhill Durbar and Aperitif back I'd be content for the rest of my days...why those didn't survive I'm still baffled.

No heresy at all. We enjoy what we enjoy.

 

[alan73]

If this is an example of the skill you bring to financial analysis lord help the people who get it.

On line stores are a tiny percentage of the drop, and a waste of time. Although, Iwan Ries sure came through, because they actually hold your order for three days, rather than send you a meaningless alert that's too late and effectively means zero, and is a bull shit practice. Moreover, when I signed to claim my pre-order, the portal gave me access to to other Esoterica that was in stock and I added a couple of bags of Stonehaven and Dunbar to my original order.

There are a few rules to working with B&M's who have the lion's share of any drop.

1. Don't act like a dick.
2. Don't cherry pick.
3. Establish a regular customer relationship, buy tobaccos you like that are not unicorns, pipe cleaners, whatever, even when you're not on the hunt. That pays off when the drops occur.
4. Don't share their names, because they DO NOT want to be inundated with crazies. I was told that a few times. They take care of their customers, not dive bombers. And what doesn't sell in a month, they send to Chinese agents and make a huge mark up on remaining stock, because the stuff never sells out.

That's it.

As for repeating it? I've been repeating it for 9 years. Your doubts and questions? Your doubts and questions are more an expression of your frustration than anything reality based.

I liked this post, except that small slight on my job skills , no biggie , I manage $2B in public equity and have done well.

Many of the posts yours included validate my view of getting hard to get blends for MSRP. You, Chasingembers, and others have developed those relationships , I haven’t and I think most haven’t. I have been following your commentary for 5-6 years … when it came to esoterica , I paid up 80-120 a bag and bought a lifetime supply , people were aghast that people were asking 100 a bag for penzance or Stonehaven In 2017 .
if a tobacco shop is calling you , you have developed a friendship, loyal customer thing that I will never have
And no I am not frustrated

 

[sablebrush52]

I manage $2B in public equity and have done well.

Of course you do well. The financial sector is set up to do that for financial professionals. Are your clients doing well?

Not everyone enjoys your level of financial resources so for them, learning how to buy hard-to-get blends at regular retail can be useful information.

Where you stepped over the line was in expressing doubts about my ability to do what I suggested others do.

 

[alan73]

I work for an institution, zero customers all internal money, I get judged against the S&P 500 and have beaten it for ten years at this company and more before that.

So in 2017 I did follow your advice and called around, visited multiple shops in Chicago and Milwaukee, got nothing .

Conceptually thinking , so getting esoterica at MSRP is deep value or value investing , you gotta do work and put effort in . paying up is growth investing or momentum investing . both strategies can work

 

[grimpuffer]

I work for an institution, zero customers all internal money, I get judged against the S&P 500 and have beaten it for ten years at this company and more before that.

So in 2017 I did follow your advice and called around, visited multiple shops in Chicago and Milwaukee, got nothing .

Conceptually thinking , so getting esoterica at MSRP is deep value or value investing , you gotta do work and put effort in . paying up is growth investing or momentum investing . both strategies can work

Hate to jump in the middle of this but it’s the same with bourbon right now.

Either you “know a guy” or you are somehow “in” with the owner because if you aren’t, enjoy paying $100+ or more over MSRP while their buddies get all the good deals with no work.

*sorry, still bitter about how ridiculous that market is for regular consumers. I don’t even support Buffalo Trace distillery because of it.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Hate to jump in the middle of this but it’s the same with bourbon right now

No worries. Online tobacco sites have created a belief of lack of availability as they only get the scraps of the drops and many have bought into it. Several members of this forum and others know that Esoterica tobacco is very widely available for extended periods of time at B&Ms all over the US. You're just getting to see a meltdown when the gospel is debunked.

 

[spicy_boiii]

This recurring thread topic used to really annoy me. But as time has gone on it's become really comical.

"Can lead a horse to water...." And all that, and still buying Esoterica becomes some elite "sECrET iN tHE kNOw" thing. The method has been posted on this forum, by the same poster in this thread, many many times before.

Here's a hint, it's distributed by Arango.

Here's another hint, in 1876 Alexander Bell was known for patents on one of these. If you guessed "hurr durr what is The Esoterica bESt FrIENnds caLL LiSt." Well I don't think the advice is the problem.

Although I've slowed my buying, to those thinking the talk of it being available is antiquated, know this - there was a large amount of B&Ms with a gluttony of bags of Dorchester left after the frenzy of the last drop subsided.

Shame on those who ignore solid advice and take out their frustrations on those who spent their time to offer it.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Here's a hint, it's distributed by Arango.

In recent news, STG may be going away and I believe they own Arango.

Official Magazine - Tobacco Business Magazine

Welcome to the new chapter of Tobacco Business Magazine, now exclusively available to Phillips & King customers. Full of content that celebrates the stories of the people, places, and products behind our industry.

tobaccobusiness.com

 

[spicy_boiii]

In recent news, STG may be going away and I believe they own Arango.

Official Magazine - Tobacco Business Magazine

Welcome to the new chapter of Tobacco Business Magazine, now exclusively available to Phillips & King customers. Full of content that celebrates the stories of the people, places, and products behind our industry.

tobaccobusiness.com

"The company stated that it believes consumers have become more cautious due to macro-economic developments."

Can't say I blame them. I don't know how I feel about a new distributor for the Esoterica brand. Unlike some other distributors of other brands, they've seemed to have gotten it into a lot of hands for how little JF Germain is produced.

 

[Swiss Army Knife]

In recent news, STG may be going away and I believe they own Arango.

Official Magazine - Tobacco Business Magazine

Welcome to the new chapter of Tobacco Business Magazine, now exclusively available to Phillips & King customers. Full of content that celebrates the stories of the people, places, and products behind our industry.

tobaccobusiness.com

That doesn't read like STG going away unless I missed something. Their Q2 report reflects pretty much most companys quarterly earnings these days. Underperforming and uncertain in the face of economic downturn and the continuing ripples of supply issues.

Then again I can't say I'd be that surprised if I log in one day and see "STG? More like RIP".

 

[sablebrush52]

I work for an institution, zero customers all internal money, I get judged against the S&P 500 and have beaten it for ten years at this company and more before that.

So in 2017 I did follow your advice and called around, visited multiple shops in Chicago and Milwaukee, got nothing .

Conceptually thinking , so getting esoterica at MSRP is deep value or value investing , you gotta do work and put effort in . paying up is growth investing or momentum investing . both strategies can work

Much respect for your acumen in beating averages. Many claim, and only a few do.

Like everything else, finding these tobaccos is research, relationships, and understanding timing. Some of my sources didn't have Esoterica in stock when I first made contact, but they did carry it when there was a drop. So I cultivated a good customer relationship with several places in the hopes of obtaining some when a drop occurred. That worked well. Timing is part of it as distribution takes place over a couple of weeks, and often happens before the major online stores get their shipments.

Last year's major drop was one such occasion. I bought a couple of bags for myself and several bags for a friend, all of it in the week before the "usual" suspects sent out their worthless notices. When the feeding frenzy started, I was already done and awaiting shipment. Shipments continue for another week or so and nobody gets all the blends in a drop. They seem to be apportioned based on what a B&M got at the last drop. If "X" got Penzance and Stonehaven one year, at the next drop they'll get the lesser known and followed blends. According to one of my sources, And So To Bed and Tilbury never sell much at all, so after a month or so, they ship it to a Chinese agent they know in Texas.

I also owe a debt to a couple of championship scroungers who picked up a couple of bags of really rare Esoterica blends in case I was looking. I just reimbursed them for the purchase and shipping.

I've also sent gifts of other desirable blends to one tobacconist who sets aside a couple of bags that he knows I like, so that they don't get sold. Last year I sent him HU Director's Cut and a tin of one of the Frogs as a thank you.

In any event, I'm done with all of it. I've no need to buy a shred of anything.