When I found Margate it was in a tobacco store in Salt Lake City last summer. They had a good amount of all the ones you mentioned.
Esoterica Drop at SP....But Site is Down
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There's literally tons of the stuff on shelves at B&M's all over the country where it sits for weeks. Your phone is your friend. I have about 35 lbs of various Esoterica blends that I like and only a couple of pounds of it came from the major online stores. All the rest I bought from various B&M'S.
Reading through this thread is like deja vu over and over again. There's an Esoterica shipment and everyone rushes to the same few online stores where some hit home runs and some strike out. There follows a bunch of posts where people run down the brand and others express anger at the unfairness of it all, disappointment, boo hoo, tragedy,etc, etc, like those few online stores are the only place to buy this stuff
There's a ton of it, literally, sitting on shelves right now and it yours to get if you make the effort.
As for the quality of the Esoterica line, it's variable, just like every other brand is variable. I like some of the Esoterica blends a lot. They're excellent unique blends. There are some that I think suck, but others really like them. Mcclelland made some great blends and some of their blends really sucked. C&D makes some good blends and some of theirs truly suck. Same for MacBaren, K&K, Gawith, Gawith ahd Hoggarth, STG, and others.
Are Esoterica blends better than all others? Of course not. But others aren't better than the Esoterica line. They're just different. When I want to smoke what Germain's produces, no other blend is going to serve as a replacement because they're not that unique style. But when I want to smoke a Sutliff match, or one of Ernie's Watch City blends, nobody else is going to be a replacement either.
Some of the star blends may be gone, but there are other blends in the line that you may like. I thoroughly dislike Penzance. I turn it down when it's offered to me or I pick some up to give to a friend or to have for trade. I won't smoke it. I like Stonehaven, but only once in a long while. It's got to be a couple of years since I last had a bowl of it. Some of the blends that get no press are the one's that I like the best and those are likely available.
So if you really want to try some of the Esoterica line, get off your fundament and find it, because you can and it's not all that difficult.
There's a ton of it, literally, sitting on shelves right now and it yours to get if you make the effort.
As for the quality of the Esoterica line, it's variable, just like every other brand is variable. I like some of the Esoterica blends a lot. They're excellent unique blends. There are some that I think suck, but others really like them. Mcclelland made some great blends and some of their blends really sucked. C&D makes some good blends and some of theirs truly suck. Same for MacBaren, K&K, Gawith, Gawith ahd Hoggarth, STG, and others.
Are Esoterica blends better than all others? Of course not. But others aren't better than the Esoterica line. They're just different. When I want to smoke what Germain's produces, no other blend is going to serve as a replacement because they're not that unique style. But when I want to smoke a Sutliff match, or one of Ernie's Watch City blends, nobody else is going to be a replacement either.
Some of the star blends may be gone, but there are other blends in the line that you may like. I thoroughly dislike Penzance. I turn it down when it's offered to me or I pick some up to give to a friend or to have for trade. I won't smoke it. I like Stonehaven, but only once in a long while. It's got to be a couple of years since I last had a bowl of it. Some of the blends that get no press are the one's that I like the best and those are likely available.
So if you really want to try some of the Esoterica line, get off your fundament and find it, because you can and it's not all that difficult.
I'll check out my local b&m's this weekend. I would like to see for myself what the fuss is about but I feel its not going to be a life changer with what is easily available. Thanks for info.
Out of the 12-14 pounds of Stonehaven I have only one 8oz bag came from one of the big 3. 4noggins was the place I bought a bag for 35.00. The rest of mine came from small mom and pops and I paid 35 for all of my 8oz bags. One guy sold me 12 bags of Stonehaven in one shot and offered me 15 bags of Penzance which I didn't get as I don't smoke it. I called a buddy and he got all 15 bags. As jesse says there is tons of the stuff all over the country and people are willing too sell you all they have in one shot as many shops have no limits. I was buying 5 pound lots of Samuel Gawith flakes from other dealers back in 2012. Again no limits as people are more than happy to sell all they have in one shot. I started in the low tax states, kade some connections and bought all I wanted. You should hear what these people say when you buy up all they have. They are like you want to buy how much?
Thank you. Ordered some Dorchester and Tilbury
I would have started a New Thread...But then I get PM's why did to list this as the horders...Bla Bla Bla. So I throw in a Easter Egg in this thread.
Everyone very impress as usual
My local shop (100 miles away) called me and set back what I wanted. Germain too. I guess this either means I’m one of the few heavy pipe smokers in the area or I spend too much in his shop. Either way, I’m set for this year.
This story just repeats... every several months for the last several years.
One thing that should be cleared up. More and more people have listened to the advice here. Those obscure B&Ms are getting called these days and have been for over a year or so. Not saying it's still not out there but not as available as it used to be. Edwards in Colorado holds back the eso stuff for a week or ten days to let their locals have first crack. Pipe and Pint didn't even order any this time because the Havens weren't even going to ship to them this time. I called a couple of of curiosity and to try and help some buddies.
My usual B&M does the same thing. But because I've been a steady phone customer for years, and buy other tobaccos from them besides Esoterica, I'm treated like a walk in local. No waiting.
But that's old geezer speak, talking on phones and building personal relationships and stuff... Oh wait, I resemble that remark.
And that may be true but doesn't help all these other people who might be calling for the first time.
Also true. But I do think there's quie a lot out in the wild at the moment. The drops have just occurred. Some stores are protective of their walk in trade, but others are not.
I think it would be a formidable challenge to start calling tomorrow and find Stonehaven and Peacehaven. Probably Penzance. Most of the other blends and even Germains, Pelican, etc.? One could probably get all they want if they spent the day calling. From what I heard, the Germain and Pelican tins were selling for $20 to $26 each. Not worth it to me but perhaps to someone else. As you have often said, there are tons of other excellent blends that are reasonably available at half the price.
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