I'll know in a few days..Mars finally shipped mine. After emailing me that my address was no good.
Esoterica Drop
- Thread starter ben88
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I should correct my earlier post. A tin of Esoterica at Rich's is $29, not $35. Other tins are in that range too.
Esoterica in general comes aged.
they aren’t that comparable really. Totally different styles IMO.
Esos can be real delicate
So you live in Portland? 82nd Avenue Tobacco shop will hold Esoterica for you and call you when they come in... at least the did when I lived there. They appear to be a headshop on the surface but don’t be put off by that, they have an amazing selection of tobacco (well, again they did when I lived there).
I do remember Oregon prices being much more expensive than what I was used to paying for here in Texas but those prices have drastically increased since I lived there.
I do remember Oregon prices being much more expensive than what I was used to paying for here in Texas but those prices have drastically increased since I lived there.
Picked up my two bags of PeaceHaven. Picked up a tin of Tillbury and a third bag of Peacehaven. One bowl of Tillbury, good but didn't blow me away. First bowl of Peavehaven quite good, glad I found the the bags. Probably my favorite Eso to date but it's still not in my top 5 Virginia Flakes.
Yes, I'm in Portland. I know 82nd Ave. Tobacco and rather like the head shop vibe. It does have a nice selection, but prices are comparable to Rich's these days. I'm surprise that it hasn't started selling weed. With legalization, there are probably just as many weed shops here as there are Starbucks; throw a rock in any random direction and you'll hit one.
I managed to pick up a tin of Kingfisher and a bag of Blackpool at Rich's today; I felt kinda of silly paying local prices until I read @hoosierpipeguy sinking in the bucks for 3 bags of Peacehaven!
A day late and a dollar short as usual. I figure I'll luck in to some some day haha..I really just want to try it before I go all in...not gonna risk the wrath of the wife on a big purchase for something I'm not sure about. Although as I write this there's still 5 tins of Pembroke available at Hilands. Enjoy it! (those of you who scored!)
Except for the period in the late 1980’s when it was first imported to the US by Steve Richman, virtually every shred of Esoterica I have ever smoked has come from a tin or (jarred) bag that has been in my possession six months or more. I think it tastes better after it has had some time to settle down. Mr. Germain says it is best fresh, but I beg to differ. Opinions vary as to how much if any better it gets with significant age on it, but I think six months to a year or so improves these blends greatly, across the board.
I’m one inclined to like a lot of different styles of tobacco, and don’t have a top five list. Germain’s is an interesting style, and I think many of their blends just don’t have a real equivalent out there. The same would be true of Gawith. And K&K. And Dan. And others.
I love Portland but damn those tobacco taxes! I guess it’s hitting everywhere now though.
Were you still living there when House of Calabash was in Oregon City? Have we had this conversation before? I know I’ve talked with someone here about all of this stuff... it very well could have been you.
I think Tillbury is the best of it's kind for a straight up VaBur. It's closet cousin taste-wise is Old Gowrie but for my money Tillbury has more flavor. It's not going to blow you away, it's not really that kind of flake. But let the tin breath a while and a couple weeks from now after it's dried a good bit you may find it really shines. That's been my experience.
I think Esoterica being off unique style all of its own is a very good observation and point. Their blends seem milder with more complexity and flavor.
I'll take that advice. Smoking another bowl of Tillbury at the moment. It does have nice flavors. I'll try it again in a few weeks.
I love Tilbury. Been trying to get peacehaven for awhile but missed this drop 
I have found a few years of age really improves Tilbury. I'm aging what I have and not smoking it until five years pass. That makes a big difference.
Yes, I've been in Portland since '94 and met Steve Books when he was with Rich's. His aged tobaccos were quite unique and he was even more singularly unique himself. I loved buying bulk blends from him at Rich's. On days he was particularly pissed with the boss, he'd give you a big fat bag when you asked for 2 oz. I'm still working on a rather generous bag of Luxury Twist Flake that he sold me. I miss his beautiful calligraphy on his handwritten labels and wish I had kept some of them.
I don't remember if we've had this conversation before!
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That’s awesome you knew him from way back when. I got to know him quite well while hanging with him in his House of Calabash shop. Great shop but when I’d be hanging with him for hours on end he’d literally have no customers walk through the door, what a crying shame as it was quite an awesome old fashioned shop.
He did have some stellar blends one of my favorites was called 7 of 9 but I also enjoyed a lot of his aged blends. Some of the blends I bought from him had leaf with 45 plus year age on it at the time.
He was a great dude and I definitely miss him, rip Steven Books.
I was able to snag a bag of Pembroke, which is my favorite out of the ones I’ve tried. Still looking for Stonehaven...maybe I’ll get lucky on the next drop