For the past year or so I've tried to buy any of the esoterica blends. I don't check the countless sites that offer these blends everyday, so when they do become available, I'm the odd man out. Since I've never tried them, are they really that,good, or are they just something that everyone needs to have in their possession?
Esoterica question
- Thread starter dkaye201
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Which ones were you looking for? In all honesty, they are good, but there are lots of very good blends out there that are easier to find. It is nice to smoke one, when you get a chance, but they are so hard to find that no one gets to actually make them a permanent part of their rotation.
Michael,
If given the chance, I would have bought one of each blend. I'm not being greedy, just inquisitive. Of course Penzance, Stonehaven, Margate, and Dunbar are at the top of the list. Do you have an idea as to which blends out there are close?
If given the chance, I would have bought one of each blend. I'm not being greedy, just inquisitive. Of course Penzance, Stonehaven, Margate, and Dunbar are at the top of the list. Do you have an idea as to which blends out there are close?
Agreed, though really rich and diligent smokers can manage it.
One word of warning: When you do grab some, dry the hell out of it. It is packed around 90% RH! (I just opened a bag of Margate that comes in at 89% RH @ 70º.)
One word of warning: When you do grab some, dry the hell out of it. It is packed around 90% RH! (I just opened a bag of Margate that comes in at 89% RH @ 70º.)
Well, it's not about close, IMO. Margate and Dunbar is usually in stock at The Briary, but may not be by the time you read this. The forum reaches thousands that don't post. But, as a VaPer and Virginia lover, I found Dunbar to be sub-par, IMO. There are many better VaPers. Penzance, eh, it is a very incense-like balkan. You'll just have to explore balkans. I have a few favorites, but others may have even better suggestions. But, none will come close or exact.
Stonehaven, a lightly flavored burley blend, with treacle or caramel. I do like Stonehaven, but the flavor is definitely not very forward. SG Brown Sugar Flake comes close, but even that has gotten hard to find. You may just have to find a lightly aromatic burley.
If I had any of these open, I would send you some, but I hadn't been planning on opening any more of these for a few years.
Stonehaven, a lightly flavored burley blend, with treacle or caramel. I do like Stonehaven, but the flavor is definitely not very forward. SG Brown Sugar Flake comes close, but even that has gotten hard to find. You may just have to find a lightly aromatic burley.
If I had any of these open, I would send you some, but I hadn't been planning on opening any more of these for a few years.
Well that is a good question, Ash. I don't see them as being under-rated. I see a marketing formula. They are good, but there is a trend: give a line a catchy name that implies "exotic," charge a lot of money for it and produce it in small batches. Now it is exotic and hard to get. That automatically creates a demand for it just to try it and to say you have some.
And what do people do? They announce it when they get a few bags like it is a big trophy! You don't see anyone announce getting a few pounds of BCA do you?
It's always out of stock which simply makes it all the more elusive and appealing to many more. It is good stuff so when you do get it, you sit on it, you're afraid you'll smoke it and when you do, it seems all the better for having it!
Just like every label, there are some good to very good blends, and some stinkers.
Which ones fall into those categories is up to the individual of course.
There are 2 Esoterica's that I feel are unique and exceptional. Another couple are decent but not worth the hunt.
I can't comment on their English blends because I don't smoke them.
Which ones fall into those categories is up to the individual of course.
There are 2 Esoterica's that I feel are unique and exceptional. Another couple are decent but not worth the hunt.
I can't comment on their English blends because I don't smoke them.
Yo dka
I brought some Margate for JohnF to try at the Lehigh Valley PC, but I guess you didn't see it as it went down the table. There is quite a range across all the Esotericas, and many come only in 8 oz bags, which may thwart a "getting one of each" strategy. Even Stonehaven, till very recently, was only bagged. I do have pretty much all of these guys around - I have actively Cellared a handful. As you do your research, let me know what you want to try, and I'll bring them to Lehigh Valley (not next week, though - I'm visiting g'kidz).
hp
les
I brought some Margate for JohnF to try at the Lehigh Valley PC, but I guess you didn't see it as it went down the table. There is quite a range across all the Esotericas, and many come only in 8 oz bags, which may thwart a "getting one of each" strategy. Even Stonehaven, till very recently, was only bagged. I do have pretty much all of these guys around - I have actively Cellared a handful. As you do your research, let me know what you want to try, and I'll bring them to Lehigh Valley (not next week, though - I'm visiting g'kidz).
hp
les
Margate is really good, I think I like it better than Penzance. I am in the camp that believes the tinned is better than the bagged, btw. I have some bagged Penzance that was never as good as what I have had in tins. The missus got me a tin of Tilbury, but I found it plain, mixed some Perique with it to bring out some flavor. Personally, I like the Dunbar, but have been looking to snag a tin of Dorchester. The Briary has been about the only place I have ever been able to get any Esoterica blends.
Now here's a thing. I have four tins of Penzance, all of which were sent to me around 8 or 9 years ago. They have been kept in a nice dry and cool place and, as far as I know, should be absolutely fine.
But, here's the dilemma: because of the rarity and the fact that I may never get my hands on it ever again, I am reluctant to open one of them. It is because I know I will smoke it over a week or two, and then I will only have three tins.
The problem is that I could pop my clogs, and be pushing up daisies, and my mourning wife will find the unopened tins and throw them out.
Rarity, it seems, can stupidly prevent you from doing what you are meant to do, which is to smoke it and enjoy it!
However, I have resolved to open a tin on my birthday in August. (anyone who happens to be in the neighbourhood ...)
But, here's the dilemma: because of the rarity and the fact that I may never get my hands on it ever again, I am reluctant to open one of them. It is because I know I will smoke it over a week or two, and then I will only have three tins.
The problem is that I could pop my clogs, and be pushing up daisies, and my mourning wife will find the unopened tins and throw them out.
Rarity, it seems, can stupidly prevent you from doing what you are meant to do, which is to smoke it and enjoy it!
However, I have resolved to open a tin on my birthday in August. (anyone who happens to be in the neighbourhood ...)
. :puffpipe: 
I ran on this philosophy for a very long time. Have lots of tobacco as well as a lg humidor full of high end Cubans that I'll likely never be able to afford again. It's seriously cliched advice, but I was haunted by the image of dying followed by the image of my family tossing all my tobacco in the garbage... all of my "special occasion" tobacco never seeing an occasion special enough. Go smoke your Penzance. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
M
mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast
Guest
Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired makes a fair substitute for Stonehaven. GLP JackKnife Plug is supposed to be close also, though I only agree somewhat because I've only smoked the ready-rubbed version. IMO, HH/ODF is smoother than either Stonehaven or JKP.
Nate - you are absolutely right of course. I will keep one tin for the special occasion which may or may not come, but I will smoke the other three. I retire next year (end January) - so there's another excuse!
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