So, 9 pages in... have we all agreed to stop buying Esoterica blends, because they're going out of business? 
Germain and Sons Stopping Production?
- Thread starter Dr. Van Loafer
- Start date
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Well I got my hands on some "And So To Bed" in a trade... and I wouldn't buy it again.So, 9 pages in... have we all agreed to stop buying Esoterica blends, because they're going out of business?
Glad I didn't splurge for a tin.
That "apricot" on top isn't for my palate.
All their shit is heavily topped. Licorice is in a lot of it. And, the one that isn't topped, their VaPer... tastes like dirt to me. It cracks me up every time I see someone trying to look all rich and distinguished smoking that stuff. ha ha. Guys that would never brag about smoking an aromatic... "ooo look at me, I'm smoking licorice." hA HA.
I fell for it early on. I bought a ton of Stonehaven. Then when I realized that it was crap, I couldn't stomach it any more. Even if I smoke aros every now and then, there are better aros out there. Gave it all away. Penzance though... I really like that one.
You’re really good at finding old posts. At least I stuck to my review.
I really didn’t come to grips with Stonehaven till a few years ago, when I realized that age didn’t help it. But Tillbury was the non aro I was thinking of.
I always thought Stonehaven tasted like that nasty black treacle cough syrup.
Are any of the Esoterica blends similar to Germain's Brown Flake?
I'll keep an eye out on Smoking Pipes and if I ever see any (unlikely I know) I'll grab a tin. Think i'll sign up for notifications.
I'd love to try that one. Unfortunately, they don't sell Esoterica here in the UK. I can get Germain's own blends though, and their Medium Flake is one of my favourites. It has a grapefruit/citrus topping and I love the stuff. Their Brown Flake is also a big hit with me.
I'll keep an eye out on Smoking Pipes and if I ever see any (unlikely I know) I'll grab a tin. Think i'll sign up for notifications.
I just looked on Tobaccoreviews.com and saw that it contains Latakia so I won't bother. To be honest, I looked at the different blends in the Esoterica range and nothing really caught my eye.
There are a couple of the Germain's blends that are only sold in the US that look interesting. Both BK Flake and Old Bridge Brown Flake look like my cup of tea.
I recently got from the last drop, B.K. Flake and Uncle Tom’s, I’ve never had them, I hope they are good.
Spoke to Premal yesterday ; a couple of weeks ago he contacted Germain and everything seemed to be business as usual.
So what are you trying to say? That the people who actually own and work at Germain's know more about this than some random geezer who works at a tobacconists in America does?
Thanks for the info, mate
You know, up until Pipestud posted that McClellands was closing, people were posting on here weekly that Mike had told them that they were closing, and people laughed at them, because obviously McClellands would never close. " I know Mike, and he would never close." Over and over... And, a phone call to Mary confirmed that closing was the last thing on their minds.So what are you trying to say? That the people who actually own and work at Germain's know more about this than some random geezer who works at a tobacconists in America does?
Thanks for the info, mate
Even the day Pipestud posted, we called Mary and she said that they were not closing. Business owners are the absolute worst people to ask.
And, them denying that they are closing confirms it for me.
First, there is a lot to digest in this thread.
Second, Tobacco is an agricultural product and the components that we like (or dislike) in it are weather, soil, and probably pest dependent. About the only constant for a particular grower is the soil ...
So, the leaf is going to change from year to year ... and that must be complicated for the blender if he is blending for consumers who expect a named tobacco or blend to be the same from one year to the next ...
Reading what I have been reading there is no expectation that "1990 Monticello" (imaginary pure Virginia Red from the famed Jefferson plantation) will taste different than the 1991 ... from the same cellar.
I think all of us must agree that we are lucky to have the consistency and selection we have. Think of what it must have been like 100 or even 150 years ago ...
Second, Tobacco is an agricultural product and the components that we like (or dislike) in it are weather, soil, and probably pest dependent. About the only constant for a particular grower is the soil ...
So, the leaf is going to change from year to year ... and that must be complicated for the blender if he is blending for consumers who expect a named tobacco or blend to be the same from one year to the next ...
Reading what I have been reading there is no expectation that "1990 Monticello" (imaginary pure Virginia Red from the famed Jefferson plantation) will taste different than the 1991 ... from the same cellar.
I think all of us must agree that we are lucky to have the consistency and selection we have. Think of what it must have been like 100 or even 150 years ago ...
Wow. 198 posts over a non event. I wonder what the total would be if it were true?
Yep, we're going to drive them out of business whether they like it or not, ha ha. I mean, it can only help them, right. Like people will stop buying it?
One of the techniques that commercial blenders use to minimize variation is to homogenize by using crops from several years in their blend to level out the variations, and adjust flavorings and processing. This results in remarkable consistency year after year.
That's different from what is now happening, where substitutions, Orange Virginia or Bright for Red Virginia, dark fired Kentucky for Perique, etc are appearing in more and more blends. This results in changes in the flavor of what's in the tin or the bag. It's not the first time this has happened. It's just more noticeable. and seems to be more widespread. If one likes the result then no hit, no foul. If a favorite has been replaced it can be disappointing, to say the least.
"There is no bad press", is a maxim some use to their advantage.Yep, we're going to drive them out of business whether they like it or not, ha ha. I mean, it can only help them, right. Like people will stop buying it?
TBH even if they did shut up shop it probably wouldn't make much difference to me being able to get my hands on the stuff. It's constantly out of stock here in the UK. Availability was always a bit "feast or famine" but in the last year or so i'm constantly starving.You know, up until Pipestud posted that McClellands was closing, people were posting on here weekly that Mike had told them that they were closing, and people laughed at them, because obviously McClellands would never close. " I know Mike, and he would never close." Over and over... And, a phone call to Mary confirmed that closing was the last thing on their minds.
Even the day Pipestud posted, we called Mary and she said that they were not closing. Business owners are the absolute worst people to ask.
And, them denying that they are closing confirms it for me.
I'm on all the email alert notifications and I have managed to get a few tins in the last year but the price has risen significantly. One place increased their price for a 50g tin 50% overnight. They went from £20 a tin to £30 a tin
.I've read reports that the Chinese are buying it all and that makes sense to me. I've also read on here that some of the blends have changed. I saw a picture of some Stonehaven (never smoked it but I do smoke RDF and that's supposed to be virtually identical) and the flakes looked very light in colour.
The stuff I got last year is in the cellar but if I do manage to get my hands on any Brown Flake or Medium Flake I'll pop the tin and see if I can notice a difference.