How to Date Esoterica Tobaccos?

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sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
22,986
58,446
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
Well just picked up a bag of Margate from my local B&M. The number on the bag is as follows - 1338H021. So according to this thread the manufacturing date should be February 1st 2023, if I'm reading everything right. But I picked the bag up on January 20th 2023, and I know the shop got their shipment in December of 2022, so the date code doesn't seem to work with this bag!
There's a year code, but no month or day part to it, so that 021 doesn't equate to Feb 1st. All you get is the year, and that advanced sometime last fall, likely in September, based on past tracking. The date code works just fine.

Hope Germain's was able to retain their quality with regard to Margate. Their Virginia blends have been altered with different leaf and it is not a happy thing, not a happy thing at all.
 

captaincalabash

Starting to Get Obsessed
Feb 25, 2016
152
316
Texas
Does anyone know how to date Esoterica tobaccos? I am growing my seller and would like to know production dates if possible.

If I can't place a date on the tobacco then I will have to list out the date I bought it. This would be less than desirable as some of these bags are seriously old or at least look older.
I never dated Esoterica, I was always after her sister Erotica! :LOL:

(I'm sorry...couldn't help myself....I'll go away now.)
 

Masterblaster

Starting to Get Obsessed
Dec 23, 2021
186
789
46
Evans, GA
There's a year code, but no month or day part to it, so that 021 doesn't equate to Feb 1st. All you get is the year, and that advanced sometime last fall, likely in September, based on past tracking. The date code works just fine.

Hope Germain's was able to retain their quality with regard to Margate. Their Virginia blends have been altered with different leaf and it is not a happy thing, not a happy thing at all.
Okay I guess I get it, still a little confusing lol! Yeah I probably won't open Margate for a little while and I have no Baseline, so if I like it I guess that's all that matters anyway! They did have a bag of Stonehaven, and I'm not a big Burly fan, but I was willing to give it a try based on all the love that was given to that blend. After reading the revised reviews on here by you who are in the know on how some of these blends have changed, and not for the better, I think I'll pass on that one. Would love to hear some revised reviews on Margate and Penzance from Jiminks and others who have smoked past iterations!
 

Brad H

Lifer
Dec 17, 2024
2,071
11,076
Not trying to kick a dead mule here but...... can anyone help with the year/age of this tin of Dunbar?
M=2028 and this isn't the tobacco of the future.
So pre 2016?

1740171145766.png
 
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woodsroad

Lifer
Oct 10, 2013
14,354
28,643
SE PA USA
Not trying to kick a dead mule here but...... can anyone help with the year/age of this tin of Dunbar?
M=2028 and this isn't the tobacco of the future.
So pre 2016?

View attachment 372620
That’s a different Esoterica, the stuff made in Burlington, New Jersey on Burlington Island (one of the Jersey Isles, along with Long Beach Island, Peck’s Island, Sedge Island, Ellis Island, Tocks Island and a dozen or more other islands).
 
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rectifythis

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 3, 2024
114
1,540
Arizona
The second digit tends to line up with the last digit of the calendar year as well. So 5 would be 2025. I have definitely seen them anticipate selling for the following year but push it out early. In this case, I have seen "5 M's" as early as fall of 2024.
 

Brad H

Lifer
Dec 17, 2024
2,071
11,076
Previous posts have said to disregard the first 4 numbers and look to the letter for the year after 2016.
What happened to J, K, L, if batch M is in 2025?
 

Brad H

Lifer
Dec 17, 2024
2,071
11,076
Just saw a bag with M on it stating it was from 2024. Not sure that helps/hurts but gives some what of a starting point for my tin.
Unless bags are different than tins for the codes
 
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rectifythis

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 3, 2024
114
1,540
Arizona
I think your tin shows that the A=2016, B=2017, C=2018, etc. theory is unsound. Or that it was true for only a few years.
Covid seemed to throw a wrench in the system, but generally followed this pattern. As someone who has bought from retailers at release for the last 5 years, this is the pattern I saw from Esoterica and Germain...

Date codes: second number is the number of the year. I.e. 1234 would be 2022. 1345 would be 2023. after first 4 numbers, the letter represents the year, beginning with A=2016
B=2017
C=2018
D=2019
E=2020
F/G?=2021
H?=2022/23?
K=2024 (release late 2023)
M=2025 (release late 2024)
 

Brad H

Lifer
Dec 17, 2024
2,071
11,076
The second digit tends to line up with the last digit of the calendar year as well. So 5 would be 2025. I have definitely seen them anticipate selling for the following year but push it out early. In this case, I have seen "5 M's" as early as fall of 2024.
If you say correspond the 2nd number with the date my tin of Tilbury it would show to be a 2023, but by the letter code could show 2018? Thoughts?
The person I traded it from stated it was a 2018 (which I believe him) and has been in his cellar since then. Just out of curiosity was wanting to know so I could compare it to some non-aged Tilbury.

1742808395433.png
 
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rectifythis

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 3, 2024
114
1,540
Arizona
If you say correspond the 2nd number with the date my tin of Tilbury it would show to be a 2023, but by the letter code could show 2018? Thoughts?
The person I traded it from stated it was a 2018 (which I believe him) and has been in his cellar since then. Just out of curiosity was wanting to know so I could compare it to some non-aged Tilbury.

View attachment 380865
Yes, there are normally 4 numbers preceding the letter. In this case there are only 3, so the 8 and the C both line up to 2018