"Just Get Both",

[Jacob74]

I took a trip to the local B&M, and was trying to make up my mind. Sparked up a little conversation to get the advice of the proprietor, (a fine pipe smoking gentleman). This is what I came away with! Does anyone have any tips or tricks I should know about?

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I took a trip to the local B&M, and was trying to make up my mind. Sparked up a little conversation to get the advice of the proprietor, (a fine pipe smoking gentleman). This is what I came away with! Does anyone have any tips or tricks I should know about?
View attachment 40269

Smoke and enjoy? ?

 

[americaman]

Let both age for a year or more. However, Escudo is good fresh as well. Actually, you might like both of them “fresh.” Pop them whenever you feel like it.

 

[mikethompson]

With either one you choose, if you don't like the first bowl, then had it and wait a while. You may find that the tobacco has changed and is more appealing to you, or your tastes have changed and you enjoy it more.

 

[lawdawg]

With either one you choose, if you don't like the first bowl, then had it and wait a while. You may find that the tobacco has changed and is more appealing to you, or your tastes have changed and you enjoy it more.

+1

Happens to me all the time. I'd take it a step further and say if you don't like the first bowl that much, then try it again in a few days. Or if you try it and like it okay, then smoke some more a little later. There are a lot of blends that I really love that I liked only okay on the first bowl.

 

[Worknman]

Is it just me or does the Escudo tin look like an older one?

 

[ofafeather]

It’s been a while since I smoked either. Both are fantastic but I recall Escudo to be a bit sweeter and Dunbar to be a bit grassier. Both are excellent and, as others have mentioned, you can’t go wrong either way. Toss it on a jar and let it sit of it doesn’t strike you at first.

Also, in my 20 years of pipe smoking one challenge I have found is not trying things. Having open jars handy is a good way to be able to revisit blends from time to time. I would typically smoke a tin of something the move on, occasionally repeating but often not. So in my mind, crack them both! Don’t wait.

 

[BROBS]

Let both age for a year or more. However, Escudo is good fresh as well. Actually, you might like both of them “fresh.” Pop them whenever you feel like it.

The escudo is probably 3-4 years old minimum since it has no warning label.

BTW Escudo sucks IMO.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The escudo is probably 3-4 years old minimum since it has no warning label.

The new Escudo doesn't age for shit. Smoke it now, they've ruined the recipe.

 

[BROBS]

The new Escudo doesn't age for shit. Smoke it now, they've ruined the recipe.

I never had the old one but recent production didn't impress me at all. I'd buy Stokkebye over that shit.

 

[kcghost]

That's a shame because Escudo as it was before was delicious.

 

[mso489]

One of our late great standard bearer Forums members was fish'n'banjo, and Escudo was one of his favorites, so I would say you can't go wrong, if it happens to be to your taste. It's one of the classic Virginia-Perique blends.

 

[Jacob74]

I never had the old one but recent production didn't impress me at all. I'd buy Stokkebye over that shit.

I often do buy Stokkebye over this shit, I got LNF and LBF in my regular rotation, lol

 

[jpmcwjr]

Advice? Dry the shit out of the Esoterica. Most of it comes tinned at 90% RH @70º, and it smokes way better around 60% RH. Been a long time since I've smoked Escudo, but most tobaccos benefit from drying time. Enjoy!

 

[ophiuchus]

That Escudo does look like it could be more than a few years old already. Enjoy it!

Dunbar is an Esoterica blend I haven’t tried, but folks have spoken and written well of it.

 

[bullet08]

Keep 'em in separate mason jars if you are not going to finish them in near future, like few weeks. Escudo should develope dark fruit note in about 2-4 weeks. It should taste better by then. No clue what old version tasted like. You should have gotten Peterson Deluxe Navy Roll. No clue on other blend.

 

[mountainman]

The new Escudo doesn't age for shit. Smoke it now, they've ruined the recipe.

What are you referring to as "new" Escudo? I have a huge stock from 2012-2014 and haven't bought in a while.

 

[jpmcwjr]

What are you referring to as "new" Escudo? I have a huge stock from 2012-2014 and haven't bought in a while.

I think you are safe!

When I joined five years ago, Escudo was mentioned all the time. Not so much in the past few years.

 

[logs]

The new Escudo doesn't age for shit. Smoke it now, they've ruined the recipe.

I don't know about current Escudo but the stuff from 10 years ago was shit too. Bland as hell. I always had better luck with Davidoff Flake Medallions

 

[BROBS]

I don't know about current Escudo but the stuff from 10 years ago was shit too. Bland as hell. I always had better luck with Davidoff Flake Medallions

Those are great! I even love the fig filling!