Kingfisher, King Charles, and Pelican were the only things from them that I bought more than once.
What’s Your Favorite Esoterica/Germain’s Blend?
- Thread starter filmguerilla
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Actually a very common story if you were smoking at the time.
The whole Germain nonsense didn’t start until maybe 15 years ago.
Is there anything that we as a group can do to ease your pain?
It all started when Mike sold it, ever since that, the availability went down the tubes. I use to smoke it regularly, everything was always available for about $25 a bag. If one shop was out of stock on something there were many more shops that always had what I needed.
The Esoterica madness began around 2007-8, when Germain's missed a couple of shipment dates. When Penzance showed up again the panic buying began, which gave hoarders a woody, so they joined in. At first the craziness was restricted to Penzance, the extended to Stonehaven, then little by little, extended to Dunbar, and then to the rest of the line. Germain's deliveries of Esoterica remained erratic, while they focused on their other lines, including their Smokers Haven blends (which were the inspiration for the Esoterica line), and their execrable resurrection of Balkan Sobranie.
Shipments improved around 2016 but the panic never let up.
In any event, around 2020, changes happened to the Virginias and some of the blends have suffered in quality. Germain's is no more immune from sourcing difficulties than any other blending house. They do the best they can with what they can find.
I haven't smoked any of mine in a few years, and maybe 7 years for Stonehaven, so I'll open a bag to see how it's doing.
Shipments improved around 2016 but the panic never let up.
In any event, around 2020, changes happened to the Virginias and some of the blends have suffered in quality. Germain's is no more immune from sourcing difficulties than any other blending house. They do the best they can with what they can find.
I haven't smoked any of mine in a few years, and maybe 7 years for Stonehaven, so I'll open a bag to see how it's doing.
Premal at Smoker's Haven recently gave an update that a new shipment is being arranged. Fingers crosses it will happen this year but he didn't specify a timeline.
Kingsbridge. No one else a fan? That is the one for me, the one I could smoke forever and be content. I think the last bag I got was in 2017. Alas!
Have you given Kevin any pointers on running this place?
Don’t keep your genius from him, he needs your insight.
I just can’t believe you gave up so easily.
Okay, I can, but you should keep at it, you’re going to make a difference. Eventually. Somewhere.
And So To Bed and Margate I have some Stonehaven and Penzance but have yet to try it. However I do enjoy and have cellared a lot of King Charles Mixture but it’s nothing fancy
Favorite? I wish I knew! I've never come across any, much less at a reasonable price, in my 'normal' tobacco shopping - i.e the usual websites and the few B&Ms that are left here in Southern California. I've sorta resigned myself to probably never smoking anything from Germain's.
I'm most curious about their VaPers, though, especially the Royal Jersey. But not curious enough to pay the crazy prices people get for them on the resale market.
I'm most curious about their VaPers, though, especially the Royal Jersey. But not curious enough to pay the crazy prices people get for them on the resale market.
My stash of Penzance has plenty of age on it now and it's great. My favorites are Penzance, Special Latakia Flake, Margate in that order. You can tell I prefer English blends. I would put Stonehenge next in line, but I agree that other similar and more readily available blends are comparable.
I'd like to retract my previous statement on this thread. I popped a jar of Scarborough from a few years ago and its incredible. Either age has done wonders or my palate is much more refined than it was 3 years ago. Now I'm on the hunt for more of this stuff.
Brown Flake is my favourite Germain blend. On the Esoterica line, I do love Stonehaven, Peacehaven and Dunbar. Personally, Dorchester is not a favourite - there is something about the topping that turns me off a bit. I don't mind a bowl of it now and again, but I don't crave it like the others I mentioned.