Aged Escudo

[delamain]

Escudo Navy Deluxe was my first and only va-per. It was also my favourite pipe tobacco, if I had to choose one off the top of my head.

I only experienced it fresh, however, and loved the peppery perique. I bought 7 or 8 tins and put them aside.

Long story short, I gave up my pipes for about a year - year and a half.

I've returned to the aged Escudo and I'll be damned but I still prefer the slight zing of the new stuff. The perique has receded way more than I thought it would. I like the smooth Virginia base still but I'm not a hundred percent content with the aging process so far.

I don't smoke very much, so it's only going to get older - I just hope that the Virginia gets real good as it matures!

Any thoughts on this, gentlemen?

 

[Commander Quan]

Virginia does get real good as it matures. Nothing like hitting that sweet spot during a bowl of aged Virginia.

 

[Uncle Jackie]

I agree, I prefer Virginias that have some age on them.

 

[Stevew443]

Just wait until they get a decade of age on them and then you will taste something really great.

 

[Uncle Jackie]

Just wait until they get a decade of age on them and then you will taste something really great.

I agree.

I read something interesting a few years ago and put it to the test. If I remember correctly, it said that most of the aging will be done in two years, the next big change is at five years, and the last 'real' change is somewhere around 10 years. After that, the change is very minor over the next many years. (I really wish I could find that article). Anyhow, I did crack three tins of Dunhill Flake at the same time, (with the thought that I could always put it in mason jars afterward). The 'new' tine was good. The 2 year old tin was better. I could only taste a slight difference though between the two year tin and the 7 year one. And by slight, I mean slight. At first I thought it might have something to do with the pipes, so I tried it again with fresh clays, (I don't care what anyone says, the clay is the single best pipe to taste the 'true' taste of a tobacco). The same held true, very minimal difference.

I might try it again soon with some FVF to see if the same holds true. As it stands right now for me though, if I hold tins for a couple years, I'm cool with that. Though I do have many tins that are 10-20 years old, I'm not sure how much different they will be.

Of course, after my next test, my opinion might well change.

 

[delamain]

Well, I have about 6 unopened tins left that are already 1.5 years so I may very well earmark 5 for a decade or more, knock on wood.

The other one I'll smoke somewhere in between.

Until then, I may just order some new tins of Escudo so that I can savour the fresh perique once more.

It's a waste for me to be smoking this older stuff now, since half of the appeal for me is the spiciness, which mellows way more than I anticipated in a fairly short time. Those coins are still a favourite though...

 

[joshua1970]

I agree.

I read something interesting a few years ago and put it to the test. If I remember correctly, it said that most of the aging will be done in two years, the next big change is at five years, and the last 'real' change is somewhere around 10 years. After that, the change is very minor over the next many years. (I really wish I could find that article). Anyhow, I did crack three tins of Dunhill Flake at the same time, (with the thought that I could always put it in mason jars afterward). The 'new' tine was good. The 2 year old tin was better. I could only taste a slight difference though between the two year tin and the 7 year one. And by slight, I mean slight. At first I thought it might have something to do with the pipes, so I tried it again with fresh clays, (I don't care what anyone says, the clay is the single best pipe to taste the 'true' taste of a tobacco). The same held true, very minimal difference.

I might try it again soon with some FVF to see if the same holds true. As it stands right now for me though, if I hold tins for a couple years, I'm cool with that. Though I do have many tins that are 10-20 years old, I'm not sure how much different they will be.

Of course, after my next test, my opinion might well change.

you may surprise yourself... currently finishing up a 70s era tin of Cope's escudo.. it's simply sublime!!! (thankfully I have 1 -2 more!) the crystals, OMG, just covered in sugar crystals. most of the other escudo I have is from the 90s (AC Peterson era) tho and there is a huge difference between them, as delicious as those tins are, the Cope's wins hands down... I haven't bought any new tins 9don't even know who makes em) - out of the tobacco loop for years.

I have a rare set of Doby's Four Square tobaccos fro the 50's that are still sealed and in their cardboard promotional packaging.. I've been debating on whether to smoke them or sell them. I had it looked at and assessed at the ole Newark Pipe show years ago by the ole MC, Captain Jack (RIP buddy!) , and the JB Russell Distributor sticker on it is OLD these were put out before zip codes were used (1963) and it even has the old school phone # on it. I keep it tucked away i the cellar to keep temptation down. it'll be worth SOO much more as a full set!

sometimes tho, i'm soooo tempted.

 

[delamain]

Man I'd be tempted to smoke them, too. Something like that is priceless unless you get an offer that's too good to refuse!

Peter Stokkebye / Scandinavian Tobacco Group makes the new tins of Escudo, by the way. I think they are good, though that's all I've ever known.

 

[joshua1970]

Man I'd be tempted to smoke them, too. Something like that is priceless unless you get an offer that's too good to refuse!

Peter Stokkebye / Scandinavian Tobacco Group makes the new tins of Escudo, by the way. I think they are good, though that's all I've ever known.

it is VERY difficult not to open them, but I know the value is in the full set and if I find the right 'collector' it could be worth more than all the other tobacco I have stashed away and then some.

the last offer I got was $1500... and that was about 10 years ago. tempting but... no ceegar. (I won't say what i picked it up for, lets just say it was a score of a lifetime


and thanks for the heads up. Stokkebye makes some decent tobaccos (including their cigarette rolling baccy) , may have to pick up a tin or 10

 

[Uncle Jackie]

it is VERY difficult not to open them, but I know the value is in the full set and if I find the right 'collector' it could be worth more than all the other tobacco I have stashed away and then some.

the last offer I got was $1500... and that was about 10 years ago. tempting but... no ceegar. (I won't say what i picked it up for, lets just say it was a score of a lifetime

I know what you mean. I have several assorted tins of Dunhill products from the 1960's, as well as about a dozen tins of Bohemian Scandal and a few Balkan Sobrane. I'm hoping it will pay for a good chunk of my kids education in a few years.

 

[joshua1970]

I know what you mean. I have several assorted tins of Dunhill products from the 1960's, as well as about a dozen tins of Bohemian Scandal and a few Balkan Sobrane. I'm hoping it will pay for a good chunk of my kids education in a few years.

oooh the Balkan Sobranie 959?? Bohemian Scandal? and original Dunhill blends?? your kids are set!

temptation is a beast!!!

btw, love the Zappa sig! (a cow don't make ham)

 

[Uncle Jackie]

oooh the Balkan Sobranie 959?? Bohemian Scandal? and original Dunhill blends?? your kids are set!

temptation is a beast!!!

btw, love the Zappa sig! (a cow don't make ham)

Country auctions can be a fantastic place to pick up tobacco sometimes.

Yeah, Zappa is my favorite. He had so many great quotes.

 

[joshua1970]

Country auctions can be a fantastic place to pick up tobacco sometimes.

Yeah, Zappa is my favorite. He had so many great quotes.

no doubt! estate sales can be a godsend for all sorts of incredible finds!

and Zappa is God!

 

[delamain]

I wish that pipe smoking were more common around here. You would never find pipes or tobaccos around here - it would be very rare.

I can only remember two pipe smokers from my childhood, and they are long since deceased. It was not an everyday thing. And, looking back, I believe that they both smoked Captain Black White, most likely in Grabows since that is the only thing I've ever seen sold in these parts.