Question about Esoterica blends

[GreekGuy]

Gents,

I'm a bit new to this hobby. Been smoking a pipe on and off for about 3 years, although now I'm really starting to get more into it. At first I was smoking some pretty mild blends, which didn't excite me too terribly much. Probably why it never really stuck. But I've been smoking Nightcap recently, which I absolutely love, and I picked up some Irish Flake which I also enjoy.

I'm not 100% fluent with all the terminology, but could someone perhaps help describe the Esoterica blends? I know Penzance and Stonehaven are difficult to come by. Are any of the other blends worth trying? I don't have a whole lot of point of reference, but I really do enjoy the 2 blends mentioned. Are any of the blends somewhat similar to either of these?

Thanks so much for your thoughts and time

 

[Blade Boy]

Esoterica Tobaccos are made by JF Germain & sons, Margate (Latakia/Oriental) and Dorchester (Virginia/Perique) are great ones under the Eso name IMO Penzance & Shonehaven go without saying, under the Germain's Label King Charles & Special Latakia Flake are a couple of my favorites, Germain's seems to aged their blends for quite while and the tobacco quality is top-notch.

 

[conroygc]

Tobaccoreviews.com is really helpful for this info, I use it often. Here's their list of Eso blends. Penzance is probably my favorite tobacco that I've tried, and I think the same folks make the current Balkan Sobranie, which is pretty good.
I don't read the reviews as much as use TR.com for finding out what tobaccos/flavoring make up a particular blend.

 

[Devilpup]

Pembroke is one of my personal favorites. It's a light-medium english with a cognac casing. It tastes like a high quality english with a touch of sweetness and a touch of the cognac's fruit.

 

[joshua1970]

very high quality tobaccos made by germain, as discribed, and marketed by Michael Butera... who used to make some of the best artisan pipes in America, and has a great palate for tobaco. he has other blends NOT made by Germain ie: Kingfisher etc

I love the Stonehaven and also Peacehaven, tho it is a very mild bright VA and will easily burn your tongue to a crisp - so be careful

my favorites, aside from stonehaven which is one of my favorite tobaccos of all time (beef jerky I call it due to it's unique thin flake form) are Tilbury (a mix of various Va's and touch of burley) , Dorchester (VA/perique blend with a serious punch) in fact I like to parfait them - 2/3 bowl of Tilbury, and a small layer of Dorchester, and they top off with Tilbury. the transition is truly sublime.

Margate is one of my favorite english blends, and pembroke, as mentioned, is basically Margate w a cognac topping - perfectly done IMO!

Penzance is also a wonderful english, often ma favorite of latakia lovers. Alas i haven't smoked it in years (though I've a handful of tins set aside), not many of the other Esoterica blands (And so to bed, etc)

 

[KarlMaldensNose]

I figure this is on-topic enough so as not to constitute a hijack. Margate is described (at TR.com) as being composed simply of Latakia and Orientals. I'm curious to try it but only two tobacs--neither of them standard 'base' leaf Virginia or Burley--comprising the blend concerns me a bit. I'd imagine it to be a thin or one-dimensional smoke without either Va or burley to prop it up. Can anyone comment on this?

 

[Blade Boy]

I figure this is on-topic enough so as not to constitute a hijack. Margate is described (at TR.com) as being composed simply of Latakia and Orientals. I'm curious to try it but only two tobacs--neither of them standard 'base' leaf Virginia or Burley--comprising the blend concerns me a bit. I'd imagine it to be a thin or one-dimensional smoke without either Va or burley to prop it up. Can anyone comment on this?

Have you tried the GLP Westminster sample yet, it's somewhat like that but instead of Virginia think Oriental, high quality stuff, it's my second choice to Balkan Sobranie and is a little easier to get.

 

[KarlMaldensNose]

No, no Westminster yet. I'll pack a bowl of it tonight. I was under the impression it wasn't much of an Oriental player and probably would've smoked it only after most of the others had you not said anything. Of the GLPs you sent, I've tried Odyssey, Caravan (wow) and Charing Cross (WOW!). Sounds like I'm gonna have to give Margate a shot, as our tastes are quite similar... the Balkan Sobranie you sent is actually my favourite so far... very musty and sour like Charing Cross. Or are you talking about vintage BS, which I know you also tried? The other day I almost did something very stupid, even for me... found a sealed tin of Balkan Sobranie 759 for almost $300 and came close to hitting the PURCHASE button.

 

[conroygc]

That Westminster sounds great. I just added that and Stonehaven to my wish list.

 

[Blade Boy]

No, no Westminster yet. I'll pack a bowl of it tonight. I was under the impression it wasn't much of an Oriental player and probably would've smoked it only after most of the others had you not said anything. Of the GLPs you sent, I've tried Odyssey, Caravan (wow) and Charing Cross (WOW!). Sounds like I'm gonna have to give Margate a shot, as our tastes are quite similar... the Balkan Sobranie you sent is actually my favourite so far... very musty and sour like Charing Cross. Or are you talking about vintage BS, which I know you also tried? The other day I almost did something very stupid, even for me... found a sealed tin of Balkan Sobranie 759 for almost $300 and came close to hitting the PURCHASE button.

I my have miscommunicated what I was trying to say about Westminster, you're right it not heavy on the oriental, I was more saying swap in your head the Virginia and Oriental ratios in Westminster and you won't basically have Margates flavor profile. Don't get caught up in the hype, vintage BS is not that much different than the new, at least don't different enough to justify the ridiculous prices it is going for, I mean just think you could have a pound of Margate and 2 new pipes for that kind of money , I have never tried the BS 759 (gold tin) only the Original Mixture (white tin) if you are looking for BS substitutes I would say Esoterica Margate and Germain's King Charles are your best bet you can get the new BS you just have to be at the right place at the right time and connections help, it's good to be a member of pipe forums because they something have threads to give you a heads up as soon as the rare baccies come available, another great Balkan that I tried recently is Balkan by Brebbia, it's a very Oriental forward blend, with some Perique and 40% Latakia, an amazing sweet & sour experience, by the way if you happen to run across any of the new Balkan Sobranie let me know, I am always looking for more .

 

[KarlMaldensNose]

Have you tried the GLP Westminster sample yet, it's somewhat like that but instead of Virginia think Oriental, high quality stuff, it's my second choice to Balkan Sobranie and is a little easier to get.

That Westminster sounds great. I just added that and Stonehaven to my wish list.

Smoked Westminster tonight and was floored. Easily in my top ten after only one bowl. Other than describing it as bold yet smooth, I can't really articulate why I like it so much. Anyway, Margate is definitely on my next order if it's even remotely similar.

EDIT: I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I just discovered I didn't smoke Westminster last night. It was actually GLP Maltese Falcon. You'd understand the mix-up if you saw the sea of little sample baggies I'm currently swimming in. MF's reputation at tobaccoreviews.com is just middling, nothing special. Just goes to show you that tobac reviews are mostly useless if you're using them to help figure out what you'll like. Anyway, I'm off to try Westminster now.

 

[GreekGuy]

Smoked Westminster tonight and was floored. Easily in my top ten after only one bowl. Other than describing it as bold yet smooth, I can't really articulate why I like it so much. Anyway, Margate is definitely on my next order if it's even remotely similar.

EDIT: I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I just discovered I didn't smoke Westminster last night. It was actually GLP Maltese Falcon. You'd understand the mix-up if you saw the sea of little sample baggies I'm currently swimming in. MF's reputation at tobaccoreviews.com is just middling, nothing special. Just goes to show you that tobac reviews are mostly useless if you're using them to help figure out what you'll like. Anyway, I'm off to try Westminster now.

So what did you think of Westminster?


Also, is it even remotely close to compare Odyssey to Penzance? I'm curious about Odyssey.


And probably more back to the original topic, do you guys store your Esoterica in the large bags, or do you put it in mason jars? I've read most people jar it, but I don't see why you would need to buy the jar when the bag is suitable. Unless it allows for actual aging, while the bag is designed to preserve it as much as possible. In which case it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense about how tins age so well compared to jars, except they do have more air in them I suppose.

 

[Schmitz Bitz]

Greekguy; I always transfer my pouched Esoterica blends to jars for the simple reason that I have experienced losing 8oz of Penzance to a blown seal and don't wish to repeat the experience. Nothing worse than opening a bag to discover you have 8oz of black dust...

Tobacco undergoes aging both in the tin (anaerobic) and in the jar (aerobic) - both are necessary parts of the aging process; it seems that more and more people are ignoring the former in favour of the latter - but if you think about it, if tobacco didn't age in the tin, why would people get all excited about cracking the seal on an old-stock tin of McClelland Tudor Castle or St. James Woods. Certainly not because the tangy aroma of steamed Reds (aka ketchup) gets better...

 

[Blade Boy]

So what did you think of Westminster?


Also, is it even remotely close to compare Odyssey to Penzance? I'm curious about Odyssey.


And probably more back to the original topic, do you guys store your Esoterica in the large bags, or do you put it in mason jars? I've read most people jar it, but I don't see why you would need to buy the jar when the bag is suitable. Unless it allows for actual aging, while the bag is designed to preserve it as much as possible. In which case it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense about how tins age so well compared to jars, except they do have more air in them I suppose.

Closest thing to GLP's Westminster I have had is SG Commonwealth, I would say jar the bagged stuff to play it safe, I've heard stories that the bags sometimes the aren't 100% sealed or have small holes at the seams.

 

[GreekGuy]

Thank you gentlemen for the replies. I was able to score a small amount of Penzance at a local shop. Been checking every time I'm nearby, but it seems like several others are as well. Also, I ordered some Margate and Westminster. I'm looking forward to seeing how they compare as a full english blend, which it appears I'm quite fond of