Esoterica Tobacciana Brighton

Not a very complex blend - though you might think so considering the different Virginias involved in the blend - but it does have a smooth, fairly gentle taste. The range of flavors include a big burst of tangy citrus, a fair amount of tart and tangy lemon, a light floralness, and a hint of darker fruit. The earthiness takes a light lead over the grassiness. There's also small wood and sugar notes. I get a touch of apricot from the topping. The nic-hit is a couple of steps past the mild mark. The strength is just past the nicotine level, and the taste is a rung short of the center of mild to medium. Not much subtlety here, but it's well blended, moderate burning, cool and clean with a sweet, very consistent taste that continues on to the lightly lingering after taste. No bite, no rough edges and no harsh spots. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and needs an average number of relights. An easy going all day smoke. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks

Appropriately named, a very good bright Virginia blend. Brighton is mild, yet flavorful with hints of citrus and a subtle honey-like sweetness. There’s also a light woodsy note and a touch of spice on the finish, especially on deeper draws. The flavor is perfectly balanced, and the thin ribbons burn cool and even with a pleasant fragrance.

This is quality tobacco with a nice aftertaste; an easy all day smoke. If you took the best Danish style Virginia mixture, removed the sweet topping and the potential for bite, you'd have something very close to Brighton. I agree that this isn't a complex blend and it's probably not going to knock anyone's socks off, but I find it quite enjoyable. It's great on a mild spring or warm summer day with an iced tea, cold Pilsner style beer or even a light white wine.

Altogether I'd rate this blend a half a notch above "recommended. I like it more than similar blends that I have given three stars to, so I'll give it four. Also, it seems to age quite well.

I was given a good sample of this from a fellow reviewer and I enjoyed it. It was an enjoyable Virginia that was maybe a little light for my tastes. The first half of the bowl was very light. At about he halfway point the flavor really picked up and this is when I started to appreciate it.

It does taste a little different than most Virginias that I have had. It had a lot of citrus and earth. The sweetness was subtle. I am not sure if there is a slight topping messing with my perceptions or not. In taste, it reminded me more of some the GL Pease Virginias I have smoked, but still different.

To my tastes this is not as enjoyable as FVF or Dunhill Flake, which are my favorite Virginias, but it is still good. The taste is unique enough that it does stand on its own and if it is to your particular fancy, then this may well rise to the four star level for you.

This one is also pretty light on the nicotine. I suppose for heft of nicotine and boldness of Virginia, it is a step up from Peacehaven, but it is a small step IMO. For me, it is a three star blend, but I did just order an 8 ounce bag to put aside in my cellar for a few years. It is hard to lose with Esoterica blends.

Nice light Virginia. Actually, there is a little nicotine and body here that rears up from time to time, but never too strongly. Certainly not complex, but as I smoke the remnants, I am getting a bit more. This may be in part due to my having smoked about five bowls of aged McClellands in this pipe (a Savinelli Capri) last night, which is one reason I wanted a less acrid Virginia for tonight's first pipe. My first bowls of this a couple weeks ago seemed really basic, as in a Virginia version of a go-to codger burley like PA; easy to light and maintain, a bit cigaretty, no-frills, but I found more to this blend with this pipe, and decided it was time to review. Of Esoterica's Virginias, I have had Dorchester and Dunbar, and liked them both. I may like them more than this one, but really need to smoke some of it after a few months in the mason jar, at which time I will add to this review. Right now, a simple, slightly sweet Virginia with no off tastes that is perfect after smoking more heady Virginias. There is a very slight topping, maybe anise and some kind of fruit, but it is hard to tell. The topping is more evident in the bag aroma, but starts to fade pretty soon after I transfer a pipeful to my wooden drying bowl. If you want a nice light to medium-light Virginia in a cut that is easy to work with, pack, and smoke, and that while it may not provide a flavor explosion, still has a nice (if narrow) range, this is a good one to try. I kind of miss Dorchester's Perique, but I have some blending Perique I could add to this if I want, so no problem! I think to say much more than this, or to discover any more levels to this smoke than the sort of thing I just described, will require some aging. See you in six months!

Edit 2/26/13: really coming along in the jar. Very nice. To clarify, I would seldom add Perique to this, but it is a possibility, seeing that my tin of Dorchester is sealed right now, and I don't want to open it.

Actually, I was wrong. I do have some Dorchester opened and in a jelly jar. It's a nice one too! Though I said I prefer it to Brighton, this is only incremental, and these are both excellent blends, with different merits. Can't find the sealed tin: that must be it in the jelly jar! May have to get a bag when I feel I can afford it.

I really kinda like Brighton. It will rarely be called "complex", but what it offers is an easygoing and pleasant experience. I buy this in Esoterica's 12-ounce bags, which nicely fills two Quart -sized Mason jars.

Somewhere I read that Esoterica claims that there are a half-dozen types of VA leaves in Brighton; if that's true, they seem to be well disguised to me. I've bought bags that were a medium-brown color, and my last bag - like my first ones - seemed to be predominantly lemon-colored flakes. As this ages, of course, it will darken, and the blend marries very nicely. It's almost perfectly moist, and ages very well. A minimum of a year of aging will make this a far more enjoyable blend for most.

The ribbons pack well, it takes a fine charring light, and requires little or no maintenance. If you're looking for an all-VA blend that yields just about no tongue bite, this could be it. I find it crisp and clean, much like Orlick's Golden Slice, but I personally can't be bothered with drying and rubbing out slices. It's just a simple and tasty blend.

This blend is visually identical to Esoterica Scarborough, which I recently smoked and didn't think much of. It arrives just slightly moist, aka perfect smoking level. In the baggie, there is a noticeable topping, though I wouldn't even try to parse the elements.

At the match, I am struck by two contradictory observations: there is less bite than with Scarborough (indicating more matured Virginia) and less musty character (indicating less matured Virginia). Obviously I have to lose my preconceptions, as this is nothing like Scarborough, and that is for the good.

There is a clear sweetness, primarily in the top range but gliding into the mid-range, that is similar to Esoterica's Cardiff. This is very attractive, and can be magnified by air-smoking. That sneaky Esoterica nicotine somehow hides behind this thin veil, and it irritates my nose, prompting me to exhale somewhat more vigorously than usual.

At the half-bowl mark, the sweetness has settled down into a shortbread style. Very little in the way of bite or snap her, and the strength varies from medium-light (when at a smoulder) to medium-full (when fully stoked); but, again, the flavor remains medium to medium-light. I'm not picking up any of the topping. The mid-range exhibits a milk chocolate smoothness and sweetness, and some toasted marshmallow. There isn't much in the way of bass range, and for some that could be a drawback. For me, it doesn't really detract.

The cheesy, musty Esoterica matured leaf flavors really aren't a factor in Brighton. I would buy this again, but I think Cardiff gets the slight edge for me. I'm thinking four ounces would be a good amount, split into 2 small mason jars, because I think this would age nicely.

Wow! Brighton is the mild to medium Virginia I have been searching for. The blend is not terribly complex, but has enough going on to keep you interested throughout the bowl. Smoked fresh I get a lot of earth and grass notes with a bit of bright citrus flavor. Smoking back to back with some that's been aged for 3 years I get a lot more savory flavor. It packs easily, stays lit, burns cool for a Virginia and won't bite. Overall it's one of the most well behaved blends I have smoked. This is my go to blend for breaking in pipes and enjoying with my morning coffee. The stable flavor of Brighton makes it great to blend with some punchy Burleys as well.

I have never been in a field of lavender after a rain, As one review referenced, but I have stepped in a cow pie during a wind storm. What does this have to do with Espterica you ask? Nothing but either does waxing poetic. This is an exceptional Tobacco in that it doesn't stand out in any special way except that it is of the highest quality ingredients and preparation. It is an all day all night smoke. It is perfect in aroma and smoking quality. It has a full gambit of full Virginia aromas and varied textures. If you don't like Virginias then it's not for you.

Before trying Brighton I had smoked Stonehaven and Peacehaven many times. While Stonehaven gets the most hype, I've always preferred Peacehaven. Thus, I was pleased as punch upon opening the bag of Brighton to find brightly colored ribbons and broken flake pieces of fine virginia tobacco. The aroma seemed to straddle the aforementioned Esoterica blends. A sweet sugary smell that reminds me of fields of lavender and chamomile after a Spring rain. In line with all the other Esoterica blends, Brighton is very moist out of the bag. I let a bowls worth dry out over night. When I finally sparked the bowl I was happy to find the flavor matches the bag smell. A lovely flavors that shares elements of both Stonehaven and Peacehaven. I like to smoke these in a deep, narrow bowl. I think this helps maintain the flavor throughout the smoke. The quality of the leaf here is not in question. A cursory glance will tell you this is premium virginia. The casing too is high quality, evidenced by the clean flavor and stable burning.

So, if you enjoy cased but not cloying virginia blends, Brighton gets a high recommendation from me.

Nice tasting Virginias. Citrus and a unique hay-like flavor that's actually a little woody and earthy. The flavor and bag note also has a "fermented" quality to it that reminds me of brandy. What hurts this blend is the lack of complexity and evolution that can make it a little boring by the time you get to the end of the bowl. I have a feeling that I'm going to enjoy using this as a blender. This should make for some outstanding VaBurs and VaPers.

Mild to medium in body and taste. I really can't detect any added flavoring. Burns well.