Esoterica Tobacciana - And So To Bed pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 56 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >
Phonomet	02/28/2013	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Smooth, milky mouth feel with subtle fruity aroma (not fruit flavor). Like a tea latte. Only a hint of latakia. The tin aroma is sweetly dank. High quality tobacco. A pleasure to smoke.
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CPT/VSG	11/24/2012	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant
I have to like any tobacco named for a comment of Samuel Pepys from his great diary. This fine Germain offering has a mild top note similar to that of Smoker's Haven's 20th Anniverary Mixture, which adds to its interest for me. A shag-like cut, it is a mild Balkan, featuring the orientals and virginias over a small amount of Latakia. Despite its name, ASTB works as a breakfast/morning smoke. It smokes cool and dry to a fine gray ash and is worth a try to those who like milder Balkan blends. Being a Germain product, it features fine source tobaccos but can be somewhat difficult to fine. Recommended.
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TallPuffO'Burley	03/16/2012	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable
I really like this tobacco. It has a natural sweetness that is a real treat once in awhile. In my short history of pipe smoking, I have never embraced any aros and have yet to find one that I like. I have found that something in this vein seems to satisfy my sweet tooth needs adequately while also providing a wonderful light english taste. As To Esoterica products in General, I like both the tin art and dimensions. First to the art. It is no doubt what attracted me to buy this as I really didn't know what I was doing. Second, the use of 2 oz. and 56.7 grams is nice. It is nice to see a british company embrace the old system of measurement they left us here in the states. We will likely be the only country that never switches to the metric system, so thanks for understanding our lack of comprehension. But in all seriousness, I will certainly restock with more of this. I will likely purchase 8oz. bulk next time. I realize that it won't come in that bueatiful tin, but the tobacco is what it is really about. Highly recommended.
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juvat	11/20/2011	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
If you're thinking this is Esoterica's answer to Dunhill's Nightcap, you'd be wrong. This is something different altogether. Its a tad floral which compliments the smokiness of the latakia rather well. Overall I liked it. I'd keep a tin of this on hand for when the mood strikes, but it isn't something I wanna smoke every day or night.
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SteelCowboy	11/13/2011	Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I am a fan of Esoterica blends. Sadly, this isn't one of them. When I first began smoking it I enjoyed it, but after several tins, my taste for it diminished. I like the light fruity smell to the tin and although somewhat scented, I would not call it an aromatic. Some of the scent I believe comes from the treatment of the tobacco. My distaste grew because it lacks complexity even though there are a lot of different tobaccos in the blend. I sometimes enjoy light English mixtures with small amounts of latakia, this one seemed to lack latakia and really need it because nothing else stood out. I decided to jar some of my remaining stash and after 2 1/2 years, the blend still remains flat. ASTB is not a horrible tobacco, it's just not interesting.
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Philo Beddoe	11/07/2011	Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild	Pleasant
This reminds me of Squadron Leader, they are both mild strength English blends of similar character, Va. heavy with very little Latakia and light on the orientals as well. I like my English blends to have more flavor and more strength. Not a bad tobacco, just too light for my tastes.
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Susanna Hoffs	09/02/2011	Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
Has probably the most beautiful tin art I have ever seen. Even for Esoterica. Unfortunately this was a big 'Larry Let Down'. I have three tins that are about a year old, and I cracked one open last night to give this blend a whirl. This is an aromatic for sure. Not a pleasant one either, as all I could smell (and to some extent taste) upon opening the tin and in the first half of the smoke was what I can only describe as 'Stewed apple & sour bruised banana' I had heard this has been compared to Nightcap.......WTF?!?! Sorry, not even close, I could barely make out any of the alleged leaves in this blend at all due to the slightly disturbing casing. Nightcap is stronger by a country mile, and tons better than this stuff. The last half of the bowl got a little sour, so I did what all good ultimate smoking warriors do when they're losing. I 'tapped' out... 2 stars for tin art
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derlict311	04/14/2011	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
A rich after dinner blend. The best of Esoterica that I've tried (Stonehaven is on my to-smoke list). Can't see smoking this more than once in a while, though. It's wonderful in my 40 year old Wellington with an XL bowl. Something about XL bowls that bring out nuances that smaller bowls can't. I regress. Recommended, if you haven't tried some. If you like rich, fine English blends, this is for you.
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Capt	02/28/2011	Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable to Strong
I may come back and review this again after some aging of this open tin. That "sour" smell when initally opened smells like spoiled milk. I am sure glad it didn't transfer over to the smoke. Easy to light, a decent blend to relax with. Does not pair well with port as the tin states. No port is strong enough to stand up to this tobacco, IMHO. A complex blend, without much nicotine. Burns fairly clean, does not pass the wife room note test, even though most Latakia blends do here. Would pair well with a JW Black. 2.5 out of 5 stars.
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hawky454	02/02/2011	Strong	None detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
This to me tastes like a toned down, more complex version of Penzance. People who kind of like Penzance, but find it to overwhelming and one dimensional (like I do) should be very satisfied with this blend. It does have a fermented fruit smell in the tin and it somewhat translates to taste but man, that just means that this is a blend that is well aged and unique. I say give it a try. -Essential. Update 1-26-2013 I still find this blend satisfying. I just wanted to take back what I said about Penzance. After smoking some sugar crystallized Penzance (cellared for 1 yr.) I found Penzance to be an absolutely amazing blend and it far exceeds this blend in my opinion. This blend is till worth every penny! If you see it in your local shop, give it a try.
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pipelovingcalvinist	01/03/2011	Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant
It is unfortunate that this blend has received so many poor reviews for my experience with this tobacco has been quite pleasant. The tin note has a fermented fruit aroma which remained in the smoke when lit. The flavor reminded me of a cross between 965 and Squadron Leader. Not as intense as 965 but more flavorful than Squadron Leader. (Perhaps a heresy to Squadron Leader fans.)The only shortcomming I detect with this blend is the sparce amount of latakia, especially for an evening blend. It is, in fact, the name of the blend that I believe, has caused this tobacco to be not as popular as it deserves to be. If this tobacco had been called "Afternoon Delight" I hardly believe it would have recieved so many angry reviews. soli Deo gloria
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don1688	10/28/2010	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Tolerable
I usually don't review a blend if I 'm not a fan, unless I feel I can objectively say why. That's tough, obviously when taste is subjective. This is "topped", don't know what it is, but would descibe it as a spice smell. Actually, smells very good and is quality leaf- no doubt. The Latakia is present but not forward. You can taste Virgina and Oriental. But it just isn't cohesive. Tastes kind of harsh. I got through half a tin, but just can't bring myself to keep going. English/Balkans usually take me a half ounce to an ounce to get to know, this one is just not for me. If you like Esoterica's toppings, you may like it, but I probably wouldn't recommend to you and will not cellar any more in hopes that I grow into it; just not for me.
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Hiram Briar 23	09/15/2010	Mild	Mild	Medium	Tolerable
somewhat recommended.
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Tee-dub	04/30/2010	Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant
Ehhh. I enjoyed this at first, but grew bored of it. Flavor is rich, in a way, and it is buttery smooth. But it isn't "full bodied" by any definition. I detect little or no casing, though it has the sweetness of a mild aromatic. If there is any casing, this is not apparent in the tobacco's excellent burn qualities: the tobacco burns clean and cool, even with vigorous puffing. The taste is smooth, pleasant and rich, but is light in body and left me bored. It's perhaps too unremarkable and monotonous. Those hoping for a strong kick of nicotine might be disappointed.
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Mr. Baggins	04/21/2010	Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
The perfect nightcap!
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Michael	02/27/2010	Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant
This is the second Esoterica tin I received that was not vacuum sealed, which pisses me off. Getting past that, ASTB is the type of blend that has grown on me over time. It's mildly aromatic in the English way without being cloying or eclipsing the core tobaccos. It isn't a powerhouse of flavor, but it is smooth with a core sweetness -- a great choice when you want something that won't batter your tastebuds. Relaxing and mellow, it also smells fairly mild for a Latakia blend and burns cool and dry to a fine, light ash, like all Germains. And despite its name, ASTB is also a great morning smoke that pairs well with coffee. Worth a try.
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sagesmoke	01/22/2010	Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

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onehitter	01/07/2010	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant
I don't normally smoke blends of this kind but its nice to mix it up once in a while. This was awesome,nice peppery taste with a floral almost berry smell in the smoke,I thought nicotine was on the lighter side of medium. Burned well no tongue bite moisture level was good to smoke right after poping the tin no dry time. Two bad points on this tobac were the amount of toothpicks I was pulling out and secondly and not so important was the quality of the tin the top didn't want go back on.All in all classy tobacco.A masterpiece mabey?
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Latakia	12/12/2009	Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Lighter than Penzance and more of an all day English (despite the name). There was something missing however and although I can make out the latakia, Orientals and Va., it lacked depth. I will continue on with this tin which I am enjoying and tend to smoke in the evening. I guess the name gives me psychological reinforcement when I have to turn off finally and head to bed.
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Capt. Cavendish	12/09/2009	Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable to Strong
Boy is this blend a sleeper! Coming up with a name for this tobacco probably didn't take much more than thirty seconds. Creative people love it when those kinds of ideas come right at them, but in the case of pipe tobacco, it illustrates little more than mediocrity and simplicity of blend. And so to bed I will put this stuff.
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 56 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >