Esoterica Tobacciana Cardiff

If Virginias are your thing I guess this is ok. It was not one of my favorites though. I found it bitey and boring. you decide.

I just simply do not know where to start with this one. As with many of the tobaccos produced by Germain's, it's taste is a bit of a disappointment when compared with its tin aroma. Its aroma is mouthwatering, but its flavor is mouthwateringly bland. And any attempt at forcing more flavor through the pipe resulted in fairly severe tongue bite; unusual for tobacco made by this particular company.

Here is an Esoterica blend that is a virginia blend and is fully rubbed out in relatively fine strands of tobacco. It packs easily and burns well but I find burns a tad on the hot side and is prone to giving one a toasted tongue. IF you nurse it and go relatively slowly the flavor is there and is quite good. Because of that I won't be buying anymore of this blend soon. However, I do really enjoy the flavor( as I do of most Esoterica blends). 2.5 stars.

My dear friend Robin is an anti-tobacco zealot, so I was more than a bit surprised to learn that Robin's son, Edward, took up the pipe a few years ago. He reads my reviews on TR and wondered why I had never smoked this one, so he offered to supply me with some - about two oz. It looks like the picture posted here - kind of a dull reddish brown with some golden streaks. The smell in the bag was heavenly but descriptive words fail me. Sort of a spice rack scent with a lot going on.

In the bowl, I found this to be a disappointment. The flavor didn't live up to the aroma as far as punchiness goes. Light in taste, but with the expected grass, hay and citrus and some darker fruit flavors as well. Unfortunately, they weren't as playful as I prefer. When I think of Esoterica, I think of Stonehaven and Penzance, which have a depth of flavor matched by few if any of their competitors. Unfortunately, few if any of their stablemates exhibit this depth, either! There is a touch of flavoring to this one, but as usual, I can't determine what it is. It isn't intrusive, which is a plus, but it doesn't seem to add much to the experience, either. All in all, this is a light, mellow blend that shows no real faults but isn't terribly exciting, either. If you smoke multiple bowls per day, this might fit the bill. But with my busy schedule, firing up a pipe is a reward for a hard day's work, and I need something with more depth and punch. Sorry, Edward! But if I stumble upon any, at least I know where to send it! And thanks for the sample.

This is an odd one, I first smelled what appeared to my nose to be Three Year Matured VA -- but, wait! This one is actually worth trying! A bit sweet, but nothing that will get into your pipe. I am primarily a VA smoker, and this is one I'll save for a time when only "something different" will do.