Esoterica Tobacciana Dorchester
(3.27)
A special formulation of six light Virginias plus golden and dark Virginias with air-cured leaf and a pinch of Louisiana perique. Easy burning is ensured by the carefully selected cut. The perique balances the Virginias; for the discerning palate.
Details
| Brand | Esoterica Tobacciana |
| Blended By | J.F. Germain & Son |
| Manufactured By | J.F. Germain & Son |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Perique |
| Contents | Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Apricot |
| Cut | Ready Rubbed |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 ounce bag |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.27 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 41 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2017 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
First off, let me say that I love VaPer tobaccos in general. This blend knocks it out of the park for me with Dunbar being a close and adequate alternative. The tobaccos comes moist and will benefit from some dry time of around 15 minutes to a half an hour. The smell immediately upon opening the tin is rich, bright and light with a hay-like, grassy and slightly earthy smell. It has a hint of sweetness that is raisen-like in odor and very pleasing because it is not overpowering in the sightest. It is completely in the background both from a smell and taste standpoint as you light up the blend.
Takes a charring light just ok, but once lit, it stays lit with little to no re-lights. Burns cool, tastes medium from a mouth/flavor standpoint, and feels light and springy to the draw. As you "sip" the tobaccco, you are greeted with nice grassy, hay notes with utter simplicity, but amazing taste. There is more perique in here than Dunbar, but doesn't give me a real "peppery" mouth feel like Cornell and Diehl Small Batch Carolina Red with perique does. I can barely feel the nicotine throughout the bowl. Dorchester also has a subtle sweetness as you draw the smoke. It's like a light, but very inviting raisen/plumb note, but it would be like tasting the smell of raisins or plumbs rather than eating it them. Very subtle, in the background and a nice addition. The flavors stay consistent throughout the smoke, nothing added nor taken away which is a very good thing. Smokes down to a fine grey ash with absolutely no dottle. All in all, this is a great blend 3.5 out of 4 stars. A+
Update: After smoking this blend for quite some time now I actually prefer Dunbar over Dorchester. I still really enjoy both tobaccos a great deal, but there is more "pepperyness" in Dorchester than Dunbar and I prefer less of it in my perique blends (I know, I'm strange and in the minority here) . The perique seems to be much more in the Forefront for Dorchester than in Dunbar and although Dorchester claims to have the Aged Virginia's, it actually feels much younger than Dunbar does in taste. Dorchester is definitely more sprite, perky and bright tasting while Dunbar seems more mellow. Both get creamy as you move down the bowl and they stay consistent as well. In short, both are excellent tobacco's in their own right. There is something about J.F. Germain's Virginia tobacco that I just can't get enough of. I would highly recommend trying either of these wonderful tobaccos.
Takes a charring light just ok, but once lit, it stays lit with little to no re-lights. Burns cool, tastes medium from a mouth/flavor standpoint, and feels light and springy to the draw. As you "sip" the tobaccco, you are greeted with nice grassy, hay notes with utter simplicity, but amazing taste. There is more perique in here than Dunbar, but doesn't give me a real "peppery" mouth feel like Cornell and Diehl Small Batch Carolina Red with perique does. I can barely feel the nicotine throughout the bowl. Dorchester also has a subtle sweetness as you draw the smoke. It's like a light, but very inviting raisen/plumb note, but it would be like tasting the smell of raisins or plumbs rather than eating it them. Very subtle, in the background and a nice addition. The flavors stay consistent throughout the smoke, nothing added nor taken away which is a very good thing. Smokes down to a fine grey ash with absolutely no dottle. All in all, this is a great blend 3.5 out of 4 stars. A+
Update: After smoking this blend for quite some time now I actually prefer Dunbar over Dorchester. I still really enjoy both tobaccos a great deal, but there is more "pepperyness" in Dorchester than Dunbar and I prefer less of it in my perique blends (I know, I'm strange and in the minority here) . The perique seems to be much more in the Forefront for Dorchester than in Dunbar and although Dorchester claims to have the Aged Virginia's, it actually feels much younger than Dunbar does in taste. Dorchester is definitely more sprite, perky and bright tasting while Dunbar seems more mellow. Both get creamy as you move down the bowl and they stay consistent as well. In short, both are excellent tobacco's in their own right. There is something about J.F. Germain's Virginia tobacco that I just can't get enough of. I would highly recommend trying either of these wonderful tobaccos.
Pipe Used:
Savinelli 1611, random briars. Large bowls!
PurchasedFrom:
Brick and Mortor
Age When Smoked:
9 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 07, 2022 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
A highly flavorful, nuanced smoke. The tin note is deliciously fruity as ripe Virginia’s can sometimes smell. This is well aged tobacco out of the tin. As a heavy puffer, I prefer flakes and coins in general for their slow smoking qualities, but a bowl of this thick ribbon cut tobacco is a surprisingly long smoke. Best with some moisture level to savor the flavors. The only ribbon Virginia I search out and very hard to come by it is.
Pipe Used:
Dublin, billiard
PurchasedFrom:
Local brick & mortar
Age When Smoked:
3 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 08, 2021 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Super pleasant, light body, Va forward VaPer. The Perique is just peeking out, just enough to add some depth and occasional spice. I get honey, mango, butter, sourdough, and apricot in the retrohale, and buttered biscuit in the mouth. The tin note definitely has a apricot thing going on alongside some unsurprising hay. I don't care if there's an apricot topping or not, it's beautiful and works perfectly alongside the bready and sweet Virginias.
Pipe Used:
Cob
PurchasedFrom:
Tinder Box
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 09, 2021 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
It was all surprises when I opened my first Dorchester tin, well aged. The wax paper was completely soaked and very darkened by the oils from the tobacco. The smell that the tin note gave off is one of the broadest that I have experienced in a tobacco so far, of an old house, a wine cellar, wet wood, dark fruits, damp earth, salted fish, to sherry Pedro Ximenez and others multiple things, it was amazing. It seemed prudent to transfer it to a glass jar and air it a little, given the state of the paper that wrapped it.
In the pipe it burns well and although it almost goes without saying when it comes to mixtures of such quality, without bites. The ingredients, well blended, make this a very tasty tobacco, dark, sometimes sweet, other times acidic, mainly dark fruits and wine notes. In a word: delicious.
When I finished my first Dorchester pipe, the last surprise awaited me: the ash it left behind was a color similar to cinnamon. In the successive pipes I smoked, the ash was whiter in color. The mysteries of the unfathomable world of tobacco.
If you like va / per and have a chance to try it, you should! But be careful, it may change your idea of ​​what a good tobacco is and you want to get rid of some of the tin that you have in your cellar. Don't say I didn't warn ...
In the pipe it burns well and although it almost goes without saying when it comes to mixtures of such quality, without bites. The ingredients, well blended, make this a very tasty tobacco, dark, sometimes sweet, other times acidic, mainly dark fruits and wine notes. In a word: delicious.
When I finished my first Dorchester pipe, the last surprise awaited me: the ash it left behind was a color similar to cinnamon. In the successive pipes I smoked, the ash was whiter in color. The mysteries of the unfathomable world of tobacco.
If you like va / per and have a chance to try it, you should! But be careful, it may change your idea of ​​what a good tobacco is and you want to get rid of some of the tin that you have in your cellar. Don't say I didn't warn ...
Age When Smoked:
old
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2021 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Unnoticeable |
Esoterica Dorchester- A classic VaPer blend with a very light topping . My tin needed some dry time for the Virginias to shine . I needed a few bowls to get what this blend has to offer . It is creamy with a little fizz to it . A little grassy with citrus fruits . A little raison and prune . A little spice . Plenty of Perique in my tin . A little musty and tart . A bit earthy from the air cured leaf . A light topping or casing of something fruity that adds richness to the blend is my guess . I like it and highly recommend it . You can find it if you look hard at the right time when it drops . Nicotine is mild- medium. Burns great and no bite . 3 1/2 rating .
Age When Smoked:
Fresh tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 28, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
Yes. It is good! Perique is dominant and very noticeable throughout all except in the last third of the bowl. Best described as a peppery smoke. It's a very interesting VA/Per with good burning qualities. An enjoyable VA/Per. I'm sure that top shelf leaf was used in this blend. Simply a no nonsense blend of quality tobacco that can be enjoyed any time if one likes Perique blends.
This, to me, was a unique tasting VA/Per that is unlike any other I've ever smoked. The end of the bowl even tastes good, smokes mild and doesn't become harsh or bitter. Obviously, great care & preparation is taken in the blending & selection of Esoterica tobaccos.
This, to me, was a unique tasting VA/Per that is unlike any other I've ever smoked. The end of the bowl even tastes good, smokes mild and doesn't become harsh or bitter. Obviously, great care & preparation is taken in the blending & selection of Esoterica tobaccos.
Pipe Used:
Dunhill 2S Shell Briar
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes & Cigars
Age When Smoked:
Fresh Tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 13, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Esoterica (Germain) has a way with tobacco! There production methods produce top quality products and I haven't had one that I do not like. Dorchester is no exception, in fact of all of the Esoterica's I have tried this is my favorite (sorry Penzance). The tin note is mind blowing, Perique is what dominates the aroma: figs, raisins, plums and honey is what I get with a background floral note. I could breathe this in all day. The smoke is one if not the best VAPer blends made. The sweetness and spiciness of the Perique are ever present in the tin and bag I have smoked from. I have no problem with bite (I air pocket pack all of my Virginia's and often go to my Meerschaum pipes for VA's). The Virginia's are sweet and grassy with lemony notes. There is a faint chocolate like flavor, not sure if it some kind of topping or from the blend of Virginias but it does not interfere with the tobacco flavor, it enhances it quite a bit. The spicy tingly feeling on retrohale is prominent and has adds some white pepper like flavors when I go back for a second puff on exhale. To rate tobacco that leaves white ash and a dry heel.
Pipe Used:
Briar, meerschaum and cobs
PurchasedFrom:
Iwan Reiss (BM)
Age When Smoked:
<1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 04, 2009 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
Very nice-when the tobacconist had it on sale, I finished the tin and turned around and bought three more. One tin was older, and had a completely different, fermented taste. I still have some of that one left, but I think this one might be better fresh. It has a wonderful smell in the tin, maybe a slight topping but I can't put my finger on it. Mainly just a good grassy, sweet Virginia. The perique is there, but in the background in my opinion. Does not bite, and the taste and body are of the type that allow one to puff away without punishment.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 10, 2006 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
OK, Just my two cents worth, and that will be a nickel adjusted for inflation.
Today I ventured into a bowl full of Dorchester that I have been aging since 1996, or the end of 1995, you get the picture. And all I can say is, WOW!!!, what a treat. This tobacco still smells new in the jar, and tastes even better.
The virginias have aged beautifully, and the perique is still there weaving its magic throughout the bowl, in perfect harmony. The taste is somewhat sweeter, fromt the aged virginias, than a new can, and the Perique plays harmoniusly throughout the virginia flavors. Layered, complex, subtle, tasty, and sweet. A really nice smoke. This is not to be rushed, but to be enjoyed at leisure with the greatest pleasure!!!
If you have the patience, try aging some this long, and see for yourself. I have roughly half a pound of this, and I guarantee it won't last long.
This was smoked in a medium sized 1987 Andre hand made straight grain pipe.
By way of comparison, I smoked a bowl of similarly aged Dunbar, and it was, for the most part, flavorless.
HAPPY SMOKING!!!
Today I ventured into a bowl full of Dorchester that I have been aging since 1996, or the end of 1995, you get the picture. And all I can say is, WOW!!!, what a treat. This tobacco still smells new in the jar, and tastes even better.
The virginias have aged beautifully, and the perique is still there weaving its magic throughout the bowl, in perfect harmony. The taste is somewhat sweeter, fromt the aged virginias, than a new can, and the Perique plays harmoniusly throughout the virginia flavors. Layered, complex, subtle, tasty, and sweet. A really nice smoke. This is not to be rushed, but to be enjoyed at leisure with the greatest pleasure!!!
If you have the patience, try aging some this long, and see for yourself. I have roughly half a pound of this, and I guarantee it won't last long.
This was smoked in a medium sized 1987 Andre hand made straight grain pipe.
By way of comparison, I smoked a bowl of similarly aged Dunbar, and it was, for the most part, flavorless.
HAPPY SMOKING!!!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 04, 2004 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
I haven't yet met an Esoterica Tobacco I haven't liked. Dorchester continues this trend.
I won't go over all the details again; most reviews here cover it well. What I can do is compare it to other popular VA/Perique blends that I have tried. Smoked it in a locally carved freehand that is Perique seasoned: I was almost reluctant to do this as I was afraid I'd end up with too much spice and not enough body. No chance. This tobacco's flavor stood on it's own.
To match it against, say - Stratford by GL Pease: I found the taste in Dorchester fuller, heartier and less raw (probably due to the aging that Esoterica puts the weed through), and more subtle in the use of the Perique. This perique also had a slightly tangier, sweeter flavor than other blends that use it. It was still spicey - but didn't contain the double barreled sensory assault of Haddo's Delight. How does it match against this popular Pease Perique powerhouse? Dorchester does something different... it truly comes off as a refined VA/Perique blend that you can relax and enjoy with the occasional tangy surprise. Not the S+M thrill-ride that Haddo's occasionally delivers (quite well)!
I would by no means call this blend "mellow" but it is not at all abrasive. Exceptionally smooth, flavorful and good right out of a freshly opened tin (some drying will no doubt only improve it). Not a single bite or sting to the tongue. This may be *that* Perique/VA combo I've been looking for.
I won't go over all the details again; most reviews here cover it well. What I can do is compare it to other popular VA/Perique blends that I have tried. Smoked it in a locally carved freehand that is Perique seasoned: I was almost reluctant to do this as I was afraid I'd end up with too much spice and not enough body. No chance. This tobacco's flavor stood on it's own.
To match it against, say - Stratford by GL Pease: I found the taste in Dorchester fuller, heartier and less raw (probably due to the aging that Esoterica puts the weed through), and more subtle in the use of the Perique. This perique also had a slightly tangier, sweeter flavor than other blends that use it. It was still spicey - but didn't contain the double barreled sensory assault of Haddo's Delight. How does it match against this popular Pease Perique powerhouse? Dorchester does something different... it truly comes off as a refined VA/Perique blend that you can relax and enjoy with the occasional tangy surprise. Not the S+M thrill-ride that Haddo's occasionally delivers (quite well)!
I would by no means call this blend "mellow" but it is not at all abrasive. Exceptionally smooth, flavorful and good right out of a freshly opened tin (some drying will no doubt only improve it). Not a single bite or sting to the tongue. This may be *that* Perique/VA combo I've been looking for.
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