Esoterica Tobacciana Dorchester

Nice coarse ribbon cut with a few pieces of broken flakes left. Tin aroma smells of fruit liqueur. Moisture is not very high but I prefer to dry a little for a few minutes.

Takes easily to the light and my first impression apart from the added liqueur aroma which is subtle is the tell-tale sweetened taste of aged Virginias of many J.F. Germain tobaccos, like Uncle Tom or Plum Cake. It is an old school tobacco but not as much the aforementioned. Dorchester can appeal to a wider range of smokers, it’s not as sweet and has affinities in taste with the superb Tilbury. The taste is pastry-like and a little woodsy, more to the dark and aged side of the Virginia spectrum. Perique adds a nice darker element to it, not very spicy though but still it balances the sweetness nicely. It is very smooth and not too strong but with a good portion of nicotine. Very easy draw, very cool smoke, and generally very easy to handle.

A very nice tobacco, sophisticated and elegant if a little cloying, sort of like a desert tobacco. Glad to have tasted it but if I had the choice I’d prefer Tilbury to it.

Very good tin note. Smells of figs and hay. But it doesn't fully show those notes in the smoke itself. Still, this is a fine blend and am glad I smoked the tin. Not bitey. Leaves an OK room note.

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.

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.

Original Review 6-7-2012

This was the first VA/Per that I ever smoked and did so on the First IPSD that I have experienced as a pipe smoker. I am glad I did not review this when I first purchased it as I was not really getting the taste of VA/Pers then.

I have purchased two other VA/Pers since (or 1 1/2 if you really consider Old Gow'rie a Va/Per) I really enjoyed it, but feel too unqualified to give it a 4 star. I did like it better than the other I purchased (Anniversary Kake), but that one is becoming better with age and as it dries.

I will say that this blend really taught me about Perique and it is the only blend containing the same where I really smell raisins and can learn to appreciate the fruity smell to which so many here refer.

I love OG, but think it more comparable to straight Va's. Definitely recommended and I may repurchase at least to compare to some other notable Va/Pers I plan to purchase in the future.

Update 10/29/2021

I have not revisited this review since writing it 9 years ago and much has changed in both experience and my smoking style. Dorchester is a great VaPer and I have smoked through much of it in the last 9 years and have a few pounds aging in the cellar.

There is ample sweetness in this concoction due to the mix of Virginias used, and the perique is, IMO, a little more than the pinch in the description; albeit, in no way overpowering. As I said before it is great VaPer, but still not as good to my tastes as Escudo, St. James and a few other of my favorites. While I would write the earlier review differently today, my rating remains the same.

Very nice VaPer, smooth, bright, sweet with just the right balance of Perique. I smoked this outside next to the ladies and they commented how good it smelled. The smoke is very satisfying, no bite and not too spicy. It has been some time since I smoked " Dunbar" , which I like very much, and I can't remember the difference between these. I guess I will try a back to back comparison and update later. I do find that this is a little damp right from the tin and I recommend that you smoke it on the dry side.

Updated 8/18/2011 -A back to back comparison between " Dorchester" and "Dunbar" revealed the following:

Cut/ Moisture/ lighting: Same, very acceptable

Tin aroma/ Appearance: Similar but Dorchester had a hint of snuff scent and was a lighter color

Flavor: Similar, Dunbar was more mellow and matured where as Dorchester was brighter and slightly sweeter flavor

Tongue bite: Dorchester had a very slight nip at the tongue where as Dunbar had no nip and was an all day smoke

Overall: Both are excellent Vapers , I favor Dunbar only because I am very sensitive to Tongue bite.

I had a sample of this blend last summer that I smoked through. I would like to get some more of it at some point. I very much enjoyed this one. The blend took a liking to my Peterson Rocky Donegal Canadian, and that was the go to blend for this pipe until the sample ran out, I think it really shines in such narrow pipes with medium to longer stems. I nice stout VA with a bit of that peppery perique coming through, another blend that I compared it to was MacBaren's jokingly named Latakia Mixture, I found the two to be similar in flavor and enjoyed smoking them in tandem to get just that bit of difference. I can't give much information on the tin note since I only smoked a sample from a baggie and did not have a tin, but I would like to come back to this one and smoke through a tin as I very much enjoyed it!

Somewhat disappointing. Encouraging, classic tin label, pleasant, although maybe a bit cautionary open tin aroma, and really nothing special, when smoking. Aroma, which is nice before smoking, is almost insensible in smoke itself. I was surprised, how distinctly biting and choking is a smoke of this mixture. I am afraid, that it is feature of poor quality tobacco. Strange. I can't recommend it to nobody.

After a month: all right, I don't like to be too cruel. So be it: upgraded from one to two stars. Perhaps somebody will like this.

Good tobacco constiiuents, I'm sure but for ,me ,personally nothing remarkable in the combination they are in.The perique is nice but in my opinion kinda whispy. Others have complained about it being heavy but to me it is at best medium.Tried this blend because the suppliers were out of the "Nirvana" tobacco - Stonehaven( which I have not tried as of yet).I do hope it is beter than Dorchester when I finally do(if ever due to near permanent undersupply)

I'd sooner spend the money on Orlik Golden Sliced or a couple of the Stokkebye Virginia/Perique mixtures-(except that nasty Luxury Twist stuff).

Oh Well, there ya go - Somewhat Reccomended only- especilly considering the price!