Esoterica Tobacciana Pembroke

Alright, so this is the third Esoterica blend that I smoke, after Penzance and Margate. What can I say? They are, indeed, great blends. Penzance was good, but didn’t blow me away. Margate on the other hand, did. It’s in my top favorites. Now, how about Pembroke? Lets see!

First things first, I have to talk about the tin note. I received my tin vacuum sealed, but it was also sealed with some tape over the edges for better seal. Even if it was sealed, when I took off the tape I was struck by an intense smell. Can you imagine? A smell so strong that it goes through a vacuum seal? And it was vacuum sealed, because it hissed when I opened the tin. And when I opened it completely, the smell was really strong. Tin notes are fermented, peaty, smoke and a bit of dark fruit. After it sat in the jar, it also developed some leather notes. It does smell a bit of cognac, but I would compare this smell more with Lagavulin 16. If you ever had the chance to smell and taste Lagavulin, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Does it smell of cognac? Maybe, but it’s more towards an islay scotch. It’s a strong, heavy smell.

The tobacco came quite moist, and the carton inside was just like in the other Esoterica blends. Colored from the juices of the tobacco. This seems to be specific to Esoterica blends. The cut is a perfect shag. It’s mostly dark, but has a good balance of brown and gold leaves. Super easy to pack up the pipe, but careful not to push it too much. Being cut so thin and being moist, you’ll have the impression it’s not tamped enough.

Now lets get to the serious part... the smoking experience. Due to the cut, the lighting won’t be a problem. From the first puffs you get peat, smokiness, vinegar and a bit of molasses sweetness. Few more puffs and you get some pomegranate and fig. Creamy, smooth smoke full of flavor. You will taste every tobacco in the blend, even if the latakia is in front, the oriental will also be detected and so will be the virginia, with some grassy and hay notes, not the sweet notes necessarily. But how about the topping? I’d say it’s mild. It’s so nicely done that it doesn’t overpower the blend. It actually BLENDS in the blend if that makes any sense. It’s perfectly balanced. Just a hint of alcohol, indeed somewhere between some cognac (or rather Armagnac, or a brandy or even Vinars) and Islay scotch with lots of peaty notes. You can definitely taste the oak barrel, and also a bit of fruity notes from an alcoholic beverage such as the ones presented above. But like I said, I detect more pomegranate and fig rather than grapes. So yeah, there’s the topping, mild and well balanced in such a way that it doesn’t cover the taste of the tobacco, it rather complements it. Hats off to the one that found this balance! Now lets smoke some more! Puff puff.... And came to half of the bowl. What’s here? Oh, we have some nice wood notes! Oak, yes, definitely, but not only. I can taste cedar as well. There’s still a vinegar taste, a musty taste, lots of peat and something that reminds me of anise and fennel, even some blueberries. Still has the alcoholic taste of brandy or islay scotch. There’s so much in there! Puff puff... oh, my! When did I get to the bottom of the bowl? I was enjoying this so much. I’ll probably smoke another bowl a bit later, but for now, what can I say about the end of the bowl? Well, you’ll get some spice. Some cloves, I guess, because it’s not a peppery spice. And starts to taste a bit like black tea. Am I the only one who gets this taste? If you ever tasted Keemun black tea, you’ll probably understand what I’m saying here. But anyway. There’s a lot that this blend has to offer if you sit and sip it slowly, searching for all the flavors it delivers.

And the last thing I want to mention is that this has a very nice lingering after taste. I appreciate that in a blend.

Burns perfect, it doesn’t need more then two or three relights, delivers a cool and thick smoke. The room note is intense. Medium strength, mild topping, medium to full taste, tolerable room note (I love the room note, but it’s strong and a wife might not appreciate this in the house).

As for the idea that this is Margate with a topping.... well, not in my opinion. I found that Margate was a smooth, incense-like smoke, while this one is more peaty. Margate was more complex than this one, delivering many notes and flavors, while this one is not as complex (yet not dull either). DrumsAndBeer was saying Margate is bolder and this is sweeter. See? Experiences differ. It is true that this is somehow sweeter, maybe because of the topping too, and I also agree with him that these blends are a treat for olfactory experience.

P.S.: I smoked this in bulldogs, prince, billiards... but I happen to enjoy it most in a 320KS Savinelli. I’m not a big fan of the 320KS, but this one seems to be a perfect match, with the large bowl. Just my opinion.

P.P.S.: As I was saying, this is the third Esoterica blend that I smoke. I enjoyed Margate the most, this one being in the second place and Penzance in the third place. Now I’m looking forward to get my hands on “And So To Bed”.