Esoterica Tobacciana Stonehaven

After many years of on and off pipe smoking I finally have the financial means to enter into the world of luxury tobaccos properly. I believe there are probably others such as myself who also are coming back into pipe smoking after a hiatus or perhaps are just starting out and this review, my first, is with them and those like myself in mind.

Upon returning to the pipe smoking world I immediately happened upon this site and in browsing this and other sites the Esoterica name is continually mentioned as an exquisite and hard to find tobacco commanding a steep premium price...if you are lucky enough to even find some to purchase.

I was recently and most graciously gifted quite a few flakes of Stonehaven 1997 which had been very well preserved and offered to me by fellow reviewer Pipestud in the course of our discussions about tobaccos. The following is based off those gifted flakes which after 15 years of proper cellaring should represent the pinnacle of what this flake has to offer.

I have now smoked three of those flakes which equate to about a bowl per flake and nearly an hour and a half tasting this well made and finely pressed tobacco. I used three different pipes to ensure the best possible result finding that Stonehaven is best fully rubbed out with a medium size chambered pipe. I myself had the best results using a Dunhill 4108 bulldog ensuring a slow and steady burn requiring only minimal tamping and no relights. This tobacco does burn very well when rubbed out properly.

The fantastic burning characteristics aside I find this tobacco to be a psychological one definitely worthy of the name Esoterica since the near mythic status it enjoys seems more a function of its unavailability rather than its substance.

The "tin" note does have the qualities suggested by others of chocolate, fruit and figs but I find all of these notes can be described by what I believe to be the (light) topping of molasses or perhaps brown cane sugar which can give hints of all the flavors listed above depending on the individuals own personal tastes and associations.

The tang of the Virginia and the subtleness of the Burley is there, the flake is very well pressed and obviously this is a good quality tobacco. However, it is not the stuff of legends nor is it worth the exorbitant prices which is a function of supply and demand more than of quality and taste.

Stonehaven is a 3 star tobacco, very good but not life altering. It has a mild taste and is a very smooth flake but its price and unavailability detract from an otherwise solid performance which is why I find it overall to be worthy of 2 stars. Should Stonehaven ever be supplied adequately and the price return to reason then I would most definitely add a star and could recommend this tobacco, but until then the hype is too great for all but those who have the finances or time to hunt for this most elusive weed.

Perhaps some will say that you cannot judge a tobacco based on such criteria but for those who are limited in finances Stonehaven is not worth ignoring other blends which are just as good but less revered. If you ever find some at a retail price or offered the great privilege of being gifted some to try I highly recommend doing so provided you don't mortgage the house to buy a bag. Stonehaven is most definitely a good, high quality tobacco, but its legend is driven by the psychology of the unattainable rather than the substance of the reality we taste when lighting up.

Update: While speculating that the topping was molasses I have since been informed that the topping is In fact Treacle which is an uncrystallized syrup similar to molasses (but not as dark) which confirms for me at least the base of the flavors so many have remarked upon.

Dissing off the establishment, yet again, with this one. (Just finished panning FVF here a minute ago).

Another high hopes blend, only to have my dreams smashed asunder. This is well behaved baccy...cool and even handed. Too even handed, maybe. Nothing jumps out at me as remarkable. Ever have a totally serviceable (good) pot roast for dinner, only to forget that's what you had the next morning? Yeah, that's my take on Stonehaven. I like it, I suppose, but it doesn't scream 'hoarde me' like others can. But of course it wouldn't scream anything...it's much too civilized for that.

My least favorite ET/Germain offering to date.

Two indifferent stars.

This is a decent smoke, although it leaves an aftertaste that really stays with you. My only problem that I have experienced with it is inconsistency in production. The last batch that was received by the local B&M was pretty substandard in terms of appearance and flavor. The tobacconist warned me of this prior to purchase, so I tried it myself and he was right. I won't be buying it again.

This is basically partially-stoved J. F. Germain & Son Brown Flake. See the review for that and subtract a little flavor.