Esoterica Tobacciana Stonehaven

A remarkable tobacco! In the "tin" (actually a plastic, sealed container), upon opening, the aroma is pungent and very strong. It is reminiscent of dark chocolate or red wine. Though very moist, it burns well, and is easily rubbed out. I have discovered, however, that it smokes the best when the rubbed out tobacco is allowed to air dry for an hour or so before smoking. The first few bowls after drying in this manner it reminded me of something, but I could not place it. Then I concluded it was the old "Three Nuns" I was thinking of, though this may be, I concede, a trick of memory.

The taste is complex and multi-layered ... yet entirely natural. The strong aroma detected upon opening is present, but is in no way cloying or over-powering. As I continue to smoke this, I am not sure if I have ever had a better tobacco at any time. A revelation.

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

If I could only smoke one tobacco, it is either this one, or this is the one I would miss mostly. This is what every blend wants to be when it grows up. Stonehaven ~ quite the enigma.

Yummers! Frankly, I was surprised to read on here Stonehaven has burley in it; normally I hate burley (granted, I have little experience with it). Anyway, 'twas all for the best, as I smoked without prejudice, and lo & behold, I was enraptured by the jerky strips of dark bark (actually bought in bulk for those of you who don't wish to invest in a tin).

The smell from the tobacco even before being lit was exceptional, and fragrant in a natural, Virginian way. I was very excited to smoke this and it came highly recommended-- now I just need to buy some to age!

Fowl, fowl, fowl! This is perhaps the most putrid weed I have smoked since I trying Half and Half in a 99 cent corncob one summer as a teenager. Generally, I smoke multiple bowls in several different pipes before reviewing a blend. Unfortunately, I could barely finish my second bowl. Be warned: this will taint your pipe! I had to part with mine after giving up on this blend. Esoterica makes some quality blends. In fact, Margate is among my favorites. Unfortunately, I would recommend this leaf to neither friend nor foe.

A very interesting baccy indeed. By description alone one would expect this to be very similiar to Dark Star. One would then be very surprised to discover upon the match that it is not. They are certainly not interchangeable. I love DS and find I smoke at least a tin every year. (which is quite alot when you smoke a bazillion new ones all the time!) Stonehaven however, is more refined and more in the vein of the Lakeland District than DS ever dreamed of being. The high range of this tobacco incorporates the sourness of a fine white wine, while the bass notes tend too lead themselves towards dark chocolate and raisins. How do these flavors, which seem so dissident, go together and create such a seamless and tasty tobacco? That is the question isn't it. I think perhaps the burley content goes a long way towards marrying the flavors and not to mention adding one heck of a whallop of nicotene to the party (and no this isn't the type of burley that you find in Carter Hall pouches). All in all, someone had too have whipped up some tobacco blending magic to have come up with this wonderful blend. Too rich to smoke regularly, none the less, it is exquisite.