Esoterica Tobacciana Stonehaven

Pros: doesn't bite, has a nice dark & leathery flavor.

Cons: very strong, wears out your taste buds after 10 minutes.

This would be a great tobacco for a lover of strong, dark Virginia blends who wants more flavor than a rope can provide. Too much for me, though.

At 24 years of age I’m under no false pretense regarding my inexperience in the world of pipe smoking. I’ve smoked for 5 years- so what? Undoubtedly a number of robed and bearded “old timers” of this great art across the nation will feel a collective cringe in spirit from an unknown place when I take up the slot of the 200th review on this legendary blend. And while it is true that I do not stand to add much to the extensive tasting notes described so eloquently, and sadly at times facetiously, on the review page for this extraordinary flake…the only useful addition I see myself fit to weigh in on is as an advocate for the “fold and stuff” method- oh that tantric bulwark! It never seems to fail me with flakes. The fact of the matter is this: for five years I’ve searched, suffered, and demurred in pursuit of even a taste of Stonehaven. However, in the past year, nigh-on prayers have turned to providence and I now find myself with nearly 20oz of this dark and fragrant pipe weed. (Bought mostly in 2oz increments from various brick and mortar stores and an 8oz bag practically gifted to me in Jackson, MS). I say none of this in boast or- dare I revert to college colloquialisms- to “flex”, but rather to say this: I’ve smoked a lot of this stuff recently. Something in me just wouldn’t bow to the idea of storing it all up for who-knows-when; jolting upright in the middle of the night from a cot on the floor of my cellar at 60 years of age to gaze at, waft, and mull over my spoils. Of course I have put some away- you never know when the hammer will fall and Esoterica will be no more (oh the legends that will be written from that day onward!) but I finally feel acquainted enough to throw my hat into the ring on the subject of methodology.

And now, for the much shorter section on how I think it smokes best. I’ve tried everything- tearing, rubbing, breaking, drying for hours (I put it in the oven once!) or sometimes days, and even…microwaving (seven times I washed my face in penance for such a deed as this!). Yet of all these methods I found simplicity to be the best answer. My recommendation is as follows: Let it sit in a mason jar for 3 weeks to a month (I always notice a marked difference when my flakes have “settled” in this manner), take out a flake or two, fold them a few times, and stuff them in your beloved briar. Sometimes I’ll take a sliver of one of the flakes and rub that out to put on top- it can help in getting it lit properly. After this ritual has been performed I simply light it up and sit back. Personally I haven’t felt the need to dry the flakes at all when using the “fold and stuff” although- if the oddly captivating and, admittedly, strong topping isn’t your forte, drying for an hour seems to force the added flavoring behind the virginias.

Of course, as any good pipe smoker should say: to each his own. However to me this is how I met the version of Stonehaven I have absolutely fallen in love with. (And, if you’re wondering, there’s no chance whatever that its elusive nature has beguiled me into this love…not at all……even a little bit……) Regardless, I’ve enjoyed every ounce.

God bless.

Since this blend is so hard to find, this is the only bag that I’ve ever tried. Mine already had a number of years on it before my wife purchased it for me 8 christmases ago. Honestly, this, what’s in this jar is probably my favorite VaBur of all time. I don’t know what this tastes like new. This is Dark fruit, dark chocolate, raisins, wood, earth, nuts, grass. Everything is smooth, and balanced. Definitely an all day smoke, though I only smoke this three or four times a year. Pairs great with some tea, and a cool dreary autumn day.

Big wow on this one. I am a burley lover and this was fantastic! This is a hard to find an available tobacco.I can see why this has a cult following like its penzance cousin.Highly rich and very Enjoyable.

Stonehaven, Rich Dark Flake & Hampton flake are 3 peas in the same pod. So much so that many can't tell them apart, although there are subtle differences. Stonehaven to me tastes like a slightly lighter version of RDF. Both excellent blends but I think Stonehaven benefits a lot from age. Definitely one to cellar!

There aren't too many blends out there that live up to the hype surrounding them, unfortunately this is not one of them. I say "unfortunately" because as anyone familiar with this blend knows it's impossible to find. Of the Esoterica offering this one is my favorite. Far from a straight forward VaPer, you get notes of dark fruit, chocolate, nuttiness, and some grass. This leaf definitely needs some drying time in my opinion otherwise you'll be fighting to keep it lit. This blend won't bite, and leaves very little moisture in the bowl. I suggest a larger bowl packed lightly in order to really amplify all of the flavors here. I prefer mine on the drier side and completely rubbed out, I've always found a blend to burn better this way and allow me to just sip. Of course if you can find this blend, try it. It also ages extremely well.

As soon as I opened the bag I noticed a distinct smell that reminded me of a dry English cider, which I understand is a result of the Virginia tobaccos used in the blend. The flakes are a bit on the moist side and should definitely be dried a bit before being smoked. The flake is also very easy to break up and pack a bowl and for someone inexperienced with flake, like myself, it makes it easier to pack a good bowl. It took me several tries to get it lit, but once I got it going I only had to relight a few times. The flavors a rich and dark, most noticeable being earth and rye. There is a moderate amount of spice and a slight amount of dark cocoa and cinnamon. Similar flavors are produced in the retrohale with the cinnamon coming to the foreground a bit more. Overall, Stonehaven is good to the last puff.

First of all, taste rated medium to full? Seriously? Anyway, my sample was 4 years old. Tin note was chocolate maybe? Almost like a Kahlua liqueur aroma. It dried out pretty well in about a hour broken up on a paper towel. Packs great. Stays lit great when dried properly. Smoking in a meer, the smoke was cool and dry. Flavor, mild to mild/med at best. Draws off the pipe had a faint, mild taste of tobacco with a light side note of chocolate. A tad of fruit like sweetness in the background. Probably the VA. The taste is very melded, mild and consistent. It’s very hard to pick out the components separately. It leaves a very pleasant after taste that lingers for quite a while after the pipe goes out. Personally I go more for medium to medium/full blends. So if your like me, try a sample before you go drop your hard earned money on a bag of Stonehaven. If you can get it at retail then it’s worth a shot. It’s not bad, but Burley Slice or ABF would scratch the same itch, and are more enjoyable in my opinion. And if your somebody that thinks Stonehaven is full flavored, Old Joe Krantz or Billy Budd might melt your face off.

An outstanding offering from a very special blender. I'll begin by saying im partial to Germain. I like the leaf and top notes that they bend together into some really unique mixtures. Stonehaven is no exception. The virginias are very subdued with age, and a little less assertive than i typically like in a vabur, but they bring a certain depth. The predominant flavors are earth, molasses and spice. If that palette is one you enjoy, then you should very much like this mixture. The flakes themselves have a very unusual texture; they are oily, supple, smooth and leathery. They are moist, but i prefer them that way as the earth flavor will dominate the smoke as they lose humidity. They show signs of bloom directly from the tin. There is a complexity that lets you know you are indulging in something rare, and unfortunately for us, it is something of a rarity. Like many of its stablemates Stonehaven is rather lacking in the nicotine department. This is a treat for when i am satieted with nicotine, but crave something rich and luxuriant and heady. I purchased 2 8 oz bags that my b&m tobacconist was sly enough to stash away for me, and i suppose it should be enough to last me forever, as i diligently jarred it up and smoke it as an occasional treat. Easy to recommend. One of the few flakes i actually prefer cubed and gravity loaded.