Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Escudo Navy De Luxe

Not a bad tobacco by any means, but, my hair wasn't exactly blown back by it. It's worth giving it a try, lots of people love it. Just doesn't do much for me.

This was one of the first tins I bought when I got really into piping based on the sheer popularity of this blend. I tried it fresh, and let it age a couple of years. I'm not a fan of the coins, they don't rub out particularly well, resulting in chunky long strands without some extra effort to break it up. The flavor isn't very complex, it leans on the Virginia side. The Perique seems to be overshadowed more often than not by the grassy Virginias, but both components are of very fine quality in that they taste pure. I have only smoked one full tin, but ultimately it is something that didn't stand out to me. The smoke was thin and hot, light in flavor and aroma. I was actually hesitant to try other VaPer's as this was my first, but have found others I prefer wherein the flavor is richer. There may have been a time when this was a stand out in the past, but I just can't see that in the incredible selection in today's market.

I did not get much perique out of this blend. I thought it was just OK and my tin was aged 2 years. I know some folks absolutely love this. But I'm not a huge fan of just straight virginia. It needed morte perique or some rum.

Escudos Navy… Looks like luxury bullseye flake without the Cavendish core, by the same company. I found too much overlap in the taste between these two tobaccos, to justify paying over twice the price for Escudo, I also found the preique leading the show in Escudo, with the Virginias buried in its spice, while luxury bullseye is just the opposite, the perique is just there, and compliments the Virginias, something I prefer. So which is best is your decision, but I did want point out one of the reasons I find this stuff less than stellar.

After several bowls of Escudo end to end, I found the next tobacco in my daily rotation, now lost some of its delicate flavors, a price I'm not willing to pay, because of too much Perique (spice) in my last smoke. I guess it's just me, but preique has a flavor deadening effect on my taste buds, and a little goes a looong way. So for that reason, I prefer others. Bottom line, I forked out ten bucks plus S/H for a Virginia flake, not a tobascco flake, am I asking to much for at least a dominant Virginia, I don't find that in Escudo. Guess I'll try some aging and see what happens. For what it is, 2.5 stars. My personal rating, 2/5

Addendum… This tobacco 50/50 with PS Luxury twist, addresses my complaint nicely.

Smells sweet like alfalfa. Lights and burns nicely. Two coins in a small bowl is fine for me. Citrus overtones with more perique than I like. The tin presentation is a work of art.



For me it is a bit strong for a regular smoke, but in those moments when something stronger is in order, this is perfect.



While the flavor is highly enjoyable it is a bit one dimensional. Like all Danish blends it is a bit harsh and sharp, but does not bite. The room note is very enjoyable, even the wife likes it and she does not smoke.



If you ever wondered what this would taste like if it was made with top quality tobacco try Wessex Sovereign, which is much smoother, less harsh, sweeter and has a cleaner tobacco taste.

ugh...

i went from balkan supreme to this and ugh, bummed out. thats not to say its not good tobacco, because it is. its just not a fun flavor, and definitely not relaxing. it took a lot of work to appretiate what stokkebye was trying with this blend and i dont like to think about that too much when im smoking a pipe. im trying to relax, not get inside the mind of the tobacco blender. but the taste is more of wood than tobacco like it was cured over smoldering southern yellow pine. fancy cut and packing tho, like little h'orderves

Escudo is, for me, a difficult one to review. Let me explain...there are a number of blends that seem to attract an overwhelmingly positive adulation...just look at GLP's blends as examples. I've been swayed by what I've read here to go and try them, and I end up thinking that this is a load of hype and the Emperor isn't really wearing any clothes after all.

Tis much the same with Escudo.

There's nothing wrong with it..it's certainly better blended than many others; it's easy to smoke and it smells nice in the tin. But, well there's not a lot there when you smoke it. It's ok but by comparison with tobacco's like Louisianna Flake or St James Flake (G&H and SG) it's insipid or at least so mild as to be almost undetectable.

PipeJoe maybe has a point when he talks about different palates reacting differently to the same baccy. I've always had problems with SG's Best Brown Flake because it always makes the roof of my mouth sore unlike any other SG flake. Maybe I find Escudo perfectly acceptable but quite insipid because I am used to stronger flavoured Vapers.

Whatever the answer is; the moral of the story is surely never to go on what folk here write but try a blend for yourself.

This bares no resemblence to the original Escudo. It burns hot and contains Danish Toungue Bite #104. When this brand reappeared I was excited. Foolishly believing a true old classic was back. Nope, no sir, not even close. To be certain I didn't get a bad tin I tried several tins over a couple of years. Nothing but bad. This reincarnated abomination receives many high marks so maybe it's just me, but...

5-8-10: I am updating my review because I feel I was a bit harsh in my original post. It is wrong to assess the merits of the blend based upon its heritage. I recently revisited it and will say that it is a beautiful tobacco and of high quality ingredients made by Peter Stokebye. I love VaPers but this one simply is not to my individual liking and is therefore not in my regular rotation. It deserves to be judged as the individual blend that it is and is worthy of a try by a VaPer lover.

Escudo is a bit of a disappointment to me. I love VaPers, but this blend has never hit the 'crave' button. No doubt the rolled coins are beatiful and the moisture content in the 2 tins I've opened so far was just right. Nicotene hit did the blend justice, but it was just not a winner in the flavor category.

It found the flavor just a bit harsh. As a 32yr old pipe smoker, I've been on a quest to sample all the classics, that the experienced pipesters were smoking before my birth. Unfortunately, I tried Reiners Golden Flake before Escudo. Nuff said.

I love VaPers. Escudo is better than none at all. If Escudo was a female, I wouldn't kick her out of bed. But I won't call her back. It's good looking but fails to satisfy. More form than substance. The rolled coins are nice, but basically like breast implants on a dud! 2 stars for the extra effort.