Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Escudo Navy De Luxe

First the negative: The coins can be temperamental smokes sometimes. Easy to over-puff it and get some bite.

Now that we have that out of the way, this is a wonderful smoke. I don't get a massive rush of nicotine, but there is enough kick in it to keep me happy. From the tin it certainly has quite a bit of dried fruit aroma. Great balance of VA vs PER. I prefer to rub out the coins rather than roll or stuff them because it's just an easier smoke, and the coins rub out easily. I agree, that anyone who doesn't enjoy this might want to try another tin before they decide it isn't for them.

The spun cut coins dry quickly and break up nicely, although I had to pick a few stems out of mine. The virginia is sweet and sharp, and the perique is abundant. This tastes to me like real St. James perique--I may be wrong here, but I've been smoking va/pers for a while and a fair amount of American Spirit perique cigarettes as well, and I've found that the newer Acadian perique has notes of salsa and pine sap, while the St. James perique has a wine-and-pepper character. Then again, it's hard to tell what you're getting these days, and maybe it's all in my imagination.

I find Escudo has a rough edge, and can be temperamental. I'm not a va/per amateur, and it still bites me hard from time to time. For that reason, and because of its sporadic availability, I wouldn't smoke it all day. Still, even with the number of excellent quality va/pers out there, some of which are less expensive than Escudo, I don't hesitate in awarding it 4 stars. This is a wonderful blend.

With due respect, I wonder if some of my esteemed colleagues who complain of Escudo's lack of flavour didn't end up with a bad initial tin. It happened to me with Penzance and FVF, both of which I've come to enjoy immensely.

UPDATE: I recently got a bad tin of Escudo--smoked hot and tasteless, with undertones of vomit. I guess it's impossible to keep quality absolutely consistent.

And IT'S (es-) KUDOS (cudo) to the fellas at PST for having this wonderfull bacci blended on behalf of the fraternity. An excellent VaPer with all the characteristics that make this a full, tasty and interetsing smoke. I would be interetsed in their version of VA only without the perique.

Popular VaPer. I dig the coins. This is an above average VaPer. Great price tag too. Gets points for presentation, but ultimately I prefer Reiner Long Golden Flake when I reach for a VaPer because I find it more flavorful/interesting. Escudo is great though, and far less expensive than LGF. If you like VaPer's, Escudo should not go unsampled.

I don't think any VaPer smoker's pipe experiences would be complete without giving Escudo a try. And if at first it doesn't appeal, to change pipes, age it a bit, dry it, rub it out .. vary the approach as you think best to give it a good chance to express itself.

I'm in the camp that finds it's balance, delicacy, sweet piquancy, subtle changes down through the bowl, just as satisfying and pleasurable as any other tobacco I have tried, among many dozens. The aftertaste is a lasting pleasure that begs fitting just one more bowl into my day no matter how many I've had.

Taste is a matter of ... taste. There is no arguing with those who say Escudo does nothing for them. Perhaps it has to do with the ph levels in different mouths, or palate preferences. Chacun a son gout as the French say (to each their own taste).

If you like or love Orliks Golden Slices, Reiners, Dunhill Light Flake, and similar lighter stoved/pressed/flaked/cased VaPers or natural VaPers, chances are you may very much enjoy this classic tobacco.

Everything about it is good for me, from presentation, moisture, burning, taste, breadth of nuance and variation as smoked. The virginias and the perique each have their expression, the balance is close enough the elements of taste rise and fall like a string quartet, giving a continuing interest and changing taste down to the last bit of the smokeable dottle.

I also decry the cost and lack of bulk supply, but it is worth the pleasure to me. The tins just empty at speed once opened I enjoy them so much, so I ration and cellar.

Four enthusiastic, appreciative stars.

Escudo is one of the finest tobaccos I have enjoyed, and I've puffed a few.

This tobacco is well behaved, not overpowering yet delivers a good flavorful smoke from beginning to end. The tobacco arrives at near perfect moisture condition which needs no additional drying, IMO. Burns easily and consistently leaving only a fine white/grey ash in the bottom of the bowl.

I tried Escudo in several different pipe shapes and appreciate it most in a taller small diameter bowl. Some of my best smokes are from a Brebbia Pura 4012. Interestingly, I have enjoyed Escudo in Calabash and prince shape pipes as well. Truly a tobacco that isn't particular about bowl shape. Just a little light rub and it's ready to load.

Flavor is full and taste is as a VaPer pipe tobacco should be. I enjoy the uncomplicated tobacco flavor that is smooth and consistent. Escudo does indeed satisfy without overloading or offending the smoker with harshness. This is not a bland tobacco yet I experienced no unpleasant after taste and the room note is good. What's not to like?

This is, without question, a stellar tobacco that disserves a prominent place in any cellar.

WillH

O.k. I keep re-trying this blend based on the popularity and character of reviews that strongly favor this blend. I can't taste a thing but a vague hint of corn-husks or puffed rice. Otherwise this is flavorless - almost completely flavorless. I thought it was just me, so I talked up the blend to a nearby friend who tried a bowl. After a few puffs and a distant stare, he looked at me archly and asked "Can you taste anything?". He gave up half-way through the bowl and dumped the rest on the ground. I remained uncertain.

I smoked this all night, trying to get a handle on why this is so popular - but after three consecutive bowls, I can't figure it out.

I don't know what I'm missing here, maybe but chalk it up to a difference in pallets. This is the blandest tobacco I've ever smoked in my entire life - completely flavorless. Slight cigarette qualities to the smoke make me wonder if this is just a favorite for people who inhale their pipe smoke?

I'll say that just about everything I have read about this seems dead wrong to my taste. The only complaints that people have are that it's too spicy and has bite. This has NO detectable bite at all. I'm not tasting any spice. Just vague wisps of what other people are calling "hay".

I'll give it this - it burns easy (just stuff the disks in your pipe and it lights like magic). It has no bite. It offers a little flavor if you smoke the second half of the bowl a day later.

I've just lit another bowl after reading all these reviews. Am I a cretin? I don't know. But...shrug...there's no real flavor for me here.

I'm trying lots of different VaPers...and this one is a winner. One previous reviewer said rub it out and dry it for a little while-I agree! Nice, rich tobacco taste-perique (which I like a lot) is in perfect proportion, in my newbie opinion. Not for the brand new pipe smoker---again, IMO---but a great, slow, tasty smoke. Try some! It may be just what you're looking for!

This review is based on my first bowl right out of the tin. I could detect nothing more than a slight vinegary aroma & tobacco upon opening the tin. The silver dollar sized flakes were a mix of dark brown, medium & a small amount of light colored tobaccos. Moisture content seemed just a tad too moist. After lighting, I let it rest a while. Tamped it down and started smoking again...even better. I didn't realize at the time that I was using the DGT (delayed gratification technique) method which only works well with Virginia blends. It was very mild, cool, easy on the tongue/palate & sweet tasting with a "good enough" nicotine kick. I don't have the conditioned olfactory and palate sensing abilities to describe all those smells, nuances, etc. However, I am able to discern quality in a blend & this is exceptional. Burns to a clean ash to the bottom of the bowl. I'll be aquiring more of this "stuff" for regular rotation and aging. Can there possibly be a better VAPER on the market? I'm going to try Solani's 633 and a few others for comparison since I liked this so well. Therefore, IMHO, Escudo Navy De Luxe merits four ****s+!!!