Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Escudo Navy De Luxe

Prep: The coins come a bit on the wet side but I found drying unnecessary. I fold n stuff for a longer smoking regimen.

Description: It's hard to add to what has already been said about this blend. The aging and the darker leaf contents make this a predominately dark fruity concoction. Though hay notes are evident early in the smoke, stewed and dried fruit notes take center stage. The Perique "pepperiness" is constant but not strong, as in other Va/Pers, but continuously supplies further prune-like sweetness to the blend.

The popularity is understood. 8.5/10 https://youtu.be/oUXQewc4v64

I'm a daily smoker, who enjoys depending on a day 1-3 bowls. Occasionally I smoke a stoggie.I smoke all kind of tobaccos, least of them aromatic ones. The Escudo blew me away, before I've tried let's say 10 Vapers , none of them was the perfect one, these includes Ascanian no2, Louisiana flake by GH,Peter Stokkebye,several SG and so on! Let me tell you something about this blend, is a pure perfection, when I opened the can the flavour that I acquired was heavenly, figs,fried fruit,milk powder, spice. I smoked it fresh, imagine what is going to happen with some maturation. Smoked it in a Briar pipe custom made by Henryk &Mateusz" Worobiec" dedicated for Vapers. Doesn't need any drying ,lights up very easily, doesn't need any relights,first puffs take you on, perfect balance spice of Perique married with sweet Virginia.Great and pleasant after taste, no bite, White ash at the end of the bowl.Beautiful room note. Let me share with you that from now on its my winner among Vapers. Strongly recommended for all, won't be disappointed.

I really enjoy Escudo. Here are the top four reasons why:

I love the tin note. The Virginias and perique give off a wonderful grassy-bread-like aroma.

The moisture level was perfect right out of the tin and the blend is a high quality smoke—all the way down to the bottom of the bowl.

The curly cut/coin can easily folded or can be rubbed out. I prefer the large size and the thickness of the escudo coin over the smaller coins in 3 nuns.

For me, Escudo has a good balance of Virginias and perique that keeps me coming back for more. The spiciness of the perique seems to build the further down the bowl you smoke.

A nice blend worth a try.

someone wrote the holy grail of VaPers. Perhaps it used to be. Again....can we stop pretending that these new versions of old classics are as good as they used to be. They are not. Is 3 Nuns as good as the original? Is Dunhill's ye Olde Signe as good as the original? Is St Bruno's Flake as good as the original? Is even the new Amphora original the same or as good as the original? the answer is no. Corporate takeover does not produce excellence. And Escudo...once indeed the bench mark by which VaPers were judged....is not as good as the earlier two versions. Certainly not close to the very original. The ACPeterson was alright...it was in the ballpark...mostly, but now we have another second generation dupe of a classic. I refuse to judge it on its own terms because it is presenting itself as something it is not.

I placed an order and received both Dunhill Deluxe Navy Rolls and STG Escudo at the same time. The tin note is a sweet & tangy aroma commensurate with the fine quality tobaccos used in these blends ... I have a tough time distinguishing the difference between these two based solely upon my sniffer. Both VaPer blends are pressed & rolled cut coins. Escudo does appear to be just ever so slightly lighter in color. Both baccys were slightly moist from the tin .... IMO just the right amount of moisture for using my preferred fold & stuff method of loading into the pipe. I had no trouble getting either blend to accept a decent char light. The Escudo is a delicious smoking experience (as is DDNR) nonetheless I detect a little less sweetness in flavor & aroma from the Escudo. The room note is quite appealing. Me thinks only the most hardcore olfactory recipients suffering from "tobacco-envy" would object to this heavenly aroma.

What can I say that hasn't already been said? This has got to be one of the best VaPer blends around. I usually bring this out for a special relaxing smoking experience.

If this tobacco was a cocktail, it would be a martini. This mixture, it isn't that it's not complex, it's just that it's to cool to be complicated. Martinis are a classy drink. I've never felt as classy as when I've had a martini in my hand! This is how Escudo is. It's the James Bond of pipe mixtures. As James Bond is to his many lovers, Escudo is satisfying!

I think on another Virginia Perique mixture I love. Samuel Gawith's St. James Flake. If Escudo is a martini, St. James Flake is an old Bordeaux. The complexities of that flake seem never ending. It satisfies too. Read my review of it if you'd like to hear specifically what I think of it. Both are excellent, but with Escudo I get the feeling that it's not trying to impress you, it just knows how cool it is and doesn't really give a shit what you think.

To look at it from another angle. Are you living in the west coast? More specifically, are you living in an area where there's an In-N-Out Burger? Sometimes you may want a beautifully crafted Kobe Beef burger, with a soft brioche bun, with organic, locally grown heirloom greens and tomato, with house smoked applewood bacon and three year aged white cheddar on it. Other times, nothing can satisfy your craving like a Double-Double with Animal Style fries and a shake!

Escudo is In-N-Out. If you're in the mood, nothing else can quite satisfy. By the way, yes I do feel classy eating A Double-Double.

Martinis, Double-Doubles, just sit back and feel classy.

Escudo Navy De Luxe

There is not much that I can add to what has already been said about this classic blend, but I will say that I have a nice stock of very old tins, as well as tins produced by STG that are 7-8 years-old, and STG does an excellent job keeping this blend consistent with "the old days". I enjoy it very much fresh, and age is only a bonus.

I bought a tin of this a while back as I've been honing my pallette for VaPer blends. I was not let down. The presentation of the coins inside were of an outstanding quality and the best I've ever seen. The moisture level was spot on and they rubbed out to very thin ribbons with the gentlest of touch. With the char light the va really sang a sweet note. On progression it developed that spicy nose tickle any pirique lover looks for. I didn't find it over whelming and really balanced with the va. I'll most likely cellar a few tins of this because what I've seen aged developed beautiful crystals and this tobacco will be sought after when production ends. Also, the price point for this kind of quality is awesome. Paul