Several weeks ago I posted a photo on IG requesting assistance (weblinks) in locating the hard to find, #1 tobacco on my list---Esoterica Penzance. It didn't take long for people to help out, but one individual in particular Anwar Knight (@visual_stenographer on IG), asked for my address because he wanted to send me something.
A week later I received a package from Ontario, Canada. It not only was an unopened tin of Esoterica Penzance, it was an ounce of Esoterica Margate, and an almost full tin of McClelland Holiday Spirit 2012 Edition tobacco. This was a generous gift to a perfect stranger which I've realized is what the pipe community on IG is all about! It is a giving community and I'm glad to be a part of it :)
This quick review will include both McClelland Holiday Spirit 2012 Edition and Esoterica Margate. If you don't know, aromatics are at the bottom of my list of tobaccos. It isn't something I shun or hate, it's just that my preference is for the English & VA/per blends. It is the "stinky" tobaccos, as my would put it, that I really enjoy and it's possibly due to the fact that I smoked cigarettes for 20-years...that's just my guess. I would still purchase as well as receive gifts of aromatics to try so that I can expand my palate as well as provide my opinion on the various pipe tobaccos.
On the 13th of January, I tried a bow of Holiday Spirit in my BriarBird Albatross Line Billiard. The tin describes this aromatic blend as "A gentle blend of Burley, Virginia and Cavendish tobaccos, flavored with dark rum, pecan and cocoa. Created especially for the holidays." This tin has brown and dark brown, rough cut tobaccos that has a note of sweet nuts and rum which is good enough to eat :P At first light, it has a Frog Morton with a stove cube-like aroma and maybe a little bit of cocoa. It produced nice, full puffs of smoke and at this point it isn't bad. When I reached the 1/2-way point, I thought it got better. I really loved the way the burning tobaccos smelled directly in the bowl and even though it was a little warm, it is something I enjoyed!
The second review is of Esoterica Margate which I smoked in my Egg in Hand Meerschaum pipe. This blend is comprised of Virginia, Latakia, and Oriental/Turkish tobaccos in a shag cut form. This baccy was not even on my radar, but am extremely glad to have sampled it! The bag note is campfire...a love of mine for sure :) It produced nice full puffy smoke and coated my palate very nicely. It has a creamy and saltiness which makes me smile :P After 3/4-way through the bowl, it tastes even better. It is all gone as I write this review and will definitely add to my list of tobaccos to buy! Unfortunately, it is another tobacco that is out of stock at most of the online tobacco stores that I've checked :S
So there you have it! A special thanks to my new pipe smoking friend in Canada! I will repay him sometime in the near future for his generosity :)