jonmc75
Junior Member
Posts: 262
First Name: Jon.
Favorite Pipe: Savinelli /Peterson /Cobs
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Post by jonmc75 on Apr 10, 2024 3:13:38 GMT -5
Hello all, just wanted to share some musings over a recent experience with tobacco and air. The tabac in question is Bells 3 Nuns, just recently ordered, and only available in the UK in 40g pouches as a curly cut. If you're not aware, the UK version is considered a lesser product than its tinned, loose coin presentation that most of you on here are familiar with. I know a little about the many changes to this blend down the years (VaPer-VaKy) and different producers making it, but I was still quite keen to try; Tolkien and Lewis are long, firm favourites, and I am an unashamed nostalgist 😊.
So I open the pouch, intent on jarring up right away, but keen to have a bowl to try. The pouch note on breaking the seal was a bit underwhelming, strange even, although not unpleasant. The smoke itself was no great shakes either, it was a bit harsh, with no discernable tobacco notes that I could detect anyway. So after a brief airing I jarred the rest up, into the pantry.
Yesterday, just 8 days later, I opened the jar, to see if it had, or rather, was beginning to settle. I really was quite amazed, the smell in the jar was wonderful, like a rich, dark, treacle tart, with a faint hint of spice, and some deeply woody, musty notes wafting in and out in the background. I'm going to leave it, for at least a month before smoking again, as I'm pretty sure it's going to be a different ball game, even by then.
I know tobaccos change in the jar and with airing/aging etc, but this was the most transformative from pouch, to just over a week in the jar I've seen yet.
Have you got many blends that you were initially underwhelmed or unimpressed with on first opening, and then grew to love with some time in the jar?
I realise this might be a redundant topic for many of you, but would still like to hear your best transformer story.
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Post by turbocat on Apr 10, 2024 3:26:38 GMT -5
Unless I’m really excited to smoke a blend, I don’t smoke them right after opening. I find all of them need a little time in a jar before they are ready to go. Off gassing of whatever has been trapped in the package I suppose. Much like letting a wine breathe before drinking it. In some cases, I find the jar time has a minor effect, sometimes a major one. My most recent big change is with Pesse Canoe blends, all three of them. A month in the jar and the casings had moved towards the background and the flavors of the tobacco really opened up.
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jonmc75
Junior Member
Posts: 262
First Name: Jon.
Favorite Pipe: Savinelli /Peterson /Cobs
Location:
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Post by jonmc75 on Apr 10, 2024 3:31:53 GMT -5
Unless I’m really excited to smoke a blend, I don’t smoke them right after opening. I find all of them need a little time in a jar before they are ready to go. Off gassing of whatever has been trapped in the package I suppose. Much like letting a wine breathe before drinking it. In some cases, I find the jar time has a minor effect, sometimes a major one. My most recent big change is with Pesse Canoe blends, all three of them. A month in the jar and the casings had moved towards the background and the flavors of the tobacco really opened up. I'm with you there turbocat, was a bit too keen to try 😁, and I wanted it out of that plastic pouch ASAP. I think you're onto something with off gassing, especially in the plastic. |
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Post by urbino on Apr 10, 2024 4:01:04 GMT -5
Dramatic transformers . . . hmmm . . . Not to be a broken record, but OGS is probably the one I've noticed changing the most. It's not a quick change like you're describing, though. Takes some months, at least, and then continues. The thing is, it's very pleasant both new and old. Just different kinds of pleasant.
I think a lot of people find the C&D blends here in the States improve a great deal after 6+ months of age.
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jonmc75
Junior Member
Posts: 262
First Name: Jon.
Favorite Pipe: Savinelli /Peterson /Cobs
Location:
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Post by jonmc75 on Apr 10, 2024 4:32:44 GMT -5
Dramatic transformers . . . hmmm . . . Not to be a broken record, but OGS is probably the one I've noticed changing the most. It's not a quick change like you're describing, though. Takes some months, at least, and then continues. The thing is, it's very pleasant both new and old. Just different kinds of pleasant. I think a lot of people find the C&D blends here in the States improve a great deal after 6+ months of age. This is the impression I've gotten from others also; hence all my C&D's are getting some time on, 😉 OGS is delicious fresh urbino, I've 2 flakes left from #1 tin, have bought a few more for the pantry, 😋 |
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NJDan
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Posts: 319
First Name: Dan
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Post by NJDan on Apr 10, 2024 7:00:36 GMT -5
Something like this just happened to me with a tin of MacBaren Stockton. The tin had a little age on it, but on first opening and smoking was significantly sharp and acrid. I put it to the side in the tin for about a week, and on return it had transformed into a solidly pleasant smoke. Still relatively stout but in a good way, with most of the unevenness and sharp qualities dissipated. I’m thinking my remaining tins could benefit from another year (or 10) so I’m leaving them in the cellar to age gracefully.
I also let C&D blends rest for a year from their production date. Not absolutely necessary for all blends, but I think the vast majority benefit from a year from their tinned date. It’s also a happy day when I get shipped a tin with a year on it already!
I think the comments on “de-gassing” are interesting. I’m a home coffee roaster, and part of the process is to let freshly roasted coffee sit for 24-48 hours after being roasted. Similar defects are detected when consumed right out of the roaster (underdeveloped aromas, lack of developed flavor, etc.). I have no idea whether the underlying chemical processes are the same (I doubt it) but for me, a good thing to consider next time I crack a tin.
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jonmc75
Junior Member
Posts: 262
First Name: Jon.
Favorite Pipe: Savinelli /Peterson /Cobs
Location:
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Post by jonmc75 on Apr 10, 2024 11:04:20 GMT -5
Something like this just happened to me with a tin of MacBaren Stockton. The tin had a little age on it, but on first opening and smoking was significantly sharp and acrid. I put it to the side in the tin for about a week, and on return it had transformed into a solidly pleasant smoke. Still relatively stout but in a good way, with most of the unevenness and sharp qualities dissipated. I’m thinking my remaining tins could benefit from another year (or 10) so I’m leaving them in the cellar to age gracefully. I also let C&D blends rest for a year from their production date. Not absolutely necessary for all blends, but I think the vast majority benefit from a year from their tinned date. It’s also a happy day when I get shipped a tin with a year on it already! I think the comments on “de-gassing” are interesting. I’m a home coffee roaster, and part of the process is to let freshly roasted coffee sit for 24-48 hours after being roasted. Similar defects are detected when consumed right out of the roaster (underdeveloped aromas, lack of developed flavor, etc.). I have no idea whether the underlying chemical processes are the same (I doubt it) but for me, a good thing to consider next time I crack a tin. Interesting analogy with the coffee Dan, I worked as a chef in a past life, always been interested in how certain 'volatile' compounds in foods interplay with oxygen in particular. Wonderful stuff. |
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Post by Darin on Apr 10, 2024 11:40:02 GMT -5
I guess I'm the only one that was expecting robots to be part of this discussion. 😅
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Post by Silver on Apr 10, 2024 12:20:29 GMT -5
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jonmc75
Junior Member
Posts: 262
First Name: Jon.
Favorite Pipe: Savinelli /Peterson /Cobs
Location:
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Post by jonmc75 on Apr 10, 2024 12:58:33 GMT -5
I guess I'm the only one that was expecting robots to be part of this discussion. 😅 😂😂😂 |
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Post by olbluesmoke on Apr 12, 2024 8:12:32 GMT -5
I guess I'm the only one that was expecting robots to be part of this discussion. 😅 😂😂😂 Here he is...he was being held by security at the front check point. |
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Post by trailboss on Apr 13, 2024 11:59:17 GMT -5
I went down a oriental tobacco rabbit hole the other day and ran across a tobacco transformer… evidently, that word is used in lieu of processor. www.missirian.gr/index.html“ Missirian s.a. is a privately owned tobacco transformer specializing in oriental tobaccos operating in Greece since 1922.” |
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