old
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Post by old on Feb 11, 2021 17:02:05 GMT -5
I've been missing from the pipe community for a while and although I stashed a good amount of tobacco over the years, I've been reacquainting myself with what's available currently, both tins and bulk. What I find is a lot of my go-to blends are extinct. I've been trying to figure out if it's a change in tastes, the demise of blenders, or was I enjoying blends not popular enough to survive. Certainly McClelland closing is a surprise for me, and accounts for a good portion of my disappointment, but I see a big increase in aromatic offerings on the market. I wonder if it's the lack of quality tobaccos that can stand on their own that has influenced the blenders to sauce up their leaves ,,,,maybe I'm way off base and I freely admit I'm just getting back in the swing of things,,,, just thinking out loud I guess.
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Post by terrapinflyer on Feb 11, 2021 17:15:57 GMT -5
I don't know about quality of leaf available, but I think that was part of McClelland closing. There are plenty of minimally cased blends still around. What were the blends you liked?
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Post by Ronv69 on Feb 11, 2021 18:13:21 GMT -5
There is definitely a shortage of quality tobaccos, but fortunately we can get most anything we need so far. McClelland's couldn't get the best Virginias anymore, KBV is burning through the best remaining tobaccos. Most of us just won't notice the substitutions in our daily blends, but Wilke is recently ran out of Latakia and Perique.
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Post by urbino on Feb 11, 2021 20:45:06 GMT -5
I've been missing from the pipe community for a while and although I stashed a good amount of tobacco over the years, I've been reacquainting myself with what's available currently, both tins and bulk. What I find is a lot of my go-to blends are extinct. I've been trying to figure out if it's a change in tastes, the demise of blenders, or was I enjoying blends not popular enough to survive. Certainly McClelland closing is a surprise for me, and accounts for a good portion of my disappointment, but I see a big increase in aromatic offerings on the market. I wonder if it's the lack of quality tobaccos that can stand on their own that has influenced the blenders to sauce up their leaves ,,,,maybe I'm way off base and I freely admit I'm just getting back in the swing of things,,,, just thinking out loud I guess. I am very similarly situated. Coming back after 15 years away. And I'm noticing the same things, pretty much. A lot of the old favorites are gone (or as good as gone). OTOH, there are a lot of new blends to try, and lots of blends I didn't try the first time around. |
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Post by qmechanics on Feb 14, 2021 1:09:27 GMT -5
All I cansay is thank the heavens for Captian Black Grape!!!!
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Post by daveinlax on Feb 14, 2021 1:12:37 GMT -5
All I cansay is thank the heavens for Captian Black Grape!!!! I heard yesterday that’s been discontinued now too!  |
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Post by qmechanics on Feb 14, 2021 1:13:12 GMT -5
All I can say is thank the heavens for Captain Black Grape!!!! Still the most cellared tobacco in the world!!!  Oh my.... Say it isn't so Joe or should I say Dave ( daveinlax )!!! |
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Post by terrapinflyer on Feb 14, 2021 10:30:53 GMT -5
Synchronicity. I just thought of Captain Black Grape this morning. I shuddered a little at the thought, but still...
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Post by Cramptholomew on Feb 14, 2021 11:25:42 GMT -5
I think part of the problem is that manufacturers are blending and packaging young tobacco. Houses like McClelland would buy high sugar quality VAs, and age them before blending and packaging. Syrian Latakia is no more, and at some point Cyprian will go away. Quality orientals are hard to get. Honestly, most of my intake has become G&H, Sam Gawith, and other European blenders. Seems they're able to keep quality standards high, but they've become hard to get. Coming into the US in dribs and drabs. Sutliff has upped their game recently with several offerings. Most stuff, though, especially C&D, requires at least a couple years of aging by the customer to mellow out, and improve - IMO.
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Post by puffy on Feb 14, 2021 12:15:02 GMT -5
In the past here in Carolina tobacco was a main cash crop.Tobacco though is a hands on labor intensive crop..Most farmers these days grow things that can be done with machines..Very little tobacco is grown here any more..It's probably that way most other places as well.I'm guessing that quality tobacco is getting harder to come by..
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old
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Posts: 52
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Post by old on Feb 15, 2021 6:26:07 GMT -5
I went surfing around looking for some straight Virginias. Feel like I'm starting all over again,,,"out of stock" seems the norm. I wonder if this is backlash from the anti smoking campaigns affecting tobacco growers by reducing demand/profit.
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Post by terrapinflyer on Feb 15, 2021 11:40:57 GMT -5
I think  hit that nail on the head with his posts above, regarding premium American tobacco. There is some demand, as evidenced by the speed that a drop from either Gawith disappears. That is probably due to hoarders and possibly speculators in fear of anti-tobacco zealots and legislation. |
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