I knew Craig Tarler from way back when he and Patty first moved to North Carolina. I knew of his respect for Sykes Wilford, the majordomo at SMC.
I believe this will be a great merger for Chris, Patty and all the C&D folks. It has the potential to pump up tobacco sales, since the C&D website left a lot to be desired and has not been really changed in years.
The tin art for C&D blends has always been special, something Craig insisted on and had a steady hand in developing.
But it is to the blends that I want to speak. C&D as most of us know has some of the most outstanding day-to-day pipe blends on the planet. SMC has probably the premier pipes and tobacco website on the planet. You marry those two bodies, and I can't see anything but just an outstanding future for both companies and pipe smokers in general.
It could even open up to more Low Country tobacco, which already is very, very respectable pipe tobacco. C&D has long been known for its burley based blends.
I am very excited about this turn of events. I have several friends at C&D, including Chris and his mom, and my old buddy, Keith Toney, the Civil War historian.
All-in-all, I am like Kashmir: this is a wall-to-wall win-win all around.
A tip of the hat to Sykes and to Chris.
