-
Kevin Godbee - Apr 13, 2012
- 3 min read
Kevin Godbee
Last month, Pipes Magazine broke the news of the change in distribution of the Peter Stokkebye Pipe Tobacco line. Now, we have breaking news on how Villiger-Stokkebye, (now Villiger Cigars North America) will fill the void in their pipe tobacco offerings. Villiger, today announced the introduction of the Newminster line of bulk pipe tobaccos. You often hear of new pipe tobacco blends as individual additions being added to existing product portfolios, but this is the first large-scale entire new range of boutique pipe tobaccos introduced in years.
In the works for 9-months, the Newminster blends were developed jointly between Villiger and The Mac Baren Tobacco Company. They will be produced at the Mac Baren factory, with U.S. retailers being serviced via Villiger’s North American operations in Charlotte, North Carolina. The current Villiger 1888 blends will remain available, and will continue to be produced at the STG (formerly Orlik) factory.
Newminster is shipping now, and should start arriving in stores next week. We will have reviews published on Pipes Magazine in the coming month.
There are several Cavendish, Aromatics, and English blends in the offering. A few of the new blends include;
No.1 All Natural
CAVENDISH
Tobacco selection
A Cavendish blend consisting of quality mild flue-cured Virginia tobaccos from South America.
Tobacco cut
Straight Cavendish cut.
Tobacco Flavor/Aroma
The natural mildness and a light, sweet aroma is what makes this blend exceptional.
Recommendations
Blends well with No.9R Rich Vanilla, or enjoyable on its own.
No.9R Rich Vanilla
CAVENDISH
Tobacco selection
High grade Brazilian flue-cured tobaccos are the base of this blend. Gently transformed into a loose and mild Cavendish.
Tobacco cut
Cavendish and loose cut.
Tobacco Flavor/Aroma
The sweetness of the Cavendish tobacco together with the vanilla flavour gives a delightful mild, sweet vanilla smoke.
Recommendations
Can be smoked on its own or blended with No.24.
No.24 Imperial Nougat
AROMATIC
Tobacco selection
Blended of high grade Virginia and Burley tobaccos from Africa. To assure extra mildness a light Cavendish has been added as well.
Tobacco cut
Cavendish and loose cut.
Tobacco Flavor/Aroma
Vanilla and chocolate flavours are in front in this unique blend. Both adding to the taste and the smoking characteristics.
Recommendations
Enjoy No.24 on its own. Truly a delightful smoking experience.
No.17 English Luxus
ENGLISH BLEND
Tobacco selection
A classic English mixture. A mixture developed from Flue-cured African Virginias, Black Cavendish, Mexican Burleys and Cyprus Latakia.
Tobacco cut
Medium Cavendish and loose cut.
Tobacco Flavor/Aroma
Non-aromatic, with a smoky taste that English smokers fancy.
No.52 Ultimate English
ENGLISH BLEND
Tobacco selection
The blend we make with the most Latakia gives smokiness to the taste and combined with some excellent Virginias from USA and the finest Oriental out of Turkey makes this a very satisfying smoke.
Tobacco cut
Loose cut.
Tobacco Flavor/Aroma
This true English/Balkan blend adds many natural flavours to the taste. Full-bodied.
Other blends include:
- No.3 Very Cherry
- No.6 Vanilla Delight
- No.23 Blackberry Brandy
- No.9 Creamy Vanilla
- No.31 Optimal Choice
- No.48 Danish Gold
- No.35 French Champagne
- No.47 Danish Black
- No.80 Norway Pipe Cut
- No.81 Denmark Pipe Cut
- No.84 Oriental Pipe Cut
- No.403 Superior Round Sliced
- No.201 Straight Black
- No.701 Straight Virginia
- No.303 Creamy Peaches
- No.306 English Orient
Download the PDF with all of the Newminster Descriptions
Newminster is shipping to retailers now, and Pipes Magazine will have reviews starting next month. Following is the letter sent to retailers today.
|
Kevin Godbee is the Publisher & Editor in Chief of Pipes Magazine. Kevin started smoking pipes and cigars in 1998 and started an online cigar magazine & community site in 2005. (The site was acquired in 2008 and no longer exists.) He launched PipesMagazine.com in 2009, and in less than three years the site has become the largest trafficked pipe smoking related site, and the #1 Source for Pipes and Pipe Tobacco Information. In the beginning of his career, Kevin worked in the hobby and specialty toy business for 16 years in sales, marketing, advertising and product development for three different manufacturers, and with his own company. Over the last 10 years working in the online business, he has become an expert in Internet Marketing and SEO. Kevin is a Certified Master Tobacconist (CMT) through Tobacconist University, a member of Cigar Rights of America and is a "Media Member" of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association. In his spare time he sings, plays guitar, cooks, and enjoys all the wonderful places to go and things to do in beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, Florida where he lives in his penthouse |
Written by Kevin Godbee
12 Responses
Recent Posts
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 640. Our featured interview on tonight’s show is with Ben Rapaport. Ben has been known internationally as an avid pipe smoker, antique pipe collector, and book author. His first book on pipes was published in 1972, and his latest book – his 10th – is out now in very limited quantities. The distribution has already sold out, but you can still get a copy of “The Wide World of Wood Tobacco Pipes. Two Centuries of Craftsmanship and Creativity” by contacting him directly at ben70gray@gmail.com. At the top of the show we’ll be turning the tables on our recurring Ask the Pipemaker segment. This time, Jeff Gracik will ask the questions, which Brian will answer as a pipe collector, and you can give your answers too.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 639. Our featured interview on tonight’s show is with Per Billhäll. Per is the owner of Scandinavian Pipes, which is an online retailer of high grade pipes. He started smoking pipes in the 1960s. His first high grade pipe was made by Hans “Former” Nielsen, who is one of the living legends from Denmark. That led to Per becoming a huge pipe and tobacco collector, and show attendee where he became well known. Along with pipe book author Jan Andersson, they started The Pipe Club of Sweden in 1991. Then in 1999, Per started “Scan Pipes”. He is now one of the pipe retailing legends from Sweden. At the top of the show Brian will talk about holiday blends, and other special pipe tobacco blends.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 638. Our featured interview on tonight’s show is with Fae “The Sassy Pipe Lady” Simmons. Fae is the owner of Tobacco Treasures, which sells new, vintage, & estate pipes, and smoking accessories on Etsy. She has been in business since 2017, and has been surrounded by pipes and tobacco most of her life. Her father and his brother smoked pipes, and so does Fae. Her husband is also a retired tobacconist that worked all over the industry from coast to coast for several different companies in the industry. She has a great story of how her business got started with a great inventory of unsmoked vintage pipes. At the top of the show we will have an Ask the Tobacco Blender segment with Jeremy Reeves. Jeremy is the Head Blender at Cornell & Diehl, which is one of the most popular boutique pipe tobacco companies in the USA.
Ok, so it’s that time of year, as we all know. Family feasts, houses, yards, and big trees festooned with lights and dangling ornaments, just high enough to keep the cats from reaching a paw into the greenery. It’s also the time of year when your pipe-smoking-significant other makes vast hints about a new pipe. That’s to be expected since he or she was a good boy or girl during the year. Yes, ladies smoke pipes, too. Oh, you want an example? Okay, try Actress Greta Garbo, Millicent Fenwick, Mary Frith, and my late grandmother (who died when she was 93) dipped snuff and smoked a cob occasionally. So now that we have settled that the gentler side of life will puff a pipe too, let’s move on to the upcoming biggest holiday of all. Of course, that huge event is brought to us by the hefty fellow in a red suit, puffing his pipe all the way in a sled filled with presents, being led by a reindeer with a red nose. Or some such. That’s Santa Claus, of course. Becoming a bit more serious, Christmas is such a wonderful time for families and friends. It’s also quite special for pipe puffers. For many of us, this brings up a nostalgic look back to our pipe-smoking or cigar-smoking friends who have died during the current year. A great journalist pal whom I often joined in a local brick-and-mortar pipe and cigar shop. I puffed my pipe, and occasional cigar, as he enjoyed a cigar. He died in October and will be missed. On the happier side of things, Christmas is also a time when mind workers of the world renew their collections with fresh additions. Pundit included. A French passion has overtaken Pundit, from reading more Albert Camus, a heavy cigarette smoker, as were many French intellectuals of a certain time. Instead of cigarettes many of us prefer the more relaxed enjoyment of pipes for that “calm and objective judgment” in the comings and goings of the world. This brings me to French pipes. While visiting France once in the long ago, I happened by a “Tabac” shop in Paris, Tabac Des Vosges. I purchased a beauty of a Chacom bent. I also later bought a Ropp made from ancient briar. To learn more about the dawn of briar pipes and beginnings, take a peek at a well-done piece by Davin Hylton in Pipe Line on April 12, 2023, on Saint-Claude, France, the birthplace of briar. Also in the long back when, on a cold Christmas afternoon, Pundit wandered into an Atlanta bricks and mortar pipe shop to look around. There, resting in an enclosed glass counter was an exquisite Comoy. An older gent, smoking a beautiful bent, asked me if I wanted to look at that pipe. It had a $100 price tag. A college student working for a grocery store chain to help with college tuition at the time, Pundit didn’t have one hundred cents, let alone a C note! I declined and found a $5 basket pipe. A Christmas tradition had just begun. Since that early time, Pundit has made it a holiday ritual to either reward himself, or a special friend, with pipe or tobacco. A Claudio Cavicchi would be nice. Just sayin.’ And now for a couple of December-born Pipe Smokers of the Past: Joseph Rudyard Kipling was born on Dec. 30, 1865, and died on Jan. 18, 1936. I always prefer to believe the best of everybody; it saves so much trouble—Rudyard Kipling. Martin Van Buren, born Dec. 5, 1782, and died July 24, 1862, U.S. President, 1837-1841 As to the presidency, the two happiest days of my life were those of my entrance upon the office and my surrender of it—Martin Van Buren. And one more note to recall a deceased World War II veteran who loved William Somerset Maugham, the author. Maugham, a pipe smoker, was born in Paris, France, on Jan. 25, 1874, and died on Dec. 16, 1965. One cool afternoon as the veteran and I talked while sitting in his backyard patio, he looked off into the distance as if studying something. Nothing in particular. Just looking. He turned to me and said if I wanted to learn about life, “read Somerset Maugham.” I did. It wasn’t until late in life that I discovered how easy it is to say, ‘I don’t know’ –W. Somerset Maugham And now a Parting Shot: Any day with an old friend with pipes and tobacco is a good day.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 637. Our featured interview on tonight’s show is with Nate King. Most people know of Nate as an excellent pipe artisan. He also has an honorary Master of Pipes degree from the Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club, and is a member of the prestigious Confrérie des Maitres Pipiers de Saint-Claude. To be inducted into the Confrérie, this past May Nate travelled to Saint-Claude, France with master tobacco blender G.L. Pease, who was also inducted. It was quite a time in France, and at the ceremony. We’ll hear all about those adventures on the show. At the top of the show we’ll continue the virtual tour of Brian’s pipe collection with six of his Satou Dublin-shape pipes.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 636. Our featured interview on tonight’s show is with Barry Kane. Barry started smoking a pipe in 1961 when he was 14-years old. Back then it seemed like everybody smoked, and you could buy pipes and tobacco just about anywhere. Barry is a true old-school pipe smoker, sticking to just one blend. See if you can guess which one before listening. At the top of the show Brian will give his take on Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s purchase of Mac Baren and Sutliff Tobacco and their announcement that they will be shut down.
Thanks for the informative information. As you stated, It is refreshing to see a company introduce a new line of tobacco aimed at the pipe smoker. It’s about time.
Interesting. It seems the numbering and naming system is similar to the old Stokkebye Signature line. What concerns me is the absence of #2 Whiskey and #38 Highland Whiskey. I really hope they don’t discontinue the whiskey flavored blends. Stokkebye makes, IMHO, the absolute best whiskey flavor out there. Wonderful aroma and great flavor. Really excellent when blended with BCA.
I’m stocking up, just in case.
CACooper
Thanks for nailing this story; and especially for providing the back-link to an earlier article:
.
https://pipesmagazine.com/blog/pipe-manufacturer-retailer-spotlight/stokkebye-lane-stg-shake-up/
.
Which contains the reassuring news: “Starting April 1, 2012, Lane Limited of Tucker, GA will be the new U.S. distributor for Stokkebye tobaccos, as well as most of the other brands formerly distributed by Villiger-Stokkebye. These include: Orlik, W.Ø. Larsen, Stanwell, Erinmore, Escudo, Balkan Sasieni, Skandinavik, Sail Tobaccos, and Troost Tobaccos.”
Suh-weet! Looking forward to this new line! As yohanan said, it’s nice for a manufacturer introduce a new line with us pipe smokers in mind. Thanks Villger for making my PAD even worse!
-J
great to see a new line coming out, thanks for the heads up Kevin
I had the pleasure of sitting next to the Westminster rep at the Chicago Pipe Show this past weekend. I wanted to note that the most popular tobacco on his table was Superior Flake. It’s a VaPer. I got the chance to smoke it today and wow! I haven’t been this excited about a new tobacco in quite some time. I’m eagerly awaiting it’s availability. Just make sure to save me some when it hits to stores.
I accidentally typed Westminster when I meant Newminster above.
My take is identical to Wayne Teipen’s (above). Superior Navy Flake is really incredible. Reminds me just a bit of Bjarne’s Flake deLuxe. if the next few bowls hold up as well, I’m gonna say it’s better!
Smoking some Superior Navy Flake right now. I highly recommend it!
Nice website. Got a sample of #403 Sup. Round Slice. Can I buy this on line?
I have ordered The Newminster English Luxus has any one tried it yet?
I highly recommend all the English blends. I’m a newbie, but know what i like and have tried 30sum flavors of tobacco. Newminster English Oriental takes the blue ribbon in my opinion. It’s my favorite. Nicotine count is huge though so watch out:) Love this stuff. I see a pound at my doorstep in the very near future!!! I have 5 Newminster blends in my stash and all are Great smoke!!!