Thank you to Sutliff

[WVOldFart]

The main topic of conversation in the pipe community is the closing of the Sutliff factory. We have moaned and groaned, but now it is time to pull up our big boy pants and realize that all the bitching in the world will not cure the situation. There are those who complained about the "goopy" aromatics that Sutliff made. Well, there was a remedy for that-don't buy the goopy aromatics and enjoy the other quality blends they made. Since 1849 Sutliff has been a part of the pipe smoking community. Thanks to them many of the older blends were continued in their Match blends. Many of the Match blends were even better than the originals. Some of the originals, such as Flying Dutchman could set your mouth on fire if not smoked very slowly, but the Sutliff blend is smoother and doesn't bite. Sutliff has made blends that many did not realize that they had anything to do with, such as Super Value and many, many more. Will these be continued or pass away like so many blends have done in the past? So the deal is done and only time will tell how this will effect us. We can continue moaning or we can set back and say THANK YOU!! for 175 years of quality workmanship and the desire to continue a fine heritage. I,for one, will miss them if for no other reason being the loss of the Match blends, because a part of history is going with their demise. The one thing about life is that it is constantly changing, and perhaps it may even be better. Time will answer all questions.

 

[pantsBoots]

Their Match blends were genius, even though I only really cared for 3 or 4 of them. I hope someone takes the reins on those. I never put back enough Match Walnut/H&H Chestnut and I'm not giving Pipes & Cigars a dime.

 

[Hutch Piper]

Amen. Thank you Sutliff.

 

[jpberg]

The main topic of conversation in the pipe community is the closing of the Sutliff factory. We have moaned and groaned, but now it is time to pull up our big boy pants and realize that all the bitching in the world will not cure the situation. There are those who complained about the "goopy" aromatics that Sutliff made. Well, there was a remedy for that-don't buy the goopy aromatics and enjoy the other quality blends they made. Since 1849 Sutliff has been a part of the pipe smoking community. Thanks to them many of the older blends were continued in their Match blends. Many of the Match blends were even better than the originals. Some of the originals, such as Flying Dutchman could set your mouth on fire if not smoked very slowly, but the Sutliff blend is smoother and doesn't bite. Sutliff has made blends that many did not realize that they had anything to do with, such as Super Value and many, many more. Will these be continued or pass away like so many blends have done in the past? So the deal is done and only time will tell how this will effect us. We can continue moaning or we can set back and say THANK YOU!! for 175 years of quality workmanship and the desire to continue a fine heritage. I,for one, will miss them if for no other reason being the loss of the Match blends, because a part of history is going with their demise. The one thing about life is that it is constantly changing, and perhaps it may even be better. Time will answer all questions.

That’s a good post. Regardless of the last week, there’s a lot of history there.
I think it’s the last of the Richmond factories, so yeah, let’s look at the bigger picture and thank them for what they’ve been.

 

[anotherbob]

I enjoyed everything of theirs I bought. And it typically was specifically what they said it was.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

Their Match blends were genius, even though I only really cared for 3 or 4 of them. I hope someone takes the reins on those. I never put back enough Match Walnut/H&H Chestnut and I'm not giving Pipes & Cigars a dime.

Agreed. My favorite was Match Victorian. I put away several pounds of it a couple years ago. I will be sad to see it go.

 

[hoipolloiglasgow]

Yes, I agree. I’m mainly upset about the Match blends myself as well as the HH Mac Baren loses. It’s history really. I feel sorry for other folks though because many people are losing favorite Sutliff blends and the blending components are a big deal as well for small blenders. It sucks, but oh well. This time next year, the choices will greatly be diminished.

 

[Zamora]

The main topic of conversation in the pipe community is the closing of the Sutliff factory. We have moaned and groaned, but now it is time to pull up our big boy pants and realize that all the bitching in the world will not cure the situation. There are those who complained about the "goopy" aromatics that Sutliff made. Well, there was a remedy for that-don't buy the goopy aromatics and enjoy the other quality blends they made. Since 1849 Sutliff has been a part of the pipe smoking community. Thanks to them many of the older blends were continued in their Match blends. Many of the Match blends were even better than the originals. Some of the originals, such as Flying Dutchman could set your mouth on fire if not smoked very slowly, but the Sutliff blend is smoother and doesn't bite. Sutliff has made blends that many did not realize that they had anything to do with, such as Super Value and many, many more. Will these be continued or pass away like so many blends have done in the past? So the deal is done and only time will tell how this will effect us. We can continue moaning or we can set back and say THANK YOU!! for 175 years of quality workmanship and the desire to continue a fine heritage. I,for one, will miss them if for no other reason being the loss of the Match blends, because a part of history is going with their demise. The one thing about life is that it is constantly changing, and perhaps it may even be better. Time will answer all questions.

Very well said. Every brand has detractors, and for Sutliff most of it was because of ignorance. Mac Baren being prone to biting your tongue is a valid reason to not like them, as was not liking McClelland because you didn't care for their vinegar profile. But Sutliff did so much more than make crappy aromatics, you don't have to like those (I certainly don't) but to bash Sutliff under the impression that's all they made is just plain wrong. It's wild some people would do that but also praise stuff like SPC or any of the beloved B&Ms, completely clueless Sutliff either made it for them or gave them the components.

 

[craiginthecorn]

I'll add that Sutliff has been a great supporter of both the pipe community and our active duty military. They have been generous supporters of various pipe shows. For example, Sutliff's donation covered almost 10% of the expenses of the 2024 Chicago Pipe Show. We are a non-profit, volunteer run show. Without their support last year, we would have lost money. They've also supported the Adam Floyd's Get Piped podcast and Nathan "Greywoodie" Davis with tobacco blends. Jeremy McKenna is the best!

 

[Mike N]

I’ve posted this link before, but here are some photos from my visit this past May at Sutliff in Richmond, where Jake McKenna put me through their concierge service. It was a great afternoon with great people. None of us had any idea that a Danish company would soon be shutting down this AmerIcan icon, so I feel lucky for the opportunity.

A Visit To America’s Oldest Pipe Tobacco Company :: General Pipe Smoking Discussion

I was in Richmond VA today, and got a chance to visit Sutliff and get a tour of their tremendous facility. Jake McKenna runs the concierge service for Tobaccopipes.com, and I got to pick up several pipes and a load of tobacco. I highly recommend this service. Jake was great.

pipesmagazine.com

 

[Waning Embers]

crappy aromatics,

This is always sad to hear. Those are the blends that keep a company's lights on and how they afford to make non aromatic blends.

 

[Zamora]

This is always sad to hear. Those are the blends that keep a company's lights on and how they afford to make non aromatic blends.

Yes and Sutliff used the revenue from them to great effect, my point is the notion that is all they made is false so not liking them for that is asinine.

 

[yardjocky]

I guess now the last remnants for the gold rush are truly gone.

 

[Zamora]

I guess now the last remnants for the gold rush are truly gone.

Many are saying the buyout officially ends the of the Golden Age of Pipe Tobacco

 

[sablebrush52]

The match blends and many of the Aros were the work of Carl McAllister, Sutliff’s master blender, who retired in 2015 after a long career. His matches were painstakingly achieved by dissecting classic blends into their constituent components, followed by reconstructing them with the tobacco’s available, attempting to get as close to the original as possible.
The matches were a great value for the buck, and a distinctive feature of Sutliff’s portfolio.
I have a bit squirreled away.
It’s a shame that they are going extinct, but it’s a product of a diminishing market and a focus of streamlining and simplifying for mass market objectives.
STG remains the McDonald’s of the pipe tobacco industry, huge, reliable, efficient, and unimaginative.
Hasta la vista, baby.

 

[Zamora]

The match blends and many of the Aros were the work of Carl McAllister, Sutliff’s master blender, who retired in 2015 after a long career. His matches were painstakingly achieved by dissecting classic blends into their constituent components, followed by reconstructing them with the tobacco’s available, attempting to get as close to the original as possible.
The matches were a great value for the buck, and a distinctive feature of Sutliff’s portfolio.
I have a bit squirreled away.
It’s a shame that they are going extinct, but it’s a product of a diminishing market and a focus of streamlining and simplifying for mass market objectives.
STG remains the McDonald’s of the pipe tobacco industry, huge, reliable, efficient, and unimaginative.
Hasta la vista, baby.

Ironically we might get a few more match blends from the mass culling, and maybe stuff that started off as an attempt at a match but becomes something new.

 

[Speak Easy]

The match blends and many of the Aros were the work of Carl McAllister, Sutliff’s master blender, who retired in 2015 after a long career. His matches were painstakingly achieved by dissecting classic blends into their constituent components, followed by reconstructing them with the tobacco’s available, attempting to get as close to the original as possible.
The matches were a great value for the buck, and a distinctive feature of Sutliff’s portfolio.
I have a bit squirreled away.
It’s a shame that they are going extinct, but it’s a product of a diminishing market and a focus of streamlining and simplifying for mass market objectives.
STG remains the McDonald’s of the pipe tobacco industry, huge, reliable, efficient, and unimaginative.
Hasta la vista, baby.

I appreciate your knowledge on all things pipe related. Thank you for always injecting a little into the conversations on this forum.

 

[AroEnglish]

The match blends and many of the Aros were the work of Carl McAllister, Sutliff’s master blender, who retired in 2015 after a long career. His matches were painstakingly achieved by dissecting classic blends into their constituent components, followed by reconstructing them with the tobacco’s available, attempting to get as close to the original as possible.
The matches were a great value for the buck, and a distinctive feature of Sutliff’s portfolio.
I have a bit squirreled away.
It’s a shame that they are going extinct, but it’s a product of a diminishing market and a focus of streamlining and simplifying for mass market objectives.
STG remains the McDonald’s of the pipe tobacco industry, huge, reliable, efficient, and unimaginative.
Hasta la vista, baby.

Match 759

 

[Snook]

Well said and I agree. I think we're all a little blue in the face from talking about this. All we can do now is wait to see how the landscape changes and focus on those blenders and blends that remain.

Thank you to Sutliff for many great smokes. You won't be forgotten!

 

[Waning Embers]

Many are saying the buyout officially ends the of the Golden Age of Pipe Tobacco

The golden age was years ago. It's been on life support and resuscitated many times over the past few decades.