Shag Tobacco

[Briarcutter]

And there’s a restored version coming back to market, *with* actual birdseye, just announced by GH at a show in England last month. Rachel Gawith said on PSD that it would take a while to get to this side of the pond, but at least it will be the real thing (for those who’ve noticed that the product currently sold as “Dark Birds Eye” by SP has no actual birdseye leaf ribs in it).

Do you know if it will be under a different name?

 

[Peter Turbo]

+1 for Dark Birdseye. That’s an underrated blend.

Is the current Dark Birds Eye even a real shag cut though? The stuff I bought in 21 certainly is but pics of the new stuff look like just a thin ribbon, thats not shag.

 

[ThermionicScott]

Do you know if it will be under a different name?

Picture shamelessly stolen from the other forum. Perhaps calling it "Mixture" is a tacit acknowledgement that it's no longer a shag.

 

[Bitterroot Piper]

I've smoked Dark BIrds Eye bulk before and have recently been smoking Five Brothers in my rotation. At first I wasn't too big a fan of the shag cut, but after smoking it a bit more and learning to pack it much tighter, it's really grown on me. I find it very easy to pack and go, smokes well and pretty straight forward. Although I do find it does tend to burn a little fast, at least Five Brothers does.

 

[Briarcutter]

I've found the strong shags work well for me for added zing, shag the bottom 1/4 and fill it the rest of the way with a straight lighter blend. Of course straight shag is good too!

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

I've found the strong shags work well for me for added zing, shag the bottom 1/4 and fill it the rest of the way with a straight lighter blend. Of course straight shag is good too!

I do it the opposite way. I put Five Brothers on the top of a lighter blend to act as kindling, and to get the nic up front. Not judging, just saying.

 

[gawithhoggarth]

Is the current Dark Birds Eye even a real shag cut though? The stuff I bought in 21 certainly is but pics of the new stuff look like just a thin ribbon, thats not shag.

Kind of depends what your definition of a shag cut is. We have the Kendal range of shag tobacco - Kendal Gold, Kendal Mixed and Dark and various variations and flavours of these. But for the USA we do a finer cut termed Classic cut over in the States but is more akin to our UK RYO cut. It would be illegal in the UK as a pipe tobacco. Versus the Vintage cut which is proper shag tobacco.

The 'new' Dark Birds Eye or rather the original proper DBE is a ribbon cut.

The stuff purchased in 21 was akin to Kendal Dark and depends on whether you bought it as Vintage cut (proper shag tobacco) or Classic cut (only for America and more like RYO).

 

[Peter Turbo]

Kind of depends what your definition of a shag cut is. We have the Kendal range of shag tobacco - Kendal Gold, Kendal Mixed and Dark and various variations and flavours of these. But for the USA we do a finer cut termed Classic cut over in the States but is more akin to our UK RYO cut. It would be illegal in the UK as a pipe tobacco. Versus the Vintage cut which is proper shag tobacco.

The 'new' Dark Birds Eye or rather the original proper DBE is a ribbon cut.

The stuff purchased in 21 was akin to Kendal Dark and depends on whether you bought it as Vintage cut (proper shag tobacco) or Classic cut (only for America and more like RYO).

I appreciate you taking the time to clear that up. Love your tobacco.

 

[WVOldFart]

My all-time favorite shag was Royal Theodorus Niemeyer's Flying Dutchman. Tobaccoreviews.com lists its cut as "Ribbon" but I found it to be more of a shag. It is easy to light and does burn quickly, biting like a cornered wolverine if puffed; however, if sipped ever so gently, it is a thoroughly delightful experience! Thankfully, I still have a bit in my cellar and enjoy it from time-to-time.

The Sutliff Flying Dutchman Match was excellent too. I still have about 8oz. left in the cellar. I wish I had gotten a pound before it was gone. I did get several pounds of Field and Stream so that should keep me satisfied for a while.