1980's Mac Baren Mixture - A Quandary

[pipesmokingtom]

So I have about 6oz of early 1980's production Mac Baren's Mixture in a big Ball Jar. I am understanding that once opened, older tobaccos like this deteriorate quickly, so smoking quickly is advised.
Problem is - it will take me a long time to smoke 6oz of a single mixture.
Would I have any luck opening and splitting it up in to smaller portions, or once opened is the clock ticking even if it gets sealed back up?

 

[prairiedruid]

Air is the enemy so packing what you won't smoke in a week tightly in the smallest jar possible might be the way to go.

 

[cynicismandsugar]

+1 Prairiedruid

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yep, trying keeping the lid on as much as possible, but in my experience... the clock is always ticking once you open such a large container. I will usually just smoke as much as I can for a week or so, and then take the rest to my pipe club meeting and demand that they all smoke as much as possible.
This is why I just don't understand folks who keep their Esotericas in the bags. It just takes the pleasure out of popping an old blend if you feel like you have to hurry. Besides, why be so damned cheap on buying small jars for a tobacco that you probably paid way too much for to begin with, ha ha. It's like buying a Porsche and putting retreads on it.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

I got this as part of a trade and am very excited to smoke it - but yeah... 6oz with a clock ticking on it is daunting.
I have some other blends of similar vintages as well that will present me with the same problem down the road.

 

[pitchfork]

FWIW, I have a tin of Macbaren's Symphony that is at least 30 years old and I've had it opened for over a year -- it still tastes the same as when I first opened it. It's rich and sweet and deeply fermented. Ideally, I should have jarred it by now, but jarring portions of your Mixture should keep the rest of it fresh. And it's really not going to age much more than it has already. (I mean, it will get older, but it won't change that much in a year or two, or even five.)

 

[pipesmokingtom]

Not concerned about it aging much more - the 30+ on it should be fine.
I just don't want 5oz of the 6oz to turn to dust if I don't get to it right away.
It's encouraging that you've had a positive experience with an opened aged blend.

 

[mikestanley]

I don't believe flattening if the flavor applies nearly as much to burley as it does to Latakia. I've had a few tins of older Mac Baren blends that smoked great from beginning to end. Open and enjoy is my advice.

Mike S

 

[pipesmokingtom]

Indeed. I'll probably be "spreading the wealth," as it were, once the jars start popping. I have that Mixture, some of their Virginia 1, McClelland Red Cake.. I like sharing, so it'll probably get mailed out once I start getting froggy.
I lost a tin of 1992 Mac Baren Navy Flake at the pub in Vegas. I blame Brian Levine for that one. Not sure how or why, but he was there, we all know who he works for, and it disappeared while he was there. It was either him or the 13 Jamesons I was compelled to order throughout the evening. Probably Brian, though.

 

[papipeguy]

FWIW, I found a tin of this blend in my parent's basement in 2012 that I left there when I ,oved out in 1977. It took me an hour to get the tin open but the results were fantastic. The years melded the tobaccos and the smoke was nothing short of amazing. I did jar it after opening and it did just fine. It had an acceptable moisture level and smoked great. It was only one tin but I was happily ecstatic with the result.

Note the price on the tin.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

That makes me excited. Mine looks a treat thru the jar.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

When I open it, papipeguy, I'll send you a few bowls-worth and you can tell me how it stacks up.

 

[beefeater33]

I just don't want 5oz of the 6oz to turn to dust if I don't get to it right away.

Tom- I don't think it will turn to dust. In my experience the old stuff will fade rather quickly after opening, but physically it stays in good condition, provided you jar it. Don't think that you have to race the clock and smoke it all up fast, it really doesn't fade that fast......

I think Jesse was speaking of some REALLY old blends (1950'2-60's?) that faded really fast..... Good luck!!... ::
EDIT: ^^ Those both look like some great smokes!!

 

[mso489]

'tom, any idea what leaf is in Mixture? If it's Virginias and/or burley, mostly, these should keep and age well. Latakia and any flavorings don't. I concur, transfer to small jar or jars, so you don't have to expose the whole tin to air every time you smoke. But smoke it up; otherwise, what good is it?

 

[disinformatique]

6 oz would take around 6 months if you smoke it on a pretty regular basis. Not that long of a time for the tobacco to deteriorate.
Chris