2015 SG SJ Plug

[k9shag]

Received a box yesterday the box was sealed in cellophane and the plugs was in a zip lock from the factory. Is this what it should look like and should it be very dry. I sliced a flake off and rubbed it out and it looks like paper mâché. Very difficult to light and no flavor at all. I have smoke plugs before but my first time for SG, and it was not a good experience. I even tried different sized bowls and fought it .

 

[3rdguy]

Sounds like a 5 year old box left in the original wrappings. Sounds like it dried out. I have several boxes of this but I vacuum seal them and have never had an issue like you describe.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Looks fairly normal? Was it quite dry? When fresh the SG plugs take quite a bit of drying time after being rubbed out to smoke well.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Received a box yesterday the box was sealed in cellophane and the plugs was in a zip lock from the factory. Is this what it should look like and should it be very dry. I sliced a flake off and rubbed it out and it looks like paper mâché. Very difficult to light and no flavor at all. I have smoke plugs before but my first time for SG, and it was not a good experience. I even tried different sized bowls and fought it . View attachment 20202
View attachment 20203

I normally buy Gawith plugs in 50 - 100g amounts so they are cut from the block and put in a little baggie. I did purchase a 250g block though a couple of years back and iirc that's how it came ie in a clear sealed plastic bag which was inside a box that had cellophane round it.
As for wetness level I've always found the plugs a bit drier than the flakes but definitely not bone dry, there's always a good bit of moisture in them. Just my experience.

 

[mingc]

Plugs can be a challenge. Especially if you're used to modern day plugs from C&D, which aren't very dense at all. Dark Star used to be famous for being flame proof. As for SG, they have the added Kendal "charm" of inconsistency.

To my eyes, your SJP doesn't look particularly dry to me. Try drying it more after you've rubbed it out. Conversely, try hydrating it with a spritzer or wet napkin draped over a bowl.

 

[k9shag]

its dry enough that I do not enjoy it

 

[alaskanpiper]

You may need to rub it all out and rehydrate it.

 

[canucklehead]

If you could rub it out without it turning to dust, it's not too dry.

 

[mingc]

If you could rub it out without it turning to dust, it's not too dry.

This.

its dry enough that I do not enjoy it
View attachment 20204

I think it needs to be chopped finer. I've seen suggestions to put slices in a spice/coffee grinder and give it few spins. I would also slice them thinner.

 

[SpookedPiper]

Looks mighty fine from here. I have some on the way and they will be sealed upon arrival (SUA)!

 

[Sonorisis]

You didn't just rip a leaf off the top of the plug, did you? It kinda looks like that. In order to get the full blend, you'll have to cut across the plug and then rub out the slice you've made. Kinda sounds like you just happened to get one of the cavendish leafs and those don't have much flavor.

Forgive me if I've made a wrong assumption.

 

[k9shag]

No I sliced a slice off of the end about 1/8" thick and rubbed it out.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

You can rehydrate the Gawith plugs whole. I had a 25g chunk of RB Plug that I left in a tin and forgot about, it was so dry it was like a lump of bloody concrete.
I brought it back to life using one of those terracotta stones and some distilled water. I soaked the stone overnight then placed it in a mason jar with the RB for a week and it was more or less back to normal with plenty of flavor.
RB Plug has a gingerbread topping though and I don't know how well it'd work with a straight vaper. My guess is you'd get a similar result but who knows?
Here's the rehydration stone I used:

 

[condorlover1]

SG Plugs. It's an occupation hazard with those damned plugs. I like mine moist so I wrap them in a damp paper towel or toilet paper. When the plug weeps slightly when squeezed then it is in perfect condition and ready to be slung into your tobacco pouch over night. This approach makes cutting thinner slices easier and affords you the luxury of allowing the resulting slices/flakes your preferred drying time. As someone remarked here some plugs are either (a) fire proof (b) require the services of a C&C Machine to cut them up - example being Yachtsman Plug (c) taste like otter turds with a similar room note. If you are buying those huge slabs of plug from SG its probably a good idea to invest in a tobacco guillotine so you can produce 25 or 50g plugs without the use of a modeling hack saw.

 

[k9shag]

SG Plugs. It's an occupation hazard with those damned plugs. I like mine moist so I wrap them in a damp paper towel or toilet paper. When the plug weeps slightly when squeezed then it is in perfect condition and ready to be slung into your tobacco pouch over night. This approach makes cutting thinner slices easier and affords you the luxury of allowing the resulting slices/flakes your preferred drying time. As someone remarked here some plugs are either (a) fire proof (b) require the services of a C&C Machine to cut them up - example being Yachtsman Plug (c) taste like otter turds with a similar room note. If you are buying those huge slabs of plug from SG its probably a good idea to invest in a tobacco guillotine so you can produce 25 or 50g plugs without the use of a modeling hack saw.

Got one

 

[condorlover1]

The good old plug circumcision device for tobacco Mohel's

 

[verporchting]

“Otter turds”

?????????

 

[BROBS]

I’m salivating already.

 

[artvandelay007]

Got one

View attachment 20234

You try it yet? What do you think?

 

[k9shag]

Cut the plug in the top pic with ease.