A Look at STG Internal Documents Regarding the Mac Baren / Sutliff Buyout

[Skippy B. Coyote]

In short, the tobaccopocalypse cometh. I have no affiliation with this YouTuber whatsoever, but I do trust his information to be accurate and thought you all might like to get some concrete information on what's going on. Unfortunately it's not good news.

The very quick synopsis is that we can expect Sutliff to be shut down entirely in the first quarter of 2025 with almost none (if any) of their blends surviving the acquisition, and Mac Baren's catalog of blends will be reduced by about 50%. STG also plans to eliminate half their entire pipe tobacco blend portfolio by 2028, including potentially the ex-Dunhill blends now produced under the Peterson label. I'd rather not believe it myself, but at this point I see no reason to doubt it. Sad stuff.

 

[Snook]

Man, I'm glad that STG has my best interests in mind by simplifying offerings to the customer! It sure gave me a big headache deciding what blends I wanted to purchase... now I won't have to worry about that anymore! No more analysis paralysis for this guy.

I'm especially excited for Project 2028, when I'll only have to make when choice when ordering: Tobacco! It's just tobacco! No frills, no fluff!

 

[hoipolloiglasgow]

I, as many others, felt it was really bad news from the start. I feel very confident in my TAD spending over the past few months.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The whole FDA thing didn't worry me one bit, and apparently all of our assumptions about what the FDA meant fell to the wayside and new blends have continuously been released. But this, and from the STG bastards... I knew right away they were up to some evil fuckery. This is what kills the hobby off. Or, at least it will put an end to the Renaissance.

And, can we rely on GH to give us an expanded selection, when they themselves are cutting back, tucking in, and pinching pennies? They are chopping our selections as well.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

First thing to happen when you eliminate your competition... raise prices.

 

[jguss]

Speaking for myself I find this video and the information it offers entirely credible; based on my experience in similar situations the language of the documents reads as authentic. The STUFFandTHINGS host's interpretation seems to me largely correct, barring a few assumptions and a few small quibbles (e.g. a confusion between blends and skus). I guess I feel disappointment but not outrage or surprise. Product proliferation. which despite regulatory threats has only grown over the last ten years, tends to yield increasingly marginal returns and it's to be expected that a new owner would look to rationalize the portfolio. As an enthusiast I lament it; as a businessman I understand it. As so many have so often said on this forum the time to stock up on what you like is now.

 

[Snook]

Hmm... a typo in my comment and now it's too late to edit. That'll keep me up all night...

 

[Peterson314]

I have a lot of respect for STUFFandTHINGS.

I understand it. I don't like it.

My read is this--one of these things is true:
1) STG bought Mac Baren and Sutliff for a song.
2) After adjusting for inflation, the pipe tobacco market has cratered so hard since 2011 that Mac Baren and Sutliff's entire portfolio was worth about 1/4 of STG's Lane purchase.

I think it's Option 1. And I believe STG has no pipe aficionados in its upper ranks. It sounds like the Peterson née Dunhill line, and all US-based production might be for sale. Looks like Jeremy McKenna is going to have some time on his hands, too. Otherwise, it looks like the chopping block for 60% of their blends and brands. Oof!

You know... If STG is going to treat me like this, I think I've bought what I need from them. Hear! Hear! about revisiting blenders who care. I mean, I've seen Jeremy Reeves here, and I read Greg's letters all the time. They already make up a sizable portion of my cellar. Maybe that grows.

 

[Peter Turbo]

lol bradly.

 

[elvishrunes]

lol bradly.

Are you saying the OP here is Bradley in disguise plugging his own channel? I take it. He’s a likeable enough guy, I’d forgive him…

 

[Skippy B. Coyote]

Are you saying the OP here is Bradley in disguise plugging his own channel? I take it. He’s a likeable enough guy, I’d forgive him…

While I do appreciate the compliment, I'm pretty sure our good friend Bradley would be horrified by all the heavily topped Lakelands I smoke.

 

[sablebrush52]

Yep, sounds about right.

You will still have K, and a few others, so it's not STG or nothing, yet.

I think I'm going to treasure my little holdings all the more in light of the STG massacre.

 

[Snook]

While I do appreciate the compliment, I'm pretty sure our good friend Bradley would be horrified by all the heavily topped Lakelands I smoke.

I have yet to try any Lakelands. What are some of your favorites that you'd recommend?

 

[Hutch Piper]

This really stinks. So sad.

 

[Peter Turbo]

Are you saying the OP here is Bradley in disguise plugging his own channel? I take it. He’s a likeable enough guy, I’d forgive him…

huh

 

[Terry Lennox]

This stinks worse than a bag of Enerdale Flake.

 

[Skippy B. Coyote]

I have yet to try any Lakelands. What are some of your favorites that you'd recommend?

As an introduction to Lakelands I think there's four blends in particular I'd recommend depending on your nicotine tolerance, all from Gawith Hoggarth & Co.

Ennerdale Flake is the classic timeless full Lakeland flavor experience that basically drags your tongue through a flower bed, with a nicotine strength towards the upper end of medium. If you've ever tried Cornell & Diehl's Haunted Bookshop that's about the strength you can expect from Ennerdale Flake. For something a little mellower I like Kendal Black Cherry, which combines a natural non-cough syrupy tasting cherry flavor with a floral essence to create an overall flavor profile that reminds me very much of the aroma of cherry blossom trees blooming in the spring and always conjures up mental images of the Japanese cherry blossom festival for me. That one's at the lower end of medium nicotine wise.

If you can handle something stronger like Dunhill/Peterson Nightcap though I'd highly recommend Coniston Cut Plug for someone new to Lakelands, since it uses a very (and I mean VERY) light floral essence and tonquin bean note that just barely wafts around in the background behind a truly delicious dark fired Virginia, dark air cured Virginia, and Burley tobacco blend. Most of what you'll taste is just really good quality (and quite strong) tobacco with just a little tiny bit of something extra in the background that compliments it quite nicely and adds a couple little dimensions of flavor interest. It's rich and smokey, chocolatey, fruity like red wine, has a little herbacious vanilla from the tonquin bean, and just the tiniest little hint of flowers.

Lastly, if you can handle very strong tobaccos I absolutely love Dark Flake Aromatic. I can hardly even begin to describe the flavors and aroma of this one, but imagine really strong tasting dark fired Virginias and Burleys with a healthy dose of cedar wood chips, rose geranium essence, maple sugar, vanilla'y tonquin, and a faint background note of licorice. It's heckin' wild and a real favorite of mine!

 

[SpuddsBuckley]

As a new pipe smoker who is just getting into the joys of pipe tobacco, this is so disheartening...

 

[Hutch Piper]

As a new pipe smoker who is just getting into the joys of pipe tobacco, this is so disheartening...

It really is.

 

[Snook]

As an introduction to Lakelands I think there's four blends in particular I'd recommend depending on your nicotine tolerance, all from Gawith Hoggarth & Co.

Ennerdale Flake is the classic timeless full Lakeland flavor experience that basically drags your tongue through a flower bed, with a nicotine strength towards the upper end of medium. If you've ever tried Cornell & Diehl's Haunted Bookshop that's about the strength you can expect from Ennerdale Flake. For something a little mellower I like Kendal Black Cherry, which combines a natural non-cough syrupy tasting cherry flavor with a floral essence to create an overall flavor profile that reminds me very much of the aroma of cherry blossom trees blooming in the spring and always conjures up mental images of the Japanese cherry blossom festival for me. That one's at the lower end of medium nicotine wise.

If you can handle something stronger like Dunhill/Peterson Nightcap though I'd highly recommend Coniston Cut Plug for someone new to Lakelands, since it used a very (and I mean VERY) light floral essence and tonquin bean note that just barely wafts around in the background behind a truly delicious dark fired Virginia, dark air cured Virginia, and Burley tobacco blend. Most of what you'll taste is just really good quality (and quite strong) tobacco with just a little tiny bit of something extra in the background that compliments it quite nicely and adds a couple little dimensions of flavor interest. It's rich and smokey, chocolatey, fruity like red wine, has a little herbacious vanilla from the tonquin bean, and just the tiniest little hint of flowers.

Lastly, if you can handle very strong tobaccos I absolutely love Dark Flake Aromatic. I can hardly even begin to describe the flavors and aroma of this one, but imagine really strong tasting dark fired Virginias and Burleys with a healthy dose of cedar wood chips, rose geranium essence, maple sugar, vanilla'y tonquin, and a faint background note of licorice. It's heckin' wild and a real favorite of mine!

Oh wow, I was not expecting a response like that! Thank you so much for going into detail like this, it's very helpful.

I could certainly use some more conditioning when it comes to vitamin N - I think that's why I haven't dabbled much in blends like Lakelands. The floral aspect of them really appeals to me, especially the Kendal that you say is reminiscent of cherry blossom trees. I think I'll add some Dark Flake Aromatic to my next order so I can dip my toes in the water. That sounds like a great starting off point. All of these sound great, though!

Thanks again, Skippy!