Aging tobacco in my own lifespan

[proteus]

Some of my fellow pipe smokers tell me they have tobacco which was bought in 1990 and carefully stored and aging still. At my age of 52 I may not last 35 years from now if I started aging tobacco that long today. I don't see the point of buying tobacco and letting it age for me in my case because I want to enjoy it today not when I'm close to 90 years old. If I make it that long I probably won't buy green bananas as the saying goes. Even 10 years is too long for me.

Perhap one to five years would be sufficient but I'd like not to waste that time were it not.

I suppose perhaps aging is meant for the next generation if the aging process all goes well.

I find the process of aging runs antithetical to the process of smoking. Maybe for some folks it's for different reasons. I just don't see them.

Aa for me, in the tone of Dr. McCoy, "Dammit Jim I'm a pipe smoker not a tobacco museum curator!"

Thoughts?

 

[AJL67]

I hear that Virginias hit their spot at 3-5 yrs, at least from other threads here, aros and other blends don’t always benefit from aging as VA / vapers.

Ant benefits are not planned into the process as they are like cigars and blended to be smoked when you buy it.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Sounds like you’ve made up your mind without actual experience and taking a position that makes no sense as a result - there is also a term for that!

 

[judcole]

Why wait 35 years? I've noticed changes at 5 and 10.

 

[proteus]

Sounds like you’ve made up your mind without actual experience and taking a position that makes no sense as a result - there is also a term for that!

After 35 years of smoking pipes having tried some 60 plus varieties I would say I have a bit of knowledge. I've tried older tobaccos in the 5 year range once in the 20. I'm not seeing a difference. But your mileage may very as they say.

 

[proteus]

Why wait 35 years? I've noticed changes at 5 and 10.

That's awesome! What varieties?

 

[kcghost]

The times seem to have come down from a few years ago. Latakia blends to 3 years and Virginias to 5 years.

 

[telescopes]

Aging doesn't ALWAYS mean better. Anyone who is serious about wine knows this to be true.

Aging can mean better, and of course, it can mean vinegar.

Some tobaccos, when aged safety, can still taste "good" 20 plus years from now.

Others will be awful.

Still others will be DUST.

Mold, fungus, and all sorts of horrors await others.

BUT... in this world of "the internet knows best", by all means believe what tobacco forum posters write.

Pharmaceutical companies tell you their products are safe...

The military industrial complex tells you their weapons keep you at peace...

Media companies tell you that their entertainment is just role playing and doesn't harm anyone...

Monsanto tells you Round Up and good for you...

Everything has a shelf life and apparently so does common sense.

 

[mso489]

Aged tobacco is interesting and sometimes decidedly better than a fresher tin or jar. However, aging has become a fetish, and it's all kind of silly. The majority of blends smoke well right out of the tin, fresh from the blenders. In fact, usually, the tobacco has been aged sufficiently already. At least half the time, you'd prefer the fresh version to the aged version if you could compare.

So if you want to smoke some aged tobacco, go ahead and age it a few years, or buy it aged if you can find it at a reasonable price, or if you want it at an unreasonable price. But anyone who thinks every blend must be aged six or eight years, or at all, is misled.

I have a bunch of aged tobacco simply because I buy more than i smoke, so it accumulates. I have some Dunhill labeled tins, some McClelland, and a number of other blends that have been around some years. I will pretend it is all superior for its age, but I don't take it seriously. If I want to crack open a new tin fresh from the blender, I sure will. Let's be real about this.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I don't see the point of buying tobacco and letting it age

Aside from buffering against a blend being discontinued, or rising costs there's no need to. The manufacturers intend for their blends to be smoked upon purchase.

 

[proteus]

Aside from buffering against a blend being discontinued, or rising costs there's no need to. The manufacturers intend for their blends to be smoked upon purchase.

That is true. I've been buying newminster 400 regularly when they have sales. Leaf Only is nearby me so I stock up on my own VA blend as well.

 

[Chasing Embers]

That is true. I've been buying newminster 400 regularly when they have sales. Leaf Only is nearby me so I stock up on my own VA blend as well.

I bought up a bunch of Yenidje from them several years ago along with a shredder. Great company.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

3 to 5 years of aging results in 75 to 90% of the benefits. It could be argued, but subjectively, aging over10 years may be counterproductive. Smoking a tin of 30 year old tobacco may be nostalgic and kewl but totally unnecessary to enjoying the experience of smoking a pipe.

 

[captainsousie]

I had the good luck to get a large lot of tins that had several years of age early on in my pipe smoking. I smoked some and aged some. That's a great way to find good aged tobaccos. I've even recently seen tobaccos with 6+ years of age in the tobacco sale/trade forum for $25 or less a tin, less than many will pay from a B&M for a new tin. Deals are out there if you educate yourself and are patient.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I think of aging as a potentially nice byproduct of owning and storing tobacco. It might improve the flavour, and that’s great, but there’s no guarantee that you’re going to wake up tomorrow. You may never get to sample and enjoy that precious tin you decided to squirrel away for years. It might be better to crack it open now and at least experience it while you’re alive. Have more than one tin? Set one aside to open in twenty years, but at least open the other now and smoke it and experience it. As Tennyson said, “Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

 

[jpmcwjr]

Aside from buffering against a blend being discontinued, or rising costs there's no need to. The manufacturers intend for their blends to be smoked upon purchase.

Right, but it's fun to faff about with some blends....!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Right, but it's fun to faff about with some blends....!

Oh, I still laugh when I remember that thread.

 

[mwsmoker]

Aside from buffering against a blend being discontinued, or rising costs there's no need to. The manufacturers intend for their blends to be smoked upon purchase.

I agree. Aging is a side-effect of a properly stocked cellar. Some may call it hoarding. ;-)

 

[Chasing Embers]

I agree. Aging is a side-effect of a properly stocked cellar. Some may call it hoarding. ;-)

Putting back for future use is the very definition of cellaring. Hoarding is just buying for the sake of buying. We're very justified after all!

 

[puffnshoot86]

I hear that Virginias hit their spot at 3-5 yrs, at least from other threads here, aros and other blends don’t always benefit from aging as VA / vapers.

Ant benefits are not planned into the process as they are like cigars and blended to be smoked when you buy it.

In my experience and opinion aromatics very rarely benefit from aging, unless its something very very mellow like Presbyterian reformation. Burley heavy blends dont age well either.