Aging Union Square

[Tabacco]

Hello.

As I mentioned in my first post, I smoke mainly straight Virginia.
Union Square is one of my favorites, and from the little I have read, there are several members who like it.
My experience with this tobacco, until now, was with tins that I had put aside for a limited period of time, but my impression was that this could be a very good candidate for long term aging. So long-term that I have finally decided to open one of the tins that I had purchased in 2009, more or less at the time Union Square came out.
Well, unfortunately I cannot say that it was a good idea. I have few more tins to open and I may find they are better, but this one has long past its peak. Union can be a little grassy, especially if not smoked at the right temperature, but this is one is ... just grassy. I have smoked few bowls and I have not been able to enjoy it, other than for when I could bring up a good amount of sweetness, but also in those cases it was just sweet, very sweet. Nothing close to the Union Square I am used to.
So, my question is, for those who smoke Union Square: have you ever smoked it past three-five years from production date? How was it? What would you recommend?

Thanks.

 

[pipestud]

Wow, I am surprised that the aging process, especially after 11-years has not increased the flavor immeasurably for you. Union Square is one of those tobaccos that I have found to age beautifully - and Greg Pease always uses leaf that is made to age well. It is a straight Virginia with high sugar brights and backbone building reds that normally mellow and sweeten naturally. It has long been a personal favorite of mine and 10-year old bulging tins of the stuff makes my mouth water. Normally, a quality Virginia will continue to age well for decades. I say to definitely try another tin and see whether you receive the same experience.

 

[mikestanley]

I bought about three pounds of Union Square when in was released in 2009. It has been a real treat for me. IMHO, it is the best Virginia flake available now (at least in 09). At ten years, it might just be more enjoyable than McClelland #27 and that is saying something.

Mike S.

 

[renfield]

I just finished a 10 year old tin of Union Square. The tin was bulging mightily before I opened it and the tin note was excellent. Unfortunately I found the flavors to be extremely subdued. I tried a variety of pipes but none really kicked the blend into high gear. A very pleasant smoke but I think it would’ve suited my palate better if it was less aged. I have quite a few tins of that vintage on the cellar. Hopefully this one was just a fluke. For Virginias I generally like McClelland reds, big, round and sweet.

I posted a review of 10 year old US in the Tobacco Reviews section a few weeks back.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Have you let it air out a bit? Possibly after oxygenating for a day to a week, you'll enjoy it more.

 

[3rdguy]

I enjoy this one aged but like mentioned above I jar it for a week upon opening and it comes together nicely.

 

[Tabacco]

Yes. That may be it!
I had my last bowl on 4/23, when I eventually decided to give up and opened a different tobacco (Best Brown Flake, same year).
After reading the initial replies I decided to give it another try. I loaded a very large Ferndown and I had a very good smoke, sweet, smooth and no grassy notes. A totally different tobacco. Really. I have more than half left. I’ll post my impression when I finish it.

Thanks again, that was a good call .

 

[trubka2]

Pshew, glad it clicked for you! I've only had it at 5 years and thought it was amazing.

 

[beezer]

So, my question is, for those who smoke Union Square: have you ever smoked it past three-five years from production date? How was it? What would you recommend?

I opened an 8 oz tin from 2013 last year and it quickly went moldy on me. Bummer in the summer. I'm sure it was an one-off, but it turned me off the blend...

 

[jpmcwjr]

I opened an 8 oz tin from 2013 last year and it quickly went moldy on me. Bummer in the summer. I'm sure it was an one-off, but it turned me off the blend...

Where do you live? What's the humidity level in your Summers?

 

[beezer]

Where do you live? What's the humidity level in your Summers?

I live in Central Virginia and keep my cellar in a temperature controlled basement where I run multiple dehumidifiers all year long.

 

[jpmcwjr]

What is the level of humidity in the basement?

 

[beezer]

What is the level of humidity in the basement?

Fluctuates between 23-30%

 

[gervais]

Fluctuates between 23-30%

Was it moldy when you opened it, or didn't develope it until after?

 

[shikano53]

This is a very interesting thread. I have had the same experience although since I'm a relatively new smoker I have nowhere near the time on mine. I think I will take a tin and open it up and let it air out for a day or two and see what that does.
Thanks for the great information.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Yes. That may be it!
I had my last bowl on 4/23, when I eventually decided to give up and opened a different tobacco (Best Brown Flake, same year).
After reading the initial replies I decided to give it another try. I loaded a very large Ferndown and I had a very good smoke, sweet, smooth and no grassy notes. A totally different tobacco. Really. I have more than half left. I’ll post my impression when I finish it.

Thanks again, that was a good call .

Have you tried smoking the Union Square in a smaller diameter bowl? .75? It's personal preference, I rarely smoke a straight Virginia, especially a flake, in anything larger than .80.

 

[Tabacco]

Yes. I have some pipes with a relatively smaller diameter/height ratio. Usually I prefer to use them with unbroken flakes (I just fold them) but as I mentioned it in the OP, Union Square is one of my favorite tobaccos and I think that I have smoked it with most of my pipes, briar, cob, and meerschaum.

 

[Tabacco]

This is a very interesting thread. I have had the same experience although since I'm a relatively new smoker I have nowhere near the time on mine. I think I will take a tin and open it up and let it air out for a day or two and see what that does.
Thanks for the great information.

I would not leave the tin open for a day or two. Some smokers transfer the tobacco to a jar, the bigger volume and air content will make the work, or just open the tin, keep it open just enough time to allow new air inside the tin and then close it. if you leave it open for too long the tobacco would dry out.
Others may correct me if they do it differently.

 

[renfield]

Have you let it air out a bit? Possibly after oxygenating for a day to a week, you'll enjoy it more.

Usually waiting a week after opening it makes a big improvement with C&D blends but not this time. I tried it straight out of the tin, dried to a crisp, rubbed out to varying degrees, meer, briar, various bowl geometries. In the end not much difference, a very mild blend where the interesting notes were fleeting and occasional. Certainly a nice Virginia but not transcendent by a long shot. YMMV.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I smoked some 2013 Union Square last night. It's been open, stored in a mason Jar, for quite some time (months). It didn't taste much like fresh Union Square but it was very good. Very, very sweet and rich. Depends upon what you like out of a Va Flake I guess. This one seems to change more than most.