Aging Union Square

[dcon]

I don’t have any that is ten years old. I will say that that I am not enamored with Union Square fresh but, even a year or two marks a huge improvement over fresh.

 

[Sonorisis]

I put a can of Union Square at the back of everything else I'm aging. I hope the positive reports prove accurate. But, I must say that my experience with GLP Virginias has been really underwhelming.

It must be a chemistry thing. Some people say how wonderful these blends are and I taste nothing but smoke. It's disappointing because some guys make GLP Virginias sound so wonderful.

I'm in no hurry to open the Union Square, and guess it will make a good blending tobacco in the worst case.

 

[renfield]

The varying experiences people have with aged Union Square piqued my curiosity. The 10 year old tin I’d smoked through last month was good, but subdued, more bready than sweet. Others reported much more sweetness.

I popped open a 9 year old tin yesterday. One would expect it to be pretty much the same as the 10. After only 2 bowls my impression is that it’s 80% the same. The 9 differs in being noticeably sweeter. Each draw on the pipe yields a light sweetness on the edges of things without having to work for it.

The tin note was very different. The 10 was like a strong ale, bready with an alcoholic note. The 9 strongly reminded me of a red wine, fruit with an edge of tartness. Both tins were strongly bulged. Both tins were stored within inches of each other so no differences there.

One has to wonder if the source tobacco vintages were different between the 9 and the 10 or if it’s just one of those things.

Either way, Union Square is very enjoyable at the decade mark. Whether it crosses a line into transcendence is a matter of personal opinion.

 

[Tabacco]

.....
....

Either way, Union Square is very enjoyable at the decade mark. Whether it crosses a line into transcendence is a matter of personal opinion.

I was going to report impressions at the end of the tin but coincidentally I’m smoking it again right in this moment. Compared to when I opened the tin, it is night and day. Very enjoyable. However I think it has a very narrow window as far as the right temperature is concerned. Narrower than any other tobaccos I’m used to. When I get it to the right spot it’s EXCELLENT, sweet and balanced. But I must keep it there otherwise it easily becomes very “grassy” again, or sour. It asks for a little more attention while smoking it. Easier to smoke and “controlled” if packed very lightly.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

The varying experiences people have with aged Union Square piqued my curiosity. The 10 year old tin I’d smoked through last month was good, but subdued, more bready than sweet. Others reported much more sweetness.

I popped open a 9 year old tin yesterday. One would expect it to be pretty much the same as the 10. After only 2 bowls my impression is that it’s 80% the same. The 9 differs in being noticeably sweeter. Each draw on the pipe yields a light sweetness on the edges of things without having to work for it.

The tin note was very different. The 10 was like a strong ale, bready with an alcoholic note. The 9 strongly reminded me of a red wine, fruit with an edge of tartness. Both tins were strongly bulged. Both tins were stored within inches of each other so no differences there.

One has to wonder if the source tobacco vintages were different between the 9 and the 10 or if it’s just one of those things.

Either way, Union Square is very enjoyable at the decade mark. Whether it crosses a line into transcendence is a matter of personal opinion.

I don't know for certain but would guess the crops are different year to year. The source may very well be different (different farm). I'm sure the manufacturer tries to keep things as consistent as possible but there are variables they cannot control. Even if the crop were the same, it means the 10 year version you had sat in a warehouse for a year before processing and packaging.

 

[renfield]

I don't know for certain but would guess the crops are different year to year. The source may very well be different (different farm). I'm sure the manufacturer tries to keep things as consistent as possible but there are variables they cannot control. Even if the crop were the same, it means the 10 year version you had sat in a warehouse for a year before processing and packaging.

Good point. In the end I guess the lesson is that there is no true “same” when it comes to any blend, across even a single year’s difference.

It may be that with Union Square being such a subtle blend that differences can become more pronounced with time, despite efforts to keep things consistent.