American Made Plugs Versus UK Made Plugs.

[cosmicfolklore]

This has been a very thought provoking thread. You know, when I cube cut some Warrior or Condor, I get nice little solid cubes, that smoke very differently from when I try to cut up a clug or Ameri-plug. Gas light and War Horse tend to just become ready rubbed, no matter what I do. I can even pinch off a corner instead of trying to use a knife, which is like cutting a through a toilet tissue roll. Jackknife, is about the same, except I can maybe kinda get a flake from it if I carve carefully, but then you bend it and it become ready rubbed.
I never even thought about us not really having any real flakes, except for GLP's SixPence... (Am I missing any?)
Maybe we just don't have the technology or know-how... which makes me sad. ::

 

[mawnansmiff]

"I never even thought about us not really having any real flakes, except for GLP's SixPence."
Well Michael, I just popped my tin of Sunday Picnic and that is a flake, very brittle and crumbly but a flake all the same.
Not quite in the same league of Mac Baren's Bold Kentucky, Dunghill's Flake or Rattray's Marlin Flake which have a certain 'solidity' to them I reckon SP would still suit the folders and stuffers of this world.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I think of Sunday Picnic as a broken flake, or maybe it just is after I get hold of a rattled tin of it.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Clug? Clug, really? While descriptive, it is a horrible sounding word, almost as bad as POTUS or SCOTUS sound. Not good for marketing.
Besides, we already have definitions: plug is made from whole leaf, and cake is from cut tobacco. Either one can be hard or soft, though cakes and cookies crumble differently. Cakes will seldom be as dense and unpick-able as plugs.

 

[papipeguy]

jpmcwjr, the other choice was plake.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Heh, yeah, I read that, too. Point is, don't use a made up word that will not enhance the marketing of your fine products.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Do we just not have the industrial technology to make plugs here in the US?

 

[mawnansmiff]

"I think of Sunday Picnic as a broken flake,..."
Michael, I can assure you the contents of my tin of Sunday Picnic is largely made up of short whole flakes. They will easily fall apart if roughly handled mind.
I agree John, 'clug' is a nasty sounding word and doesn't really describe what it is purported to mean.
"plug is made from whole leaf, and cake is from cut tobacco. Either one can be hard or soft..."
This however is where we would disagree. I believe a proper plug is a very solid block of tobacco that could not be pulled apart without the use of a knife or similar tool.
Perhaps Oldreddog might supply the link that he sent me...I don't know how to insert links. That should give all a good grounding on plug tobaccos.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

One thing about those Sunday Picnic flakes you got, is that they held up on their voyage across the pond.

I believe a proper plug is a very solid block of tobacco that could not be pulled apart without the use of a knife or similar tool.

I don't know about "proper" but I still think that what we have is a plug. Maybe we can just call the dense plugs that you guys have, Irish plugs.
However, what is the purpose of a plug? If you can't cut it into dense little cubes... if when you cut it at all it just becomes ribbon cut... if the pressing of the plug plays no impact on the smoking capacity... why is it in plug form?

 

[oldreddog]

I hope it's ok to post this link as it is to another forum and the content may be familiar to some;

http://christianpipesmokers.net/viewtopic.php?t=41002

Cosmic I dare say the knowledge exists in the US to create rich dark hunks of love.Looks like orlik might have a few steam jacket presses going spare. Although I'd suggest a group buy, I doubt the fda would appreciate the efforts produced.

 

[mawnansmiff]

"..why is it in plug form?"
Because the tobaccos I have smoked both as plug and flake, the plug version has a far more intense taste than the flake version ...t'is as simple as that.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

But, the taste comes from being compacted into tightly compressed cubes or slices. It's obvious from the Irish plugs why it is in plug form. But, as in War Horse, if the pieces all just fall apart when cut... Ahhh nevermind. ::

I sure wish it would rain here. We're in a terrible drought.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Apologies Michael, I didn't realise you were talking of that particular blend/brand.
Plenty of rain here in Cornland, pretty damned chilly too :crying:
Regards,
Jay.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I agree John, 'clug' is a nasty sounding word and doesn't really describe what it is purported to mean.
"plug is made from whole leaf, and cake is from cut tobacco. Either one can be hard or soft..."
This however is where we would disagree. I believe a proper plug is a very solid block of tobacco that could not be pulled apart without the use of a knife or similar tool.

I should have said merely that there can be differences in "hardness" of both. But agree that the traditional plug is as you describe. The distinction comes from the tobacco used, whether it's whole leaf or not.

Perhaps Oldreddog might supply the link that he sent me...I don't know how to insert links. That should give all a good grounding on plug tobaccos.

You simply copy the link, (URL) and paste it in the URL box, right over the existing http// that's there when you open it. Then type in a descriptor, such as:
HERE linketh to photos from the recent pipe show.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Thanks for the tip John, I shall now attempt posting the very same link as an experiment...
Irish Plugs...A Potted History.
Fingers crossed...
Regards,
Jay.

 

[prairiedruid]

It works! Excellent information; thanks for linking it!

 

[jpmcwjr]

Grade: A. Top percentile. A 4 or 1 depending on the outfits grading scale! You got it buster!

 

[cranseiron]

I've recently gotten into the plug form and obtained Mick McQuade, SG Best Brown Plug, SG Full Va. Plug, Salty Dog Plug, and Revor Plug through GQ Tobaccos in England. I received these plugs not six months ago and went to the site today and it looks like GQ is no longer selling ANY tobacco except what is left in inventory due to new EU legislation. Anybody know of other sites where one can purchase these "European plugs"?
Yeah, it seems the English/euro plugs are steamed. Comparing Best Brown Plug to the BF flake the plug is much, much darker than the flake.

 

[oldreddog]

Try foxes or Petersons of Dublin.

While stocks last.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Cranse, 'Best Brown Plug' is more properly known as Kendal Plug.
Indeed a fine smoke and miles better than the flake counterpart.
Regards,
Jay.