Any Blending Tips/Suggestions for SWR?

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jdlander

Might Stick Around
Jul 6, 2024
78
165
Salem, OR
I have a can of SWR and half a dozen pouches. I really don't care for it, especially since STG made it taste and smell like vinegar.

But I don't really want to just throw it out...

I'm considering trying my hand at some blending. Maybe create my own Half-and-Half with a Virginia. Or throw in some black cavendish, and a bit of perique. Or maybe some Dark Fired Kentucky and Latakia.

With over 20 oz of SWR, I could try a bunch of different custom blends... however, the end result might be that I ruin good tobacco by trying to blend it with the bad.... But I would like to try a few custom blends just to see what happens.

So ... do you have any suggestions on "recipes"?

I do have a postal scale, so I can get fairly precise with measurements.

I would probably mix up several one-ounce blends, jar them for a few weeks to let them marry, and then try them out. Then, if I really like any of them, I can blend the rest.
 
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SmokingInTheWind

Part of the Furniture Now
Mar 24, 2024
790
4,210
New Mexico
I could try a bunch of different custom blends... however, the end result might be that I ruin good tobacco by trying to blend it with the bad

SWRV is vile stuff. I rarely throw tobacco away, but I threw out a seven ounce can without a second thought. Don’t ruin good tobacco with this junk. I would open the cans and pouches and take a sniff just in case you got lucky on a few. If it smells like vinegar chuck it. The previous version of SWR was good. It is a shame that they screwed it up.
 
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OverMountain

Lifer
Dec 5, 2021
1,521
5,323
NOVA
I have a can of SWR and half a dozen pouches. I really don't care for it, especially since STG made it taste and smell like vinegar.

But I don't really want to just throw it out...

I'm considering trying my hand at some blending. Maybe create my own Half-and-Half with a Virginia. Or throw in some black cavendish, and a bit of perique. Or maybe some Dark Fired Kentucky and Latakia.

With over 20 oz of SWR, I could try a bunch of different custom blends... however, the end result might be that I ruin good tobacco by trying to blend it with the bad.... But I would like to try a few custom blends just to see what happens.

So ... do you have any suggestions on "recipes"?

I do have a postal scale, so I can get fairly precise with measurements.

I would probably mix up several one-ounce blends, jar them for a few weeks to let them marry, and then try them out. Then, if I really like any of them, I can blend the rest.
There is an earlier message on here where Briar Lee or someone that knows what they’re talking about said they got the old SWR flavor leaving the lid off the tub to let the vinegar smell out. Don’t chuck it just yet. What the hell were they thinking to change the process after 100 years of it being GOOD ENUF??
 
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SmokingInTheWind

Part of the Furniture Now
Mar 24, 2024
790
4,210
New Mexico
There is an earlier message on here where Briar Lee or someone that knows what they’re talking about said they got the old SWR flavor leaving the lid off the tub to let the vinegar smell out. Don’t chuck it just yet. What the hell were they thinking to change the process after 100 years of it being GOOD ENUF??
It’s worth a try. I spread some out on a plate and aired it out but it still smelled heavily of vinegar. I had no desire to try smoking it. The previous version had absolutely no vinegar smell that I could detect.
 

khiddy

Lifer
Jun 21, 2024
1,010
4,712
South Bend, Indiana
blog.hallenius.org
Airing out any tobacco is a good thing. It improves most blends, and vastly improves some. There are many, many blends that have terrible initial tin/jar notes that really improve with a little oxidation/off-gassing.

Throwing tobacco away is something I will NEVER understand. And some folks (even “well-respected” smokers around here) seem to take joy in it.

Those people are monsters, and no amount of self-justification can change that.
 

OverMountain

Lifer
Dec 5, 2021
1,521
5,323
NOVA
It’s worth a try. I spread some out on a plate and aired it out but it still smelled heavily of vinegar. I had no desire to try smoking it. The previous version had absolutely no vinegar smell that I could detect.
They left the lid off for weeks and it redeemed the tub. It’s not a 30 minute process. The thread is here somewhere.
 
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MidTNPiper

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 6, 2023
125
1,921
Nashville, TN
I put it to ya’ll this way, bought five 7oz tubs with mid 2023 date codes - I believe that is shortly after moving production? - one of which has been opened for 2.5 years now. It’s still not smokeable. Another accidebtly had a seal broken for about 12 months or so, same result.

Is it going to get better? Doubt it. I was burned trying to stock up on a fairly inexpensive OTC that has long shelf life I could keep in my insulated but no HVAC barn here in Tennessee. Unfortunately Grainger bites me too much. I may try to keep a PA out there to fit the bill; havent had new production of that either though.

For me, maybe HBS and Pegasus only.

Se la Vie…