Best Bulk Tobaccos for Aging

[sablebrush52]

Has anyone found that bulk tobacco that seemed average when new, but miraculously after 5+ years it becomes amazing?

Amazing? No. Tobacco is not something that amazes me.

Turn into something worth smoking? Yeah, and the most notable, to me, example of that would be PS-LBF. Fresh it's less interesting and flavorful than cardboard. Give it a minimum of 4 years and it develops some very satisfying flavors. Personally, I think it's because it gets released way early and the expense involved with aging is turned over to the buyer to take on rather than the blender.

 

[ParkitoATL]

Thanks Everyone. I am happy to hear I am not missing out on the aging game. That could become an expensive game.

The takeaway is buy what I like to keep my cellar stocked, but buying something just for aging does not necessarily make a blend that much better.

I am going to buy me about 4 ounces of a few of my favorites and then when some tins drop grab me about 5 each if I can. rinse, repeat..

One thing that does seem to help is some oxygen. We've all noticed how a cigar will rapidly improve in taste over a month AFTER you remove it from the cellophane, which greatly limits air and water exchange. I've found the same with pipe tobacco. By moving it from the bulk bag or freshly popped tin to a bowl, aerating it a bit with my hands, then placing it into a jar, this allows some oxygen to get in and work it's magic.

I popped a tin of Nightcap about six weeks ago and smoked out of the tin for a couple of weeks, which left some rough edges. When I aerated it and moved it to a jar it got much smoother over the next month. This seems to work with every blend I try, and it doesn't take ten years.

 

[mso489]

Truisms that may sometimes be true are that Virginia is most likely to improve; that burley doesn't improve much but keeps exceedingly well; and that aromatics don't age particularly well, but if they have good Virginia leaf as a base, the leaf may improve and the flavoring may back off, which is a good thing to some of us.

 

[pipingfool]

I have 3 bulk blends that I keep in my cellar in decent quantities, but not specifically for aging.

Newminster 400 Navy Flake - This is great fresh and just seems to get a little more complex with some age.

PS Luxury Navy Flake - this is decent fresh, but for my tastes gets much better with even just a few months of age;
so I guess it could be said that I do cellar this one specifically for aging because it does seem to improve with age and therefore is worth the cost when fresh.

G&H Best Brown Flake #2 - this is just a phenomenal blend to begin with; so I have a lot of it. It's still very good with age.

 

[KruegerFlap]

I agree with what Chasing Embers said. I buy more of the blends I like to stay ahead of rising costs, taxes, and to make sure I have some on hand in case the blend disappears, which happens all too often these days. If you don't like the blend when it's new it's nothing but a crap shoot to think you will like it when it's "aged." Also, only you can determine from your own experience whether a blend tastes better fresh or old. There are a number of blends I like more the "younger" they are because when they get some age they lose some of the flavors or kick that I like about them. I certainly wouldn't buy a tobacco I've never had just to hope I like it years down the road. Experiment with blends you like and find out how they change over time and whether they taste better or not for you and think about stocking up now on the ones you know you like right off the bat.

 

[minerLuke]

Something that you like. Buying a large amount of something that you haven't tried is a mug's game. One of my faves for aging is MacBaren Mixture (Scottish Blend),that I find simply superb with five to ten years on it - but that's me.
Telescopes is right on the money.

Interesting, I never thought of aging for MacB Scottish mix. It usually doesn't hang around my cellar long enough to get much age on it!