All very valid points. Since these were last years crops they're more likely to ripen up over the next couple of years. Aging is a crap shoot. When I buy tins of something I smoke one out of the gate as it's what the blender considered ready for consumption. Depending on what I taste, I may decide to enjoy a tin now and then, or just put it away to revisit in a couple of years. I'm never been interested in blends requiring a decade of aging like some of the cellaring series that were being sold, which I considered a gimmick and a way to spare the producer the cost of properly aging a blend before releasing it. I just prefer the flavors or leaf that's got a few years between the farm and the shelf
I would be happy to sell you one of my tins of McClelland 40th Anniversary at the bargain price of $165 before it goes up to $350 over the next few years. It's the right thing to do.
I'm happy to accept your kind offer of a sample and will happily agree to post my experience of it.
? the first part was for you, not the second paragraph as that was for OP. But, nice play.
I’ll pass on the McCelland. Never smoked any, and don’t intend to start seeking it. I don’t think any tobacco is worth it unless it makes me start crapping gold bricks.
Aged leafs make sense. There is a fermentation process with tobacco. Cigars age it longer than pipe in seemingly most cases. So, I do understand it - but, my problem I think is I like a richer tobacco. Mellowing out to me seems more muted. Not in every example, but many times. Also, some tobacco doesn’t age worth a crap…blenders many times make tobacco ready for consumption today with tobacco that is aged to create the profile the blender is aiming for - and I agree aging can simply be a marketing ploy, but not always. For example, Padron XXXX series age very well and eventually should (assuming correct conditions are met) wind up close to a 26 or 64 with correct # of years as all three lines use the same tobacco, just aged differently. And then, how much does aging as single leafs vs aging as a rolled cigar matter? I’m sure there are some pipe blends that also do well.
The one thing that seems very different to me for pipe tobacco vs cigar leaf is the casing and processing rather than whole leaf. Does it matter? I’m guessing casing might impact fermentation on some level. Topping surely does because it introduces a foreign chemical to the natural leaf. I don’t know why casing, regardless of amount, would be different. Not an expert, but something that does cross my mind. Maybe it ruins the process and maybe it enhances it ?
. Also, I’ve seen people compare loose vs plug vs cake and how it impacts flavor. Then there is anerobic vs aerobic fermentation and the combination of. So tons of variables to consider-and to me regardless of the tobacco it’s a roll of the dice. Eventually, it reaches a peak and for the process to work well it needs to be maintained at consistent temperatures and humidity. I don’t think most consumers have the scientific know how to maximize the fermentation process. Also, how someone’s tins are stored in various regions will impact the process simply because of temperature and humidity. Beyond that, each person is going to enjoy their spoils differently. Some aged tin might be a wad of garbage, but because they aged it that garbage flavor is adopted as gospel for well aged tobacco. What’s the baseline for when it’s right? Seems to be each individuals tastebuds. Consumptive products seem to follow this regardless. Like chewy vs crispy bacon. Light vs dark toast. Etc., etc., etc.
Sorry for the small novel - it’s generally a larger discussion, I think, than people consider when aging tobacco. I think it’s a misnomer to think you can buy a tin, chuck it in the closet and expect it to be a treasure in X years, although I’m sure it can work. I know my cigars are monitored, stored in a basement with the most even average temperatures year round I have available, humidity control, get periodic air circulation and I can see and smell the product. Pipe tobacco in tins - you can’t do either. Which, brings up another point. Why are people so concerned with keeping vacuum seal on pipe tobacco? Cigars aren’t vacuum sealed and age just fine. It’s interesting how we treat and view tobacco differently across product lines. Not a scientist, so I’m sure there is an explanation I’m not aware of.
At the end of the day - everyone spends their own coin on it, so they’re entitled to enjoy it however they want. Truly no right or wrong when it comes to tastes.
Time for a smoke.
