Cellaring Codgers

[ophiuchus]

I don’t cellar codger tubs.

I hoard codger tubs.

 

[anotherbob]

the charm of these blends is in part their stability.

 

[Lumbridge]

the charm of these blends is in part their stability.

I like knowing that if I buy enough, I can still be smoking the same Carter Hall in 30 or 40 years when I am the codger.

 

[DesertDan]

Yes.
I have a decent stock of H&H, SWRA and EGR
I also keep a couple of pounds of Lane 1-Q on hand, which could rightly be considered a codger blend at this point.

I am collecting pouches of other codgers that I haven't tried as well as a few I did smoke back in the day, just to reassess them now. They are inexpensive if one waits for the sales at the various on-line sellers.

I think of these as being stocked more so than cellared as I have no expectation of ageing them, just ensuring that I have a supply always on hand.

 

[captainsousie]

I often find that when I cellar codgers, if they're alive they just tear up my cellar. Dead, however they tend to smell after a week or so. Otherwise the blends can get a bit crispy if the pouches aren't well taken care of. Yay mylar.

 

[anotherbob]

I like knowing that if I buy enough, I can still be smoking the same Carter Hall in 30 or 40 years when I am the codger.

I still haven't tried Carter Hall. Well I tried it when I was 16 and hated all of the codger blends then that I tried. I almost liked some of them but they all had a gross quality I couldn't get over. I now know it's PG and that they can get off for me if I don't make sure my technique is great.

 

[Akoni808]

Just pondering because I’ve had some exceptional bourbon that in its day would have been just fine, but age has done wonders for the flavor.

Whiskey doesn’t age in an unopened bottle.

 

[Lumbridge]

I still haven't tried Carter Hall. Well I tried it when I was 16 and hated all of the codger blends then that I tried. I almost liked some of them but they all had a gross quality I couldn't get over. I now know it's PG and that they can get off for me if I don't make sure my technique is great.

I've read a lot of similar comments about it. I don't notice what others often describe as a "chemical note", but my experience with higher shelf tobaccos is pretty limited and I'm trying new ones here and there at a snail's pace.
It's almost the same as Prince Albert, if that's a good point of reference for you - just a bit lighter in flavor to my palate.

 

[anotherbob]

I've read a lot of similar comments about it. I don't notice what others often describe as a "chemical note", but my experience with higher shelf tobaccos is pretty limited and I'm trying new ones here and there at a snail's pace.
It's almost the same as Prince Albert, if that's a good point of reference for you - just a bit lighter in flavor to my palate.

PG has this off taste to me. But it's funny if it's the middle range or low I don't see any difference otherwise then it takes longer to dry the tobacco. If it's Captain Black levels that ruins it for me. My impression of Prince Albert was not really good or bad and not really all that interesting. Though so far my favorite codger blend is Sail Yellow. And I don't consider mixture 79 or EGR codger blends. And some people say five brothers is but to me that one is just it's own thing and it doesn't need any friends. (still one of my all time favorites). On the smoking pipes tobacco break down it shows I try a few things and smoke C&D, MacBarren, Five Brothers, and EGR all at about the same precentage. The C&D and MacBarren are both much higher then the others but about the same when you consider it by individual blends.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

PG has this off taste to me. But it's funny if it's the middle range or low I don't see any difference otherwise then it takes longer to dry the tobacco. If it's Captain Black levels that ruins it for me. My impression of Prince Albert was not really good or bad and not really all that interesting. Though so far my favorite codger blend is Sail Yellow. And I don't consider mixture 79 or EGR codger blends. And some people say five brothers is but to me that one is just it's own thing and it doesn't need any friends. (still one of my all time favorites). On the smoking pipes tobacco break down it shows I try a few things and smoke C&D, MacBarren, Five Brothers, and EGR all at about the same precentage. The C&D and MacBarren are both much higher then the others but about the same when you consider it by individual blends.

This> and thats the reason I'm an advocate of standard imported EU OTC Blends by Mc Barens, the quality of the leaf they use is much higher, apart from Borkum Riff)also European style OTC's seem to have less topping but so are the prices somewhat higher, as for the Sail Yellow its a descent Dutch style tobacco indeed

 

[logs]

I've only been at pipes for about five years now, but the tubs I've opened that I bought when I started have been as fresh as can be.

That means everything's working as intended. Codger blends are designed for a long stable shelf life with few changes to flavor.

The cellaring effect most people are talking about is fermentation and the aging characteristics that happen in VA blends when they're in a sealed tin for a long time. That won't happen with traditional codger blends which are largely burley. I suppose if you keep any blend long enough it's probably going to change even if it's mostly burley and has PG all over it, but codger blends are more change resistant than most.

 

[Lumbridge]

That means everything's working as intended. Codger blends are designed for a long stable shelf life with few changes to flavor.

The cellaring effect most people are talking about is fermentation and the aging characteristics that happen in VA blends when they're in a sealed tin for a long time. That won't happen with traditional codger blends which are largely burley. I suppose if you keep any blend long enough it's probably going to change even if it's mostly burley and has PG all over it, but codger blends are more change resistant than most.

Yep, I like the fact that these burley blends don't really change all that much even after years of sitting sealed (and that the Middleton tubs seem to be perfectly adequate for long term storage). Not a big fan of tart fermented flavors.

 

[Lumbridge]

PG has this off taste to me. But it's funny if it's the middle range or low I don't see any difference otherwise then it takes longer to dry the tobacco. If it's Captain Black levels that ruins it for me. My impression of Prince Albert was not really good or bad and not really all that interesting. Though so far my favorite codger blend is Sail Yellow. And I don't consider mixture 79 or EGR codger blends. And some people say five brothers is but to me that one is just it's own thing and it doesn't need any friends. (still one of my all time favorites). On the smoking pipes tobacco break down it shows I try a few things and smoke C&D, MacBarren, Five Brothers, and EGR all at about the same precentage. The C&D and MacBarren are both much higher then the others but about the same when you consider it by individual blends.

Yeah, I've noticed Captain Black has that sort of greasy feeling that it leaves on your fingers from all the PG on it. I just don't notice it with CH or PA - I'm sure it's there, but it must be applied much more sparingly. The Middleton blends never feel wet, goopy, or greasy or leave residue in my pipes.
The thing I hate the most about aromatics that are absolutely soaked in PG and sugar is that they're hard to light and the burn is crap. You try to dry them and they either won't dry, or the leaf gets stiff as the sugar dries, and then they're hard to pack. Just off-putting all around.