Cellaring- How Long is too Long?

[HalfMadHatter]

That's fair, I'd still say there's no rush. If you haven't already I'd throw my hat in for buying good bulk Virginias, especially if you're planning on long term cellaring. Stuff like

• Newminster No. 400,
• Peter Stokkebye Luxury Navy, Twist and Bullseye Flakes,
• Gawith Hoggarth & Co Bright CR Flake and Best Brown,
• Cornell & Diehl's bulk virginias like Derringer/Winchester/Yorktown
• and Sutliff's standout bulk virginias like 707, 507c and 515

...are all great blends on their own but are relatively cheap and cellar really well. Makes growing a massive pile of tobacco a lot cheaper and easier.

Keep in mind that selling huge quantities of tobacco isn't the easiest or legalist thing in the world already. It may get exponentially more difficult over time.

Right now I have a little over a pound of orlik golden sliced and a little over a pound of HH pure virginia. I'll definitely look into stocking the blends you suggest. Also black market only increases the chances of profiting. They get tax free product and I make a profit. Its good for everyone except big brother of course. And I see how it could be difficult to sell but I dont forsee ever having to sell it. Of course if I could tell the future though I wouldn't be on here

 

[HalfMadHatter]

Absolutely guaranteed. Everything in the universe eventually peaks and croaks out. When that will happen is a guess. T'were I you, I'd aim for smoking what I have before it hits 20.
I've smoked blends that were 60, 70, and 100 years old and they were generally quite awful. Blends that are 35 thru 50 can be very good, or beginning their trip to the graveyard.
And some blends don't really change much at all, except to eventually go lifeless and strange.

I wouldn't bet that I live into my 90s. 40 years tops I was thinking that it had to last

 

[HalfMadHatter]

M

Yep, you'll know well enough in advance if there is a reason to start putting away tobacco for the next 40-50 years, seems a waste of time and money. Had no idea there were dozens of pipe smoking forums but shouldn't have taken more than a few Google suggestions, not reading dozens, lol, to answer the question. Hyperbole aside, if there are some things you like buy it and put away as much as you like, but there will likely be other things you like sometime down the road. Seems more a "thing" than a lifetime need at your age. Just cellar, replenish and refresh as you see fit and don't get all Mormon in the basement about it (saw a real Apocalypse cellar of stores once - nice folks, but took it very, very seriously).

My basement may or may not already look similar to these "mormon apocalypse" basements you refer to it's just one more thing to add

 

[proteus]

I recently found some tins I had bought that were already a year or so old and that was about two to three years ago. By default they aged for three to four years. I have not noticed anything different. Some would argue there is a difference and that is ok - each to their own.

I would say to look at the risk reward. The risk is waiting so long that you actually end up not enjoying them due to spoilage. Or opening too soon and not experiencing the reward.

If it were me and I were to attempt this - at my age seems like a limited opportunity but not at yours - I would buy to try and buy to keep. Buy a tin to try. Then buy some to open periodically. A tin to try at the one, two and three year marks. Then buy some for long term at the 5, the 8, the 13, and the 21 year mark. That would be minimum 8 tins. You could buy two each for 16 tins and so forth. In this way you'll have something to look forward to and something to enjoy over the years. A lifetime of fun.

Good luck!

 

[Ahi Ka]

If you have discretionary funds available, why not purchase some consignment tins which already have a decade or two on them just to see how you find the ageing. Obviously you have to take it with a grain of salt as the blend is not necessarily the same as a fresh batch.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

If you have discretionary funds available, why not purchase some consignment tins which already have a decade or two on them just to see how you find the ageing. Obviously you have to take it with a grain of salt as the blend is not necessarily the same as a fresh batch.

Not a bad suggestion, but I have a question? If we took 10 tins of the same blend, aged them for 10 years, would all 10 tins taste the same or would their be minor, or perhaps major, variations in how each tin tastes? I don't know the answer but it is intriguing. My point is that perhaps not all 10 year old tins of tobacco will exhibit the same effects from aging.

 

[mso489]

It's a guessing game, highly dependent on the brand, the blend, the source, the leaf, the processing, the tins or jarring or mylar bags, the storage, the climate, and your astrological sign. (Not that last.)

I don't age anything on purpose. I just buy more tobacco than I smoke so the rest of it ages.

I'd say, with Virginia and Va/Per you might get improvement up to about five years, and properly stored, that could last ten or fifteen.

Burley doesn't improve much, they say, but it keeps as well as any leaf.

The aromatic flavoring doesn't keep so well, a few years, but if it is applied to quality Virginia, that might improve while the flavoring fades.

I say, smoke it as soon as you can, and the blends you don't get around to smoking will age themselves. Seize the day.

 

[FurCoat]

Only time will tell, of course.
I figure I have 30 years of smoking left in me if I don't get terminaly ill or run over by a truck. I have roughly 200 pounds on hand so I don't have to buy anymore and if something were to happen, four of my sons smoke pipes so it'll get used.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

M

My basement may or may not already look similar to these "mormon apocalypse" basements you refer to it's just one more thing to add

Kind of a metaphor - canned goods, water and so forth for the big one are a thing (and you never know).

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Not a bad suggestion, but I have a question? If we took 10 tins of the same blend, aged them for 10 years, would all 10 tins taste the same or would their be minor, or perhaps major, variations in how each tin tastes? I don't know the answer but it is intriguing. My point is that perhaps not all 10 year old tins of tobacco will exhibit the same effects from aging.

No expert here but I’d bet on the 10 years before I’d bet on the 30-40 - not relevant to me because I’m not 20/30/40 and don’t consume a lot so my cellar is well fixed for my lifespan yet pretty modest by our standard on here.

 

[kcghost]

Well, you have a problem being 29 and all. Everything you get now will be flavorless by the time you get old. Rule of thumb says English's get to their max flavor point in seven years and Va's about twelve years. they will continue to lose flavor for about twenty years and then will be basically just bland at that point.

If you want some recommendations for VA's I'd say Pease's Six Pence and Stonehenge, C&D's Mad Fiddler, and if you like English you could get Pease's Westminster. Asking for the "Best" is foolish.

 

[bullet08]

When you open the tin and tobacco fairies fly out of it, it's dead.

 

[HalfMadHatter]

I recently found some tins I had bought that were already a year or so old and that was about two to three years ago. By default they aged for three to four years. I have not noticed anything different. Some would argue there is a difference and that is ok - each to their own.

I would say to look at the risk reward. The risk is waiting so long that you actually end up not enjoying them due to spoilage. Or opening too soon and not experiencing the reward.

If it were me and I were to attempt this - at my age seems like a limited opportunity but not at yours - I would buy to try and buy to keep. Buy a tin to try. Then buy some to open periodically. A tin to try at the one, two and three year marks. Then buy some for long term at the 5, the 8, the 13, and the 21 year mark. That would be minimum 8 tins. You could buy two each for 16 tins and so forth. In this way you'll have something to look forward to and something to enjoy over the years. A lifetime of fun.

Good luck!

That sounds like a very good plan

 

[NC TX ID pipeman]

The fact that somebody just started smoking a pipe 2 months ago and already starting to build a lifetime tobacco supply fascinates me..

 

[FLDRD]

The fact that somebody just started smoking a pipe 2 months ago and already starting to build a lifetime tobacco supply fascinates me..

Only time distinguishes ‘twixt wisdom & foolishness?

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Thanks to @AJL67 , I smoked some 1994 mcclelland Christmas Cheer out of a freshly popped tin two weeks ago. It was totally superb! I think there's bigger problems now, and on the horizon, for tobacco that are far greater concerns than your tobacco getting too old.

 

[HalfMadHatter]

The fact that somebody just started smoking a pipe 2 months ago and already starting to build a lifetime tobacco supply fascinates me..

Well it was this or keep smoking cigarettes and I figure this might be cheaper and a tad healthier in the long run. Also I smoked a pipe when I was about 17-18 but never had anything other than captain black and ended up switching to cigs

 

[HalfMadHatter]

Thanks to @AJL67 , I smoked some 1994 mcclelland Christmas Cheer out of a freshly popped tin two weeks ago. It was totally superb! I think there's bigger problems now, and on the horizon, for tobacco that are far greater concerns than your tobacco getting too old.

Like what sort of concerns?

 

[username]

Like what sort of concerns?

Banning of online sales for one

 

[andrew]

Like what sort of concerns?

Blends dissapearing, brands going under (Dunhill, mcClellands) tobacco crops suffering as all the tobacco is grown many for cigarettes now so not quality tobacco. Tobacco varieties disappearing (Syrian lat) WW3. I suggest go hard it's not getting any cheaper. I lucked out and took this advice about 8 years ago and probably have more than I'll smoke. And I'm 46. When jarring be careful, I went with the lazy way of stuffing tobacco in and screwing on the lid and a few ive opened have been dried out and aging never happened. Hot water bath then put the lid on and you'll have an airtight seal. The button should pop in. Avoid gasket jars except for what you're actively smoking they don't hold moisture in long term