So back around Thanksgiving, when the rumors began, that my main 'daily bread smoke', Prince Albert, might be getting the ax - we are still waiting for some sort of confirm/deny from Middleton on that one - I began stock-piling 14oz tubs wherever they could still be found; this, in planning for the possibility that this could actually be the end of a blend in production for 103 years - under Middleton or in the event of no one else was interested in picking up the PA formula for production under their label - I began to study on how to blend my own pipe tobacco. The results of which are intended to become my self-styled 'daily bread' in the even my 10+ pound stash of PA cannot be replenished in the future.
The first order of business was to identify one - through extensive taste-test trials - readily available, reasonably priced, decent, basic burley to use as my primary 'Base' blending tobacco - with as little added flavoring or other tobaccos as possible; and without being too 'raw', 'dry in the mouth, or, 'harsh'.
Low and behold, I land on Smoker's Pride: Full Body - the red bag - which is a basic burley, with just the smallest smidge of bright Virginia. This was exactly what I was searching for: not too much BS added, not too light on the Nicotine, and nothing bad nor remarkable - just a good, basic, essentially unadulterated Burley; and, at only $19.99 for a 16oz. bag - which I could buy at my local RYO B&M - there would be no problem getting my base into the future.
But then...
Just as I was lining up an order of various 1 oz samples to identify as my basic yellow Virginia, and, my basic red Virginia, to use in my home blending endeavors, I suddenly get the word that Smoker's Pride: Full Body - the red bag - is now out-of-production.
Of course.
I feel like I am being singled-out and vexed by the Pipe Tobacco gods.
Oh well; back to the drawing-board. - Sherm Natman
The first order of business was to identify one - through extensive taste-test trials - readily available, reasonably priced, decent, basic burley to use as my primary 'Base' blending tobacco - with as little added flavoring or other tobaccos as possible; and without being too 'raw', 'dry in the mouth, or, 'harsh'.
Low and behold, I land on Smoker's Pride: Full Body - the red bag - which is a basic burley, with just the smallest smidge of bright Virginia. This was exactly what I was searching for: not too much BS added, not too light on the Nicotine, and nothing bad nor remarkable - just a good, basic, essentially unadulterated Burley; and, at only $19.99 for a 16oz. bag - which I could buy at my local RYO B&M - there would be no problem getting my base into the future.
But then...
Just as I was lining up an order of various 1 oz samples to identify as my basic yellow Virginia, and, my basic red Virginia, to use in my home blending endeavors, I suddenly get the word that Smoker's Pride: Full Body - the red bag - is now out-of-production.
Of course.
I feel like I am being singled-out and vexed by the Pipe Tobacco gods.
Oh well; back to the drawing-board. - Sherm Natman
