Choicest Plugs

[jbfrady]

Plug tobacco is among the most historic of preparations, being as labor-intensive to produce as it is flavorful to smoke. I'm quite fond of plug tobaccos in theory (Cobblestone Virginia Plug is among my absolute favorites and to my knowledge, Greg Pease has never made a bad plug in his life). In reality, however, I find much more trepidation in purchasing plug tobaccos. I'm skeptical because I personally find a bad plug to be worse than a bad flake or RR.

In your opinion, which are the finest tinned plug tobaccos in the land? Top 3, top 5, whatever suits your preference.

 

[Sigmund]

Salty Digs is great if you have a bit of a sweet tooth. A really rich vaper.

 

[trudger]

Peterson Perfect Plug. “3 P’s”

 

[Buffalo]

If KBV comes out with another batch, their Tavern Plug is very tasty, although it is made with whole leaves, it is more of a loose plug/kake type press, but delicious none the less.

 

[SBC]

Salty Digs is great if you have a bit of a sweet tooth. A really rich vaper.

I'll second and third this. Salty Dogs is pricey, so it couldn't be a daily smoke for me, but oh boy it's in my top few tobaccos of any category of all time. This is a candidate for Desert Island Tobacco for me.

 

[Buffalo]

I'll second and third this. Salty Dogs is pricey, so it couldn't be a daily smoke for me, but oh boy it's in my top few tobaccos of any category of all time. This is a candidate for Desert Island Tobacco for me.

Just don't forget a good sharp knife on the island!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I like GLP Jackknife and Triple Play, but when I prep them, I end up running them through a coffee grinder. Love the taste, but I like smoking more than cutting up tobacco bricks.

 

[PA Piper Mike]

C&D Pirate Kake, SPC Plum Pudding SR and GLP Gas Light are 3 of my favorites.

I have Triple Play, but haven't cracked a tin of it yet.

I've been curious about Salty Dogs, but hesitant because of the rum topping. Anyone able to tell me how heavy or subtle it is? I'm not much of a fan of rum topped unless it's subtle. Example would be Mac Baren's Navy Flake...I'm perfectly ok with that level of rum topping.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I'm not much of a fan of rum topped unless it's subtle. Example would be Mac Baren's Navy Flake...I'm perfectly ok with that level of rum topping.

I couldn't sense that the topping was rum exactly, but the sweetness definitely is as/ if not a tad more up front than the tobacco flavor. But, I don't get that ethyl taste that some blends will have that have been cased with rum or whiskey.

Edit- also beware that the plug for this is that European hockey puck plug, very dense. It is like slicing hard rubber more than tobacco. I know some prefer this, but being one that doesn't like the prepwork, it detracts me from buying more of it.

 

[Sigmund]

@SBC Salty Dogs is pricey because its imported and whoever is importing it jacking the price up.
In Europe it costs about 12 bucks for a plug.

Conversely in Europe GL Pease sells at about 25 bucks a 2 oz tin!

 

[simong]

From what’s available today, I’d say Sam Gawith’s RB Plug would be the choicest.

 

[username]

If you can find it Samuel gawith full Virginia plug and Saint James plug.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

If you're in the UK then definitely check out Gawith Dark Plug XX. It's a really strong, earthy, leathery, straight Virginia.

The only place I know that sells it is GQ Tobaccos. Sold in little 25g bags so if you don't like it then you haven't wasted too much money.

Not for the faint of heart.

 

[UB 40]

C&D Pirate Kake, SPC Plum Pudding SR and GLP Gas Light are 3 of my favorites.

I have Triple Play, but haven't cracked a tin of it yet.

I've been curious about Salty Dogs, but hesitant because of the rum topping. Anyone able to tell me how heavy or subtle it is? I'm not much of a fan of rum topped unless it's subtle. Example would be Mac Baren's Navy Flake...I'm perfectly ok with that level of rum topping.

I’m also very sensitive to rum or whiskey toppings, I don’t like them. Salty Dogs cut for the first time had a scent of rum that distracted me, but vanished while smoking. Put in a jar for almost a year now there is not much left of the rum flavour, but the tobacco remains some moisture though. Very nice tobacco.

 

[mingc]

Tinned ones? There aren't many. Most are sold in bulk or in 250 or 500g packages. Especially if you exclude those that are really crumble cakes that aren't plugs made of whole leaf.

 

[Sigmund]

I have some HU Fayyum cake coming. Its plug like or a dense cake. Its a lat blend. Im looking forward to trying it. HU is plentiful and affordable. I have a number of their blends coming in soon.

 

[VDL_Piper]

Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Plug
Samuel Gawith St James Plug

Also if any one knows who actually produces Salty Dogs for Dan Tobacco...........is it Gawith or someone else who presses dense plugs? Enquiring minds would like to know.

 

[brooklynpiper]

To me if you can't bonk someone on the head with it without tobacco going everywhere it's not a plug.

A plug is a tobacco user's kubaton in a smoker-averse world.

 

[VDL_Piper]

 

[Sigmund]

Yes salty dogs is dense. I dont find it a problem to prepare if you have a good sharp knife. You definitely need on for this blend.