Drops

[sablebrush52]

I keep on hearing from the men of renown, that we are currently living in the greatest age pipe tobacco has ever seen.

Depends on the man of renown. Gents who were smoking 30 years ago will talk about how the quality of tobacco went down at that time and the products from the '90's onward were not at the same level as earlier.

And tobacco blends are definitely undergoing changes, like mixing orange Virginia into red Virginia blends to give them more flavor due to a drop in the quality of reds, subbing out Perique with dark fired, subbing out Virginias with cheaper grades, etc that's been happening over the past several years.

All that said, some really outstanding blends are being produced by smart blenders who know how to work with the materials they have, like SPC Hogshead, a remarkable blend.

There are certainly a lot more blends to choose from than were available when I started smoking in the early '70's. But those tobaccos were by and large smoother and more lush right out the gate.

And there's no way to experience them, since a 40 to 50 year old tin of celebrated "whatsis" isn't going to be much like it was when new, no matter how much money you throw at it. Hopefully you'll like whatever it has turned into.

The point is, if you're happy with your smokes, you're happy with your smokes, and your golden age is now. It's a personal thing.

 

[starrynight]

Depends on the man of renown. Gents who were smoking 30 years ago will talk about how the quality of tobacco went down at that time and the products from the '90's onward were not at the same level as earlier.

And tobacco blends are definitely undergoing changes, like mixing orange Virginia into red Virginia blends to give them more flavor due to a drop in the quality of reds, subbing out Perique with dark fired, subbing out Virginias with cheaper grades, etc that's been happening over the past several years.

All that said, some really outstanding blends are being produced by smart blenders who know how to work with the materials they have, like SPC Hogshead, a remarkable blend.

There are certainly a lot more blends to choose from than were available when I started smoking in the early '70's. But those tobaccos were by and large smoother and more lush right out the gate.

And there's no way to experience them, since a 40 to 50 year old tin of celebrated "whatsis" isn't going to be much like it was when new, no matter how much money you throw at it. Hopefully you'll like whatever it has turned into.

The point is, if you're happy with your smokes, you're happy with your smokes, and your golden age is now. It's a personal thing.

That's good knowledge. Thanks. I'm wondering if the "smoother and more lush right out of the gate" means, generally, we need a few years (or so) on tins to approach the same kind of quality? If so, all is not lost.

And I'm definitely happy with my smokes!

 

[OSOBUCO]

I try not to over analyze such stuff. As others have said it's gotta go on sale at some time and I am fine with the so-called "drop". in fact it's kinda fun and that's it in the end right? to have fun and enjoy a smoke. The anticipation is sort of like christmas to me and so much in my life is stress and drudgery I welcome this sort of distraction. I suppose it's all a mindset. I got plenty more in my life (illness, family etc) to worry about. I aint about to stress over something this insignificant.

 

[Puffaluffaguss]

I'm kinda thinking in terms of cannabis, back in the 60s and 70s the stuff my dad smoked is nothing in comparison to what's grown in this day and age. I don't think the tobacco growers are too much into cross breeding and all that. There is a term in this industry called "epigenetic drifting" which in short means if you keep taking seed from the years harvest and planting that and so on, in 50 years the quality of that leaf will diminish. I'm not saying that is the case but it makes sense to me. As well as selection, not enough farmers of tobacco, and demand. With age subpar leaf can get better but when it's fresh is when quality matters.

 

[sablebrush52]

'm wondering if the "smoother and more lush right out of the gate" means, generally, we need a few years (or so) on tins to approach the same kind of quality? If so, all is not lost.

That's may be part of the answer. Speaking as one of those guys smoking 30 years ago (more than 50 actually) I would say that there was a style to what was a fully ready tobacco that has largely disappeared, though you can recapture some of that with some G & H and SG blends, and until recently, Germain's as well. Processing and aging of the leaf before being blended and after being blended has been reduced to reduce costs to the manufacturer, so letting the tins age for a year of more may, and the word is "may" rectify some of that. Since some of these blends aren't really fully cooked at release, the changes aging brings may or may not please the customer.

MacBaren puts out some pretty good stuff, but it's not a match for what the Brits were doing decades ago. Denmark really is where British blends go to die. But Conglomerates have spent money on buying up famous IPs and are cashing in by pretending to continue those famous blends. As long as you like what's in the tin, doesn't matter if it resembles the blend that became famous enough for its name to be carried on. As long as you haven't smoked the original versions you won't know what's different.

Sutliff still releases blends with really good aged components, like their Cringle Flakes, though their style isn't like decades ago. They supplied leaf to all the top blenders at one time or another and produced some much loved blends of their own. They still have quality components.

KBV does those micro batches made from small caches of left over quality leaf. Their releases are generally really good, but small, and then gone.

K&K seems to have bought up all the IP's and pushed out tons of blends under different labels that were pretty decent quality , not like their British originals, but good smokes nonetheless, though some of the blends have been subject to component swapping in the last 4 to 5 years.

Bottom line is if you like what you're smoking that's all that matters. Trying to recapture the past isn't going to happen. A lot of those old practices are nearly as extinct as the dodo.

You adapt and find where the good stuff is in any period. And, like anything else, Sturgeon's Law applies.

 

[BarrelProof]

That's good knowledge. Thanks. I'm wondering if the "smoother and more lush right out of the gate" means, generally, we need a few years (or so) on tins to approach the same kind of quality? If so, all is not lost.

And I'm definitely happy with my smokes!

No. It just means the codgers’ taste buds are shot from years of smoking. We’re still getting good stuff!

I kid, of course. Stay in your recliners.

 

[bullet08]

Yes, the drops that the online retailers do at midnight. Smoking pipes just had one last month. Their web site crashed and was insane. They hype it up a day or two before and then place it on their website and once midnight arrives then you can purchase said tin of tobacco. There’s no need for this. It’s all marketing hype. Thanks.

You think that's crazy? Try picking up a tin at 18:00 EDT drop. Now, that's a proper feeding frenzy.

 

[BarrelProof]

You think that's crazy? Try picking up a tin at 18:00 EDT drop. Now, that's a proper feeding frenzy.

Boswell’s pipe drops are like that. Only a handful each week and loads of folks trying to buy them.

 

[anotherbob]

Yes, the drops that the online retailers do at midnight. Smoking pipes just had one last month. Their web site crashed and was insane. They hype it up a day or two before and then place it on their website and once midnight arrives then you can purchase said tin of tobacco. There’s no need for this. It’s all marketing hype. Thanks.

though they're doing what their customer base wants. Frankly they're a pretty great bunch to do business with. And which would you rather have them telling us when the drop will be or just having to hear about it after the fact. Yeah it doesn't work for everyone but what the heck ever has? If there was a blend I was desperate for if one of my go to blends became rarer I would certainly want to know the moment it becomes available. As far as it crashing the site how can they control that? It says to me that more people responded then they expected. Which by the way since the beginning of the pandemic the growth in tobacco sales has been shocking. The thing is no one knows how long that will continue or even how long it will be before it reverses. Or in other words they don't have the numbers to accurately predict how many people are going to hit up the site at midnight.
And don't forget they're an international business. Kind of hard to follow global trends accurately.

 

[Honkytonk Man]

Yeah this is where I'm at too. I actually avoid the special releases because I want to always have what I like available. Saves me headache, heartache, and wallet-ache (temporarily).

Yes & no. If I'm able to buy the daily prescribed limit, 5 or 10 cans/day, then that's all I'll buy. When it's gone it's gone, no great shakes.
I've got plenty not nearly enough of my favorites.

 

[mso489]

I'll chase a blend on occasions when I have convinced myself it is something I like or think I'll like, but the aura of pipe smoking is to not get prompted and herded much if at all. So once or twice a year, I may jump on that bandwagon, and the rest of the time, I just wave it off.

So many of my favorite blends are easily accessible most of the time, it seems a shame to work up anxiety about something I may not get.

 

[Sethology12]

Personally I think its kinda fun. The idea of the thing is to just not get too down if you miss out on a chance to acquire the limited edition tobacco. If you can temper your expectations than it's a harmless thing indeed. There's only so much variation in tobacco. I'm sure even if you miss the drop you can find a widely available substitute

 

[Doctor Chopper]

I am just happy that we have the choice and variety. Some day soon a senator will change all of that for us with the help of established producers who have influence ($$$$).

 

[anotherbob]

I am just happy that we have the choice and variety. Some day soon a senator will change all of that for us with the help of established producers who have influence ($$$$).

rather be spoiled for choice then limited to a few small choices.

 

[Sethology12]

rather be spoiled for choice then limited to a few small choices.

I could be happy with just a good virginia flake for the rest of my days I think. Unfortunately when choices become scant we'll just have burley and aromatics to choose from

 

[anotherbob]

I could be happy with just a good virginia flake for the rest of my days I think. Unfortunately when choices become scant we'll just have burley and aromatics to choose from

1q it will be 1q but crappy 1q thats half pencil shavings. Oh god I hope not.

 

[ThermionicScott]

I could be happy with just a good virginia flake for the rest of my days I think. Unfortunately when choices become scant we'll just have burley and aromatics to choose from

Aromatics could be on the chopping block sooner than we think, being "flavored tobacco."

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

I couldn't care less about tobacco drops. New blend this, new blend that... great. Esoterica, Germain's, etc. great... If that's your thing then go for it! I used to put my name on SPC list to be emailed when certain blends came available. A few times I got lucky and got a few tins, but 90% of the time by the time I saw the alert the blends were gone. Sometimes it was a matter of 10 minutes. I'm not that desperate for certain blends to spend my time waiting for an alert, and immediately buying some tobacco. To many other good blends out there to buy instead.

 

[Sethology12]

Aromatics could be on the chopping block sooner than we think, being "flavored tobacco."

I won't shed many tears

 

[jpberg]

I think “drops” excite a certain type of personality.