Greg Pease and Drucquer & Sons

[gsmunoz]

@tobaccojoe -
Sure, I get that part of it, but there is so much more to all of it. I just find it odd that people would complain about it. Seems like an unnecessary dig at people like Russ or Greg. There is a lot going on here that people need to take into consideration and show some gratitude and respect.
As far as cashing in, there's more to it than monetization. One it's their job, two, think about how they are feeling right now. They create, and our government is trying to take that away. There's so much here that I am going to leave alone. I just think that it's a base response considering the current affairs.
I am not upset or offended by it, nor am I trying to start a fight. I just think that stepping out of your own shoes and looking at it from the perspective of those that are impacted the most makes it pretty clear to me why we are seeing this happen. I appreciate their efforts and if I had the funds would be spending a good amount of cash supporting their efforts.
There, enough said, I am going to leave this one alone.
Thanks

 

[bigpond]

Well, this is interesting. Greg, I'm glad to see you are as busy as ever. Blairgowrie has my full attention. Fortunately, SPC have thrown up a video here. Worth the time, I think.

https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/tasting-notes-drucquers-sons-blairgowrie
I believe D&S was on University ave, not Shattuck. Whichever was the case, it was long gone when I was student there in the 90's and the only smoke shops sold glass pipes.

 

[lestrout]

I'm with gsmunoz.
hp

les

 

[georged]

Let's see... For months, it's, "Who do these FDA people think they are? This is outrageous! A powergrab! An overreach! Do you know how many tobaccos will be going away because of those smug, do-gooder Social Justice Warrior bastards in Washington? Hundreds! Maybe thousands! It's a travesty! This isn't even America anymore!"
Then, to address that situation, a man who is arguably the most respected pipe tobacco blender on the planet teams with HIS boss, arguably the best high volume pipe-goods retailer on the planet, to see how many top-quality blends they can bring to market before a hard and fast cutoff date kicks in---not frivolous experiments, either, but full-on attempts to re-create a highly regarded, prestigious line of tobaccos that the blender knows well from personal experience---and we get this:
"Who do these opportunistic blenders think they are? Hollywood-movie-style sequels? Really?! This is outrageous! A moneygrab! An overreach! It's a travesty! I refuse to buy it!"
I don't think I need to tell you what I am sick and tired of. :evil:

 

[snagstangl]

Thank goodness that pipe smokers love sequels. With 20 bowls to a tin we like after the first one, its just the sequel a bunch of times anyway. As far as I know, Pease is one hell of a director and I will watch the sequel 19 times with no problem. As will a bunch of other.
Blenders Blend, Pipesmokers Smoke and Forum Members complain. For some, it is just their thing.
For me, it's trying to get those freakin' squirrels out of my hickory tree, with a slingshot, because I live in town! I'm sick and tired of those fluffy tailed rats!

 

[tennsmoker]

I never had the opportunity to smoke Drucquer & Sons tobaccos, so I am very excited to give 'em a shot. Plus, a mighty thanks to GLP and SP.com for bringing these long-gone goodies back to the pipe-smoking world.
I see this as a chance for pipe smokers to touch a bit of history from the hands of a great blender, GLP, and an outstanding online retailer, SP.com (I don't have stock or such in either one).
One quick note and I'll move on: when I was in college, I wasn't smart enough to think there might be other blends out there that were better than the Drug Store stuff I smoked. I missed my chance to smoke some of the legendary blends that have since vanished.
So, I for one, am very thankful we have such talented blenders as Russ O and GLP, and others, who can bring these iconic blends back to life.
I'm smart enough now not to miss out. Or, at least, I hope I am.

 

[ericusrex]

"I didn't create them back in the day, but I made hundreds of pounds of them"
So, GLP had nothing to do with the creation of these blends? Hmmmm. I think I'll pass on them in favor of the blends he's created himself. Funds are too slim and time is too short to buy everything that's coming out all of the sudden.

 

[csharp]

Confession I did not smoke these back in the day. In retrospect I wish I did.
Drucquer & Son blends have a cult status with vintage tins carrying a premium now.
I never thought anyone would bring these blends back but I am happy to hear of their future return.
Greg is certainly the right person to do this and it will be interesting to taste the blends he originally cut his teeth on.

 

[JimInks]

As it turns out, I'll be reviewing these blends soon. I'm curious to try them out.

 

[andrew]

Cellar hard, cellar deep, throw the ankles behind the ears, cellar cellar cellar!!!!

 

[fitzy]

I've got to say "Trafalgar" sounds like it's right in my wheel house.
Do we have an idea when these will become available?

 

[thesillyoldbear]

Do we have an idea when these will become available?

Tomorrow!

 

[huntertrw]

"I believe D&S was on University ave, not Shattuck."
Drucquer & Sons Ltd. was located on Shattuck Avenue...back in 1938 when the image of the interior of their shop was made (as shown in the string above). The last address which I have for them is 1481 Solano Avenue in Albany, California, that being the return address on the beautiful stationary envelope in which I received a copy of their blend list in 1995.

 

[glpease]

"I believe D&S was on University ave, not Shattuck."
Drucquer & Sons Ltd. was located on Shattuck Avenue...back in 1938 when the image of the interior of their shop was made (as shown in the string above). The last address which I have for them is 1481 Solano Avenue in Albany, California, that being the return address on the beautiful stationary envelope in which I received a copy of their blend list in 1995.

From 1929 to 1930, the address was 2140 Center Street, after which the shop moved to several different locations on Shattuck Avenue over the years, finally settling in at 2059 University Avenue sometime near 1946. I don't recall the date the store moved to Solano Avenue, across the street from a Schmidt's Pub, which, in addition to good coffee and beer, also had some trade in pipes and tobaccos. The move was the kiss of death.

 

[deathmetal]

good coffee and beer, also had some trade in pipes and tobaccos

Talk about a type of establishment that is badly needed!

 

[bigpond]

glpease said:

From 1929 to 1930, the address was 2140 Center Street, after which the shop moved to several different locations on Shattuck Avenue over the years, finally settling in at 2059 University Avenue sometime near 1946. I don't recall the date the store moved to Solano Avenue, across the street from a Schmidt's Pub, which, in addition to good coffee and beer, also had some trade in pipes and tobaccos. The move was the kiss of death.

That's wild. I used to go to Schimdt's all the time. In fact, it was their tolerance toward smoking and open display of pipes and tobacconalia that made Solano the only place that seemed the right sort of place for a proper pipe shop. I can't remember what was across the street when I was there in the 90's...I think it may have been a Tibetan gift shop.

 

[northernneil]

With these remakes of Drucquer & Sons tobaccos coming back to market, there was a thread that was resurrected from about a years ago discussing these blends. Here is a link to the thread if you are interested.
Nonetheless, in this thread there is a mention of an old Drucquer & Sons blend called Temple Bar. A couple of months ago GL Pease released his own blend called Temple Bar. The components of the two blends appear to be different. So I was wondering if there is any correlation between the two blends?

 

[stbruno70]

Royal Ransom - slightly more than half Latakia, with Turkish and Virginia (including black Virginia to mellow the Latakia). Similar to Sobranie black and Nightcap.

Levant Mixture - full strength English-Balkan mixture. Possibly like Royal Ransom but with a bit more Turkish.

Mixture 805 - the classic English mixture, half Latakia with the remainder evenly divided between Turkish and Virginias (comparable to Sobranie white and 965)...

This list was originally written by At The Back of the Hill and may be found here:
https://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2006/10/drucquer-sons-ltd-pipe-tobacco-blends.html
along with other fine memories of Drucquer's.

 

[stbruno70]

I don't recall the date the store moved to Solano Avenue, across the street from a Schmidt's Pub...

I did not know that was where Drucquer's ended up. Whilst the Solano has its charms, it seems far from the University and Berkeley foot traffic in general.

 

[thesillyoldbear]

On site now.