Help With A Tobacco Cellar For My Retirement?

[flakyjakey]

I am due to retire in five years, if I'm spared (as they say in Scotland ! lol). I collect fine wines and have c. 4000 bottles cellared at 'Octavian Vaults' in Wiltshire. Once retired I intend that I and my family/friends will drink our way through this collection and that in retirement I will not need to buy wine.
So, I was thinking about an identical approach to pipe tobacco. But we Brits are not as experienced in storing/ageing pipe tobacco as are so many forum members. So, bearing in mind that I don't smoke aromatics, ready-rubbed or collect tins, which flakes should I start stashing over the next five years?
Please suggest up to ten, which must be available in the UK, and note that I have already started with FVF and BBF - two of my favourites which I suspect will age/store/last well.
PS A final question - I have read a number of threads on how to store tobacco which have been very useful, but does temperature or do changes of temperature matter with stored pipe tobaccos? They do with cigars.
Thanks for your help in this weighty matter!

 

[judcole]

I don't ... collect tins

If this means it has to be available in bulk, that could limit your options. Peterson flakes, for example, are not available except tinned.
I'm fond of both Dunhill Flake and Hartwell Signature, but the latter is available only in tins. Not sure if it is available in the UK. (You've already mentioned BBF, which is a fave of mine.)

Have you tried SG Balkan Flake? That's one of the few true flakes (as opposed to crumble cakes) I have tried with latakia. Their Navy Flake might also be worth considering.
Another possibility might be MacBaren Mixture Flake or Navy Flake.
Are coin cuts (roll cakes) or crumble cakes in the mix? If so, you might want to look at MacBaren Dark Twist or Roll Cake.
Happy searching.

 

[flakyjakey]

Thanks Jud. I don't mind opening lots of tins and putting the tobacco in mason jars (it would be the only way for me to include Peterson's Irish Flake, for example). I was thinking of G+H Balkan Flake myself - I love it - do you know how it ages c.f. Va fakes? Dunhill Flake is a great idea; more tin opening, but worth it.
I started out thinking only about bulk, but I'm beginning to wonder whether I really ought to include tins themselves in the collection, but they would need to be limited to a few blends only.
Still thinking....

 

[taerin]

Personally I would store everything in mason jars. Tins are not for me at all If Peter Stokkebye bulk is available, buy large quantities of Bullseye Flake and Twist Flake, they are awesome, I am also a huge fan of FVF, I have yet to try my BBF, but I think I will love it too. Also try Orlik Golden Sliced, it ages really well, I don't like it fresh usually, but 3 months later it's great, Harris says he ages it for at least 10 years and then it is truly awesome.

 

[flakyjakey]

@eric, thanks. My gut feeling is for mason jars. I've already got BBF and FVF stashed away. The Orlik Golden Sliced is now on my list! I'll be 70 by the time it is at its peak !! LOL

 

[mrenglish]

Tins will age OK you just need to be careful of the rectangle type like Penzance comes in.
Balkan Flake ages very well, I have some that is about 12 years old and its wonderful. Stokkebye's Bullseye Flake is a good one to store in jars. It needs age to really start to shine so in five years it will be really good.
If you have not tried them, I would also recommend Bright CR Flake, Glengarry Flake and Louisiana Flake from Gawith and Hoggarth. They age very well.
Drastic temperature changes can pop the seals on tins, especially rectangular ones. As long as you have a relatively constant temperature you will be OK. Pipe tobacco is not like cigars where they have to be maintained in a specific range. What you do not want is to put them in an area that gets direct sunlight. I keep all of my jars in a closet. That side of house heats up during the summer as it faces the late afternoon sun but that is OK with our AC and its dark. Direct sunlight can cause condensation which is not good for long term. If you have a basement or out of the way place you will be OK, just avoid drastic temperature swings and direct sunlight.
The nice thing about mason jars is they will seal themselves. Just pack them up and make sure the rim is clear of any tobacco and tighten the lids. As the magic starts to work, it will slowly create a vacuum and it will seal.

 

[rcstan]

FWIW you will need some tall jars for both SG and G&H flakes if you can buy them in the 250g and 500g packages , as those flakes are LONG ( 2,5 x the size of the guys in the tin )
I will second the recommendation for SG Balkan Flake ( smoking a bowl right now from a 250g box that I`ve hade about a year ) and will add to your list G&H Best Brown #2 and Ennerdale flakes.

 

[flakyjakey]

@rcstan, thanks. I have the BBF and FVF in 500g and will now get the G&H Balkan (does it taste better with a bit of age?). I hadn't thought of the G&H Best Brown No 2, but it is now on my list!!

 

[flakyjakey]

@mrenglish, thanks - all great advice, which I will take. Good to hear about the relative temp resistance c.f. cigars!! LOL

 

[rcstan]

@flaky ... Balkan Flake is made by Sam Gawith .... I find it sweeter and with more incense-like qualities once aged than fresh out the tin. Now G&H makes a Balkan Mixture but that one is not really my cuppa as it has an unexpected rough heaviness to it, not unlike Dunhill's Nightcap.

 

[flakyjakey]

Sorry, my error. I did know that - SG Balkan Flake is one of my 'go to' tobaccos!! Interested to hear what you say about its improvement with a bit of age. I just empty a couple of tins into a Kilner jar and go from there.

 

[rcstan]

No worries. You can visually observe the process on those flakes as they develop white streaks from the sugars. It's pretty neat.

 

[dochudson]

I'm currently bulking up my supply of Gawith Hoggarth Bosun Cut Plug, Sam Gawith 1792 Flake and McClelland Frog Mortons Cellar.

 

[nachman]

I prepared a cellar for my retirement but I still can't resist buying a bit now and then. I would highly recommend JF Germain's Rich Dark Flake and Germain's Brown Flake. They are two of my favorites and if you like SG Best Brown, you will love those Germain offerings.

 

[tarak]

I enjoy McClelland flakes, particularly Blackwoods. They have bulk flakes too- haven't tried them yet but plan to! Also, I like MacBaren. Old Dark Fired and Roll Cake....and at $43ish per 16 oz. bag it's not too badly priced.

 

[cortezattic]

I think all the major flakes have been mentioned so far. It would help if you could list the companies that distribute in your area.

Are you willing / able to buy from 4noggins, which will deliver internationally?
Sam Gawith's Medium Virginia Flake and St. James Flake, eclipsed by their more popular brother, FVF,

are every bit as good as most other offerings and, IMO, actually a cut or two above.

Frankly, I don't understand your reluctance to buy tinned tobacco. In my experience they hold their seal quite well.

Storage at about a steady 70°F (21°C) will work well. Tins will hold up well if the storage facility is reasonably dry.

Plastic/poly storage bins are always an option, and you can pack silica gel or other dessicant in with the tins if need be.

 

[rebornbriar]

FWIW you will need some tall jars for both SG and G&H flakes if you can buy them in the 250g and 500g packages , as those flakes are LONG

I cut the flakes in half using the Chinese cleaver method and they store like this well. Also when you remove some they fit nicely in an old tin.
Looking at the suggestions above and knowing your tastes, I don't think the Orlik Golden Sliced would appeal to you. I would recommend adding the other 2 SG blends mentioned above by Cortez, and another one by SG mentioned that I would think you would enjoy is the Navy Flake. Just a hint of Latakia and a brandy topping (not really detectable). The virginias in this blend are really nice.
I also think you really need to put away some more of your staple blends for ageing, Bulwark Flake and Irish Slices. Have you ever managed to smoke either of these aged? I would certainly like to see if they improve.
Lastly, I have no knowledge of this - but wonder do plugs age as well as flakes? I am not sure with their denser make up. But if they do then FV plug, Warrior Plug, Mick McQuaid and Revor.
I think the idea you are aiming for is to hopefully improve those blends you already love - rather than experimenting with new ones in your retirement - correct me if I'm wrong.
With future visits planned to Edinburgh I will have a vested interest in how this develops :D

 

[pylorns]

Not knowing if you get taxed to order from the states for certain - I would think you'd save money ordering from the US and having it shipped because of all the taxes there...

 

[cigrmaster]

flakey, I have tins dating back to 1997 and they have all been perfect when opened. I am a tin first guy as most of my favorites only come that way. The only bulks I stock are SG ST James Flake, Best Brown, FVF, Solani Silver Flake, Wessex Gold Brick, Stonehaven. I prefer the tins for their convenience and for the fact of how the tobacco ages in them. I have pretty much completed my 25 year cellar of 250 pounds and approximately 60 pounds are bulks with 190 being tins. Since you do have access to 4noggins and smokingpipes, you might want to consider more tins for your stash.

 

[mso489]

In your place, I'd buy bulk. On the scale you are intending to store tobacco, I think you would have tremendous savings.

If cost is no object, you could redirect this into a fund to sample tins to add to your rotation from time to time, so you

could experience variety and new blends as they come along. I'd only buy large quantities of tobaccos you have enjoyed

over many years, so you don't get stuck with tobaccos you no longer enjoy.