Help With A Tobacco Cellar For My Retirement?

[Perique]

On the bulk side, I would recommend Peter Stokkabye Luxury Navy Flake. Not as sexy as some of the others listed but I've found this to age very nicely and has eclipsed many other VaPers in my little collection. You'll get a lot of bang for your buck - er, quid - with this tobacco in bulk.

 

[cortezattic]

in re rebornbriar's question, "...do plugs age as well as flakes?": According to "our" resident microbiologist, Kashmir,

The sugars that [...] were not accessible to the early degredation by the obligate aerobes, is what is going on with the sugar-rich Virginias. Apparently, the packing of the tobacco (plug verses loose) is what determines how much of this sugar is freely metabolized early on. To me, it would seem, a Virginia plug would retain more sugar than a loosely packed Virginia.

So I'm guessing that plugs will be sweeter still than flakes, but anaerobes are still at work in them too. You can read the full text in the comments section of G L Pease's excellent article, Saving For A Rainy Day.
In response to mso489, whose opinion I greatly esteem, I have found that when one factors the cost, fiddle-factor, and storage requirements of Mason jars, one finds tins to be more efficient than bulk preparations. True, Mason jars are infinitely reusable, but does one really want to buy 200+ jars as opposed to as many tins? It's a personal cost/benefit judgment call; but jars add ~$0.80/100gr. to the cost -- and in long term storage that cost is not amortized. BTW, having about 144 Mason jars myself, I advocate the use of them when tins have been opened, or when the savings on bulk make them compelling.
Lastly, Harris' mention of Stonehaven jogged my memory. How could I have forgotten one of the most elegant and delectable Virginia flakes to which you should have access: Esoterica Peacehaven -- which should age nicely in the metalized plastic bags in which they are packaged. See my review of Peacehaven.

 

[rebornbriar]

How could I have forgotten one of the most elegant and delectable Virginia flakes to which you should have access: Esoterica Peacehaven

First of all Cortez, an excellent review of Peacehaven. I have never tried it and wonder is this blend overlooked through the Stonehaven/Penzance noise?
Secondly, the Esoterica blends are one of those strange intricacies. Although manufactured in the Channel Islands, these blends are not available in the UK - only in the USA. With them seeming to be out of stock so much in the USA I wonder what the actual production figures are for these blends??
There have been some comparisons made between Stonehaven and Germain's Loose Rich Dark Flake, but not having tried these I cannot comment.
Yet again it seems as if we have been devoid of excellent blends made in UK territories which seems unbelievable, but given the excellent value of Esoterica blends bulk in the USA - it is likely advantageous to buy from there - when they are back in stock.

 

[cigrmaster]

roth, I consider both Solani SS and the Gold Brick to be bulks because they cannot be stored in their original containers, but technically you are correct they are not your standard bulks.

 

[dragonslayer]

Since you're already loving FVF you have to add SJF to the list. The one thing I'll add is with 6 inch plank/flake, store the jars on their sides. This will keep them from sagging over the long haul and remain nice flat planks. I do give all my jarred tobacco a quarter turn every three months. I believe this helps the anaerobic bacteria spread quicker. But that's just my thinking, not a fact, at least not yet.
Craig

 

[flakyjakey]

@reborn, before I reply in detail, please could you remind me how to source the 'Mason jar equivalent' in the UK??
@y'all, thank you for your help. I would normally reply individually but I have just returned from a four-day food and wine extravaganza in the Rhone Valley (more of which perhaps in another post) LOL to find so many helpful comments waiting.
Thus, for my 'retirement holy trinity' of jarred tobaccos:
- BBF

- FVF

- Bulwark Flake
The 'twelve apostles':
- Irish Slices

- G&H Balkan Flake (they do it in bulk)

- SG Balkan Flake

- G&H Dark Flake

- SG 1792 Flake

- SG St James Flake (I loved it when I compared it to the plug)

- G&H Best Brown

- SG Navy Flake

- Mick McQuaid's Square Cut (emptied out of tins)

- Germain's Rich Dark Flake (available in the UK and said to be comparable with 'Stonehaven')- a stunning gift mlc

- Brown Irish Rope

- Brown Bogie Rope
I noted the discussion as to whether plugs would age well. I already have Peterson's PPP. Revor Plug, FV Plug and Cob (1792) Plug set up in Kilner jars. I will not touch these and will set up two more for 'Warrior' and 'Mick McQuaid's Plug'.
These tobaccos will lie on their sides 'in state' for five years, and each year from now on I will add another Kg to each of their masses; by 2018 I should be well set, if I'm spared (as they say in Scotland!) LOL

 

[rebornbriar]

@flaky Kilner Preserving Jars - best value at Dunelm Mill - your closest to Edinburgh is Pentland Retail Park, Straiton, Loan Head, EH20 9PW,
Link to the 1/2 litre jar @ £2.29 each www.dunelm-mill.com/shop/kilner-500ml-preserving-jar-308809
I have some 1 litre jars (£2.99) and they easily hold a 250g box of Sam Gawith Flakes. The screw top jars are much better than the clip jars. You can check them every now and again to make sure they are screwed tight.

 

[mso489]

flaky, one note about retirement rather than tobacco. When I retired, I fully expected the pace of life to slow down

considerably. I thought I would be looking at long afternoons deciding whether to read a book or do a little gardening.

Quite to the contrary, I have found the pace of life has picked up a great deal. So much that goes on automatic pilot

during your working life becomes a matter for decisions, and the opportunities are much greater -- family activities,

volunteering, travel (day trips or extended), and so on. I don't feel I get done half of what I should. So, enjoy! But

bear in mind, your hours of contemplative smoking may not be what you visualize. I do often steal a bowl or two

after lunch or supper, but I am often just too busy. I feel like I have retired to get to work.

 

[flakyjakey]

@mso489, I hear you but it's still 5 years away! I hope to be as busy as you!! lol

 

[flakyjakey]

Update:
I thank you all for your contributions. I have received in the last two days deliveries which complete (possibly) my (bulk) cellar contributions for 2013:
The Holy Trinity:
- SG FVF 1000g

- SG BBF 1000g

- GH&Co Balkan Flake 1000g
The Twelve Apostles:
- Germain's RDF 1000g

- SG SJF 500g

- SG Balkan Flake 500g

- GH&Co Brown Unscented 500g

- GH&Co Bright CR 500g

- Stokkebye Bulwark 500g

- Stokkebye Irish Slices 500g

- GH&Co Dark Flake 500g

- SG 1792 Flake 500g

- SG FV Plug 500g

- SG Cob Plug 500g

- GH&Co Dark Plug 500g

- G&H Brown Irish Rope 250g
They are now in 1 litre screw cap 'Kilner' jars (equivalent to Mason jars) in the cupboard under the stairs where they will rest at 70 degrees F, undisturbed, for five years.
I realise that compared to Harris and Peck this is a trivial amount of tobacco, but it gives me pleasure to know that it will be undergoing anaerobic transformation for me to smoke in my retirement !! LOL
Thanks again to you all for your advice and encouragement - you now know the types of tobacco that snap my socks !! LOL

 

[rebornbriar]

Wow, that is a nice bulk order. It must have taken Eddie Stobart to deliver that one :D

 

[dragonslayer]

That's a beautiful thing :crying: Please store the jarred 6" flake's on their sides. Keep them straight and true, not twisted and sagging.
Craig

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Wow Flaky, that is a haul unlike any I've ever seen. You must have crippled the delivery guy.

 

[flakyjakey]

The tobaccos were shipped in two consigments. It seems a lot, but on my original premise I am effectively buying enough to last me for the whole year of 2018. I smoke on average 6 bowls on weekdays and 9 on weekend days and I'm worried I have not stored enough !!
However this is only my store of bulk tobaccos; I have yet to order my tins/packs of plugs, including McQuaid's Plug and Warrior. They will be opened on arrival and stored as above. I will also be ordering some of my late dad's favourite Ogden's Walnut Flake, and thanks to reborn's suggestion TINS of Germain's Brown Flake and will even try to secure RIBBONS/READY RUBBED (never thought I would) of GLP's Maltese Falcon and Odyssey which, after a generous gift from mlc, I found I loved - despite my misgivings !! LOL
@dragonslyer, absolutely, as you kindly suggested
@roth, Peacehaven? Can't find it on either side of the pond.
@peck and reborn, yes despite the split consignment the delivery man struggled. I have referred him to a surgeon friend for a hernia repair ! lol But I'm less concerned about him than I am about my being called in by my bank mananger !! LOL

 

[cigrmaster]

flakey, that is one major haul of tobacco, way to go. If my math is correct that is about 22 pounds in one shot, what are you ordering for next week? lol

 

[flakyjakey]

@Harris, 250g Warrior Plug and 250g Mcquaid's Plug, since you ask. But will the whole haul last me for the year 2018, that is the question?

 

[cigrmaster]

flakey, how much tobacco do you smoke in a year?

 

[flakyjakey]

@Harris, about 50 bowls per week, on average,whatever that adds up to?

 

[rebornbriar]

Good on you for the Germain's Brown Flake. I am smoking a bowl right now and definitely think it will fit in to your repertoire.
Funny, I was actually thinking about your order today, and though the monetary value in the UK is scary with our tax regime, I was actually wondering the same thing as you - that when you break it down over a year - how many years tobacco might be there. I reckoned on 3, but you smoke more than I do! It's not going to get any cheaper anyway.
I opened a Walnut Flake the other day - I'm not so sure about it. It's been a few years since I last tried it. I will try another bowl and if it doesn't sing to me I will send you the rest as a token element to add to your cellar. Out of interest, how many jars did you buy?

 

[flakyjakey]

@reborn, 5x50g packs emptied into a Kilner jar. I am also smoking the Germain Brown Flake right now, at your suggestion - a stunning smoke, up there IMO with FVF and BBF. I need to order more for my 2018 collection; I think it will age well.
@sam, shit! Not enough!! The tins I mentioned should hopefully take it up to requirement. BUT I am likely to smoke more in my first retirement year, if I'm spared. Sleepless night tonight !! LOL