How Many Tobaccos in Active Rotation?

[cigrmaster]

I currently have exactly 30 tins open for me to smoke out of. I also have half a dozen bulk blends, that I also I smoke through through. 30 open tins is about my max as I don't have much room after that. It is a number that gives me the variety that works for me.

 

[DanWil84]

With how much would you be comfortable? Is there stuff you really like? This question has risen a dozen times. I have 8 open now, i intend to have 10 open and smoke each once a week. This gives my "cellar" a chance to age. Act as if this is a long term game. I have 2 blends which I intend to go deep on and I still have a lot of time to pick the other 8. If my smoking habits ask for more blends I'll try more and have more tins open.

 

[That Guy]

Way too many! around 40 I believe. It's more of a monthly rotation than weekly

 

[tradition]

One

Any others are just to smoke-up what's not number one.

 

[dctune]

I honestly don’t even think about it. I just smoke whatever I’m in the mood for at a given moment. I also often get a little over-intrigued by recommendations or reviews of something that sounds good to me. So I’ll order a couple ounces and try those as well. And I always pop the tin or bag almost immediately upon arrival and take a whiff and try a bowl. Can’t help it.

I’d say I currently have around 15 opened tobaccos. But not all of those are “in the rotation.” I might smoke a few bowls one day, then jar it and not touch it for a month or so.

So I guess if truly pressed, I currently have only 2 blends firmly “in the rotation.” These are the 2 I smoke almost daily: Nightcap, and Graduate (my fave, from Schwab’s Pipes N Stuff, a local B&M.) But the wind could blow and change that at any given moment.

 

[anotherbob]

It is up to you. Personally i suggest only having one or two open because i think you will learn more going through one tin and not worrying about variety.for example when you get that particulary perfect smoke you find it easier to figure out why. And of all tobacco pipds are the most subtle and finicky a an ok blend smokdd well is better then a great blend smoked sloppy. Though just my opinion and your pipes and tobaccos bought with your money

 

[anotherbob]

Oh my rotation is six blends that i smoke one blend per week all in jars. This week it is yorktown

 

[jafo1989]

Way too many! around 40 I believe. It's more of a monthly rotation than weekly

And now the replies coming in from folks bemoaning having a few dozen open tins & jars catches up to the unmentioned subtext of my original question. In the past couple of weeks I seem to have come down with a case of PAD. I can’t afford TAD on top of it. ?

 

[anotherbob]

And now the replies coming in from folks bemoaning having a few dozen open tins & jars catches up to the unmentioned subtext of my original question. In the past couple of weeks I seem to have come down with a case of PAD. I can’t afford TAD on top of it. ?

bulk is great lots of tobacco at a great price

 

[craig61a]

Probably 30-40 jars that I work out of…

 

[keith929]

I try to limit my open tins to 8 which I smoke in rotation.
In the course of a typical day I get through at least 4.

 

[timt]

And now the replies coming in from folks bemoaning having a few dozen open tins & jars catches up to the unmentioned subtext of my original question. In the past couple of weeks I seem to have come down with a case of PAD. I can’t afford TAD on top of it. ?

IMO TAD>PAD, especially if you have a lot of years ahead of you.

 

[Chasing Embers]

No rotation here. Whatever looks good in the closet at the time gets smoked. Mainly smoke Sutliff TS24 and C&D Engine 382 though.

 

[edger]

Six.
C&D Derringer
C&D Bayou Morning
C&D Three Friars
Stokkebye PS 41Cube Cut
Sutliff RR (Edgeworth match)
St Bruno RR
All but the St Bruno are bulk, so open tins don't trouble me.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I have around a dozen tins open and a few jars I smoke from occasionally.

 

[jafo1989]

IMO TAD>PAD, especially if you have a lot of years ahead of you.

I wouldn’t disagree with you. My hobbies though tend to get started when I get curious about how to refurbish/restore something. Pipes just happened to open up when I was getting stale on other things.

 

[OldRocko]

Kind of a rookie question, but since I only picked up a pipe back in September, what’s a fair number of tobaccos to have in active rotation, esp. while I’m figuring out what I like? I’ve been reluctant to open more than 5-6 for some reason, I guess so as not to have a dozen more unsealed before I’m ready to get to ‘em. ?‍

As a newbie, I also ask myself this question - perhaps because I haven't yet started cellaring and am afraid of my tobacco going bad (as I live in high humidity area). But wouldn't the rate of consumption also matter? If you don't smoke that often, does it make sense to have a bunch of tins unsealed? I've read previous posts about smoking frequency and the numbers are all over. Also, what is the best approach to develop the palate? Do you try and change tobaccos often, or do you become familiar with a few before eventually adding more to your repertoire?

​

 

[jafo1989]

As a newbie, I also ask myself this question - perhaps because I haven't yet started cellaring and am afraid of my tobacco going bad (as I live in high humidity area). But wouldn't the rate of consumption also matter? If you don't smoke that often, does it make sense to have a bunch of tins unsealed? I've read previous posts about smoking frequency and the numbers are all over. Also, what is the best approach to develop the palate? Do you try and change tobaccos often, or do you become familiar with a few before eventually adding more to your repertoire?

​

Sounds like you’ve been approaching it like I have to this point: what’s a good number of blends to be working through as a rookie on the one hand, but what’s too many on the other? As this thread’s developed I’m persuaded to really only lean into 5-6 for now. I’ll stick with the starter pouches for a bit longer & then start opening tins because the name & art are cool. ?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

When you’re first starting out, why tie yourself down to a tin of something that’s not floating your boat? Jar it up and revisit later and move on. If you like it, smoke it up and buy a few or 20 more to age. Eventually you’ll have a boatload of jars to dip into for your active rotation and a cellar to age.

Cosmic knows all this, he’s just….well, really I couldn’t tell you why. It’s funny like that around here. ?

Oh, All tins in my rotation are beloved. But, only one or two will be open that I’m trying out. And, I will put away something that doesn’t float my boat. I just give a blend like that a fair optimistic chance, IMO.

Starting out, I was the opposite. I’d have a whole shelf of things open, but that got confusing for me. And, with experience my tastes have narrowed, so 4-6 open at a time works for me.

I say my tastes have narrowed, but that’s not entirely accurate. I like a lot more variety of types, just less of each type, if that makes sense.

 

[JOHN72]

I think I have about 20. I try to consume bulk tobacco first. And keep the tins unopened.........I also consume bag tobacco first, like St Bruno, Condor, Mixture Scottish Blend for example...........But it is relative, depending on how my cellar grows............