How Much of Your Favorite Blend is Cellared?

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Snook

Can't Leave
Oct 2, 2019
382
1,393
Idaho
The recent talk of Mac Baren and Sutliff's "restructuring" has me understandably worried about future access to one of my favorite blends - Sweet Virginia. In the past, I've bought maybe a pound max of any one particular blend. After hearing the news, however, I immediately ordered a five pound bag of SV and have been considering ordering more.

With my estimation, a bowl in my largest pipe is .1 oz. If I amassed a total of 30 pounds of SV, and assuming I live another 60 years and smoke until I croak, that would afford me roughly 5-6 smokes per month for the rest of my life (that does not include other blends that I would buy and smoke through the years). I think that sounds like a fair amount.

My question for you all is, how much do you keep on hand of your favorite? Do you just buy it as you go? Do you have 20 pounds or more of it? Additionally, how do you prefer to store a large quantity like that? I've been considering the 32oz mason jars, but that would get heavy fast and would take up a lot of space. I think I would look into vacuum sealed bags if I end up making the order.
 

BingBong

Lifer
Apr 26, 2024
1,487
6,368
London UK
Because it sometimes disappears for a few months until the next production run, I hoard Cabbie's. Not cellar, hoard! I have 3x unopened 250g bags and 10x 50g tins, and have just refilled a jar with 250g. As I'm 67 with one foot in the grave, it might be enough for the rest of my life - but it still bothers me that I might run out and it might be unobtanium. Unthinkable.
 

Pooh-Bah

Can't Leave
Apr 21, 2023
445
4,516
32
Central Maryland
By my estimate, I've got about two hundred smokes worth of War Horse Bar stocked up, in a stack of tins on the shelf. Mostly from a stubborn insistence on never paying for shipping from SPC.

If I can double that, it should last five years. Which, in the event of the crapification or termination of the blend should hopefully be time enough for a viable substitute to be developed up by C&D or some other company unshackled by the Danes.
...mental note, I should contaminate some War Horse with the aroma of pumpkin spice and call it "War Hearse". Y'know, for Halloween next year.
 
Last edited:

Snook

Can't Leave
Oct 2, 2019
382
1,393
Idaho
Because it sometimes disappears for a few months until the next production run, I hoard Cabbie's. Not cellar, hoard! I have 3x unopened 250g bags and 10x 50g tins, and have just refilled a jar with 250g. As I'm 67 with one foot in the grave, it might be enough for the rest of my life - but it still bothers me that I might run out and it might be unobtanium. Unthinkable.
May the Cabbie's last you all your days, my friend...
By my estimate, I've got about two hundred smokes worth of War Horse Bar stocked up, in a stack of tins on the shelf. Mostly from a stubborn insistence on never paying for shipping from SPC.

If I can double that, it should last five years. Which, in the event of the crapification or termination of the blend should hopefully be time enough for a viable substitute to be developed up by C&D or some other company unshackled by the Dates.
...mental note, I should contaminate some War Horse with the aroma of pumpkin spice and call it "War Hearse". Y'know, for Halloween next year.
Not bad... just space them out, I guess. And yes, why not throw some pumpkin spice on it! Let me know how that goes.
 
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sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
21,023
50,398
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
Personally I like variety so I have a few pounds of this and a few pounds of that. If a blend runs out, it runs out.

The last time I checked, my largest concentration of any one blend was Stonehaven, at around 8 pounds. Kind of surprising because I haven’t smoked any in at least 5 years, and hadn’t intended to cellar that much.

I suppose I’ll miss St. Bruno, but the MacBaren version doesn’t age well at all.
As for storage, Either 12 oz tall jars for long flakes, 8 oz or 4 oz jars for everything else. This way you only disturb what you need while the rest slumbers.
For larger amounts I use food grade metallized 7 mil Mylar gusseted bags, heat sealed for long term storage.
Anyway, gather what ye may, while ye may.
 

Snook

Can't Leave
Oct 2, 2019
382
1,393
Idaho
My rule of thumb was 20 lbs of each that I wanted to cellar.
I think that's a reasonable amount.
Currently just over 70 pounds of a favorite in ball jars. I go through around 1-2 pounds of tobacco per month.
Not as reasonable but understandable if you're going through that much!
Personally I like variety so I have a few pounds of this and a few pounds of that. If a blend runs out, it runs out.

The last time I checked, my largest concentration of any one blend was Stonehaven, at around 8 pounds. Kind of surprising because I haven’t smoked any in at least 5 years, and hadn’t intended to cellar that much.

I suppose I’ll miss St. Bruno, but the MacBaren version doesn’t age well at all.
As for storage, Either 12 oz tall jars for long flakes, 8 oz or 4 oz jars for everything else. This way you only disturb what you need while the rest slumbers.
For larger amounts I use food grade metallized 7 mil Mylar gusseted bags, heat sealed for long term storage.
Anyway, gather what ye may, while ye may.
I also enjoy variety and plan on - when all is said and done - having probably 9 or 10 of my favorites stockpiled. I guess I'm just starting with this blend because of the situation.
 

Sig

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 18, 2023
514
2,422
Western NY
I just ordered 5 pounds of Va#1....just in case. I already have about 10 pounds of it cellared from 2005-2017.
I do not go through too much tobacco, that will last my lifetime.
I also threw in 10 packs of St Bruno....just in case. :)
This will put me in the 70+ pound range of total tobaccos cellared.
I generally only smoke a pipe from March-November due to extreme cold temps in here. And during those times I only smoke 1-3 bowls a day.
Most of my cellar contains pre 2010 tobacco. I should be fine.
But I don't want to live in a world without MacBaren Virginia #1.