I Might Be A Codger Now

[augiebd]

Inspired by some threads about OTC blends I have been reading lately I decided to do a “tour” of the OTC blends I have on hand last weekend. I usually don’t smoke these blends close together and most the time just have a single bowl from time to time.

I wasn’t really going for a controlled experiment so the pipes did vary, two different cobs and two different briars.

The rotation was:

Fri. Evening - Carter Hall, briar
Sat. Morning - Half and Half, briar
Sat. Afternoon - SWRA, briar
Sat. Evening - SWR, cob
Sun. Morning - Prince Albert, cob
Sun. Afternoon - Captain Black Cherry, cob
Sun. Evening - Captain Black White, cob

A few observations, I was surprised that I even had CB Cherry. It is the one tobacco in my cellar that I have no recollection of buying or any idea why I would buy it. Be warned, your cellar may contain mysteries. All these tobaccos have age on them except the SWRA. That said, both the CB blends were still not as dry as I like. I packed the SWRA and the CB blends in a bowl and let them dry for 1 1/2 before smoking the other blends were dried to almost crisp, so packed and smoked.

Prince Albert and CH were the easiest smoking with PA having the slight edge if I had to pick one. H&H, SWRA and SWR also were easy smoking. The two CB blends burnt well enough, none of the blends required much in the way of relights, but The CB blends did burn a bit hotter.

It was nice to have a comparison of these blends based on experience not memory. I will only generalize, not review, my palate is unrefined. For flavour, the top 3 for me were H&H, SWRA and CH, not necessarily in that order. PA could sneak into the top 3 on a given day. Feel like I have to mention the CB Cherry, not in the top 3 of cherry blends I have smoked, but maybe not as bad as I feared.

I always enjoy these blends when I smoke them but this experience will add to my enjoyment and understanding of them.

I know it’s a long post but maybe codgers ramble...

 

[mso489]

I was and am most impressed with SWRA, one of the better aromatics I've tried -- burley based, with Virginia as a condiment, flavored with three liqueurs, pretty sophisticated for something associated with codgers. It's for codgers who still have a gleam in their eyes. H&H is okay but is a little harsh, a little edgy. Codger cherry blends tend to overdo the flavoring, but might improve with some age, so the flavoring can fade.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Were I left with nothing but OTCs, I would still be a very happy smoker.

 

[jdb67]

Inspired by some threads about OTC blends I have been reading lately I decided to do a “tour” of the OTC blends I have on hand last weekend. I usually don’t smoke these blends close together and most the time just have a single bowl from time to time.

I wasn’t really going for a controlled experiment so the pipes did vary, two different cobs and two different briars.

The rotation was:

Fri. Evening - Carter Hall, briar
Sat. Morning - Half and Half, briar
Sat. Afternoon - SWRA, briar
Sat. Evening - SWR, cob
Sun. Morning - Prince Albert, cob
Sun. Afternoon - Captain Black Cherry, cob
Sun. Evening - Captain Black White, cob

A few observations, I was surprised that I even had CB Cherry. It is the one tobacco in my cellar that I have no recollection of buying or any idea why I would buy it. Be warned, your cellar may contain mysteries. All these tobaccos have age on them except the SWRA. That said, both the CB blends were still not as dry as I like. I packed the SWRA and the CB blends in a bowl and let them dry for 1 1/2 before smoking the other blends were dried to almost crisp, so packed and smoked.

Prince Albert and CH were the easiest smoking with PA having the slight edge if I had to pick one. H&H, SWRA and SWR also were easy smoking. The two CB blends burnt well enough, none of the blends required much in the way of relights, but The CB blends did burn a bit hotter.

It was nice to have a comparison of these blends based on experience not memory. I will only generalize, not review, my palate is unrefined. For flavour, the top 3 for me were H&H, SWRA and CH, not necessarily in that order. PA could sneak into the top 3 on a given day. Feel like I have to mention the CB Cherry, not in the top 3 of cherry blends I have smoked, but maybe not as bad as I feared.

I always enjoy these blends when I smoke them but this experience will add to my enjoyment and understanding of them.

I know it’s a long post but maybe codgers ramble...

If you happen to have some Peterson University Flake laying around, try mixing a bit of that with Carter Hall. I find it makes CH a fine smoke. I am mixing 4 flakes (very rubbed out as fine as I can get it) per pouch of CH. I still need to try PA though.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

If I had nothing but Haunted Bookshop & a few cobs...I’m pretty sure I’d be happy with that. Something about having a favorite blend, a trusty pipe, and no decision other than to load, smoke and enjoy...simple pleasures!️

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Yup.. they sure ain't bad. I've recently revisited Half and Half, there is some complexity to be enjoyed there. If you're into that kind of thing, and you smoke really slow.

 

[augiebd]

I was and am most impressed with SWRA, one of the better aromatics I've tried -- burley based, with Virginia as a condiment, flavored with three liqueurs, pretty sophisticated for something associated with codgers. It's for codgers who still have a gleam in their eyes. H&H is okay but is a little harsh, a little edgy. Codger cherry blends tend to overdo the flavoring, but might improve with some age, so the flavoring can fade.

I agree, the SWRA is a very different approach. Yes, the H&H is best enjoyed while smoking slowly and I’m sure the age on the CB Cherry improved my experience!
For more complex OTC blends I look forward to having a chance to buy a tub of Chestnut when my wife And I are travelling in the States. A tub is almost the max on how much we can bring back for one trip. The challenge is I’ve never seen it at any of the B&Ms near where we’ve travelled. A little gun shy to order a tub online, I just paid $127 in duty and taxes for 4 tins from an online order to bring the total for those 4 tins to $200.

 

[augiebd]

If you happen to have some Peterson University Flake laying around, try mixing a bit of that with Carter Hall. I find it makes CH a fine smoke. I am mixing 4 flakes (very rubbed out as fine as I can get it) per pouch of CH. I still need to try PA though.

I have a few good flakes on hand, I should give this a try.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

A little gun shy to order a tub online, I just paid $127 in duty and taxes for 4 tins from an online order to bring the total for those 4 tins to $200.

Wow, that's unbelievable.

 

[augiebd]

If I had nothing but Haunted Bookshop & a few cobs...I’m pretty sure I’d be happy with that. Something about having a favorite blend, a trusty pipe, and no decision other than to load, smoke and enjoy...simple pleasures!️

With the occasional exception, my tobacco smoking choices have emphasized variety, usually a different blend every bowl. I’m thinking I might spend a little more time with each blend to get a bit more familiar. We’ll see, the lure of so many open tins is still strong.

 

[augiebd]

Were I left with nothing but OTCs, I would still be a very happy smoker.

I know what you mean. I have a lot of variety in my small cellar but I could be happy with the better OTCs I have tried.

 

[canucklehead]

Wow, that's unbelievable.

Assuming 50g tins, that's still about $20 cheaper than buying them from a b&m here lol.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Assuming 50g tins, that's still about $20 cheaper than buying them from a b&m here lol.

Fuckin a..

 

[canucklehead]

I really like some of the fancy expensive blends, but some of the best smokes of my life were from otc pouches like Backwoods and H&H. I also enjoy adding a little Latakia or dark fired Kentucky to them. DFK + OTC burley = ?


P.S. It's not all natural lmao

 

[augiebd]

Wow, that's unbelievable.

It could be worse. I don’t make a lot of online tobacco purchases. Most of the tobacco I purchase is when travelling in the States so the price is better. Just limited to the amount and what is available where I am. One consequence is I buy a variety of blends rather than stock up on certain blends since I am purchasing 7 or 14 oz. at a time whether my wife or I are travelling together or alone.

 

[upnorth1]

I agree, the SWRA is a very different approach. Yes, the H&H is best enjoyed while smoking slowly and I’m sure the age on the CB Cherry improved my experience!
For more complex OTC blends I look forward to having a chance to buy a tub of Chestnut when my wife And I are travelling in the States. A tub is almost the max on how much we can bring back for one trip. The challenge is I’ve never seen it at any of the B&Ms near where we’ve travelled. A little gun shy to order a tub online, I just paid $127 in duty and taxes for 4 tins from an online order to bring the total for those 4 tins to $200.

Oh Canada!!!

 

[augiebd]

Assuming 50g tins, that's still about $20 cheaper than buying them from a b&m here lol.

Yeah, they were 50g tins. My local B&M sells tins of “standard” blends for about $55.

 

[canucklehead]

Yeah, they were 50g tins. My local B&M sells tins of “standard” blends for about $55.

Yep, that's what I figured. You live by Edmonton right? I usually go to Burlington on Whyte to buy a tin or two of something harder to get online for my birthday, but usually buy 100g or less at a time from SP.

 

[augiebd]

Yep, that's what I figured. You live by Edmonton right? I usually go to Burlington on Whyte to buy a tin or two of something harder to get online for my birthday, but usually buy 100g or less at a time from SP.

Yes, Burlington on Whyte is where I usually go in town. I support them with a few tobacco purchases a year and pipes as well. It is also where my in-laws and wife will shop for gifts.

 

[augiebd]

Yep, that's what I figured. You live by Edmonton right? I usually go to Burlington on Whyte to buy a tin or two of something harder to get online for my birthday, but usually buy 100g or less at a time from SP.

Here’s a Canadian blend I got from a Cigar place in Victoria, it didn’t make it in to the weekend rotation.