Anti mold, a preservative, like the ketchup aroma in McCllends.Why on earth would they put vinegar?
Anti mold, a preservative, like the ketchup aroma in McCllends.Why on earth would they put vinegar?
Me neither. The last time I tried Carter Hall it was still sold in pouches at my local grocer. I would pick up a pouch a couple times a month.Haven't tried Carter Hall since the change.
If you check the Pipe Tobacco Review section, and do a little scrolling, you'll see my updates for Carter Hall and Prnce Albert, both of which were changed.Are any of the codger blends still the same? I recall that there were issues with Carter Hall or Prince Albert when production went elsewhere some years ago.
I did like Duke Albert and Chatham Manor but I think we all know those are no longer options.
Granger has apparently been very consistentAre any of the codger blends still the same? I recall that there were issues with Carter Hall or Prince Albert when production went elsewhere some years ago.
I did like Duke Albert and Chatham Manor but I think we all know those are no longer options.
Those sorts of drastic changes are such a shame because it means the brands are living on in name only.If you check the Pipe Tobacco Review section, and do a little scrolling, you'll see my updates for Carter Hall and Prnce Albert, both of which were changed.
Burley in general especially codger ones like SWR are known for being extremely stable flavorwise and not changing significantly with age, so it probably had that vinegar flavor when it was canned.Jim is very careful about his reviews, and very detailed.
To give a comparison with a 2021 batch, based on my perceptions as a beginner: Late last summer I had a bowl from a 2021 tin. The smoke was chocolate, sweet, nutty, earthy, good, light, grey. The first few puffs had a vinegar flavor. The blend overall was better than I had expected, due to its light sweetness. I don't know if the vinegar flavor simply came from it aging for several years. The vinegar taste was the main downside to what I had.
I knew that people had been complaining about that vinegar flavor in Sir Walter Raleigh, so that's what I chalked it up to. But some one else suggested to me that it was from build up from fermentation over time in the jar, so I wasn't sure. I didn't really notice that same vinegar flavor with other old blends, so your explanation makes more sense. At the time I talked it up to a vinegar defect in the blend.Burley in general especially codger ones like SWR are known for being extremely stable flavorwise and not changing significantly with age, so it probably had that vinegar flavor when it was canned.
It's not just the vinegar, the cut is not the same. Not cubes anymore, it's more like little ribbons.We need a "Save SWR" petition. This vinegar situation is very distressing.
Blends can change over time.Seeing this thread reminded me of the pouch of SWR that I jarred 5 or 6 months ago, so I went ahead and filled half a bowl, out of caution.
First time I smoked SWR when I just got it, I couldn't even finish the bowl because of the extreme sourness. After its time in the jar, the sourness is still there in every puff, but it's much more subdued now, and what's behind it is pretty pleasant. I can taste some sweetness of the burley.
It looks like time helps get rid of the vinegary taste. I will have to leave it in the jar and try again in another 6 months, maybe.
I bought a pouch recently. It now a pronounced sour smell.Original review, 9-14-2012: The sugary burleys are earthy, woody, bready and nutty with a small spice note. The molasses, anise and cocoa toppings are mild to medium, and while they tone down the burleys a little, they also work well together to create a synergistic, very consistent flavor from start to finish. The strength, taste and nic-hit levels are a step past the mild mark. Won't bite or get harsh. The rough notes are minor. It burns at a moderate pace, cool, clean and even. Requires few relights and barely leaves any dampness in the bowl. Packs very easily with a pleasing, short lived after taste and room note. It goes well with any drink you choose. An easy going, all day smoke that doesn't wear out its welcome. Three stars out of four.
2017 additional comment: Recently, I had the opportunity to smoke SWR made in the 1940s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s as well as several pouches in the 2000s. I was struck by the fact that only in the 1940s version was there a difference in taste. Even then, the difference was only that the '40s sample was just a tad deeper in flavor. I find it amazing how consistent the taste is from World War Two until now.
Update 1-7-2025: The decades of consistency have passed. The burleys are different than the old version. They are sharply rougher, moderately floral, a tad less nutty and bready with a mildly higher degree of sugar and spice, and a small sour note not found in the past. The anise and molasses toppings are slightly less obvious. The cocoa is a little more noticeable. What appears to be apple cider vinegar adds a little sour astringency that you can taste and smell on the tobacco. The strength and flavor levels are higher than before, and are a couple of steps past the center of mild to medium. The nic-hit is in that center. Won’t get harsh, but there a light tongue tingle if puffed beyond a moderate rate. Burns a tad warm with a very consistent flavor and a slightly longer after taste than the previous version. The room note is tolerable. Requires few relights, and leaves little dampness in the bowl. An all day smoke. I give it one and half stars rounded up to two, mostly due to the aforementioned negative effect of the apple cider vinegar. The lack of bite prevents a one star rating. The ratings reflect the current production.
©Jim Amash 2025.