Just in from STG/MacBaren/Sutliff

[Warlee]

I prefer SP also, but with many Mac Baren and Sutlif items sold out there, I was able to pick up several items on momscigars.com. No panic mark-up, quick shipping for about $9 and the website says Virginia law does not require them to collect sales tax on tobacco shipped out of state…

Grabbed a few more tins.

It's interesting that Wessex Curly Block is produced by STG. That is also clear from the uncut coin format. It is essentially the same form (not blend) as Escudo or Navy Rolls before being sliced. STG is the only factory with the equipment to make that size roll. The Mac Baren roll cakes were smaller.

But it also raises the question--if STG could make a small batch of Wessex Curly Block on a contact basis why not other contract blends? The answer might be that the Wessex is indeed the same as some other tinned blend and we just haven't figured it out.

This is interesting. Wessex Gold Slice is made by Sutliff but my tin says Mac Baren. What a confusing, tangled web it is, where all these blends are made, and who packages them.

 

[Zamora]

Does anybody know what's going on with Per Jensen? Sutliff was so good to him but I can't imagine in a million years STG would dream of authorizing something like Birds of a Feather let alone Pipe Force

 

[Beers 'N Briars]

Does anybody know what's going on with Per Jensen? Sutliff was so good to him but I can't imagine in a million years STG would dream of authorizing something like Birds of a Feather let alone Pipe Force

I’m hoping C&D brings him in as a possible consultant. But even if they did I’m sure it would be in a limited capacity due to him living across the pond, as it were.

 

[rakovsky]

Just grow your own folks................ Fuck-em. Don't buy any more factory blends.............. Fuck-em........ Learn............ Process............. Smoke........... Fuck-em................
You'll learn a lot in the process............ Fuck-em............... You'll get satisfaction and a good smoke............. Fuck-em.............. You can do it!............. FUCK-EM!!!!!!

Wouldn't it be cool if NO ONE bought any STG Blends?.................

Prince Albert is made by Reynolds or Middleton, not STG. A backup for me.

 

[woodsroad]

Does anybody know what's going on with Per Jensen? Sutliff was so good to him but I can't imagine in a million years STG would dream of authorizing something like Birds of a Feather let alone Pipe Force

Mac Baren/Sutliff was so good to Per Jensen that he left there at least six months ago. Not sure if he jumped, or if he was pushed.

 

[Brad H]

There is always Sir Walter!

 

[Auxsender]

I’d be surprised if he hasn’t already been shown the hallway to the door.

This got me for some reason.

 

[fireground_piper]

Mac Baren/Sutliff was so good to Per Jensen that he left there at least six months ago. Not sure if he jumped, or if he was pushed.

I believe the reports were.....he got married, moved to Germany and then the relationship with Mac Baren ended.

 

[jdlander]

I just discovered MB Rustica Ready Rubbed yesterday. Loved it so much, went to buy more. Oops. Sold out everywhere and it didn't survive the cut.

Anyone know of anything similar out there? Does C&D make a Rustica blend?

 

[jdlander]

C&D provides a lot of blends to suit every taste. You should be able to reach pipe nerdvana through them.

Everyone needs to buy predominantly from C&D, G&H, Country Squire, etc. so that STG can't Sutliff these companies.

 

[Brad H]

J

I just discovered MB Rustica Ready Rubbed yesterday. Loved it so much, went to buy more. Oops. Sold out everywhere and it didn't survive the cut.

Anyone know of anything similar out there? Does C&D make a Rustica blend?

I just bought 3 tins at watch city cigar.
They may have a few left

 

[Snook]

Everyone needs to buy predominantly from C&D, G&H, Country Squire, etc. so that STG can't Sutliff these companies.

I think that is the consensus of many here. Personally, I want to be more thoughtful about how I'm purchasing tobacco and who I do business with, so I plan to make two changes going forward:

1. Start making smaller but more frequent orders. As it's been, I've placed one or two large orders annually and called it good. I think ordering with more frequency - I'm shooting for a monthly basis - will better help support these businesses in the long term.
2. Focus on purchasing from the companies that you mentioned (as well as other retailers like smokingpipes.com) and try rotating who I purchase from month-to-month. This month SP? Next month, Country Squire. And so on.

 

[Chasing Embers]

It's just tobacco. Lots of ire directed at STG but I doubt they held a gun to the heads of the owners of Mac Baren/Sutliff. Business works both ways.

 

[telescopes]

I think that is the consensus of many here. Personally, I want to be more thoughtful about how I'm purchasing tobacco and who I do business with, so I plan to make two changes going forward:

1. Start making smaller but more frequent orders. As it's been, I've placed one or two large orders annually and called it good. I think ordering with more frequency - I'm shooting for a monthly basis - will better help support these businesses in the long term.
2. Focus on purchasing from the companies that you mentioned (as well as other retailers like smokingpipes.com) and try rotating who I purchase from month-to-month. This month SP? Next month, Country Squire. And so on.

Considering many of the tobaccos I enjoy come from Lane, and given how many enjoy Lane blends, I doubt most will give up their favorite blends and go without them to try and make an economic point.

It's just tobacco. Lots of ire directed at STG but I doubt they held a gun to the heads of the owners of Mac Baren/Sutliff. Business works both ways.

Yup. Agreed.

 

[Snook]

Considering many of the tobaccos I enjoy come from Lane, and given how many enjoy Lane blends, I doubt most will give up their favorite blends and go without them to try and make an economic point.

Yup. Agreed.

That wasn't what I meant with this post; I'm not riding the boycott train like some others are. Most of my favorite tobaccos and daily smokes are from Peter Stokkebye, Lane, and codgers like Half & Half that are manufactured by STG. I'm not going to stop buying them. I'm just saying that I'm going to try to acquire those blends from sites/retailers I think should be supported.

 

[telescopes]

That wasn't what I meant with this post; I'm not riding the boycott train like some others are. Most of my favorite tobaccos and daily smokes are from Peter Stokkebye, Lane, and codgers like Half & Half that are manufactured by STG. I'm just saying that I'm going to try to acquire those blends from sites/retailers I think should be supported.

Agreed. Same here. I will be exploring more C&D offerings myself… now that I have too, LOL.

 

[Snook]

Agreed. Same here. I will be exploring more C&D offerings myself… now that I have too, LOL.

Haha, I feel the same. I haven't really liked any of the five or so blends I've tried so far... but there's got to be a few in their portfolio that I'll like!

 

[NookersTheCat]

I will endeavor to acquire more C&D blends before Sikes maybe decides to rid America of its last bastion of pipe tobacco. It sucks cause I’m still a baby in the hobby and my chances of reaching pipe smoking maturity is looking dim. But Im hoping some of you doomsayers are wrong.

C&D is fine (certainly a heck of alot more people slobbering over them then there were 36 hours ago ) it's just that they (in general) serve a different kind of style/niche than Sutliff/MacBaren did. So did McClelland. Of course there are exceptions to every portfolio but essentially if you're a lover of drier, more austere blends like VaPers and Latakia bombs and such, C&D is your wheelhouse. If you were a fan of more "traditional" American 'drug-store/B&M house blend' aromatics (heavy on the cavendish, please) then Sutliff was your stuff.

It's not that there aren't good tobaccos left... or even any good American style aromatics left. It's just that there's a lot less now. And alot of that is gonna depend going forward on what shops like Country Squire, Boswell, and Peretti are gonna be able to accomplish imo. Honestly in some ways try to look at it as a blessing, your ignorance will probably grant you some bliss. Just remember that when you see tins of Molto Dolce going for $75 on bid sites that they used be $11 on sale and half the guys on this very forum were calling it 'vanilla covered dog turd' lol... At a certain point, all is relative...

 

[Beers 'N Briars]

It's just tobacco. Lots of ire directed at STG but I doubt they held a gun to the heads of the owners of Mac Baren/Sutliff. Business works both ways.

The irony of this is that driving business to C&D and G&H is great! Keep them profitable and going! But don’t mistake your support for buying loyalty. If your support helps grow the company and their footprint to the point STG gives them a blank check and they accept, them’s the breaks.

 

[Sobrbiker]

C&D is fine (certainly a heck of alot more people slobbering over them then there were 36 hours ago ) it's just that they (in general) serve a different kind of style/niche than Sutliff/MacBaren did. So did McClelland. Of course there are exceptions to every portfolio but essentially if you're a lover of drier, more austere blends like VaPers and Latakia bombs and such, C&D is your wheelhouse. If you were a fan of more "traditional" American 'drug-store/B&M house blend' aromatics (heavy on the cavendish, please) then Sutliff was your stuff.

Sadly, Sutliff’s non-aro, non-BC laden offerings were what I found excellent and different than what C&D blend in the same genres, and the “drugstore/B&M house blends” were not what got them used by WCC, KBV, etc.

I hope the process and source of their red virginias and perique find a way to make it to those who continue to blend in America (especially if all the tariff talk comes to be reality-that could hugely affect what we pay and have available long-term in the US).