I have been hearing for several years about Over The Counter and Codger blends. Hell I have several in my cellar. What is the criteria and the cut-offs. Does it have to be something that your dad or grandpa could have smoked? What about the foreign countries? That can go both ways. Is it a codger blend in the states but not in Europe? All the one country blends. Does it have to be the original blender? The whole debacle of changing the name on the tin but not the ingredients. Dunhill/Peterson. Murray/STG. What is the deal?
O.T.C. or Codger Blends.
- Thread starter Swampdragon69
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Captain Black, Scandinavik and above all CLAN are the codger blends here (Greece), and what people consider "pipe smell". My understanding of a codger blend is something that's widely available, and smoked all day, every day by people who may clean their pipes once per week or never. Got an uncle who gifted me 3 Savinellis, he smoked Captain Black all day every day in them for 20 years, when I smoke them the heel ALWAYS tastes of something sweet, unlike whatever else was loaded in the pipe, which I take to be the old Captain's ghost. The only one of the three in which the Captain's ghost was exorcised from is one I designated as a Latakia pipe.
Doesn't have to be a bad blend, I've never smoked any of the three above, but have an itch to try Clan once. Been told it flash burns, ghosts, burns hot, but doesn't actually taste bad.
Had MacBaren's version of Captain Black (Seven Seas white), which was hot air in terms of strength and body, but didn't taste bad at all. Their Amphoras and Vanilla (Classic in the EU) are actually good tobaccos.
Doesn't have to be a bad blend, I've never smoked any of the three above, but have an itch to try Clan once. Been told it flash burns, ghosts, burns hot, but doesn't actually taste bad.
Had MacBaren's version of Captain Black (Seven Seas white), which was hot air in terms of strength and body, but didn't taste bad at all. Their Amphoras and Vanilla (Classic in the EU) are actually good tobaccos.
I have a small tin of Scandinavik and it is very interesting. Jarred and rehydrated. Velvet is very interesting also. Rehydrating it with a non-peaty single malt scotch. Trying to rehydrate a big tin of Union Leader with a honey whiskey. Taking forever. I rehydrate with drinking alcohol because I lost to mold a full tin of early sixties Prince Albert. I have learned to be careful with my finds.
I do not believe anything that I hear. I have to experience it for myself. The flash burn sounds like either it was too dry or smoked too fast. I keep hearing that aged aromatic blends are horrible. You start with inferior leaf than aging it will not help. I have a large tin of old BorKum Riff from the middle of the sixties that is smooth and sublime. My mouth is watering just typing about it. But when it is gone, no more. I have found some very interesting mystery blends. I just smoke them and enjoy the moment in time. Find the minute of joy and love whenever you can friend.
I don’t have a clue. I suppose Prince Albert is codger. I remember people smoking half and half, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Carter Hall.
I suppose folks smoked what the stores carried.
I’m using what the local pipe shop sells at the same price, or near, what H&H would cost me. Not just trying to support him, but because I like Lakatia. ?
Codger definitely denotes a blend about a century old, or at least old. Over-the-counter (OTC) is a little more tricky, but refers to blends that used to be readily available at many places other than tobacconists, like groceries, drug stores, newsstands, gas stations, and convenience stores. This usually meant standard blends in pouches and tubs. These designations are somewhat blurry. There is a wide array of pouch tobaccos that have never been widely available at non-tobacco retailers, so they look and seem like OTC/codger blends, but it is debatable. I think these designations are inexact and just for fun, both a taunt and a commendation.
I was feeling a little philosophical today and wanted a little discussion about an interesting subject.
I’m a nut about stuff from before and around the time I was born. I suspect people just used stuff or smoked stuff that was easily obtained.
I can imagine someone wanting an iPhone 7 in 2055.
I can imagine someone wanting an iPhone 7 in 2055.
In America they are primarily burley based blends that are sold in drug stores and such.
This is nitpicking, but a thought. I don't really consider bag tobacco either codger nor OTC. A lot of bag pipe tobacco doubles as RYO (roll your own) leaf, and is sold mostly in smoke shops. Some cigar and pipe shops sell bag tobacco, but it is usually not featured. To some it may be seen as codger or OTC, but I'd put it in a different category. I like some of it, especially from OHM and D&R. But I'd never categorize it as OTC or codger.
Non boutique blends that pipe snobs are too ashamed to admit that they smoke.
When I first started smoking a pipe in 1991, the local drug stores carried Prince Albert, Carter Hall, Granger, Half & Half, Kentucky Club(several), Captain Black(several), Borkum Riff(several), Sail(several), Mixture No. 79, Sir Walter Raleigh(several), Middleton’s Cherry, Apple, Paladin, Velvet, Walnut, Edgeworth Ready Rubbed and Skandinavik. There were probably others that I am forgetting as well, the selection was very good. In my view, these would all be considered OTC blends.
C
carolinasmokes
Guest
I'm an eccentric and amusing old man and buy my tub tobaccos over the counter at the local smoke shop, doesn't everybody? 
I've thought about that before, and was never satisfied with what I could come up with. Certainly the old labels from our grandfather's day, PA, SWR(A), CH, and so on. But then we add in Sutliff's matches. Field and Stream Match might not be the original, but it sure does the job. I have a hard time calling OJK an OTC, but it sure acts like one (except for coming in a tin instead of a punch). Carter Hall is every bit a codger, but it's from I think the early 50s. Maybe further classify it as lightly topped semi aromatic burley based, but Walnut is a fine enough English (I'm assuming, I've only had the match), and St. Bruno and Squadron Leader are definitely codger with a funny accent.
Maybe it's like art or pornography, that you know it when you see (smell or smoke) it?
Maybe it's like art or pornography, that you know it when you see (smell or smoke) it?
my measure is you can buy it somewhere like a drugstore or grocery store. I don't really think you can get more succinct then that.
At one time I was in a forum with John Patton, who blended Storm Front and a few other blends sold by 4 Noggins. Instead of the terms "codger" or "OTC", he referred to "The American Classics" - long-established, burley-forward blends created in the U.S.
I personally find this more useful than the others, simply because it is less subjective. Surviving members of this shirking tribe would include Prince Al, Carter Hall, Half & Half, Sir Walter, Granger, and Velvet.
I personally find this more useful than the others, simply because it is less subjective. Surviving members of this shirking tribe would include Prince Al, Carter Hall, Half & Half, Sir Walter, Granger, and Velvet.
Candidly, I'm big fan of our European and British made OTC blends, in my opinion these are somewhat higher quality than their US equivalent ,but also more expensive
I agree with your OTC list and would also add Lane Limited Ready Rubbed.
Do match blends count, if they match what is clearly an OTC or codger blend? Do pouch blends that are less well distributed? Does this status exist in some countries or regions and not others? The terms are inexact, so mostly just for fun. Granger has been around my whole life and was an old established brand when I was born, and I am, as they say, no spring chicken.
i wouldnt call Squadron Leader a codger blend as it has never been readily available in non tobacconist shops even in the UK.St Bruno yes it was in every corner newsagent and general shop until recently.Others including Condor and Walnut and Ogdens Gold Block were widely available