Figured I would crack this tin from 2015. Smells smokey and malty to me. Lots of crystals too.
Opening A Tin? Show Us!
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Nice. I had 3 of those tins' seals go bad on me and I had to jar them up. I still have one that seems to have an OK seal from about 2014.
I am smoking one tin from the same year right now. Amazingly sweet. I think I may have to buy some of the new stuff and compare. I don't remember it being this good.
McClelland made such beautiful tins. The tobacco also looks amazing. Enjoy!
Opened a tin of G.L. Pease Key Largo. Tin Date 11.01.23.
2024 latest production Penzance. This stuff is quite tasty. The casing is very mild and doesn’t sublimate the tobaccos in anyway. It’s a very harmonious, unique blend. I can see the appeal of it, but have other favorites. This is my first time trying it so I have no way to compare to past productions. PS, I don’t think any of the new production Esoterica/Germain’s blends are being aged in their tins anymore due to lack of coloration on the paper. Up until a few years ago, any of their blends would’ve been stained brown indicating good age. This goes for all their blends I have opened recently from their lineup. They are still top quality and burn perfectly. You’ll just have to do the tin aging yourself.
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It's amazing what letting the baccy "breath" then re jar and put in time out for a few weeks, will do for a blend.
I was also very amazed at how different a blend will taste in different bowls. I learned early on to try at least 7 diff pipes before I write off a blend
Worth jarring some and leaving it for a month or two - if my SLF experience has any value.2024 latest production Penzance. This stuff is quite tasty. The casing is very mild and doesn’t sublimate the tobaccos in anyway. It’s a very harmonious, unique blend. I can see the appeal of it, but have other favorites. This is my first time trying it so I have no way to compare to past productions. PS, I don’t think any of the new production Esoterica/Germain’s blends are being aged in their tins anymore due to lack of coloration on the paper. Up until a few years ago, any of their blends would’ve been stained brown indicating good age. This goes for all their blends I have opened recently from their lineup. They are still top quality and burn perfectly. You’ll just have to do the tin aging yourself.View attachment 340336View attachment 340337
Wow, I had no idea they come in this crumble flake form in these matchbox tins. I've only ever seen the "bacon flakes".
Yesterday I opened a brick of my first Tabac Manil Semois: Le Petit Robin.
The gold foil paper is pretty thick, but not airtight
Opened up, it reminded me of peat moss
Dry, but not crumbly
The shag cut is very fine
The smell is earthy and pleasant. I packed some (tightly) into an MM mini, and it burned quickly. The aroma and flavor were very pleasant, very tasty. I’m looking forward to more of this one.
The gold foil paper is pretty thick, but not airtight
Opened up, it reminded me of peat moss
Dry, but not crumbly
The shag cut is very fine
The smell is earthy and pleasant. I packed some (tightly) into an MM mini, and it burned quickly. The aroma and flavor were very pleasant, very tasty. I’m looking forward to more of this one.
Yeesh - That corrosion has me nervous about my ~2015 tin. You motivated me to open it this week.
It’s hard to tell from the pictures but it’s not rust just tobacco oils. Looks pretty ghastly though!
Drying a tin of Haunted Bookshop Cake. 
F&T Cut Virginia Plug: This post got lost in the shenanigans, but at least I can say more about it now. The topping, when fresh, is way too heavy and I did not enjoy my first smoke at all. It nearly hit the bin. Set aside and left alone for a week, it has dried considerably and become far more palatable. I'm actually quite enjoying a bowl now and then, jammed unrubbed in the Falcon/meer-lined combo.
Earlier this summer I opened a 2oz sample that I jarred in 2022 from a bulk purchase. At first I didn't care for it and thought I didn't like the burley / latakia combination. I kept smoking it here and there and after about an ounce it clicked. I am about to finish the jar and I'll be grabbing more in the current bulk sale at SP. I find the lat mellow and the burley ever present. A bit of perique from time to time adds a non descript spicy quality to the blend. I can enjoy it in various settings and I'm happy I tried it. I hope you enjoy your tin as much as I enjoyed my 2 oz of bulk
Last week I bought a few tins of C&D Carolina Red Flake.
I opened one then and let it sit until today. I'm currently smoking it in my best VA pipe. I will post my opinion after a few bowls. I will let the other 2 tins sit for a few years.
I opened one then and let it sit until today. I'm currently smoking it in my best VA pipe. I will post my opinion after a few bowls. I will let the other 2 tins sit for a few years.
I still have some hopes, it's in a jar on the shelf. As so many others before me have noted, many blends seem to be better with some time on the shelf after a new airing has occurred. The ingredients really do seem like it should click for me at some point.
And I don't know if my palate has gone all "blah" on me. I've opened several lately that seem to fall in the "average" range of the spectrum for me, so I sometimes wonder if I already found some of my "best" blends and I should stop looking, or if it's a phase. For the longest time it seemed most I opened were at least a notch above - in the "good" range.
Alas, I shall soldier on, I've so many on the shelf to try.
For example, I keep going back to Salty Dogs the last couple of weeks, I know that's a great one for me right now.
But as the weather changes I'll be wanting more Balkan and Latakia blends if past history is any indicator. Sort of torn between opening something I loved a year or 2 ago to reacquaint myself with it, or trying new in the same genre. I'll shed a tear if, in the middle of the cold weather season I open a tin of Nightcap or another past favorite and find it disappoints........
These are not complaints. They are observations of my abundance and in some ways, counting my blessings.
Burley London '24. Damn am I glad I snagged 10 of these. This shit's great!
Carter Hall. Forgot to post this a couple days ago.
