Opening A Tin? Show Us!

[TX_Piper]

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Moving tons of tins to Mylar, thought I’d show an interesting pattern I noticed while shucking C&D’s House Reserve '22 Fall Edition tins, that being a crazy amount of variation in color and smell. Some tins look and smell as dark as can be with no tin bulge, and some other tins bulged like crazy with a much brighter looking, more boozy-scented product. Only 1200 tins were made, so I know I’m likely to never figure out why, but still, odd.

Interesting! I wish we had more info on the House Reserve blends especially year to year. I really liked the 2020 version.

 

[fightnhampster]

2020 CRF/ Perique

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

Thank you for sharing the conversation with the Sutliff production manager — interesting perspective. However, the phenomenon of white crystalline bloom on aged pressed tobacco is not "absolutely unique" to Sutliff products or their specific black paper. It has been reported and discussed for decades across many brands (G.L. Pease, McClelland, Esoterica, Cornell & Diehl, and even some European flakes) — long before Sutliff popularized it on their packaging. Greg Pease himself (one of the most respected blenders) has written extensively about it, calling it harmless mineral salts and natural oils migrating to the surface during fermentation and aging. No health concerns, just a cosmetic byproduct of good leaf. I'd be genuinely curious to see the actual chemical analysis Sutliff conducted on these crystals — composition, safety data, etc. If it's truly unique to their process, they should have no problem sharing the lab results. Until then, decades of collective experience from smokers and blenders suggest it's safe and not mold.

Not from Sutliff, but you might dig the research department at BAT's analysis of salts on flake tobacco from 1960.

Their assessment: "A calcium salt of malic acid, probably normal calcium malate."

I think the Sutliff production manager, by way of @Auxsender, was pointing out there's a separate interaction happening with the black paper insert that causes an excess of white residue beyond the what would occour otherwise.

Good to smoke either way. Enjoy, fellas.

 

[BenMN]

Great post man.
This is what this thread is all about.

Agreed

Esp. liked seeing the well-loved Nording filled @quantumboy

 

[DesertDan]

I really like pleated paper tin liner; it gives a touch of elegance that I always find very satisfying.

 

[Benedict Munsinger]

Not from Sutliff, but you might dig the research department at BAT's analysis of salts on flake tobacco from 1960.

Their assessment: "A calcium salt of malic acid, probably normal calcium malate."

I think the Sutliff production manager, by way of @Auxsender, was pointing out there's a separate interaction happening with the black paper insert that causes an excess of white residue beyond the what would occour otherwise.

Good to smoke either way. Enjoy, fellas.

Okay, so be it, but I have my own opinion, in particular, that I don’t see anything new from Sutliff in this case.

 

[Homer]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year All!!! I haven’t been on much lately and miss you guys. Just opened a 2022 Cringle and this was the result. Rusty lip and white crap all over the wrap and possibly on the tobacco too. Sad. To smoke or not to smoke? Your thoughts on this matter would be appreciated. View attachment 441886View attachment 441887View attachment 441888View attachment 441889

Mold.

 

[FLDRD]

Due to the concern over the Pesse Canoe tins, I decided to open now instead of wait...
I like the decorative aspect.



Nice presentation.



If you need to ask, then you need to open more tins.



So I went to the cellar and dug out the 2nd one.



It's rather nice when it's not trying to kill you...................

 

[HDGSN]

After the Cringle Flake 2022 discussion the other day, I decided to open one of my 2 tins. If I can figure out how to upload short video, you can see the sparkle of the crystals.

Watch unnamed | Streamable

Watch "unnamed" on Streamable.

streamable.com

 

[JSPiper71]

After the Cringle Flake 2022 discussion the other day, I decided to open one of my 2 tins. If I can figure out how to upload short video, you can see the sparkle of the crystals.

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Watch unnamed | Streamable

Watch "unnamed" on Streamable.

streamable.com

Out of abundance of caution and curiosity, I went ahead and opened all remaining 8 tins of the 22 CF I had cellared and jarred it. All the tins had some level of this going on, lining up with the black paper excuse from Sutliff. Most, except the tin with the rusty lip had that typical dark fruit and vinegar smell that I’m used to. I put it all in a bowl and mixed the flakes around before jarring it. I’m going to smoke it as there was zero musty or mold smell.

 

[HDGSN]

Out of abundance of caution and curiosity, I went ahead and opened all remaining 8 tins of the 22 CF I had cellared and jarred it. All the tins had some level of this going on, lining up with the black paper excuse from Sutliff. Most, except the tin with the rusty lip had that typical dark fruit and vinegar smell that I’m used to. I put it all in a bowl and mixed the flakes around before jarring it. I’m going to smoke it as there was zero musty or mold smell.

My tin had a little rust around the edge. Smell was strong of this merlot cheddar I have had before, with some vinegary ketchup. No mold smell to me. All of the white shimmered in the sunlight. I plan to smoke mine.

Wonder if this was changed for 2023. I have a couple tins of 2023, too.

 

[Skyfall]

My tin had a little rust around the edge. Smell was strong of this merlot cheddar I have had before, with some vinegary ketchup. No mold smell to me. All of the white shimmered in the sunlight. I plan to smoke mine.

Wonder if this was changed for 2023. I have a couple tins of 2023, too.

2023 and 2024 I do not believe used the black paper.

 

[JSPiper71]

My tin had a little rust around the edge. Smell was strong of this merlot cheddar I have had before, with some vinegary ketchup. No mold smell to me. All of the white shimmered in the sunlight. I plan to smoke mine.

Wonder if this was changed for 2023. I have a couple tins of 2023, too.

I have a bunch of the 23 and a few 24 tins. No black paper in those years, not this issue.

 

[Simplicity]

 

[CPT]

A tin of Esoterica Dorchester that I logged into my cellar on 10/26/2013. It smells wonderful.

 

[TubbyInTweed]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year All!!! I haven’t been on much lately and miss you guys. Just opened a 2022 Cringle and this was the result. Rusty lip and white crap all over the wrap and possibly on the tobacco too. Sad. To smoke or not to smoke? Your thoughts on this matter would be appreciated. View attachment 441886View attachment 441887View attachment 441888View attachment 441889

I just opened a tin of 2022 Cringle Flake a couple of weeks ago. I took a few pictures and just opened up another now.



And then from today:





Then back side of the flake that wasn't touching the black paper.



For what is worth, I smoked a few bowls from the tin I opened a couple of weeks ago and it was great.

 

[JoeW]

I just opened a tin of 2022 Cringle Flake a couple of weeks ago. I took a few pictures and just opened up another now.

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And then from today:

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Then back side of the flake that wasn't touching the black paper.

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For what is worth, I smoked a few bowls from the tin I opened a couple of weeks ago and it was great.

I’ve smoked 2 bowls now from that same tin (thanks for the sample!) and I concur: it’s really good.