Opinions on "Barrel-Aged" Tobacco

[smudgersmissingleg]

The only tobacco i've tried that falls into this category is Samuel Gawith Spring Time Flake. That was a vaper matured in old sherry barrels and I really enjoyed it. Definitely not a gimmick as far as I'm concerned. It has a flavour unlike any other vaper i've tried.
Wish they still made it as i've only got a few tins left in the cellar.

 

[UB 40]

The only tobacco i've tried that falls into this category is Samuel Gawith Spring Time Flake. That was a vaper matured in old sherry barrels and I really enjoyed it. Definitely not a gimmick as far as I'm concerned. It has a flavour unlike any other vaper i've tried.
Wish they still made it as i've only got a few tins left in the cellar.

Had it once, that’s a good one. Been looking for a similar since. Didn’t know it was ripening in sherry barrels. Smelled an smoked not like sherry at all, just Perique and Virginias.

 

[Egg Shen]

Perhaps gimmicky is a bit harsh of a criticism. I might more aptly have said for the amount of flavor it adds which I believe to be anything between light and negligible, paired with a premium cost and in some cases limited availability it’s not really a selling point for me personally

 

[warren]

I don't care how a blend is cut, processed, top, syruped, grown, cut up, aged or any of that stuff. If it tastes good and smokes well, I'll smoke it. But, my palate is very old, I'm very old and my love of nicotine colors all.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Had it once, that’s a good one. Been looking for a similar since. Didn’t know it was ripening in sherry barrels. Smelled an smoked not like sherry at all, just Perique and Virginias.

The tins I smoked had a definite sherry twang. Lovely stuff.

 

[K.E. Powell]

I don't care how a blend is cut, processed, top, syruped, grown, cut up, aged or any of that stuff. If it tastes good and smokes well, I'll smoke it. But, my palate is very old, I'm very old and my love of nicotine colors all.

No arguments here. Though, if you know why you like something, it makes it easier to find more of what you like in the first place. Us youngins gotta parse these details out a little, is all.

 

[bent1]

IMHO, I’ve never tasted any nuance from barrel aged blends. But then again, I’m not a whiskey connoisseur.

 

[warren]

Us youngins gotta parse these details out a little, is all.

Very true. Hadn't thought it out like that. Took me back to the days when I was trying to find what I liked. I found a tobacco I enjoyed but, I didn't try to find similar blends. I went looking for dissimilar ones to enjoy. I now, years later, just stick with my English blend, and a couple of others.

 

[Egg Shen]

The latest Pipes & Cigars catalogue was in the mail today. I see we have a new BA offering: Barrel Aged 2022 Bengal Slices.

 

[woodsroad]

CI can't leave a good thing well enough alone. They have to keep diluting and diluting the value of the name until it is a ubiquitous commodity.

 

[Egg Shen]

$19 a tin too, that’s up there

 

[woodsroad]

Wacky

 

[Egg Shen]

Come to think of it, this is the only pipe tobacco that you can do a side-by-side comparison to evaluate just how much flavor the barrel does or does not impart. We have the one with and the one without. Now who’s going to do the research?

 

[K.E. Powell]

A very kind forum member was gracious enough to send me some tobacco that would go well with what we are discussing. He sent me a sampe of SPC Plum Pudding in both its regular and barrel-aged variants, and did the same for SPC's Mississippi River. I've had them for a little time now, but this week has been rather busy. I'm hoping the weekend affords me time to try these out, side-by-side, and see what differences there are, if any.

My palette isn't as refined as others, but I will do my best to make the comparisons as fair as possible. I look forward to sharing with you all what I find. And again, the kindness and knowledge in this forum always impresses me.

 

[David D. Davidson]

A very kind forum member was gracious enough to send me some tobacco that would go well with what we are discussing. He sent me a sampe of SPC Plum Pudding in both its regular and barrel-aged variants, and did the same for SPC's Mississippi River. I've had them for a little time now, but this week has been rather busy. I'm hoping the weekend affords me time to try these out, side-by-side, and see what differences there are, if any.

My palette isn't as refined as others, but I will do my best to make the comparisons as fair as possible. I look forward to sharing with you all what I find. And again, the kindness and knowledge in this forum always impresses me.

I actually just recently picked up those same 4 blends, and I have to say I notice a very significant difference - both barrel aged versions are boozier than my great aunt at Thanksgiving. That being said, they're so very boozy that I'm a little skeptical the bulk of the flavor and aroma is coming from the barrel aging rather than some additional topping. Take this with a grain of salt, as I'm not by any stretch of the imagination a connoisseur. The boozy taste is so present that a sip before lighting is enough to fill your mouth with a uniquely tangy and deep flavour, much more present than I would expect from the barrel aging alone.

That being said, I personally get no chemical/artificial taste at any point during the smoke, and doesn't have the oiliness or wetness I associate with aromatics, so perhaps I just underestimate the potency of the inside of a liquor barrel. Either way, I find it a delicious and distinct smoke that stands at odds with my unsatisfactory experiences with aromatics of any other type, and a very nice change from the non barrel aged versions of the blends.

Looking forward to seeing your thoughts!

 

[username]

One of my favorite cigars is a barrel aged (Camacho rum barrel aged). It might be psychological but I definitely notice a rum note from them.

 

[crashthegrey]

I actually just recently picked up those same 4 blends, and I have to say I notice a very significant difference - both barrel aged versions are boozier than my great aunt at Thanksgiving. That being said, they're so very boozy that I'm a little skeptical the bulk of the flavor and aroma is coming from the barrel aging rather than some additional topping. Take this with a grain of salt, as I'm not by any stretch of the imagination a connoisseur. The boozy taste is so present that a sip before lighting is enough to fill your mouth with a uniquely tangy and deep flavour, much more present than I would expect from the barrel aging alone.

That being said, I personally get no chemical/artificial taste at any point during the smoke, and doesn't have the oiliness or wetness I associate with aromatics, so perhaps I just underestimate the potency of the inside of a liquor barrel. Either way, I find it a delicious and distinct smoke that stands at odds with my unsatisfactory experiences with aromatics of any other type, and a very nice change from the non barrel aged versions of the blends.

Looking forward to seeing your thoughts!

I am able to 100% confirm that the SPC blends are simply put in the barrel and a stave added to the tin. There are no additional toppings or treatments to the tobacco.

 

[woodsroad]

I hear that Sutliff is coming out with a Classic Car Series. First will be an English blend. They pack a Morris Minor with a leaking rag top full of Latakia, Virginia, Oriental and a pair of Margaret Thatcher’s undies and let it ferment for a month. Each tin has a little swatch of Maggies Drawers floating on top.

 

[Egg Shen]

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A very kind forum member was gracious enough to send me some tobacco that would go well with what we are discussing. He sent me a sampe of SPC Plum Pudding in both its regular and barrel-aged variants, and did the same for SPC's Mississippi River. I've had them for a little time now, but this week has been rather busy. I'm hoping the weekend affords me time to try these out, side-by-side, and see what differences there are, if any.

My palette isn't as refined as others, but I will do my best to make the comparisons as fair as possible. I look forward to sharing with you all what I find. And again, the kindness and knowledge in this forum always impresses me.

i forgot about these. I’m going to have to conduct a comparison as well since I have these. As I recall the different Plum Puddings did not seem different enough to justify the premium. As for the other 2 it’s been awhile so a reexamination is needed.

 

[David D. Davidson]

I am able to 100% confirm that the SPC blends are simply put in the barrel and a stave added to the tin. There are no additional toppings or treatments to the tobacco.

That's incredible! Admittedly, my knowledge of barrel aging sits somewhere between zilch and bupkis, but I never would have imagined such a difference in taste and smell purely from sitting around in a barrel.

Here in Canada the difference in price between this is marginal ($50 vs $60 for a 2oz tin), so it's an easy buy for me personally Glad to hear it's all natural!