Over-Aged Pipe Tobacco

[sablebrush52]

One way to look at aging is that the product is degrading the whole time, it's just degrading to a point that is more enjoyable to some people. Kind of like fermentation is spoilage but to a point that spoilage is widely considered an improvement, aging is a form of breaking down.
Another way to say the same thing leaving something in the oven is a way of breaking down something too but timing is super important. You leave it in too long it goes from great to a burnt chunk of carbon.

Or, it could be maturing until it flips into decaying.

 

[renfield]

Whether it’s a beer, wine or tobacco, if you’re buying to age, you need to buy enough that you can sample over time to determine when it’s at its best.

I’ve never had a tobacco that had aged into something horrible, just very bland and obviously past the prime.

Better to consume a bit too soon rather than past the peak when the thrill is gone out of it.

 

[mortonbriar]

well then you better get to the store and start getting all that sam gawith navy flake and chocolate flake.

I have not purchased tobacco since 2020, so everything I have is at least a bit aged!

 

[Terry Lennox]

I agree with the ten year mark as peak for Virginias. I have had 20 year old tins that had turned a bit medicinal and overly musty in flavor. Some people like that. I don't. There are some Virginias I actually prefer fresh like Peterson (Dunhill) Navy Rolls. It's all subjective.

One thing that is true is Latakia will lose some of its power over time. Again, some like me, prefer a delicate Oriental forward English blend so this weakening of Latakia is not a bad thing.

I do want to amend what I said above. I just opened a 15 year old tin of Davidoff Flake Medallions and it is superb. Probably the best tin of this stuff I have had. So it really depends on the blend and your taste. That's the great thing about this hobby--there are so many different blends and outcomes. It's a journey.

 

[anotherbob]

Or, it could be maturing until it flips into decaying.

i think that describes most of us

 

[Arkansas Paul]

It just depends on the blend. There is definitely a point that they start going the other way, but that will vary with different tobaccos.
I've had 60+ year old Half and Half. It wasn't unpleasant but there wasn't much to it.
Recently I had 25 year old Christmas Cheer. It was good, but nothing like when it was fresh. Just wasn't a lot going on.

I open tins around the 10 year mark generally. Nice age without the drop in flavor. It's not an exact science, but it works for me. 10 year old Hal o the Wynd is something special.

 

[FLDRD]

I prefer 8-10 years for any blend with latakia, because that is when it finally takes a back seat. I find the other flavours hard to discern if the latakia is fresh.

I'm hoping this happens for me when I get back around to desiring Latakia again, I overbought when I was eager and it was my favorite style early on. Now, not so much.